tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51506396010268871702024-03-06T21:47:56.675-08:00Theatre Spoken HereTHEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.comBlogger296125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-1203971742208759652023-08-05T11:38:00.000-07:002023-08-05T11:38:05.156-07:00ONE MOMENT OF FREEDOM - Review<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-FUrT8NmC6HrUU02pUYmLA7WyMQ6kYp-dCTPQVS9ETAMpVGp4p7a2fDFzxaf3krde8-zZCVKIivInoUWRcWxG4_csN2ujz-9I0S-4yDIFotHqZSpgSQ-jbkSM-FUogA98vPta4fZJ6bz5W21JH7XtHcrOUaSsO2JDP0R2rNiSy1SmWaryEFMi9VAp8Op/s1920/One%20Moment%20of%20Freedom.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-FUrT8NmC6HrUU02pUYmLA7WyMQ6kYp-dCTPQVS9ETAMpVGp4p7a2fDFzxaf3krde8-zZCVKIivInoUWRcWxG4_csN2ujz-9I0S-4yDIFotHqZSpgSQ-jbkSM-FUogA98vPta4fZJ6bz5W21JH7XtHcrOUaSsO2JDP0R2rNiSy1SmWaryEFMi9VAp8Op/w200-h133/One%20Moment%20of%20Freedom.2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodL_bCYR_yXHd_-Y8D_tVDqGsyPnG1EdM3sc7JF9s87e9VUX1fYPlx4SUpL2BalaLq3VtnUhZQjhX3EUv3Cp4VMOByUIBSscmf8uZkTG_0Dqti22FFfrFF4sIuEMMFDAE0Bktz-9zY8RUX1NuNDIEpWSo33HXLDJJWe94VIUt1MXmQQ01EptATEVJblqP/s1920/One%20Moment%20of%20Freedom.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodL_bCYR_yXHd_-Y8D_tVDqGsyPnG1EdM3sc7JF9s87e9VUX1fYPlx4SUpL2BalaLq3VtnUhZQjhX3EUv3Cp4VMOByUIBSscmf8uZkTG_0Dqti22FFfrFF4sIuEMMFDAE0Bktz-9zY8RUX1NuNDIEpWSo33HXLDJJWe94VIUt1MXmQQ01EptATEVJblqP/w200-h133/One%20Moment%20of%20Freedom.1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">In Massachusetts in 1781, an enslaved woman named Bet spoke these words: </span><i>"<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Any time while I was a slave, if one minute's freedom had been offered to me, and I had been told I must die at the end of that minute, I would have taken it - just to stand one minute on God's earth </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">a free woman - I would." </span></i></b></div><p><b><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">It sounds fantastical that this woman actually sued her master for her freedom and won, yet that is the true story brought to life in this fascinating new play by Marion Zola. She has recreated the era when men in power arrogantly wrote that "<i>all men are created equal</i>" and this illiterate woman called them on it. As she waited on these revolutionaries they, </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">heedless of her presence, </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">boldly discussed their demands for dignity and autonomy against their oppressors. After enduring 30 years of arrogant domination Bet vowed to demand freedom for herself and her daughter. </span></b></p><p><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><b>Through the aid of a compassionate attorney, who was willing to risk his career in this fight against slavery, Bet stood firm. When you see this play you will be moved by admiration for her battle and disgusted to realize this was actually 82 years before Lincoln signed The Emancipation Proclamation that banished slavery forever in this country.</b></span></p><p><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><b>Heading the superb cast is Catherine Bruhier, as Bet, a gentle but indomitable spirit whose simple dignity rings true; Michael Robb, as her lawyer Theodore Sedgwick, is hesitant to risk his career yet determined to fight to the end; John Combs as her master, Colonel John Ashley, is a kindly yet self-deluding aristocrat, while Katyana Rocker-Cook, as his pertly entitled daughter, manages to make her fully human even as she bullies her captives.