Reviewed by Tony Annicone

 

Mansfield Arts and Music Society’s first show in 2017 is “Our Town”, Thorton Wilder’s 1938 Pulitzer Prize winning play. The show tells the life of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire from 1901 to 1913. This version is intimate, engaging and timely. It features a female stage manager who not only explains the actions of the characters but becomes part of the show herself. Through the use of flashbacks, dialogue and direct monologues, the other characters reveal themselves to the audience, walk through the audience and interact with them at times. Director Adam Joy picks the best performers to play these roles and molds them into these townsfolk that the audience can identify with. He has them pantomiming the props and handles the transitions from scene to scene beautifully. Adam makes its message to live each day to the fullest ring true in the 21st century, too.

Dori Bryan-Ployer is dynamic as the Stage Manager. She plays her part with great energy and conviction, commanding the stage in this role. Dori sets up the scenes of the show and tells the other characters what to do. She plays all her characters excellently, moving in and out of the scenes with ease. The main characters of “Our Town” are George Gibbs, a doctor’s son and Emily Webb, a newspaper editor’s daughter. The play covers their lives together from childhood to courtship and marriage to death with a funeral at the end of the show. They are next door neighbors who look at the moon and the stars from their respective bedroom windows. Michael Bradley does a wonderful job with the dramatic and comic moments, transforming himself from young boy to teen and finally into adulthood. His nervousness at the wedding and his talk with his in-laws on the same day are very funny. His crying at the grave scene is brilliantly done. Cj Hawes plays Emily and shines in this role. She makes you laugh at her young girl antics in Act 1 and then tears your heart out with the poignant graveyard revelation in Act 3. Her reflection back on her 12th birthday tugs at your heartstrings. Her relationship with George comes through strongly especially in the argument in the soda shop and in the wedding scene.

The roles of the parents are played wonderfully, too. Katia Greene as Mrs. Webb and Rachel Morandi as Mrs. Gibbs do incredible work with their miming in the cooking of the breakfast scenes. They actually look like they are using real food in them. They also show the warmth between mother and child as well as husband and wife. Patrick Murphy and Ty Waterman as Mr. Webb and Dr. Gibbs play their roles very well, too. Ty has a funny scene with George when he tells him that his mother has been chopping the fire wood when it is really George’s responsibility. Patrick also has a funny one with George on their wedding day by telling him what his father told him on how to have a successful marriage. Mr. Webb ignored his dad’s advice and had a successful marriage ever since. The younger siblings are well played by Elinor Ault as the pesky, Rebecca Gibbs who bothers her brother when he is flirting with Emily at his bedroom window in Act 1 and Thomas Stapleton as Wally Webb. (A tear jerking moment occurs during brother and sister in the last act. )Three scene stealers in the show are Greg Smith as Simon Stimson, the drunken choir director, Will Candler as Professor Willard and Shannon Dwyer as Mrs. Soames. He directs the choir, yells at them and leads them in “Blessed Be the Tie That Bind” which leads to much laughter. The song is also sung at the wedding and funeral with much different results at each of them. Will is a hoot as he describes Grover’s Landing directly to the audience. Shannon is hilarious as Mrs. Soames who likes to gossip with the other ladies after choir rehearsal and in the wedding scene tells the audience what a lovely wedding it is during the sacred vows of the couple. So for a splendid look back at a Pulitzer Prize winning play that still resonates with contemporary audiences, be sure to catch “Our Town” at the Black Box at MMAS. Tell them Tony sent you.

OUR TOWN (20 January to 5 February)

MMAS, 377 North Main Street, Mansfield, MA

1(508)339-2822 or www.mmas.org

 

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

 

Beacon Charter High School’s current show is “The Addams Family”, a musical which ran on Broadway for 722 performances and is a sentimental tribute to Charles Addams’ beloved characters. This macabre tale explores the deliciously dark world of Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandma, Uncle Fester, Lurch, and Thing. This weird and wonderful family is every father’s nightmare.

