MARY POPPINS (Marblehead Little Theatre)

June 25, 2017June 25, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome to the World of Walt Disney at Marblehead Little Theatre’s summer show, “Mary Poppins.” The show is based on the books by P.L. Travers and the 1964 movie starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. It shows anything can and will happen at #17 Cherry Hill Lane. The Broadway version opened on November 16, 2006, closed March 3, 2013 and ran for 2619 performances. The show was nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. It is now a full Broadway musical with 44 major awards worldwide.

In Gloucester Stage’s “The Effect”, Love is the Drug

June 22, 2017June 23, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

‘The Effect’ – Written by Lucy Prebble; Directed by Sam Weisman; Set & Projection Design by J. Michael Griggs; Costume Design by Miranda Kau Giurleo; Lighting Design by Russ Swift; Sound Design by David Remedios; Composer, Claudio Ragazzi; Choreography by Maurice Emmanuel Parent. Presented by the Gloucester Stage Company through July 8

Oh Oh, catch that buzz
Love is the drug I’m thinking of
Oh Oh, can’t you see
Love is the drug for me

“Love is the Drug” – 1975 single by Roxy Music

Is true love something that can be prescribed?

The Effect, now making its New England premiere at Gloucester Stage, asks that question, as Big Pharma guy Dr. Toby Sealey of Rauschen Pharmaceuticals hopes to create “a Viagra for the heart” as clinical trials for the experimental antidepressant with the unsexy name of RLU37 get underway. But as we soon find out, results are not always predictable whenever there’s a human element in the experiment, even in a sterile clinical setting.

“The Music Man” at Theatre by the Sea

June 21, 2017July 5, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

By Richard Pacheco

“The Music Man” is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey and is currently playing at Theatre by the Sea in a spirited, energetic and fun production. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys’ band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to the naive Iowa townsfolk, promising to train the members of the new band. Harold is no musician, however, and plans to skip town without giving any music lessons. Prim librarian and piano teacher Marian sees through him, but when Harold helps her younger brother overcome his lisp and social awkwardness, Marian begins to fall in love. Harold risks being caught to win her.

“BAGGAGE” (Newport Playhouse,)

June 21, 2017July 13, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

“BAGGAGE”
Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The current show at the Newport Playhouse is the romantic comedy “Baggage” by Sam Bobrick. Two difficult and single people, Bradley and Phyllis, both trying to heal from their respective disappointing relationships, get their luggage mixed up at the airport. After a very disagreeable first encounter, the two decide to help each other get over their heartaches by forcing a friendship that eventually leads to the two discovering that while they may be too difficult for everyone else in the world, but they are perfect for each other. Throw in an analyst who speaks directly to the audience as well as to Bradley and Phyllis and a kooky female friend of Phyllis and you have the ingredients for this very funny comedy.

ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS (Contemporary Theater Company, Wakefield, RI)

June 21, 2017July 21, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

“ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS”

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Contemporary Theater’s second comedy of their summer season is “One Man, Two Guvnors” by Richard Bean, an English adaptation of “Servant of Two Masters”, a 1743 Commedia dell’arte style comedy play by the Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni. The play changes the Italian locale to 1963 Brighton. Francis finds himself picking up a second job to just scrape together enough money to buy himself a pint. But he soon finds out that keeping his two bosses, rivals in the mob scene from finding out about each other is more trouble than he bargained for.

Delicious Storytelling Dished Up in “I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti”

June 20, 2017June 20, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian

“I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti.” Adapted by Jacques LaMarre from the memoir by Giulia Melucci. Directed by Ilyse Robbins . Presented by Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, through June 25.

“I can count on my breasts the number of times I’ve missed a meal”, Giulia (Kerri Jill Garbis) tells us. For Giulia, food is love, as she demonstrates by actually cooking dinner for eight guests onstage while telling us unfortunate stories from her love life. If you have an interest in food and a colorful romantic past, this is the show for you.

WEST SIDE STORY (Ivoryton Playhouse, CT)

June 20, 2017July 21, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

“WEST SIDE STORY”

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Ivoryton Playhouse’s summer musical is “West Side Story”, the classic 1957 musical hit. Based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, the story is as fresh and new to contemporary audiences as it was back in 1591 for the original play as it was in the 1950’s for the musical version. Hatred and violence don’t solve problems, they create new ones. Love and understanding of each other are the solutions to these problems not only in these shows but in real life. The well known story of Tony and Maria takes place in New York City. The outside forces of friends, enemies, gang members and adults keep them from fulfilling their dreams of everlasting happiness due to hatred and bigotry. This talented cast under the direction of Todd Underwood, delivers the goods in a powerful and poignant presentation with outstanding acting, singing and dancing which propels the audience to their feet at curtain call. Who could ask for anything more in this gut wrenching magnificent production at this historic theatre.

“YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU” (Community Players, Pawtucket, RI)

June 19, 2017July 10, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The final show of Community Players 96th season is “You Can’t Take It With You”, a 1937 Pulitzer prize winning comedy by Moss Hart and George F. Kaufman. Meet the Sycamore family, a collection of lovable eccentric incompetents who keep a printing press in the parlor, manufacture fireworks in the basement, are friends with an Ex-Grand Duchess, and includes a grandfather who doesn’t believe in paying taxes. When daughter, Alice falls in love with straight laced Tony Kirby and invites his conservative, high society parents to dinner, she orders her family to ”ordinary up”, which means act like normal people. As with most things in this wacky family, things don’t go exactly as planned. The important message is to live in the here and now, live life to the fullest and do whatever makes you happy. Director Patricia Hawkridge casts this huge show wonderfully. It is a positive and light hearted show that is definitely needed in these trying times we are living through now.

Flat Earth’s “Fat Pig” Artfully Combines Pain, Laughter

June 19, 2017June 24, 2017 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

“Fat Pig” Written by Neil LaBute. Directed by Juliet Bowler. Presented by The Flat Earth Theatre at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, Watertown, through June 24.

Flat Earth Theatre follows up their luminous (and Elliot Norton Award–winning) Silent Sky with another first-rate production, Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig, playing through next weekend (June 24). This dark dramedy details the unlikely romance between plus-sized librarian Helen, and Tom, a handsome (and thin) up-and-coming corporate guy. The two meet by chance in a crowded restaurant and the mutual attraction is evident early on, as Helen’s disarming and sexually-tinged wit draws Tom in, and he quickly finds himself smitten.

BLITHE SPIRIT (RISE Playhouse, Woonsocket, RI)

June 16, 2017June 16, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

RISE’s current production is “Blithe Spirit”, a farce by Noel Coward. This show focuses around the paranormal experience of Charles Condomine, a novelist and socialite of Kent, England. In search of inspiration for his new novel, Charles hires an eccentric medium for research purposes, and ends up in contact with the spirit of his first wife, Elvira, who makes her presence well known, much to the consternation of his second wife, Ruth. Add their doctor, his wife and a dippy, half-witted maid to the ingredients of this farce. At the time Coward wrote this play in 1941, England was in the grip of World War 2, and death was not a humorous topic.