</b></span></p><p><b><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Excellent in varied roles are David Westbay, Joe Clabby, Mandy Fason and Kristal Dickerson, while show-stealing Jeffrey Winner is wonderfully eccentric as </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">bombastic </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">opposing lawyer, David Noble.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Director Linda Alznauer does justice to this significant piece of history by capturing the equivocal mood of the times. Visual bravos to Michael Mullen for dazzling costumes and Judi Lewin for matching hair, wig and makeup credit. Producer David Hunt Stafford has a winner! At </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Theatre 40, 241 S. Moreno Drive in Beverly Hills. Tickets at 310-364-3606 or online <span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">http://theatre40.org</span>. Free Parking.</span></b></p><p><b> </b></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-53475797844148377062023-06-10T20:05:00.000-07:002023-06-10T20:05:25.951-07:00GETTING THERE - Review <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YrNZMlCgeKGwOjxVK0o2D5iFI3Fr6ZhPfzLlQL2Q4eg4oDC3tpg72sw79mEPBPDezoPq96TH-4sIgqNj5QBaZKAaGmOQMU9znz3vZmU4_EMihzYtt5_rWqdwfDa_nrgptshL8Gp4jyXLKgNpm_VjVDOqFpkEkreWODHRKjDBHSyIuyQfKOH_bpyQFA/s640/Rebecca%20in%20Getting%20There%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YrNZMlCgeKGwOjxVK0o2D5iFI3Fr6ZhPfzLlQL2Q4eg4oDC3tpg72sw79mEPBPDezoPq96TH-4sIgqNj5QBaZKAaGmOQMU9znz3vZmU4_EMihzYtt5_rWqdwfDa_nrgptshL8Gp4jyXLKgNpm_VjVDOqFpkEkreWODHRKjDBHSyIuyQfKOH_bpyQFA/s320/Rebecca%20in%20Getting%20There%202.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>The Hollywood Fringe Festival is in full swing and due to some family crises I was unable to attend this always exciting series of original works. Still, knowing Rebecca O'Brien, as a comedienne and a friend, I made it a point to see her show aptly titled "Getting There." </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rebecca’s moving show could be retitled “The Kindness of Strangers” as she tells of her battle with cancer, the years of treatment, her daily commute by LA city bus and the respect, love and support she so often got from other passengers who offered her solace and kindness and even an embrace to help her survive the pain, sorrow and despair that daily threatened her.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEVuli9eKhD3WauIkT7JOxCcF0z9WV0WjeU1y7qQ4Qrb7B7U-pCaRTiTW8E5VJxAKKWpL-mf9ZzejObpVNLe9FT6hU68Wm32goK3QVnkasvvr5aWo9EAoo9-VKh9Uh0CLA7j8qoHj2aQxW7-WzjbVTJYybubuv8GdUKlFE6QRdvAKNFX8EXWCcmIeUA/s640/Rebecca%20in%20Getting%20There%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEVuli9eKhD3WauIkT7JOxCcF0z9WV0WjeU1y7qQ4Qrb7B7U-pCaRTiTW8E5VJxAKKWpL-mf9ZzejObpVNLe9FT6hU68Wm32goK3QVnkasvvr5aWo9EAoo9-VKh9Uh0CLA7j8qoHj2aQxW7-WzjbVTJYybubuv8GdUKlFE6QRdvAKNFX8EXWCcmIeUA/w151-h200/Rebecca%20in%20Getting%20There%201.jpg" width="151" /></a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">It’s an honest dialogue between Rebecca and her audience that reminds us all we are not alone and even on the crowded Metro line there are angels in disguise. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Director is Cameron Watson who also took attached photos.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;">At The Hudson Guild, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, through June 24.