Read more ““THE ADDAMS FAMILY” (Beacon Charter High School for the Arts)”

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

 

JMG Theater’s current show at the Arctic Playhouse is “I Hate Hamlet” by Paul Rudnick. Andrew Rally seems to have it all, celebrity, a long running TV series, a beautiful, rich girlfriend, a devoted agent, a perfect New York apartment once owned by John Barrymore and a chance to play Hamlet in Central Park.

Read more ““I HATE HAMLET” Arctic Playhouse, JMG Theater (Warwick, RI)”

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

 

The current show at Epic Theatre Company is “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, written by Tennessee Williams. The show first opened on Broadway on March 24, 1955 starring Ben Gazzara, Barbara Bel Geddes and Burl Ives. In 1958, it was turned into a movie starring Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor and Burl Ives.

Read more ““CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF” Epic Theatre Company (Cranston, RI)”

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

 

2nd Story Theatre’s first show of 2017 is “Seascape” by Edward Albee. Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comic-drama brings eloquence, wit and warmth to a quirky yet compelling examination of the meaning of life. On a deserted beach, a middle-aged couple encounter two humanesque sea creatures contemplating the evolutionary leap to dry land. Ironically, it’s the couple, for whom existence has grown flat and routine, who hold the answers to the inquisitive amphibians’ naive yet probing questions. Director Ed Shea takes himself and his talented cast on a journey to show how the couples can learn how to live with each other in understanding and compassion. An important message is not to fear someone else due to appearances or difference of opinions and beliefs. He and the rest of the cast deliver sensational performances in this terrific show.

Ed does double duty as director and playing the lead role of Charlie. He does a splendid job in this role as he changes his mind when confronted by his wife and later the two visitors. Susie Bowen Powers excellently plays his wife, Nancy with her enormous amount of dialogue and has the funniest one liners in Act 1, while putting her husband in his place. They have grown apart throughout the years wanting different things but their meeting this strange couple on the beach, awakens them from their doldrums in new and interesting ways. The second act becomes a comic romp when the two amphibian creatures question their human counterparts. Chuck Lafond as Leslie and Valerie Westgate as Sarah, make this very different looking into characters the audience can readily relate to and are excellent in their roles. They want to leave their watery home and venture into new and uncharted territory. Their inquisitiveness arouses the deep seated feelings that the older couple has hidden for many years, bringing both couples into a new and better understanding of each other and their respective spouses and hopefully to understand each other. This is an astounding and pertinent message for the United States during this turbulent political unrest to try to accept each other for our differences and not condemn someone for those very things. So for a look at a prize winning show that still resonates with contemporary audiences forty two years later, be sure to catch “Seascape” at 2nd Story Theatre before time runs out.

SEASCAPE (13 January to 5 February)

2nd Story Theatre, 28 Market Street, Warren, RI

1(401)247-4200 or www.2ndstorytheatre.com

 

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

 

The second show of the 96th season of Community Players is “Rabbit Hole” by David Lindsey-Abaire, which won him the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for drama in 2007. Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a family could want until a shattering accident turns their world upside down and leaves them drifting perilously apart. The show is a comic drama that focuses on a couple trying to cope with the death of their only child, a four year old son, in a car accident, while Becca’s well meaning mother and off-kilter sister attempt to lift their spirits and deal with their problems, each in her inimitable way. The couple’s lives are further complicated when Jason, the young driver who killed their son contacts them seeking closure. Jason has written a story about quantum immortality where there is a place where ”rabbit holes” lead to parallel universes. However, the theme of this play is the way people handle grief including the death of a child and a suicide of a family member and not about the theory or search for quantum immortality. Director Eric Barbato casts the best five performers in these well written roles.

