Hub Theatre Gives ‘Steel Magnolias’ a Comic Makeover

July 24, 2019July 25, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Lauren Elias, Maureen Adduci, Catherine Lee Christie, June Kfoury, Liz Adams, Oye Ehikhamhen in Hub Theatre’s ‘Steel Magnolias’)

by Mike Hoban

Steel Magnolias – Written by Robert Harling. Directed by Paula Plum. Set Design by Cassie Chapados; Lighting Design by Chris Bocchiaro; Sound Design by Kyle Lampe; Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl. Presented by Hub Theatre Company of Boston at Club Café, 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston through August 3.

Following a tragedy towards the end of the play Steel Magnolias, which is set entirely in an in-home beauty salon where women come as much for the sisterly camaraderie as the hair care, Truvy Jones, the owner of the salon, remarks to her customers/friends, “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.”

In this highly entertaining production, now being presented by the Hub Theatre Company at Club Café in the South End, there’s plenty of laughter but a surprising dearth of tears, as director Paula Plum opts to emphasize the humor in the piece – creating a much-needed light summer offering. Plum, one of Boston’s premier comic actresses herself, has assembled a talented cast of new and seasoned talent to give the play a kind of comic makeover. I must confess that I have never seen the star-studded (Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis) movie version – or any previous version of the play for that matter – but my companion assured me early on in the performance that despite the non-stop one liners, that I should brace myself for a tear jerker. That never really occurs as the tragedy is given a bit of a softening, but to the untrained eye, Steel Magnolias works just fine as a comedy.

‘The Lightning Thief” at Huntington a Fierce and Funny Entertainment

July 20, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Kristin Stokes, Chris McCarrell, and Izzy Figueroa in the Huntington Theatre Company’s production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical)

by Michele Markarian

‘The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical’ – Book by Joe Tracz. Music and Lyrics by Rob Rokicki. Adapted from the book “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan. Directed by Stephen Brackett. At the Huntington Theatre Company, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston, through July 28^th.

When my son was in middle school, every kid was reading the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, beginning with The Lightning Thief. I never read it myself, having little interest in ‘tween literature. My expectations were low coming to see this show; my grown-up companion’s even lower, as he thought I had told him we were seeing a musical about Percy Faith. Much to our surprise and delight, The Lightning Thief is an absolute blast of a ride from beginning to end. In addition to the lively score and clever book, the extremely talented and likeable cast of seven makes this an unforgettable theatrical experience.

“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” Soars at Reagle

July 15, 2019July 23, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Aimee Doherty and Cast in Reagle Music Theater’s “Sound of Music”

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome to the true story of the Von Trapp family as well as to the Mountains of Austria. This year is the 60th Anniversary of “The Sound of Music” and is also the second summer show of Reagle Music Theatre’s 51st season. “The Sound Of Music” is the last collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and is based on Maria Von Trapp’s autobiography, ”The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.” This musical takes place in Austria in 1938 and is about Maria Rainer, a postulant who is hired by Captain Georg Von Trapp to care for his seven children. Although the Captain is engaged to another woman, he and Maria eventually fall in love and marry but their happiness is soon shattered when the Nazis annex Austria. The Captain opposes the Nazis so he and his family are forced to escape to America. The original show opened on Broadway on November 16, 1959, starred Mary Martin and ran for 1443 performances becoming the second longest running show of the 1950’s. The highly successful movie starring Julie Andrews opened in 1965 and ran yearly on television. Daniel Forest Sullivan directs and choreographs this classic musical wonderfully. This heartwarming true to life 60 year old musical once again captures the hearts of every member of the audience and wins the astounding actress playing Maria a standing ovation at the curtain call.

Love and Politics: ‘The Return’ a Superb Finale for Israeli Stage

July 12, 2019July 12, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Philana Mia and Nael Nacer in Israeli Stage’s ‘The Return’)

By Mike Hoban

The Return – Written by Palestinian-Israeli Playwright Hanna Eady and American Playwright Edward Mast; Directed by Guy Ben-Aharon; Scenic Design by Cristina Todesco; Sound Design by David Wilson; Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg; and Costume Design by Charles Schoonmaker. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company at 267 E. Main St. Gloucester for one night only on July 14 .

Despite its politically charged setting, The Return, the final production of the Israeli Stage Company’s nine-year run is, at its core, a love story – or more precisely, a forbidden love story. Skillfully directed by artistic director Guy Ben-Aharon, this exhilarating two-hander is pretty much guaranteed to produce a visceral reaction in anyone with strong views and/or an emotional attachment to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But for those without any emotional skin in the game, that detachment allows us to see this production as an examination of the inherent evil of tribalism, as played out in the lives of two people who – in a just world – would be free to openly love one another.

