Scene: October '13
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The Laramie ProjectWhat? From the show website: "The Laramie Project presents a deeply complex portrait of a community’s response to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man living in Laramie, Wyoming. In a series of poignant reflections, the residents of Laramie react to the hate crime and surrounding media storm with anger, bewilderment and sorrow. The play portrays the seismic and deeply personal impact Matthew’s death had on this small town while also demonstrating the power of the human spirit to triumph over bigotry and violence.
Fifteen years later, Matthew Shepard’s story still reverberates, urging us on with its clarion call to confront the destructive power of bullying and hate, in all forms. The Laramie Project has been performed more than 2,000 times worldwide. The Associated Press called it, “Astonishing. Not since Angels in America has a play attempted so much; nothing less than an examination of the American psyche at the end of the millennium.” The Laramie Project is the third offering in the multi-year Lincoln Legacy Project—an effort to generate dialogue around issues of tolerance, equality and acceptance." When? October '13 Where? Ford's Theatre, Washington DC Why? I've always wanted to see this show, and I've really been making an effort to fill in the gaps in my theater-going experiences. Well? Read my thoughts on this special performance in my October blog post Taking Hope on the Road. |
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A Streetcar Named DesireWhat? From the show website: "In steamy New Orleans, an electrifying battle of wills ignites between Southern belle Blanche DuBois and her working class brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski. Nerves fraying and beauty fading, Blanche is both repelled and intrigued by Stanley’s primal brutishness—even as he threatens to reveal her darkest secrets and destroy her illusions.
Yale Repertory Theatre’s first ever production of Tennessee Williams’s Pulitzer Prize winning masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire, is staged by Mark Rucker, whose eight previous shows at Yale Rep include Tom Stoppard’s Rough Crossing in 2008. The cast features René Augesen (last seen at Yale Rep in A Woman of No Importance) as Blanche DuBois and Joe Manganiello (HBO’s True Blood) as Stanley Kowalski." When? October '13 Where? Yale Repertory Theatre , New Haven CT Why? This year has been a Tennessee Williams' fest for me: The Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Two-Character Play and now a core part of the Williams' canon. Yale Rep is also a theater I've wanted to visit, so it's a good combo! Well? By far, my favorite part of this show was the heartbreaking performance of Sarah Sokolovic as Stella. She is so very talented, and her chemistry with René Augesen (Blanche) was perfect. I was also very moved by the portrayal of Blanche's descent into madness. The weakness here, for me, was Joe Manganiello. Perhaps in a cast of less powerful actors, he would not have suffered in the comparison quite as much as in this particular group; but I found his performance to be flat in some places, and overwrought in others. I did enjoy the set/staging of this production-the dimension and detail felt almost like an extra character in itself. |
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The Velocity of AutumnWhat? From the show website: "In a simple Brooklyn brownstone, 79-year-old Alexandra lives a solitary existence with her fleeting memories and enough explosives to take down most of the block. At an impasse with her family over how she should spend her autumn years, Alexandra's long-absent son enters as a most unlikely mediator, to try and save his mother's life as much as his own. Funny and dangerous, aching and revelatory, this perceptive play reveals both the fragility and ferocity of life. Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons (Bonnie and Clyde, Roseanne) and two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Spinella (Angels in America)make their Arena Stage debuts."
When? October '13 Where? Arena Stage, Washington DC Why? Big Estelle Parsons fan! And big new play fan too. Oh, and I'm a fan of Molly Smith's work and Arena Stage...so there you go :). Well? This should be "required viewing" as they say, for anyone experiencing the aging process in themselves or loved ones. And because we are all "aging," that would be every adult at least! I was in an audience with some high school students who spoke eloquently about how much they identified with the need to be independent at any age, and yet how difficult it can be to separate from family. Estelle Parsons and Stephen Spinella have a wonderful chemistry as mother and estranged son. They are each tensely restrained in their performances, and fearless in their vulnerability. The damaged lives of these characters are revealed to us during the "negotiations" to prevent Alexandra from ending it all to avoid being moved out of her home, and yet the beauty of their shared artistic souls gave me a great deal of hope. The play is wildly funny at points, and painfully cruel at others; but in the end it shows love to be its core. |
(photo courtesy of show website)
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ArguendoWhat? From the show website: "Last year, The Public Theater co-produced, to great acclaim, GATZ (a unique word-for-word staging of The Great Gatsby) created and performed by Elevator Repair Service (ERS), one of America's most acclaimed theater ensembles. This season, The Public reunites with ERS for a co-production of ARGUENDO, a playful riff on the 1991 Supreme Court case Barnes v. Glen Theatre. In this provocative case, a group of exotic dancers, citing the First Amendment, challenged a ban on public nudity. ERS stages the oral argument of the case verbatim with their signature theatricality, wit and physical precision. The production design features a breathtaking swirl of animated text projections by celebrated visual artist, Ben Rubin.