Eric brings out the comic and dramatic emotions in his talented cast. This play shows how to find hope even in the darkest moments and to find the path to the light of day again. Tammy Mulrooney is wonderful in this show as Becca. She tries to stay busy to take her mind off the family tragedy. The show opens with her folding the clothes of her four year old son, Danny and you gradually learn what has happened during her conversation with her younger sister, Izzy. Tammy displays Becca’s controlled anger and grief which simmer beneath the surface at times. Becca finally explodes at a mother in a supermarket who ignores her five year who wants a fruit roll up, by slapping her face. In one of the poignant moments in the show, she finally breaks down crying when Jason discusses his prom and Becca finally finds closure at this moment. I last reviewed Tammy in “Little Women” at MMAS last year. Dan Fisher plays her husband, Howie excellently. He tries to woo Becca to pick up her spirits by rekindling their physical relationship. When she doesn’t want to do this, he deals with his grief by watching a videotape of Danny. Howie becomes enraged when Becca accidentally erases part of the tape by recording footage of a tornado on the Weather Channel. Dan’s most emotional moment occurs when he breaks down in tears during their argument scene near the end of Act 1. This is where Howie feels Becca is trying to erase the memory of Danny from their lives.

 

Hollie DiOrio is hilarious as Izzy who constantly eats throughout the show. Izzy always wants to be the center of attention and to cheer Becca up, tells her how she punched a fat woman in the mouth. She also tells her that she’s moving in with her  boy friend, Augie but these stories don’t cheer Becca up at all. Izzy is also puzzled when Howie and Becca give her a bathroom set for her birthday. Holly’s most dramatic scene occurs with Dan when she accuses Howie of seeing another woman which Izzy learned from her waitress friend. Becky Minard has a comic role as the mother, Nat. Izzy and Nat are very much alike with them both liking to drink a lot and saying inappropriate things. Her comic highlight occurs during the story about the “Kennedy Curse” where rich people act stupid and want to make things make sense. There is dramatic one when Nat shares her past grief with them. She explains grief is an overwhelming, isolating heavy feeling that never goes away. It’s heavy like a brick. Becky has a funny story about Danny eating chocolate covered expresso beans one time and running all over the place. Hollie and Becky handle the levity needed to balance the heavy moments along the way.  Raymond Fournier rounds out the cast as the teenaged driver of the car, Jason. So for a terrific look at a contemporary play that audiences can readily relate to, be sure to catch this well written and well acted show, “Rabbit Hole” at Community Players.

RABBIT HOLE (6 to 15 January)

The Community Players, Jenks Auditorium, 350 Division Street, Pawtucket, RI

1(401)726-6860 or www.thecommunityplayers.net

 

 

“FINGERSMITH” — Adapted play by Alexa Junge, based on the novel by Sarah Waters; Directed by Bill Rauch; Set design by Christopher Acebo; Costume design by Deborah Dryden, Lighting Design by Jen Schriever; Composer/Sound design by Andre Pluess; Projection design by Shawn Sagady; Wigs & Makeup design by Rachel Padula Shufelt. Presented by American Repertory Theater at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge through January 8th.

 

by Susan Daniels

 

“Fingersmith” is a love story that pushes against societal norms, gender, and sexual orientation, although, initially, many viewers are unlikely to think of it that way. Instead, they probably would describe it as a story about a scrappy pickpocket who helps a raffish rogue swindle a gullible, young heiress out of her inheritance. Actually, both perspectives are valid in this provocative piece filled with numerous threads that twist and turn toward blind alleys and decamp down dead ends.

Read more “A.R.T.’s ‘Fingersmith’ a Masterwork of Deception”

 

by Michele Markarian

 

“The Tempest”, by William Shakespeare.  Directed by Allyn Burrows.  Presented by Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Willet Hall at United Parish, 210 Harvard Street, Brookline, through January 8.

 

“The Tempest”, allegedly Shakespeare’s last play written solely by him, is a tale of redemption through revenge and ultimately, forgiveness.  Prospero (the formidable Marya Lowry), the former Duchess of Milan, has had her dukedom usurped by her scheming brother Antonio (Thomas Grenon), who, twelve years ago, with the aid of Alonso’s army, tossed her and her child Miranda (the coltish Lydia Barnett-Mulligan) into a small boat that washed ashore on a remote island.  The island is deserted but for two inhabitants – the magical Ariel (in a multi-faceted performance by Samantha Richert, who manages to be both elegant and impish) and Caliban (Jesse Hinson), the undesirable son of a witch.  When Prospero sees that her former tormentors – Antonio, Alonso, Queen of Naples (the versatile Mara Sidmore), her brother Sebastian (Michael Forden Walker) and her son Ferdinand (the excellent Kai Tshikosi) are at sea, she conjures up a tempest to avenge wrongs done to her.

