Well all of my people..... I finally had to switch from blogging to facebook :/ Quite sad. I just only know family who blogs and I need to present my reviews to more people. (No offense Katie... You are my regular.) So I might still keep this blog going but I will have to see how busy I get. ~Din

Welcome to Summer

Hello all....... Welcome to Summer Vacation! Well sad to say my internship with playhouse square has ended for a time and so therefore there will be no more reviews on Plays. Now other things there might be. I may post pics from a trip I made to Hawaii, then maybe write a review on a new movie or something. Finally, I may even post my Spanish videos on here. I will have to see how important it is to me and how much time I have. Please check back at least once a month and see if I have any updates for you. Thanks, God bless and message/e-mail me.

~Din

“When” Will It Be Over?!?!

Have you even been somewhere when you find yourself checking the clock every five minutes in hopes that time may have passed? That is exactly the way I felt Tuesday night as I sat through An Evening with Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin.

The opening scene was a piece from the musical Company. This song quickly gave me an idea of which path the show was going to take. Lupone and Patinkin seemed to be looking into their pasts for songs and story lines. The romance that went on between them always seemed a little too complicated for their ages. I pictured a young couple in their shoes for almost every number. At one point in the play, Lupone and Patinkin brought out desk chairs on wheels and did a little dance while sitting. Although this is a creative idea, I picture my younger brothers and sister doing the same thing, but doing it better.

When Lupone finally sang her solo from “Gypsy,” the theatre was filled with thunderous clapping. Very curious how an audience will award an actress credit for so very little talent. Perhaps this audience felt obligated to give Lupone recognition for her many years of performing this song. Her vocals did not seem quite as impressive as they may have been years ago. It is very sad to see her up there unable to hold a note through the end and at times have difficulty reaching a note. To add to all this, her final gestures at the end of the song seemed out of place. She had already stopped singing when the music became very loud and a soft spot light encircled her as she raised her hands toward the sky. I personally feel like she was looking for applause.

In productions I have seen recently, they have provided the audience with something to talk about. Either their costumes were grand or the scenery spectacular, or hopefully the singing and acting just blew the crowd away. Sometimes it is difficult to please this generation without it being on the big screen, but this year there have been many enjoyable productions that can be ranked as high as some recent films. An Evening with Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin is not one of those. It seemed as if their set had gone back in time from the lack of creativity and originality. Also, they were both dressed in black the entire evening. It almost felt as if they were going to a funeral. For me, the costumes were just as boring. Now possibly these views are only from my younger perspective, but a woman near me, who had probably seen Lupone and Patinkin in their years of fame, commented that this production was “O.K.” Apparently, this production was not enjoyable for any age.

If you don’t trust my review and desire to go see An Evening with Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin, it is now playing at Playhouse Square from the 5th- 17th. Go to playhousesquare.com for more information.

Spamalot

The humor in Spamalot had me almost rolling out of my chair and close to peeing in my pants like the “Brave Sir Robin” did in many of the scenes. The only reason why such a corny play can be so entertaining is because of the creativity involved. There aren’t very many productions out there like Spamalot and therefore the unique plot captivates many audiences. Spamalot can be described as a spoof on “the arts.” In the musical number “The Song That Goes Like This”, the cast members sing a song that sounds like it would be the song that “starts of soft and low and ends with a kiss.” In reality they can’t wait for the song to end and are continually making comments on how the song irritates them.

As in most theatrical productions at Playhouse Square, the acting highly impressed me. The Lady of the Lake played by Merle Dandridge, had a voice that could reach many graceful octaves during supposedly “serious” numbers, while at other times her tone appeared more modern. Her voice was comparable to Mariah Carey’s or Whitney Houston’s. Dandridge’s acting also gained my attention when she was able to define her character even in song. Her skill in vocals and comedy made her the most appropriate woman for the part.