Hitchcock Comes to Life with Gloucester Stage’s ‘39 Steps’

July 12, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Amanda Collins, Lewis D. Wheeler in Gloucester Stage’s ’39 Steps’

Review by James Wilkinson

The 39 Steps – Written by Patrick Barlow. Directed by Robert Walsh. Assist. Director: Madison Cook-Hines. Scenic Design: Jenna McFarlen Lord. Lighting Design: Russ Swift. Costume Design: Miranda Kau Giurleo. Sound Design: David Wilson. Props Design: Emme Shaw. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company, 267 E. Main St. Gloucester through July 28

I have an unabashed love for the films of Alfred Hitchcock. It runs so deep that sitting five feet from where I’m typing this review is a pile of DVDs of just about every film he ever made. I won’t go into all of the reasons why (we’ll be here all day if I do), but I’d like to think that my passionate fandom makes me the ideal audience member for Gloucester Stage Company’s production of The 39 Steps. The play by Patrick Barlow is a stage adaptation of the classic 1935 film and also holds the distinction of being one of only two or three Hitchcock pictures that I’ve never seen. That strikes me as remarkable considering the high regard that film buffs hold the movie in. How exactly has this one slipped past me for all these years? I considered watching the film as research before going to Gloucester Stage’s production, then held off. The movie’s the movie (and I’ll get to it one of these days), right now I’m more concerned with what’s happening on stage.

Go and Meet Those Dancing Feet – Ogunquit’s ’42nd Street’ is a Gem

July 10, 2019July 10, 2019 michaelhoban2 Comments

by Mike Hoban

42nd Street – Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin, Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble, Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes; Original Direction and Dances by Gower Champion; Originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick; Director/Choreographer, Randy Skinner; Associate Choreographer, Sara Brians; Music Director, Jeffrey Campos; Original Scenic Design, Douglas Schmidt; Lighting Design, Richard Latta; Costume Design, Roger Kirk; Sound Design, Ed Chapman. Presented by Ogunquit Playhouse, Rte. 1, Ogunquit, Maine through July 13.

From its wildly energetic opening number to the big finale featuring the title song, the Ogunquit production of 42^nd Street is everything you’d want from a BIG summer musical. Killer dance routines with an army of glitzily costumed hoofers, one of the genre’s best known and loved scores performed with verve by a deep and talented cast, a megawatt Broadway star (Rachel York) at the top of her game, and a storyline as light as the cotton candy at a traveling carnival.

Dunaway Does Hepburn in Bio Piece ‘Tea at Five’

July 1, 2019July 1, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Faye Dunaway in ‘Tea at Five’ playing now at the Huntington Theatre

by Mike Hoban

‘Tea at Five’ – Written by Matthew Lombardo; Directed by John Tillinger; Set Design by Scott Pask; Lighting Design by Kevin Adams; Costume Design by Jane Greenwood; Sound Design by John Gromada; Projection Design by Aaron Rhyne; Wig Design by Tom Watson. Presented at the Huntington Avenue Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston through July 14

It’s 1983 and legendary silver screen star Katharine Hepburn is sitting on her couch at the family home in Fenwick, Connecticut, recovering from an ankle injury incurred when she crashed her car into a telephone pole. After popping a couple of Percocet and pouring herself a Dewar’s, Hepburn launches into her life story, which forms the basis for Tea at Five, a dramatic monologue infused with humorous asides by playwright Matthew Lombardo.

FUNNY MONEY – Newport Playhouse

July 1, 2019July 23, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Sue Nedar

The current fare at the award-winning Newport Playhouse is Ray Cooney’s Funny Money. A madcap farce of switcheroos, aliases, stolen money, and brief cases … keep your eyes on the brief cases!

Under the direction of Daniel Lee White, the ensemble of seven consists of: Tony Annicone as the dastardly Detective Davenport, Rick Bagley as the unlikely thief Henry Perkins, Pamela Gill as the sexpot Betty Johnson, Jim Killavey as the cantakerous Vic Johnson, Sarah Reed as the frazzled Detective Slater, James Walsh as the suffering taxi driver Bill, and Playhouse staple Sandi Nicastro as poor, poor Jean Perkins.

BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL – Hendricken Summer Stage

July 1, 2019August 3, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Tony Annicone

High school hijinks abound in “Bring It On” which is the Hendricken Summer Stage’s 20th Anniversary show. It has music by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, with lyrics by Miranda and Amanda Green and a script by Jeff Whitty and is loosely based on the 2000 movie version. It premiered in Atlanta, Georgia in January, 2011 and it concerns Campbell, a cheerleader at Truman High School who becomes president of the cheerleaders. Her greatest wish is to become president of the cheerleaders and win the championship. However there is a redistricting plan that forces her to go to Jackson High School which doesn’t have a cheerleading squad. Whatever will Campbell do at her new school? Will she win the new street wise kids over or be shunned her senior year? A leprechaun outfit figures heavily in her future at Jackson High School in “That’s My Girl” song and as she hits some bumps along the road at her new school, this show teaches us to play fair with people, treat them decently and how to finally and most importantly get along with each other with all our differences. It also examines bullying, depression, stress and peer pressure and how twenty years in the future these blips from high school won’t matter at all. Hendricken’s Summer Stage show is directed flawlessly by Peter Mancuso Class of 2015 who recently graduated from NYU with a degree in film study. His blocking of this musical is meticulous and well thought out. It is musically directed by Ryan Cox class of 2014. Choreographers Danielle Grilli and Teresa Pearson create some terrific cheer leading routines, hip hop dances and tumbling that leave the audience cheering in the aisles. It is not only high energy but teaches everyone how they should behave towards each other.