Read more “Gentle Redemption in ASP’s “The Tempest””

By CJ Williams

 

‘Matchless and The Happy Prince’ – Written  and adapted by Gregory Maguire; Cast and Sound –  Tess Degan,  Raya Malcolm, Marc Pierre, Alan White; Scenic and Puppetry Designed by David Fichter; Sets by Will Cabell; Lighting by John Malinowski; Stage Management by Katherine Humbert. Presented by Central Square’s Studio Theater and Produced by The Underground Railway Theater at Central Square Theater, 450 Mass. Ave. Cambridge, through December 31.

 

“Matchless” is a quick but immediately engaging jaunt into theatrical wonder, and its innovative use of the intimate space at Central Square Theater, props, puppets, and its actors’ versatility bring the fairy tale world vividly to life. The story – Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of the little match girl – is adapted by well-known “Wicked” author, Gregory Maguire, and is presented in conjunction with Oscar Wilde’s short fairy tale “The Happy Prince”. In the first, a small girl tries to sell matches on a frigid winter night, her only warmth a ragged shawl, and her dead mother’s shoes – she loses the shoes in a near-collision in the street, and desperate, unable to sell her wares, strikes matches for warmth. In “Prince”, the statue of a once-living, selfish young royal watches the pains of humanity from his pedestal – and though his heart is now lead, it aches as it never did when it was flesh and he lived in his palace, isolated from the sufferings of others. He gives up his eyes (sapphires) to save a mother and her child, to aid a struggling writer, etc. But it is a little swallow who forgoes his migration to Egypt that runs his errands of charity; and the cold finally catches the brave little bird, just as it catches the little match girl. While the two stories might seem a stretch to match, the crew at Central Square have linked them well.

 

Part of the consistency and believability derive from the use of that small cast. Multiple characters are played by one performer — for example, newcomer Raya Malcolm is charming and tragic as both the swallow in “Prince” and the Little Matchgirl (while also playing 2 or 3 supporting roles as well). Likewise, Marc Pierre plays the young boy, Frederik, in “Matchless”, while also holding down the part of the Prince.

 

It is a show pitched to families and young children. After reading the plot summary, you might be wondering where this tragedy fits with holiday heartiness, or could possibly appeal to little ones. But one highlight of the show that simply can’t be summed up in a report of the plot is narrative framing, and the creative use of found objects, light, shadow, and the deft voices of the actors, to tell the story. This gentle and light-hearted framing bring in the sadness of the two stories without falling under it. Like many fairy stories, the fantastic and the distant give the audience detachment enough to enjoy the play of light and shadow — and that play is quite literal here too, as we get to see shadow-puppets and silhouettes on screens act our portions of the play.
I won’t spoil the endings of both stories – or exactly how they’re matched, but if you’re looking for an hour and half visual wonder, you couldn’t do much better than a few seats at “Wicked” author, Gregory Maguire. Better still, bring the kids — and enjoy the chance to meet the cast at the end, play with the puppets and props, and experience some heart-warming reminders of what heals a broken heart. For more info, go to: https://www.centralsquaretheater.org/shows/matchless-happy-prince-2016/

 

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Hanover Theatre’s holiday presentation this year is the ninth annual production of “A Christmas Carol” adapted and directed by Troy Siebels. The historic Hanover Theatre is a jewel of a theatre hidden away in Worcester and is breathtakingly gorgeous and splendiferous. It first opened in 1904 as a burlesque theatre, in 1926 as a movie theatre and in 2008 as a gorgeous show place that needs to be discovered by one and by all. The Theatre seats 2300 people and 19,000 patrons discovered this musical version of the show last year. Troy once again has a huge cast of 30. The underlying themes of charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence found in “A Christmas Carol” are universal and are relevant to people of all religions and backgrounds.