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_KsyVetHId4_CTvanLNbrLb1ct4mj2cEuJi2XJ__pUlLt_xOVpAJ8MtS2y5NeujgUQExm1OYb-cg81K3QO6ONUphx0rZsfWddwg25xzdlUGQdNYmE007EuJcvBD38SwKD9Qeej853jCJeeywGId2n4sXnbS1-zj0-f_4k4IjE5kNRmcUF5glGibIXw/s4032/Rebecca%20O'Brien%20&%20Stella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_KsyVetHId4_CTvanLNbrLb1ct4mj2cEuJi2XJ__pUlLt_xOVpAJ8MtS2y5NeujgUQExm1OYb-cg81K3QO6ONUphx0rZsfWddwg25xzdlUGQdNYmE007EuJcvBD38SwKD9Qeej853jCJeeywGId2n4sXnbS1-zj0-f_4k4IjE5kNRmcUF5glGibIXw/w150-h200/Rebecca%20O'Brien%20&%20Stella.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Not to forget Stella, her little dog, who traveled with her through the danger and even came out for a nod at the end of the show.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"></span><p></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-25706756364794574812023-04-13T11:57:00.001-07:002023-04-13T11:57:54.178-07:00THE PILOT WHO CRASHED THE PARTY - Review<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgJva-aRo4sRFsvbpUWF25ZmcQArKdqXhpKB94FifObLPbf6am8wb-5D3zsa_XP_nwTH9QlLFH2OVjYENQJwYEGG03Zt8bm0V1ufjH188dbrIVhivf7oF9qj-9H62LpGNXM1OWmQAfBC_ra9Gu-OvWONhqVO9xuUXNuKMaCOXNr521HKSoqGVUQZcNg/s300/Paul-Sand%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgJva-aRo4sRFsvbpUWF25ZmcQArKdqXhpKB94FifObLPbf6am8wb-5D3zsa_XP_nwTH9QlLFH2OVjYENQJwYEGG03Zt8bm0V1ufjH188dbrIVhivf7oF9qj-9H62LpGNXM1OWmQAfBC_ra9Gu-OvWONhqVO9xuUXNuKMaCOXNr521HKSoqGVUQZcNg/w200-h200/Paul-Sand%202.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Paul Sand</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>This new play is set in a mansion in the Santa Monica Mountains on a stormy night where Sally, is celebrating her 50th birthday with some intimate friends. Their imaginative party games are in full swing even though its raining and thundering outside.. Suddenly a pilot in a small, single engine plane literally crashes the party. Who, exactly, is this surprise guest? </b></span></p><p><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span> </span>Cleverly written and vibrantly directed by Award winning actor and Second City alum Paul Sand (now 91)</span><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> who states, </span><em style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m always struck by how people who barely know me project a part of themselves onto who they think I am. That’s what happens with the pilot. As the partygoers take turns caring for him, each projects a part of themself onto the pilot as they try to figure him out.”</em></b></p><p><b><span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span> </span>The Pilot (Sol Mason) is a quite charming and ingenuous young man who everyone finds recognizable as they engage him one on one in conversation. To passionate Italian actress Laura (Claudia Ferri) he's a romantic; to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">vivacious dynamo </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Sally (Jacqueline Wright) he's the soulmate she's been waiting for, and to wonderfully operatic caterer Barbara (Debra Lane) he serves as a sympathetic ear.</span></b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span> </span>However, to the guys he's a suspicious character. To older man Daniel (Lee Boek) he is definitely a sly criminal while, after a friendly chat, Laura's boyfriend ILO (Francis C. Edemobi) declares he's certainly a devious homosexual. Two fine musicians, cellist Chris Rorrer and violinist Yennie Lam, cleverly insert themselves into the action. </b></span></p><p><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span> </span>Either way its delightful to see how this total stranger, bewildered and confused as to how he got there, sweetly submits to each persons claim on his real identity. