Ogunquit Brings Back the ‘Bright Side of Life’ with Riotous ‘Spamalot’

June 22, 2021June 22, 2021 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Spamalot’, presented by Ogunquit Playhouse. Photo by Gary Ng

by Mike Hoban

‘Spamalot’ – Directed by BT McNicholl; Choreography by Jennifer Rias; Music Direction by Fred Lassen; Set Design by Nate Bertone; Lighting Design by Rich Latta; Sound Design by Kevin Heard; Costume Coordination by Jill Tarr. Presented by the Ogunquit Playhouse at 10 Main St, Ogunquit, ME through July 10^th.

If the CDC were to provide guidance on the musical best suited to break us out of the isolation and joylessness of the past 15 months, it would come as no surprise if Dr. Fauci recommended Spamalot,the 2005 Monty Python-inspired Broadway musical now playing at the Ogunquit Playhouse. This entertaining production is precisely the kind of silly fun needed to snap theatergoers out of our doldrums by reminding us of the joy of the shared experience of laughing out loud with a crowd of people. Worn down for too long by the pandemic and the increasingly toxic political landscape, Spamalot provides a salve to the psyche that the weightier classics (Cabaret, Ragtime, Fiddler etc.) just couldn’t deliver during this unique space in time.

Gloucester Stage’s ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ A Welcome Return to Live Theater

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Nael Nacer, Celeste Oliva, Adrian Peguero and Kelly Chick in ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ at at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts in Rockport. All photos by Jason Grow

by Mike Hoban

‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ – Written by Nia Vardalos. Based on the book by Cheryl Strayed. Co-Conceived by Marshall Heyman, Thomas Kail, & Nia Vardalos. Directed by Lyndsay Allyn Cox. Set Design by Kristin Loeffler; Lighting Design by Kat C. Zhou; Sound Design by Elizabeth Cahill; Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts in Rockport through June 27.

One of the only silver linings of having lived a life scarred by booze and drug addiction, physical/sexual abuse and abandonment is that surviving and healing from those horrors can provide a unique perspective that can be useful in helping others who have been similarly afflicted. It’s the model that 12-Step programs and other peer-to-peer support groups are built upon, and it’s also the premise of Tiny Beautiful Things, now being presented by Gloucester Stage outdoors at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts in Rockport. If you’re looking for a re-entry production that will remind you of the power and joy of experiencing live theatrical performance, this is the ticket.

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Theatre Magic in Seacoast Rep’s ‘Pippin’

June 15, 2021June 17, 2021 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Linda Chin

‘Pippin’ – Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz; Book by Roger O. Hirson; Director/Choreographer: Bryan Knowlton; Set Design: Ben Hart and Brandon James; Lighting Design: Kelly Gibson; Costume Design: DW. Presented by Seacoast Repertory Theatre, 125 Bow St, Portsmouth, NH through July 18

Seacoast Repertory Theatre’s production of Pippin – the story of a medieval prince‘s search for meaning and purpose in life told by a troupe of players – proves a fitting choice to open its 2021 summer season. It winningly combines Fosse flair with hometown heart, not at all surprising given director Bryan Knowlton’s experience as a Broadway performer, Seacoast veteran, and Portsmouth native. Pippin premiered on Broadway in 1972, enjoyed a 5-year run, and was not revived for 40 years, transferring to Broadway a year after originating at American Repertory Theatre in 2012.

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