In his version, Troy uses a grown up Tim Cratchit as the narrator of this familiar tale of miserly, curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge. It is the classic tale of this stingy, miser on the road to his redemption. Originally written in the winter of 1843, this show still resonates with audiences, one hundred and seventy three years later. Scrooge is visited by his dead partner, Jacob Marley who has been dead for seven years on Christmas Eve as well as the ghosts of the Past, Present and Future. who hope to change his destiny and save his soul. This marvelous musical adaptation is full of many special effects, timeless music, colorful sets and gorgeous costumes. This musical treat follows Scrooge on his strange and magical journey, where he finally discovers the true Christmas spirit at last. The combination of Troy’s, music director, Timothy Evans and choreographer Ilyse Robbins hard work, creates a phenomenal retelling of this classic story. A standing ovation is their reward on a job extremely well done. Bravo!

Troy obtains laughter and some tears on Scrooge’s journey to redemption by blending the dramatic and comic moments together splendidly. Troy keeps the action of the show flowing smoothly from scene to scene. He ends the show with the cast singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as the snow falls on both the performers and the audience. Timothy plays a Wurlitzer organ and picked the most lovely Christmas carols for the cast to sing in this version. The dance numbers by Ilyse stop the show with their expert execution of this talented cast, especially in the show’s opening “Deck the Halls”, the Fezziwig dance scene, “Greensleeves” as Fred’s party waltz and in “Ding Dong, Merrily on High.” The two other marvelous numbers are “Pattapan” and “Wassail” as well as the show stopping Act 2 opening men’s chorus dance in “The Boar’s Head Carol” which is breathtaking. I recently reviewed Ilyse’s current musical “Mame” at Stoneham Theatre which she directed as well as choreographed. The incredible London sets are by James Krozner while the fabulous, gorgeous authentic costumes are by Gail Astrid Buckley.

Jeremy Lawrence returns in triumph for his fifth year of playing Ebenezer Scrooge. He plays this miserly curmudgeon excellently and commands the stage in this role. Jeremy excels in the comic scenes especially in “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” when he yells at the caroler as well as when he yells at the two solicitors. He’s also funny when he boxes his robe. However it is in the dramatic scenes that are the most memorable including Fan’s death, the break-up with Belle, the witnessing the dead body of himself under a blanket, the death of Tiny Tim and in his transformation that the pathos pours out to the audience. It leaves them and myself in tears. His exuberance when he awakens on Christmas morning is stunning to behold as he dances with joyous rapture. The audience learns that Scrooge has become a better man by learning from the past, present and the future. Bravo on your fifth year as this iconic character!

The four Ghosts do a marvelous job in this show, too. Marc Gellar is wonderful as Jacob Marley. He scares not only Scrooge but every person in the audience as he appears on the scene. The chains fall from the ceiling with a clang to the floor.  Marley flies to the top of Scrooge’s bed and around the stage with fog and colorful lighting. He hovers over Scrooge’s bed with huge chains and warns him to reform his miserly ways or suffer Marley’s fate these past seven years. Marc’s delivery of these lines is frightening to behold. The spectacular flying effects are handled by California based company ZFX. Christmas Past is portrayed by Tori Heinlein, a beautiful blonde who has a lovely singing voice in her two songs, “The Holly and the Ivy” and “In the Bleak Midwinter.” In the first number she does a dance with two girls. She chides Scrooge as he watches his younger self enjoying and loving Christmas with his sister, Fan when she arrives to take him home and again at Fezziwig’s party when he fell in love with Belle. Tori’s strong line delivery is powerful as she takes Scrooge on his journey of enlightenment. This is her sixth time being in this show. She started it when she was 8 and is now 16.