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Unfortunately, due to a personal dilemma, my companion and I had to leave before learning the ultimate revelation even though both of us were totally intrigued. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span> </span>At The Broadwater Theatre, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood. Through May 7. <br /> Tickets: </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdCmfTt2Vhe9rbyksjoTdsyAd2-2FH25oVs1BfYI13ko9PA5ugOtoDLj7UHKeFQpXOJG7CyREIIVQZIxzKU63WQvs-3DH82v_1hrRFq1GzbZLExSqIPPtssb4OtfrmuJj23c64JCWiU6bsGA-2B2UfZVNM6GQhgFsmSEVMV1HOL2y0-2BAbhL5ya-2FiwbsCIF-2FCscrukl4vG0daB4V-2F0vvRZuPEfufb0VE4McmNH9iVJ7f0kPDSMfveMPaqFt8bEFOKOUt-2BRi-2B24JtRIXRB57qQ4NcvVETVva-2Bi3rD75xexzFR9j4bM8qpYN8TXhWdVcbLyAU6-2Beh3ha8B9Vef8xyP4hmERKCk9Zd6lcqcEFsW5nW-2FHl0TR1fxlcqxtsS-2FrlpaqwUakb2TYKPM3hmi8Yhpynt04OGbTOON22q763cQfV-2F5b-2BVrT9Hl3LBDEOY9Ot8NbU74gQK723djF6A-3D" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #041b8e; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">www.onstage411.com/Pilot</em></span></a></b></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-49826620776794794842023-02-24T08:13:00.000-08:002023-02-24T08:13:12.849-08:00THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT – review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdfPbdFHVPw1r0S-8-Ad3vQa1e2-BSCtxmlM_M8NjcRhwrIwoyTSZeliN2DnCrhki7aa61caKgbhx68lGzKKTjcTiQcx-ICD2YNeyRmUaRTpqevOZYtrQ1b_RUT86DhQ87dDgwCvSsoo3Z6bNh-_yK-o7CqiB3x6R9qlWghKiZrUr6DC2wouRb86J9Q/s300/Lifespan%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdfPbdFHVPw1r0S-8-Ad3vQa1e2-BSCtxmlM_M8NjcRhwrIwoyTSZeliN2DnCrhki7aa61caKgbhx68lGzKKTjcTiQcx-ICD2YNeyRmUaRTpqevOZYtrQ1b_RUT86DhQ87dDgwCvSsoo3Z6bNh-_yK-o7CqiB3x6R9qlWghKiZrUr6DC2wouRb86J9Q/s1600/Lifespan%204.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">In
this challenging play the question is: “<i>Does one need to have journalistic
integrity when writing an emotional essay that will be published in a magazine”?</i>
Jim Fingal is a young chap with Harvard Crimson editing laurels, and he has
been hired by the publisher of a serious magazine to be the fact checker on an
article by John D’Agata, a noted </span><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">American essayist. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Based
on an actual literary duel between two outspoken and passionate men, it
explores the clash between non-fiction and poetic license.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqgy3FJtpJ-9iZ8JC0P11eq_gdgbYAQ0VfSkp99Cs_CM3-19nAs7tTcq3vahGXfB1x7lDUP2XN_jjQgEetrUWNvNMc_WgJ1axpK8LJ9JrMH_3KHS8TU3SVz0OEbzsuqWgc_hjUvj-2VcEGJTaH3Ywe_3fKTUY6p1OkUJ_IZ5t_YwKgLhnVNvCb687CA/s300/Lifespan%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqgy3FJtpJ-9iZ8JC0P11eq_gdgbYAQ0VfSkp99Cs_CM3-19nAs7tTcq3vahGXfB1x7lDUP2XN_jjQgEetrUWNvNMc_WgJ1axpK8LJ9JrMH_3KHS8TU3SVz0OEbzsuqWgc_hjUvj-2VcEGJTaH3Ywe_3fKTUY6p1OkUJ_IZ5t_YwKgLhnVNvCb687CA/w200-h133/Lifespan%202.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jim’s job is to verify that all the facts and claims in this
story are accurate and represented fairly. However, John is the noted author and
editor of six scholarly nonfiction books,</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> whose work has
been honored as proving that “<i><span style="background: white; color: #202122;">the
essay should make, and not merely take; that it should gamble with the fictive
and not just trade in the real.”</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202122;"> This means that although he </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">certainly takes liberties with the truth, he sees it