ARGUENDO is designed to be a thought-provoking piece of theater, and performances will often be followed by talkbacks with ERS Artistic Director John Collins, constitutional law scholars, and journalists who write about the court. These talkbacks will not only give audiences a chance to learn more about the history of the case but also give them a chance to participate in the discussion that the Court has begun." When? October '13 Where? The Public Theater, NYC Why? What can I say? I'm a lawyer raised by a lawyer, and legal stories always intrigue me. Also, I've wanted to see a production by the ERS for a long time, and this is the first time it's worked out timing-wise. Well? I'm so happy that I did not know anything about what to expect when this show started. Although the language and subject matter might have been "legal," the performance was anything but dry and technical! Instead, there was a screen backdrop displaying the text of legal decisions and statutes, with its own personality and responsive to the human actors; and a troupe of actors constantly transforming into the various Supreme Court justices while rolling around the stage, and up and down ramps in conference room chairs in bouts of hilarity. The text of the show was primarily the actual oral arguments in the case, but here, actions speak way louder than the words themselves, as the arguments for both sides devolve into substantive chaos. The outcome of the case didn't really matter, because everybody, especially the audience, won! |
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BetrayalWhat? From the show website: "BETRAYAL originally premiered at London’s National Theatre in 1978 and was immediately hailed as one of Pinter's masterworks, winning the 1979 Olivier Award for Best New Play. Emma (Rachel Weisz) is married to Robert (Daniel Craig), a publisher, but she has long had an affair with Jerry (Rafe Spall), a literary agent and Robert’s best friend; as, in a brilliant device, time is regained, so the full complexity of their relationships comes to light."
When? October '13 Where? Ethel Barrymore Theatre, NYC Why? I saw a production of this at The Huntington Theatre in Boston last spring, and I wound up feeling as if I'd like to see it in a different theater with a different cast. I enjoyed it in Boston, but this will be a very interesting contrast I think. Well? I'm surprised to be saying this, but I actually preferred the Huntington Theatre's production last season in Boston more than this star-studded version. There was something about the pace and staging in this production that seemed off, and some of the crackling tension that I experienced at Huntington was lost. That said, Rachel Weisz was a pleasure to see on stage; and Daniel Craig and Rafe Spall were certainly great; but I don't think this one will stay with me for long. |
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The LandingWhat? From the show website: "Legendary theatre composer John Kander (CHICAGO, CABARET) and gifted playwright Greg Pierce’s (SLOWGIRL) first collaboration is a beautiful and haunting new musical, consisting of three thematically-connected tales of desire, love and loss. THE LANDING will feature Tony and Emmy Award-winner David Hyde Pierce (CURTAINS, VANYA AND SONIA…, “Frasier”), Julia Murney (THE WILD PARTY), and Paul Anthony Stewart, and is directed by Tony Award-winner Walter Bobbie (VENUS IN FUR, CHICAGO)."
When? October '13 Where? Vineyard Theatre, NYC Why? David Hyde Pierce. Julia Murney. A new musical by John Kander. Yes please. Well? An incredibly quirky musical in three acts (with no intermission), which I'm still enjoying. Finding the connection between the three stories is fun, and I don't think there's a right answer (although I'm sure John Kander and Greg Pierce have their answers :)). The characters search for meaning, love and self understanding in each vignette, but in whimsically outlandish scenarios. David Hyde Pierce is just a gift, and the young actor playing the child in the stories, Frankie Seratch, is charming. Shows like this stretch my mind and expectations for theater in such a refreshing way! |
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Romeo and JulietWhat? From the show website: "Experience the beauty, poetry and passion of Shakespeare’s greatest romance in this contemporary re-imagining by visionary director Tea Alagić (JACKIE), where love and violence vie for the hearts and souls of these young star-crossed lovers.”
