The Aliens – Theatre on Fire (Charlestown Working Theater)

September 20, 2017September 20, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by James Wilkinson

‘The Aliens’ – Written by Annie Baker; Directed by Darren Evans; Costumes by Maureen Festa. Presented by Theatre on Fire at the Charlestown Working Theater, 442 Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown through October 7.

For the longest time, I avoided reading any of Annie Baker’s plays, though not because of any skepticism about their quality. What held me back was what I had heard about Baker’s naturalistic style. It seemed as though sitting in a chair and reading the words on the page could never compare to the performance experience. (Plays aren’t meant to be read anyway, but sometimes you take what you can get.)

ON GOLDEN POND, (The Arctic Playhouse)

September 18, 2017October 1, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The current show at the Arctic Playhouse is “On Golden Pond” by Ernest Thompson. It is the love story of 80 year old Norman Thayer and his wife, Ethel. They are returning to their summer home for their 48th year. It not only shows their relationship but the plot revolves around their 42 year old daughter, Chelsea, her dentist fiancee, his 13 year old smart mouth son and Chelsea’s former boyfriend from high school now a mailman. Directors Sandy Cerel and Chris Margadonna take this well written script and cast some wonderful performers which wins them a thunderous standing ovation at the close of the show.

Jim Belanger and Lloyd Felix designed and built the gorgeous rustic set for the show. It looks so realistic that you feel as if you could live in it. Terry Simpson plays the role of the lovable curmudgeon excellently. His role has many one liners which leave the audience in stitches. Some of the funniest include the slang learning scene with Billy and the illicit sex talk with Bill. He does a terrific job in this role. Sandy Cerel does double duty in the show, also playing Ethel, the doting and loving wife of Norman. She also has some comic moments while talking about the loons, arguing with Norman and a comic with Chelsea and Charlie while reminiscing about camp days of yore. Sandy’s best dramatic moments come when she argues with Chelsea about letting go of the past and when she thinks “her old poop” is dying on her.

The couple’s estranged daughter, Chelsea is well played by Cherylee Dumas. She handles the moments of growing up with a cold distant father who always wanted a son but finally accepts her at this late moment in his life. Cherylee handles the comic and dramatic moments of the character beautifully. Her scene with Sandy is electrifying and when she admits she loves Norman during the phone scene is poignant, too. Steve Dulude plays Bill, the dentist who is Chelsea’s boyfriend. Steve does a topnotch job especially when he puts Norman in his place after all his barbs that he flings at him. He tells him that he and Chelsea will be sleeping together in the cabin. Steve also has a comic one running away from the bear scene, too.

The smart aleck boy is excellently played by 13 year old, Ethan Clarke. His comic moments include the bull shitting and the suck face scenes and the fishing scene where he is bogged down with all the fishing gear. Ethan has a bright future in show business. Chris Verleger plays the constantly laughing and eating mailman wonderfully. He wins many laughs with Ethel in the first act and with Chelsea and Ethel in the second act while talking about delivering the mail at the camp. So for a superb comic show with some excellent dramatic moments entwined in it, be sure to catch “On Golden Pond” at the Arctic Playhouse. Tell them Tony sent you.

ON GOLDEN POND (29 September to 14 October)

The Arctic Playhouse, 117 Washington St, West Warwick, RI

1(401)573-3443 or www.thearcticplayhouse.com

‘Constellations’ Diagrams Love’s Infinite Possibilities

September 18, 2017September 5, 2024 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

‘Constellations’ – Written by Nick Payne Directed by Scott Edmiston; Susan Zeeman Rogers, Scenic Designer; Jeff Adelberg, Lighting Designer; Charles Schoonmaker, Costume Designer; Dewey Dellay, Sound Design & Composition. Presented by the Underground Railway Theatre at the Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge through October 8.

by Mike Hoban

In 1998, Miramax released Sliding Doors, a “parallel universe” themed film starring Gwyneth Paltrow, about a woman whose life takes two completely different paths based on whether or not she makes it onto a subway train before said doors close. As it turns out, it wasn’t much of a movie, but the idea of exploring how the direction that one’s life takes based on the outcomes of seemingly random situations was really intriguing. Constellations, the brilliantly conceived two-hander now being staged at Central Square by the Underground Railway Theatre, takes that concept, puts in on steroids and produces a work that is enormously clever as well as touching – thanks in large part to its gifted leads, Marianna Bassham and Nael Nacer.

“There’s A Burglar In My Bed’ – (Newport Playhouse)

September 17, 2017September 17, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Sue Nedar

The current offering from the award-winning Newport Playhouse is, “There’s A Burglar In My Bed’ by Michael Parker. “Burglar”, a fast-paced, madcap farce where timing is everything, is expertly directed by long-time Playhouse favorite, Tony Annicone.

