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.

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.

Legally Blonde- Pink and Perfect

Ready for a girl’s night out at Playhouse Square? Then it’s time for you to head out and see the fun-filled musical Legally Blonde. As a matter of fact bring those guys with you, because they will be just as amazed!
Legally Blonde begins in California with Elle Woods (Becky Gulsvig), the perfect blonde sorority president with the perfect love life. But due to pressure from his parents, her model boyfriend Warner (Jeff McLean) breaks up with her in hopes of pursuing a more “serious” lifestyle. With the encouragement of her friends, brokenhearted Elle decides to win her “ex” back and she chases him all the way to Harvard. The rest of the play focuses on her adventures of fitting in with the smart circle and finding out that Warner is not the only guy on the planet.
Becky Gulsvig, who played Elle, seemed to impress the audience throughout the entire show. Her singing was loud enough for all to hear and she hit every note exactly. Gulsvig’s fantastic endurance allowed her to be energetic and active throughout the performance. It must have been those Red Bulls she was drinking while studying at Harvard. She danced with passion and lit up the stage. Even if she had been the only positive part of the entire performance, that would have been enough.
But Gulsvig was not the only phenomenal part of the show. Emmett’s character played by D.B. Bonds was exceptionally developed. Thanks to the writers, Bonds had a great roll to play. During the beginning he portrayed Emmett as the smart lawyer type, but towards the end brought out a more emotional and thoughtful side. All the girls in the theater admired and loved him by the end, including me.
The scenery in Legally Blonde changed every few minutes, but it was always clear where the scene was taking place. The lighting would change from pink to brown to multicolor in order to give the proper mood for the audience. The costumes and props were designed to reflect the bright and happy environment at Elle’s fashion college in California or the dark and serious studying environment found at Harvard.
By the end the entire audience stood and started to clap to the rhythm of the lively music. Can I say anything more? Legally Blonde awed the people watching it and inspired them all by the thought that even people who love to dance, sing and shop can live a life using their brains and hearts.
Legally Blonde is now playing at Playhouse Square in the Palace Theatre from November 11th- 23rd. Go to playhousesquare.org for more information regarding ticket prices and show times. This is definitely a must see!

*Note- Go to http://tour.legallyblondethemusical.com/ for trailer and other things related to Legally Blonde the Musical.