When? October '13 Where? Classic Stage Company, NYC Why? I subscribed to Classic Stage this season, so this is part of the subscription. I originally wanted to see it because Finn Wittrock was cast as Romeo, with Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet, and William Hurt in the cast as well. Since then, Finn has dropped out to join the cast of the film version of The Normal Heart, and William Hurt has also left the cast. But as this is the third version of Romeo and Juliet I will be seeing this year, I'm now just as interested in getting several different interpretations to compare, so the cast is less important. Well? I found this production to be quite satisfying. The leads, Elizabeth Olsen and Julian Cihi, in particular, are appropriately charismatic. Elizabeth Olsen's strong, sassy and defiant Juliet is quite the contrast to Condola Rashad's more naive and fragile portrayal in the Broadway production (although I enjoyed both takes on it). The staging is very spare, and relies on suggestion, a few chairs and a table, and the talents of the actors, to create the world and transport us there. I also enjoyed Daphne Rubin-Vega's Latina nurse, and T.R. Knight's goofy, adolescent Mercutio. |
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What? From the show website: "After the resounding success of 2012’s Really Really, Signature presents the newest work from Paul Downs Colaizzo. The Falls of Autrey Mill is the most desired zipcode in town. From the outside, the flawless neighborhood glitters with elegant roman column porches and exquisitely manicured lawns. However, demons lurk behind the designer window treatments when one seemingly-perfect family disintegrates from the inside out. In this vicious and gripping play, Colaizzo rips the façade off of America’s privileged suburbia with his trademark brutal honesty."
When? October '13 Where? Signature Theatre, Arlington VA Why? I really loved "Really, Really." Really. :). Can't wait to see this new play by Colaizzo. Well? Wow, this playwright really is fearless when it comes to plumbing the dark sides of his characters; and then making that darkness quite entertaining! Every time the lights came up on a scene, or a character entered, the action could go any which way; and I loved the high level of anticipation throughout. The extremes in the personalities that make up this seemingly privileged family, are funny and horrifying at the same time. Christine Lahti is just heartbreaking as the denial-cloaked mother/wife, as was Christopher McFarland as Tommy, the damaged and accident-prone older son. Whether on a grand, historical scale as in All The Way, or in an intimate, family situation, allowing us to peek at what goes on behind closed doors is what theater often does so very well. This play is no exception. By the way, this was the very first night of the run, and I found it to be impressively smooth, especially given the staging and prop work required! |
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Love in AfghanistanWhat? From the show website: "From resident playwright Charles Randolph-Wright (Blue, Cuttin' Up) comes a daring world premiere drama set to take audiences on a thrilling, romantic adventure in a chaotic land. Meet Duke and Roya, two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest."
When? October '13 Where? Arena Stage, Washington DC Well? I very much enjoyed the naturalness of the cast in this show; I didn't feel as if I was watching caricatures, and I found the performances appealing and emotionally accessible. I also liked that the story had some unexpected twists that kept me involved and attentive. I'm not sure I left the theater with any greater insight into the conflicts and challenges in Afghanistan, but I cared about these characters and wanted to know their stories. I'm finding that I'm more and more pleased with minimal sets/staging that, where appropriate, sharpen my focus on the playwright's words, and the actors interpretations. |
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Honeymoon in VegasWhat? From the show website: "A world-premiere musical opening at Paper Mill Playhouse on it’s way to Broadway, and starring television, screen, and stage icon Tony Danza (Who's the Boss?, Taxi, The Producers, A View From The Bridge, The Iceman Cometh), recent Tony Award nominee, Rob McClure (Chaplin!), and Brynn O’Malley (Annie), and featuring music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last Five Years, A New World).
Based on the hit movie, and a book by Andrew Bergman (director and screenwriter of the original film, Fletch, The Freshman), this insanely funny comedy directed by Tony-Award nominee Gary Griffin (The Color Purple) tells the tale of a guy with an extraordinary fear of marriage, his longtime girlfriend, and an unscrupulous gambler (played by Danza) looking for another shot at love. A side-splitting musical with all the glitz, fun, and brassy glamour of a night out in Las Vegas!" When? October '13 Where? Paper Mill Playhouse, Milford NJ Well? Another chance to see Rob McClure on stage!! And a new musical from Jason R. Brown!! Both were well realized, and those were the highlights of my third visit to Paper Mill. Rob McClure is such a natural comedic actor, and does not scrimp on the emotion and heart in his performances. Nancy Opel definitely embraced the zany part played by the mother who finds a way to meddle in her son's life from the great beyond; and she was a terrific sport with the wacky staging/costuming the role required. Tony Danza, on the other hand, might have been a bit too understated for the menacing mobster, and his voice, while serviceable, didn't hold up for me. I liked his vulnerability though, and he's got a mean soft shoe :). Kudos for an effective staging of a movie that requires Flying Elvises, and geographic shifts from Las Vegas to Hawaii and back! |
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A Gentleman's Guide to Love and MurderWhat? From the show website: "Getting away with murder can be so much fun… and there’s no better proof than the new comedy of manners (well, bad manners) that has won unanimous raves and will be knocking them dead on Broadway this fall! It’s A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER—think “Downton Abbey,” with a delightfully depraved edge.
