I was invited to this wonderful opening night at the Georgia Shakespeare at Oglethorpe and did not disappoint. I must admit, though, that within 5 minutes of the show I was reciting the lines before they ended. It bothered me a bit and at the first intermission I turned to my companion and said "I've done this show before." He looked at me funny and made some comment about senility. Evidently I had either stage managed this show or ran crew. Later I found out I did run Sound and Lights at the Academy Theatre for this production in 2007.
But back to the show.
At the opening, the Artistic Director, Richard Garner, explained that this show would be in rep with two other wonderful shows, "Illyria and "Much Ado About Nothing." So as the lights dimmed and the music came up, I checked out the simple set. Yes, it had to be simple for a show in rep. The single red chandelier, the green platforms that made the walls and doors, and the furniture in which everyone sat or posed around. The blocking of the first scene was wonderful, as this is a show of words and those richly told are very important. Thus, the actors have to make the rest of it believable, with their movements and intentions of movements. Their body language in and of itself made this show hilarious. Props to Sabin Epstein for the blocking and finding the humor in little things like eyes and handshakes. Christine Turbitt did the costumes and while they were fitting for the period of the play, the dresses on Lady Bracknell and her daughter, Gwendolyn, were a bit much. I'd like to see more of the actor and their faces than the fabric of the time. The men were perfect and they looked very easy to move in for all that they had to do.
I must give props to Margo Kuhne for her cast - well done, Madam Stage Manager. :) Well-called show and working with the set changes and waiting patiently for the audience to get back to their seats for each act.
I love seeing Joe Knezevich in anything that he's in. So this, for me, was no surprise. He is always funny, always on point and just a joy in any character he portrays. In this, with the dire situation of his love and the false name, and finding out so much as the show goes on, he made this a real treat for the audience. Surprisingly entertaining was Caleb Clark - oh, my, God!!! I loved him from his first 5 sentences!! He's mannerisms, his wit, his determination - just everything that brought Algernon to life! I was delighted to see Mr. Allen O'Reilly on stage. After watching him work as a director, to see him on stage performing with all the points of concentrated interest that he was trying to get out of his actors in "Rumors" just made me think "Wow- a teacher that practices what he preaches."
How often do ya get to see that?
Very surprising for me to see Chris Kayser play a role that was not the center of the show. He did it well and he was very funny as Merriman. Of note always is Mark Cabus who played Lady Bracknell. He carried himself better in that dress and hat than most women do in today's society. His language was superb in reprimanded those that needed it and changing his mind when it suited the character. The stone glances of disapproval had my entire row in the audience in stitches.
Overall an enjoyable evening of theater and good, rich language. Well done to the cast and I wholeheartedly recommend this to all my friends, co-workers, associates and fellow theater-lovers.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
"Xanadu" - For my age and the young at heart
My evening started off awful: problems at the house, rain coming in, traffic - just horrible. But I was bound and determined to get to Actors' Express for "Xanadu." And I"m glad I did.
Plenty of seats available, always seeing the theater crowd in the audience there to support and appreciate our industry - I just started to feel better accompanied by a fellow stage manager and a successful music teacher in town.
The show, itself, was directed by Sherri D. Sutton, who I'm not familiar with, my DAMN! After seeing her onstage in an understudy role as Melpomene, I will definitely see her and her work again! She was hysterical, partnered with the always amazing Jill Hames. Of all the characters on stage I always like to single out the working actors, those seen often in town on stage honing their craft - this night it was Craig Waldrip. Always, funny, always focused and always having fun on stage, I watched Craig as Thalia change from one character to another to another, depending on the scenes. Even a one-eyed mythical creature. Props to the leads, Lindsey Lamb Archer as Kira and Jordan Craig as Sonny Malone. A new-comer that caught my eye was Greg Bosworth, the muse of dance. Nicely done on stage, especially with the tap routine. I would have loved to have seen more tap, but with the plot-line of the story and the way things needed to move along, I understand the director's choice in making it short. Christen C. Orr as Euterpe I've seen before and have loved her presence, as I do Al Stilo as Danny Maguire.
The band, led by Musical Director Bill Newberry just brought me back to a better age and time when I enjoyed ELO and Olivia Newton John while sitting in my room in Fort Lauderdale trying not to do homework. The music just got me and my music teacher friend going! We were almost to the point of getting up and dancing ourselves!
Props to the set designer, Phillip Male, for the use of the entire stage, the audience, the house left and the orchestra area. Nothing was amiss and everything stayed in the world of the play.
Of course, props to Alicia Quirk for stage managing an excellent cast and calling a great show. She's very lucky to have them all.
This is a "must-see" in the season of Actors Express. For those of us who grew up with "Xanadu" on the movie screen and remember those days of it being "not-so-good-but-damn-classic" and the music it brought with it, this was the night to make all the bad things go away. For the young people who had no idea who ELO or Olivia Newton John or even Zeus is, this is a fun night to learn new stuff and just watch the reaction to the crowd. Well done to Freddie Ashley and Actors' Express - I look forward to seeing more good stuff!