Young Scrooge is wonderfully played by Devin DeAngelis as is Abigail Harris as little Fan. Brian Hunter is wonderful as Young Ebenezer especially in the break up scene. Lea Nardi is terrific as Belle, playing it with a great deal of warmth and charm. Their break up scene is gut wrenching to observe as she hands him back the engagement ring. The jolly employer and his wife are splendidly played by Steve Gagliastro and Shonna Cirone. They shine as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig. They lead the party festivities with gusto, bringing the necessary comic relief at this point of the show. Steve is fantastic, having seen him perform this role for the sixth time. Shonna is hilarious especially when she yells at the guests to be quiet so her husband can make a toast. Their song and dance “Wassail” stop the show with merriment as Scrooge and Christmas Past join in it. Also the end of Act 1 is perfectly portrayed with spot lights on a tableau of the Fezziwigs, young Scrooge and Fan, young Ebenezer and Belle and the Narrator with Scrooge back in his bed.

Christmas Present is fabulously played by the multitalented Christopher Chew. I reviewed him before as Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady” last year and the title role of  Sweeney Todd in 2014 at Lyric Stage in Boston. Christopher is the dominant presence in this show while he spreads good cheer. He teaches Scrooge an important lesson on how to treat his fellow man and uses Scrooge’s words against him. The Ghost cajoles Scrooge while he shows him the plight of the Cratchit family and how his nephew, Fred is spending Christmas day. Andrew Crowe is marvelous as Fred. He brings a comic touch to the role, infusing him with personality and energy. He is hilarious when he puts more coal in Scrooge’s heater and is comical during the party scene. His wife, Millie is excellently played by gorgeous, brunette, Laura DeGiacomo. They have some clever banter during the party scene. Laura’s fabulous soprano voice is heard in the tear jerking, “Little Tiny Child” in the death of Tiny Tim sequence. She and Andrew have terrific chemistry together. Two of their best friends in the show, Topper and Suzannah are excellently played by Kevin Hadfield who returns in triumph to this role and Alison Russo whom I have been reviewing since she was in high school back in 2009. They are marvelous in these comic roles as well as being excellent vocalists and dancers. The Ghost of the Future is enormous and is dressed in a huge black robe. This puppet like creature scares the crap out of the audience as he shows Scrooge the fate that will befall him unless he repents his terrible ways. The Ghost accomplishes this by having Scrooge observe the Old Joe scene, the death of Tiny Tim and Scrooge’s own gravestone.

The narrator is terrifically played by Bill Mootos for the eighth time. He is remarkable as the grown up Tim who weaves the story together and tugs on your heartstrings when he reveals he is the adult Tim Cratchit. Bill is perfect as this character and commands the stage in this role. The Cratchit family members do a remarkable job, too. Tyler Belmon as Bob handles the comic moments trying to put a piece of coal in the heater in the first scene, laughing nervously and being shocked by Scrooge’s transformation in the last scene. He does a nice job in the death of Tiny Tim sequence. Annie Kerins returns for the eighth time as Mrs. Cratchit and she shines in this role, as the caring, doting mother. She and Tyler display their powerful singing voices and dancing prowess, too. Annie is very comical when she won’t toast the old miser but becomes properly dramatic and chokes you up during the Tim death scene. Other family members include Zoe Ann Stewart as Martha, Madi Shaer as Belinda and Carter Siebels as Peter. Carter is comical when he begs Bob to carve the goose and then comments on how delectable it looks. First grader Gavin Bergman plays Tiny Tim wonderfully and delivers the “God Bless Us, Everyone” with gusto. Other comic performers include Stephanie Carlson as Mrs. Dilber, who delivers Scrooge’s gruel and sells his bed clothes, Marc Gellar also plays Old Joe and Amiee Doherty as the laundress. A word of praise to the whole cast and crew on a job very well done. So to get into the Christmas spirit, be sure to catch “A Christmas Carol” at the beautiful Hanover Theatre. Tell them Tony sent you. Run do not walk to the box office before this show sells out completely.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (16 to 23 December)
Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA
1(877)571-SHOW or www.thehanovertheatre.org