Monty Navarro has just received some really great news! He’s a long-lost member of a noble family and could become the next Earl of Highhurst. There are only eight minor issues, namely the other relatives who precede him in line for the title. So Monty does what any ambitious gentleman would do: he sets out to eliminate them one by one, all while juggling his mistress (she’s after more than just love) and his fiancée (she’s his cousin, but who’s keeping track?). Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way into Highhurst Castle… and be done in time for tea. Tony® winner Jefferson Mays (I Am My Own Wife, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man) gives one of the most gasp-inducing performances ever attempted on the American stage, playing all eight doomed heirs who meet their ends in the most creative and hilarious ways. Mays leads a knockout cast alongside the delectably debonair Bryce Pinkham (Ghost, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) as Monty, the scoundrel whose greatest weapon is his charm. Don't miss this unabashedly raucous new show that will have you dying with laughter!" When? October '13 Where? The Walter Kerr Theatre, NYC Why? This just seems like something I'll enjoy, and Jefferson Mays, who I saw in The Best Man is marvelous. I also love Bryce Pinkham :). Well? I LOVED this show!! It has every element I want in a fun evening of musical theater: fantastic cast, great songs, incredible set and costumes...oh, and a wildly entertaining story to go along with the rest. Jefferson Mays, remarkably adept at playing multiple hilarious roles, and Bryce Pinkham, whose gorgeous voice and abundant charisma are so entertaining, make a fabulous stage couple :). But the entire cast is talented with voices that blended beautifully. I was so happy to see Jane Carr (Mrs. Brill in Mary Poppins). I've never seen an actor whose twinkle of the eyes can reach the balcony like that. I have trouble thinking of people I wouldn't recommend this show to; it is clever and playful and a great use of the stage! By the end of Act I, I wanted a cast recording, and by the final bows, I was making plans to see it again! |
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What? From the show website: "Abbondanza! From the composer of Guys and Dolls comes a vibrant musical that blossoms in the vineyards of Napa Valley. Your heart will be warmed by this May-December romance when a city bride is wooed by an aging Italian grape farmer who nearly botches everything until his true goodness shines through. With a gorgeous score and spirited dancing, it’s a simple and touching love story that makes for an extraordinary night of theatre. Favorite songs include "Standing on the Corner" and "Somebody, Somewhere."
When? October '13 Where? Goodspeed Opera House, CT Well? One of my earliest memories of what I thought had to be the magic of Broadway, was the I Love Lucy episode where the Ricardos and the Mertzes, now living in the country, are taking a trip into the city to see the impossible-to-get-tickets-for Broadway smash, The Most Happy Fella. It was a long time before I knew it was an actual show, and have been harboring a hope I'd get to see it one day. And I finally got to see it! In fact, I'll be seeing it twice...the New York City Center is doing an Encores! presentation of the show this spring! My first visit to Goodspeed was such fun. We arrived in time to take a backstage tour from the volunteer docents ($5 each), which included close-up views of the costumes while in the dressing rooms, glimpsing the lovely views of the river from the windows backstage, and being given a real appreciation for the challenge of producing, and performing in, shows in this atmospheric, but vintage building. The show was wonderful. Simply, and effectively staged, with a talented cast that performed so well as an ensemble. All the leads were strong. Mamie Parris as Rosabella, and Bill Nolte as Tony were lovely vocalists, and had a chemistry that both broke my heart and had me rooting for them throughout. I also really enjoyed Natalie Hill as Rosabella's best friend, Cloe; and Kevin Vortmann as Cloe's fellow Texan, and ardent admirer, Herman. I'm already looking forward to returning to Goodspeed in 2014 for more shows; I feel confident leaving my theater-going in their capable hands! |
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What? From the show website: "On life’s twisty road, sometimes you need to pull over and change direction. When the coveted title of “Little Miss Sunshine” is unexpectedly within her reach, young Olive Hoover convinces her family to make the 800-mile trek to the pre-teen pageant of her dreams. Along the way, a series of mishaps threatens to derail the group’s quest for the crown, until they realize a young girl’s far-fetched goal may actually hold the key to the family’s happiness. From the Tony Award-winning team of James Lapine and William Finn comes Little Miss Sunshine, a new musical comedy about one modern family’s unexpected route to brighter days.