entirely as his right because he is promoting emotions not dry facts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL4rBnPcb_6XVNpijQ6aqGWKo6Ny-xvlgBNXbkv8il1lHit_I3JrEKBxdKfHNp3Auy_4GiKgOGWLHuPPvtLjcIVxrd4c6hnOq_z71UnF3Nfrxg0jU9loaNL2FVTUpC1CsN7xjv_o0K6rqKLDGv5G8SNEI0AixcYNZWve4bQd6QnHNxvjrWlqiJkqWIw/s300/Lifespan%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL4rBnPcb_6XVNpijQ6aqGWKo6Ny-xvlgBNXbkv8il1lHit_I3JrEKBxdKfHNp3Auy_4GiKgOGWLHuPPvtLjcIVxrd4c6hnOq_z71UnF3Nfrxg0jU9loaNL2FVTUpC1CsN7xjv_o0K6rqKLDGv5G8SNEI0AixcYNZWve4bQd6QnHNxvjrWlqiJkqWIw/w200-h133/Lifespan%203.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Eager
young Jim seems at first to be a bit of a pedant, finding innumerable mistakes
and underlining small details that don’t line up with the facts. However, once
the two men are face-to-face the question of the play resounds loud and clear. Artistic
license is no longer an option. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According
to Jim, you can’t just make it up for effect anymore – the online police patrollers
are waiting, and they will crucify you on the worldwide internet. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We
are left with this conundrum, and I only wish they had an audience vote at the
end on whether to publish as is or send this corrupted essay into the round
file.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi6RTdz9KSHtmSUFiGnEVySwrP_Hpzrnhwzs2AjFhBjpx1l4ZGHzENpUkj4UtH5mZXCQcx-JS2fKVWEfSGwG7N_5KfV_RRXRroPBfauVpLUOOdkYm0uKFkVj7L3EujtkfMscdBTYdgI8wRKP4mMAWYGPFesTb9zqp2XUg2jZBFl2Dkf9MLcRf5T2XHg/s300/Lifespan%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi6RTdz9KSHtmSUFiGnEVySwrP_Hpzrnhwzs2AjFhBjpx1l4ZGHzENpUkj4UtH5mZXCQcx-JS2fKVWEfSGwG7N_5KfV_RRXRroPBfauVpLUOOdkYm0uKFkVj7L3EujtkfMscdBTYdgI8wRKP4mMAWYGPFesTb9zqp2XUg2jZBFl2Dkf9MLcRf5T2XHg/w200-h133/Lifespan%201.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />You
will enjoy the challenge of this play and the wonderful performances of Ron
Bottitta as John, the beleaguered essayist; Jonah Robinson as Jim, the cheeky
but intense fact-checker, and Inger Tudor as a savvy publisher with a true
modern dilemma. She knows that the internet is watching and waiting to trip you
up and blast you into space.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Directed
with humor and dramatic intensity by Simon Levy and produced by Stephen Sachs
and James Bennett at the always theatrically provocative Fountain Theatre in
Hollywood. Photos by Jenny Graham.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Note: Sorry about the printing glitches but my laptop has its own ideas!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-43456675247474292352023-01-19T12:27:00.002-08:002023-01-19T14:11:01.065-08:00HOME FRONT - Review<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4-Zg6PuTI_oz8mb3ABHJaFgLhRmJ0bSZ7VZ9tPprnK1uVNa57MZRKOQMf321FMXYoiJDM1Rx633U5iB4pvvc9zzgenyPO2yy62ertHrNCSGcwvGNHiFk-nRlg3pYAypN4cVB1YUfbasstg-_LqAcKORyNDcoyj7SI6PcJ5cBKFWD2ABz6PVzSxwrFA/s800/Home-Front_program%20photo.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4-Zg6PuTI_oz8mb3ABHJaFgLhRmJ0bSZ7VZ9tPprnK1uVNa57MZRKOQMf321FMXYoiJDM1Rx633U5iB4pvvc9zzgenyPO2yy62ertHrNCSGcwvGNHiFk-nRlg3pYAypN4cVB1YUfbasstg-_LqAcKORyNDcoyj7SI6PcJ5cBKFWD2ABz6PVzSxwrFA/w320-h214/Home-Front_program%20photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92tZs5IiSk0-eJYsWtSP2TBydsuOmRiwaWmSUB7bTKsP7F-YZd8pN0H0f_VzgFGukEb0CASF2XjxxiiJ18h-KlBj22-2s5RYwzxaqqV9g6QJAmNjWp-et8x0GqHJO0lA2rfWZESXawLJ2MnLLP92sZTSiY6XW08UVEjKdUw33XWVSRdJEoE8zH0H0rQ/s396/HOME%20FRONT.V%E2%80%93J_day_in_Times_Square_Alfred_Eisenstaedt.