My favorite comedians in Spamalot were probably Patsy played by Jeff Dumas and Sir Robin played by James Beaman. Dumas was a master at producing horse sound effects with coconut halves. Although he had only a few lines, he surprised the audience with his few, but hysterical, words of wisdom. In the second act, Beaman began his comedy and throughout the play never stopped adding to the performance. His solo song “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway” finalized my view of him as a talented actor and comic.

Although the humor in Spamalot had me roaring with laughter, the writers went slightly over board with the sexually jokes. I could have done without a few of those scenes and the plot of the play would not have been spoiled. In my opinion, there were a few too many crude body movements and middle finger gestures, especially in the French Castle scene.

I was also disappointed in the number of scenes in which the other female actresses seemed to lose their clothes. Ending up in a bikini at the end of every scene does not constitute good acting. Women are worth so much more and it saddens me to not see their talent accurately displayed.

The best part of the entire play was the fact that the cast interacted with the audience and made them sing, dance and laugh right along with the show! I truly loved watching the amusing and engaging performance of Spamalot. Spamalot is showing from March 31st, 2009 to April 5th, 2009. To buy tickets and for more information go to playhousesquare.com.

Hi!

Hello all! I feel like it has been forever since I have talked to you guys or heard from any of you. Just sitting at home, enjoying the peace and quiet of life.

Hello all my readers........

As you may have noticed, I do not have a review for the month of March.
It just so happens that this month, the play was Spring Awakening.
I heard that it tends to be blunt.
Apparently it is all about teenagers "awakening" to their sexuality.
For this reason I requested that I be allowed to skip this production.
Sorry to all who will miss it.
Thanks for your encouragement!
~Din

You Can’t Stop the Beat of Hairspray!

Grab that hairspray and boost that crazy “doo!” Tonight at Playhouse Square you will need all the hold you can get to keep that hair up while you dance and sing along with the songs from Hairspray!

Although some of the acting and singing from the performance of Hairspray was moderate, most of the actors had amazing talent. Christian White (Seaweed), Jerry O’Boyle (Edna Turnblad), and Amber Rees (Penny) either had the audience rolling with laughter or had the ability to make their characters complex with a little dialogue and a few songs. Certain performers like Matthew Ragas (Link) and Yvette Monique Clark (Seaweed’s mother) possessed phenomenal voices, which were essential to eliminate the tragic sound of Erin Sullivan’s screechy voice. Brooklynn Pulver (Tracy) was a blast to watch! Her dance moves combined with her fun personality allowed everyone to admire her and everything she did. The overall dancing of the cast was astonishing! The ways that they could twirl, pop, and twist just blew my mind.

Add to the lighthearted dancing a colorful and bright display and I don’t see how anyone could not delight in Hairspray. Every set change brought with it new hairstyles and different shades of pink and blue. Compared to the sets of other productions, I was impressed with the scenery from the opening to the fall of the curtain.

Despite the fact that Hairspray leans toward the side of a “chick-flick”, the underlying points touched deeper issues. Tracy is told by her father to work hard for what she wants therefore, Tracy pursues her dreams with enthusiasm and faith. If every teenager lived life following after their hopes, with Tracy’s passion, this world would be filled with a great generation of hardworking people. Also, this production emphasized the idea that the inward appearance of a human being matters more than the outward appearance. In the end, the talented and diligent people gained love and fame, while the “pretty elite” lost it all. In today’s day and age, girls and boys need to embrace this philosophy on life.

Hairspray was entertaining to the entire audience, due to its family atmosphere and clean storyline. It was perfect for the young viewer and also engaging for the adult audience. Everyone was singing by the end of the production and ready to dance. I just can’t seem to “Stop The Beat” even hours after the show! This is definitely one of my top picks for the 2009 Playhouse Square Season.

Hairspray now showing at Playhouse Square from February 6th- February 8th.
Go to playhousesquare.com for more information and contact numbers.