William Finn and James Lapine’s previous collaborations include the Tony-winning hits Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. William Finn is also the composer of In Trousers, Romance in Hard Times, and A New Brain. James Lapine is the book writer/director of the musicals Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Passion, among others." When? October '13 Where? Second Stage Theatre, NYC Well? This was some of the most creative staging I've seen in adapting a film to stage. Considering that much of the story/humor occurs on a road trip, and includes sight gags relating to a moving vehicle, I applaud the perfect use of the roadmap set design, wheeled chairs creating the van, and clever, inventive choreography to maximize the humor. Hannah Nordberg is flawless as Olive, and her chemistry with her "family" is poignant and charming and hilarious, all at once. She was the highlight of the show for me. But I give rousing cheers to Rory O'Malley and Stephanie J. Block, for their poignant and lovely performances as well. And Josh Lamon was hysterical in a series of roles from pompous gay intellectual ex-boyfriend to pageant emcee. |
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Big Fish (2nd time)What? From the show website: "BIG FISH is a new Broadway musical featuring direction and choreography by five-time Tony Award® winner Susan Stroman (The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), music and lyrics by Tony nominee Andrew Lippa (The Addams Family, The Wild Party) and a new book by esteemed screenwriter John August (Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Two-time Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Catch Me If You Can), Tony nominee Kate Baldwin (Giant, Finian’s Rainbow) and Tony nominee Bobby Steggert (Giant, Ragtime) lead the cast of amazing characters.
Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed Columbia Pictures film directed by Tim Burton, BIG FISH centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest… and then some! Edward's incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him – most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales. Overflowing with heart, humor and spectacular stagecraft, BIG FISH is an extraordinary new Broadway musical that reminds us why we love going to the theatre – for an experience that's richer, funnier and BIGGER than life itself." When? October '13 Where? Neil Simon Theatre, NYC Well? By intermission of the first time I saw this show from the third row of the orchestra, I knew I wanted to see it again from the front row of the mezzanine, so that I could really appreciate the grandness of the storytelling. It was a great decision; the show was even better from that vantage point. I had a much better view of all the flourishes in the production, from mermaids to animated trees, to giants :). The somewhat burly gentleman seated next to me gave the show a high compliment by weeping openly for the final scenes. I love the music, I love the staging, I love the choreography. I know this show has been polarizing; and sadly, as I write this, the premature closing date of Dec 29 '13 has already been announced. I'm so disappointed that I won't be able to share this sweet and magical show with friends (and especially that my niece and I won't get to see it together). |
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CrossingWhat? From the show website: "The World Premiere. From the writers of Nevermore comes a poignant original musical. Crossing explores the interwoven stories of eight people from different decades of the past century who come together at a train station. Some are waiting for the train, others are waiting for visitors, a few are just…waiting. All of them are searching – for hopes and dreams, for new beginnings, for answers. As their stories are brought to musical life in the train station, the characters discover that, while every life is different, the journey is always the same. With music ranging from gospel to pop to rock, Crossing unites the musical eras through the souls who lived them."
When? October '13 Where? Signature Theatre, Arlington VA Well? I am not someone who needs a linear story to be happy, so the fact that the multiple stories and vignettes were not really leading to a neatly sewn up conclusion was not a problem by itself. However, in this case I didn't think there was enough subtlety or depth to most of the individual stories, and no discernible reason why these are the people we're hearing from, and what, if any, the connections between them might be. Also a problem is that the music is just not memorable enough to compensate for lack of story. There were affecting moments in this show, thanks to the commitment of some of the talented cast members, especially Tracy Lynn Olivera and Christopher Mueller. As much as I enjoy Nova Payton's beautiful voice and stage presence, the character she played was not well-integrated into the action/story, which was already fragmented beyond repair. I can't say there isn't potential in the "bones" of the concept. Maybe that's why I find frustrating; it feels as if it took a wrong turn somewhere back on the right path. |
