“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.

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

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.

Clean…Yes! Spectacular…Maybe?

Do you “Need a Little Christmas” around this holiday time? Then it must be time get the whole family together and head on down to The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, now playing at PlayhouseSquare from December 4th- December 28th.

Radio City is generally known for the Rockettes. However, the Christmas Spectacular includes Santa Clause, Mrs. Clause, and a few extra dancers. Maybe you want to know the “storyline”. Well that is the problem I have been having for the past few hours. No defined plot exists between any of the characters. Of course there is dialogue, but it is minimal compared to the dancing. The segues seemed to just carry you from one number to the next without creating a climax.

Speaking of the dancing, that is one of the reasons why the production can be called “spectacular”. Every dance was perfect especially “Christmas Dreams” where everyone dressed in white. Once again that presented a problem. The audience could predict almost every move. First there was some dialogue. Then a small dance including Santa. Finishing with the Rockettes who always ended with their famous line-kick. It was very anticipated.

This production gave an interesting perspective on Christmas and Santa. Every dance had its own twist. For example every child loved the giant teddy bears, giant pandas, and the giant rag dolls. Also, no one can resist the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” done by the Rockettes. This was one of the times when their precision was very characteristic of the role since they were playing the part of military men. To add to this, the scenery and special effects were stunning! After every scene the back round would change and more bright Christmas colors would appear. I would definitely call the entire play extravagant.

It was refreshing for me to see a clean family play. While sitting in the crowd, I kept on thinking how my little sister would love it. Not often are theater productions great for all ages. Although Radio City may be slightly slow for adults, children will love it and everyone will get into the Christmas spirit.

At the very end of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular there was the beautiful story of the Nativity. Everything about the story of Jesus Christ was realistic and factual. My heart was moved and brought back to the real reason for the season. So be prepared to have an enjoyable experience during the last scene.

Go to playhousesquare.org or call (216) 241-6000 for exact dates, times and ticket availability.

A Chorus Line

Have you ever felt rejected? Have you been afraid that if you mentioned anything about yourself, someone would use it against you? In the world today, people tend to judge other people by their actions and their past. Wanting to feel accepted plays a big part in what we say and share about ourselves. We would rather hide all our feelings than let the world see them, because we are afraid that others will come to the wrong conclusions. The characters in the play A Chorus Line illustrate for us the inner struggle we all experience in regard to our fear of rejection. On October 14th I had the ability to see A Chorus Line live at Playhouse Square in the Palace Theatre. This play involves seventeen dancers trying out for eight positions and is set in New York City. They are all amazing dancers, but the potential employer Zach, played by Michael Gruber, is looking for more than just skill. He wants to know their personalities, desires, and plans. He begins to dig into their past. As the audience we get to see as the dancers explore their feelings about their profession and their lives.

Although A Chorus Line is a musical the acting is what truly impressed me. Nikki Snelson who played Cassie gave a great performance and brought a deeper meaning to the production. She truly had my sympathy and admiration by the end. Cassie was one of the only characters who knew herself and understood what it meant to love dancing. Snelson seemed to know how to portray Cassie as a strong and sure person. When she had the chance to perform a solo dance I was thoroughly awed. Another character that I enjoyed watching was Paul played by Kevin Santos. He was one of the only characters that had me almost in tears. The way Santos made the audience experience Paul’s pain made him a great actor. Without using any props or much movement on the stage, Santos showed emotion and passion. I absolutely applaud his presentation. Besides these characters, Richie played by Anthony Wayne also had an impact on me. His voice and dancing were beyond astonishing and when I got the chance to see him act I instantly loved him! The only disappointment in A Chorus Line was that it did not have more acting. It would have been very enjoyable to see the characters more developed and the talent of all the actors showcased. But the sensational singing improved this minor setback. It is not everyday that a cast can sing as well as they dance. Each actor and actress added his or her own vocal flair to the production. Some had strong voices while others were sweet, but each tone went with the character that the actor was portraying. Whenever they did sing I found it very entertaining.

As always, the Palace Theatre was beautiful! The actual scenery of the musical did not seem impressive at first look, but by the end I was impressed by the lighting and the use of the elements they had. The dancers were the main attraction and did not require many props. The background was mostly a collection of mirrors that wound rotate whenever the people were dancing. The reflection added depth to the stage and the production. The lighting would reflect off the mirrors and make the entire stage light up! During Cassie’s main performance, another set of mirrors also joined the background and provided a spectacular view. Now for viewers who tend to love action and a more defined plot (such as West Side Story) may be disappointed with the lack of special effects and the lack of acting. But one must remember that this play was written in 1970’s and they did not have everything that we have now and therefore looking past that, the overall scenery was unique and creative.

The original musical of A Chorus Line became a hit on Broadway nearly thirty-three years ago, making it one of the longest running American plays of all time. In this new production of the old show none of the script has been changed. This may make it somewhat slow for the younger crowd. But for an older crowd, this classic will bring back many memories. Now don’t get me wrong when I mention “a younger crowd”. I would not recommend this production as a family night out. A lot of the dancers use language that may not be appropriate for children. Also, Val (Natalie Elise Hall) sings a song (Dance: Ten; Looks: Three) that refers to her body being the most important part of a dancing career. She uses very blunt words to describe those body parts. Other small innuendos also appear in A Chorus Line.

Underlying the main plot of A Chorus Line, I found several other interesting thoughts. Most humans in theatre believe that looks are everything, but Zach, the director, is looking for more. He doesn’t care what the people look like. Instead, he wants to know their hearts. Allowing their hurt and confusion to come out are a big part of whether or not they get the position. Zach is not one to judge; he just knows what he wants and the type of people who will accomplish it. This also applies to life. Although most people can see the outside of a person, the soul and spirit are what matter most.

Overall, the dancing mesmerized me and the singing lifted my spirits. But be careful when choosing whom to bring with you to A Chorus Line. The dance numbers can be long and not entertaining for short attention spans. But for the right audience it will be an evening of good acting and great dancing. A Chorus Line was originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward LeKleban. This production was directed by Bob Avian and the Choreography Re-Staged by Baayork Lee. A Chorus Line is now showing at Playhouse Square from October 15th-26th. Go to playhousesquare.com for show times and ticket prices.

By: Danielle Mendheim, STAR Reporter for Playhouse Square