Plenty of seats available, always seeing the theater crowd in the audience there to support and appreciate our industry - I just started to feel better accompanied by a fellow stage manager and a successful music teacher in town.
The show, itself, was directed by Sherri D. Sutton, who I'm not familiar with, my DAMN! After seeing her onstage in an understudy role as Melpomene, I will definitely see her and her work again! She was hysterical, partnered with the always amazing Jill Hames. Of all the characters on stage I always like to single out the working actors, those seen often in town on stage honing their craft - this night it was Craig Waldrip. Always, funny, always focused and always having fun on stage, I watched Craig as Thalia change from one character to another to another, depending on the scenes. Even a one-eyed mythical creature. Props to the leads, Lindsey Lamb Archer as Kira and Jordan Craig as Sonny Malone. A new-comer that caught my eye was Greg Bosworth, the muse of dance. Nicely done on stage, especially with the tap routine. I would have loved to have seen more tap, but with the plot-line of the story and the way things needed to move along, I understand the director's choice in making it short. Christen C. Orr as Euterpe I've seen before and have loved her presence, as I do Al Stilo as Danny Maguire.
The band, led by Musical Director Bill Newberry just brought me back to a better age and time when I enjoyed ELO and Olivia Newton John while sitting in my room in Fort Lauderdale trying not to do homework. The music just got me and my music teacher friend going! We were almost to the point of getting up and dancing ourselves!
Props to the set designer, Phillip Male, for the use of the entire stage, the audience, the house left and the orchestra area. Nothing was amiss and everything stayed in the world of the play.
Of course, props to Alicia Quirk for stage managing an excellent cast and calling a great show. She's very lucky to have them all.
This is a "must-see" in the season of Actors Express. For those of us who grew up with "Xanadu" on the movie screen and remember those days of it being "not-so-good-but-damn-classic" and the music it brought with it, this was the night to make all the bad things go away. For the young people who had no idea who ELO or Olivia Newton John or even Zeus is, this is a fun night to learn new stuff and just watch the reaction to the crowd. Well done to Freddie Ashley and Actors' Express - I look forward to seeing more good stuff!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Twyla Tharp's The Princess and the Goblin
I don't get to see ballet - ever. But yes, in my younger, healthier days, I did take dance and it did include A LOT of ballet. So I know steps, I know how hard it is to stay "on point", I know the differences in the positions, etc.... and today, it was so nice to just sit and watch and enjoy.
Twyla Tharp's "The Princess and the Goblin" was a wonderful display of story, dance, light and fun. Let me say, first off, that I'm in love with the Lighting Designer. Don Holder made such a magical mix of light for the scenes, the changes, the moods, everything, that the audience was just captured. Every single change in mood, in dance, in spirit was caught by Mr. Holder and it just enhanced the story. The use of the 3 spotlights, the trees on the sides that were used - just everything mixed so well! And the timing was perfect, but I applaud the SM, who was not listed in the program.
The set was definitely built to travel: very simple, very workable, very good use of the stage. My hats off to Caleb Levengood for giving enough space for the dancers to work their magic and at the same time, bring the scenes to life with the lights.
The most adorable little girl in the cast was definitely marked by the entire audience: she was the smallest cast member and she had pig-tails. Just wonderful in the piece! Every child dancer was fantastic, on point, and didn't seem nervous at all.
Richard Burke conducted a wonderful orchestra, and without its music, its sound and its levels the audience would not have had the experience that we had today. And really, a live orchestra just makes everything better. :)
All of 70 minutes of performance, this ballet is very well worth the parking fiasco at the Cobb Energy Center. It's delightful, it's colorful, and its definitely something children of all ages should see. Well done, Twyla!
Twyla Tharp's "The Princess and the Goblin" was a wonderful display of story, dance, light and fun. Let me say, first off, that I'm in love with the Lighting Designer. Don Holder made such a magical mix of light for the scenes, the changes, the moods, everything, that the audience was just captured. Every single change in mood, in dance, in spirit was caught by Mr. Holder and it just enhanced the story. The use of the 3 spotlights, the trees on the sides that were used - just everything mixed so well! And the timing was perfect, but I applaud the SM, who was not listed in the program.
The set was definitely built to travel: very simple, very workable, very good use of the stage. My hats off to Caleb Levengood for giving enough space for the dancers to work their magic and at the same time, bring the scenes to life with the lights.
The most adorable little girl in the cast was definitely marked by the entire audience: she was the smallest cast member and she had pig-tails. Just wonderful in the piece! Every child dancer was fantastic, on point, and didn't seem nervous at all.
Richard Burke conducted a wonderful orchestra, and without its music, its sound and its levels the audience would not have had the experience that we had today. And really, a live orchestra just makes everything better. :)
All of 70 minutes of performance, this ballet is very well worth the parking fiasco at the Cobb Energy Center. It's delightful, it's colorful, and its definitely something children of all ages should see. Well done, Twyla!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Beginning
It's 2012 - time to see some theater! This blog will have my comments, good, bad, constructive - all theater-related. Most are in Atlanta, but if I get to see theater outside of the ATL, then God has graced me with extra money. :) So - here we go!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)