I HATE MUSICALS, THE MUSICAL (Ivoryton Playhouse)

September 15, 2017September 30, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Ivoryton Playhouse’s latest musical is the world premiere of “I Hate Musicals.” “I Hate Musicals” features a script by Mike Reiss and new music by Walter Murphy who wrote the classic 1970’s song “A Fifth of Beethoven” which was used in “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack. Mike Reiss, who hails from Bristol, Connecticut and won an Emmy for the Simpsons creates a masterful script that leaves you laughing in the aisles.

“LOST IN YONKERS” (The Arctic Playhouse, West Warwick, RI)

September 14, 2017September 14, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Arctic Playhouse’s current show is Neil Simon’s 1991 Pulitzer Prize winning play, “Lost in Yonkers.” The show is set in 1942 and it examines the relationships in the emotionally crippled Kurnitz family. The show is a coming of age tale that focuses on brothers, Artie and Jay, left in the care of their Grandmother Kurnitz and Aunt Bella in Yonkers, NY. Their desperate father, Eddie, works as a traveling salesman to pay off debts incurred following the death of his wife. Grandma is a severe, frightfully intimidating immigrant who terrified her children as they were growing up, damaging them in varying degrees. Bella is a sweet but mentally slow and highly excitable woman who longs to marry the usher at a local movie house so she can escape the oppressive household. Bella’s brother, Louie is a small time, tough-talking hoodlum who is on the run, while sister, Gert suffers from a breathing problem whose cause is more psychological than physical. Neil Simon shows why the five adults in this show have become the way they are and how it affects the two teenage boys left in their midst. Directors Christian O’Brien and Eileen Goretaya blend the comic and dramatic moments together splendidly, leaving the audience laughing and crying at all the appropriate moments. With their direction, Christian and Eileen’s cast wins a thunderous standing ovation at the close of the show.

Lyric, Barrett Open Season With Winning “Gypsy”

September 13, 2017September 17, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

‘Gypsy’ – Music by Jules Styne, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Arthur Laurents. Directed and Choreographed by Rachel Bertone; Music Direction by Dan Rodriguez; Scenic Design by Janie E. Howland; Costume Design by Rafael Jaen; Lighting Design by Franklin Meissner, Jr. ; Sound Design by Andrew Duncan Will. Presented by Lyric Stage Company at 140 Clarendon St. through October 8.

The Lyric Stage opens its 2017-2018 season with a bang, tackling the (stage) mother of all musicals, Gypsy – widely regarded as one of musical theater’s greatest works – and delivering one of the year’s best musical productions. Fueled by a powerhouse performance by Boston favorite Leigh Barrett, Gypsy paints the seriocomic portrait of Rose Hovick, the fame-seeking mother of renowned Depression-era exotic dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, who wisecracked (and stripped) her way into the hearts of adoring burlesque house audiences across the nation.

New Rep’s ‘Ideation’ a Win-Win

September 10, 2017September 10, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian

‘Ideation’ – Written by Aaron Loeb. Directed by Jim Petosa. Presented by New Repertory Theatre, and Co-produced with Boston Center for American Performance at 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown through September 24.

“Ideation”, the Boston-area premiere of Aaron Loeb’s funny and terrifying play, has at its heartbeat the center of American, indeed, world, personhood – the corporation. An international consulting group has tasked its team of A-list high flyers to come up with a solution for a multi-layered situation that has troubling implications.

“DAMES AT SEA” at Greater Boston Stage

September 9, 2017September 10, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Greater Boston Stage Company, formerly Stoneham Theatre, newest show is “Dames At Sea”, a musical spoof of “42nd Street”, “Anything Goes” and “Singing in the Rain.” It is a musical with books and lyrics by George Haimshon and Robin Miller with music by Jim Wise. It’s a parody of 1930’s Busby Berkeley-style movie musicals in which a chorus girl gets off a bus from Utah to NYC, steps into a role on Broadway and becomes a star.

“A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED” – Renaissance City Theatre Co., Westerly, RI

September 9, 2017September 9, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Renaissance City Theatre Co., the producing entity of the Granite Theatre’s current show is “A Murder is Announced” by Agatha Christie adapted by Leslie Darbon for the stage. In this show an advertisement appears in the personal column in the local newspaper, announcing a murder will take place at the home of Miss Blacklock’s who is one of Miss Marple’s acquaintances. It turns out to not be a prank, and when two murders take place, Miss Marple and a detective have to work their way through a house full of suspects. Director John Cillino casts these roles beautifully, garnering splendid and well nuanced performances from them. He gives them many comic moments to liven things up as well as cliff hanger music to enhance the melodramatic endings to murderous moments.