Frost/Nixon- The Watergate Debate

BOOM! That is the first sound I heard the evening of Frost/Nixon. The loud noise opened the setting for the live debate of David Frost and Richard Nixon. As I sat in the audience, three things came to my attention about the performance. First, the sound effects; second, the large television screen; and third, the single desk in the middle of the stage. A few other props throughout the performance, such as airplane seats, interview chairs, and hotel couches, replaced the famous desk set in the middle of the oval office. Every new scene required a different chair. This minor set change was enhanced by the enormous television screen in the background. It would show clips pertaining to the current theme. For example when the characters commented on their drive to Nixon’s villa, the screen showed a normal drive in the California area. It was enjoyable and entertaining to see this “live” video footage. I must remark again in regard to the noises made throughout the show. Although the microphones of the actors were quite low, making it almost difficult to hear, extra volume was applied to certain events to enhance the importance of a significant part. Whenever the interviews with Nixon began an earsplitting noise declared “lights, set, action!”

Without the acting, Frost/Nixon would have been extremely boring. The few times the story line began to waver, Alan Cox (David Frost), Stacy Keach (Richard Nixon), or Brian Sgambati (Jim Reston) brought the audience back to the story with funny political jokes or thought provoking arguments. The contrast of character between Nixon and Frost was so great that it was humorous watching their different stories and lives intertwine. The “playboy TV host” verses the “serious President” in a debate about political views would definitely hold the attention of anyone. What could be more interesting than completely opposite men discussing everything from Italian shoes to politics?

The generation that lacked firsthand knowledge of the Watergate trial may have found the performance slightly boring at times. But those who had witnessed the famous debate live were gripped by the shows authenticity. Even I found myself curious about the entire story of Watergate. Instead of history being shoved down my throat, it was presented in an appealing way with skillful actors. If only history class could be that entertaining! Besides history I found it fascinating how words were carefully used to provoke others to say hidden things. Frost and Nixon found ways of speaking that boggled my mind and proved to me that any debate can be as interesting as a music video.

In conclusion, Frost/Nixon will arouse a desire in most people to learn more about the history of Watergate and the power of public speech. Frost/Nixon playing at Playhouse Square January 13th- 25th. Go to playhousesquare.com or call (216) 771-4444 for more information.

RENT- Overpriced? No. Overrated? Yes!

My high expectations were destroyed this Tuesday by the highly rated performance of RENT showing at Playhouse Square. I went in with an open mind and left with a depressed spirit.

Some positive points may have brought enjoyment to the show, but the amount of innuendo, vulgar actions, and curse words, distracted me from the main plot. I found myself so busy trying to ignore the disturbing dancing and sexual promiscuity that I had great difficulty finding pleasure in any of the story.

Most of the time the innuendos can be overlooked in any performance, but to add to that, I was also unable to relate with the characters. Although each of the actors had extreme talent in acting and singing (especially Lexi Lawson who played Mimi), their raw talents were wasted on roles that failed to draw me into the story. When a person watches a movie, he or she expects to esteem and identify with at least one of the characters. None of the characters in RENT possessed qualities admirable enough for me to love them. Even after the characters were fully developed, I still could not find a “hero” in any of their personalities.

The most disturbing part of RENT was the main theme. Every character considered their “happily ever after” to include sleeping in whoever’s bed was closest and smoking or drinking to take away all the left over pain. Their overall lifestyles had no moral standards. In reality the general population of the real world would never desire to live that way. Instead, people dream of a perfect, long-term relationship with one person, in a cozy house. Most of the world objects to the idea of self-centered humans living with a please yourself mentality. In RENT every so often the ideas of love, peace, and happiness came out in the actions of the characters, but those few glimpses hardly made up for the shortage of moral concepts. So considering the painful plot, a person thinking about seeing this show must ask themselves if in the end self-gratification can truly bring happiness?

RENT now showing at Playhouse Square from January 6th- 11th. For more information call: (216) 771-4444 or go to playhousesquare.com.

Heading Back to the Theatre!

Hello All! Just wanted to let you know that tonight I am going to see RENT. I m a little bit afraid of the content of this one..... Please pray for me, that I will have discernment and good judgment. Thanks and I love you guys!
~Din
P.S.- My review will be posted on Saturday so make sure to check back then.