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92tZs5IiSk0-eJYsWtSP2TBydsuOmRiwaWmSUB7bTKsP7F-YZd8pN0H0f_VzgFGukEb0CASF2XjxxiiJ18h-KlBj22-2s5RYwzxaqqV9g6QJAmNjWp-et8x0GqHJO0lA2rfWZESXawLJ2MnLLP92sZTSiY6XW08UVEjKdUw33XWVSRdJEoE8zH0H0rQ/w134-h200/HOME%20FRONT.V%E2%80%93J_day_in_Times_Square_Alfred_Eisenstaedt.jpg" width="134" /></a></p><p> <span style="font-size: medium;">A</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92tZs5IiSk0-eJYsWtSP2TBydsuOmRiwaWmSUB7bTKsP7F-YZd8pN0H0f_VzgFGukEb0CASF2XjxxiiJ18h-KlBj22-2s5RYwzxaqqV9g6QJAmNjWp-et8x0GqHJO0lA2rfWZESXawLJ2MnLLP92sZTSiY6XW08UVEjKdUw33XWVSRdJEoE8zH0H0rQ/s396/HOME%20FRONT.V%E2%80%93J_day_in_Times_Square_Alfred_Eisenstaedt.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">fter news broke that World War II was over,
photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt took the famous picture of a sailor jubilantly
kissing a woman in Times Square. </span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">“<i>I wondered what their lives
would have been like had they been an interracial couple?</i>” asks playwright <strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #242424; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Warren Leight</span></strong><strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #242424; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.
“</span></strong><i>As the son of a jazz musician, I grew up around many
interracial couples, and I saw early on the pressures on their lives and
marriages.</i>” In his challenging play, <strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #242424; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Austin Highsmith Garces</span></strong><strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #242424; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></strong>and <strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #242424; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">C.J. Lindsey</span></strong><strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #242424; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></strong>star as a white woman and an African American soldier who fall
in love the night World War II ends. <strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #242424; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jonathan Slavin plays</span></strong>
a gay army veteran modeled after Leight’s uncle. Says director Maria Gobetti, “<i>Racism
was rampant in the military during World War II. At the time, it was still
illegal to marry outside one’s race... Have things really changed all that
much?</i>”</span></a></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is what I announced
in my theater column in NOT BORN YESTERDAY and I must admit I was quite
unprepared for the emotional </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">power of the
play.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> A couple meet on that same glorious night,
filled with the joy of believing this victory heralds a change and their love
can bloom. Their scenes together are electric – at first with a gentle hum,
then a sensual reality. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it’s
a love story that evolves into a domestic tragedy, but most of all it’s an
indictment of our society even today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">C.J. Lindsey brilliantly
portrays a man living in a society that denies his manhood, that mocks him by
pretending to acknowledge his worth, while undermining his self-image. What
happens to this man who believes in the promise that winning the war against
racism means there is now authentic acceptance? That night of nights was the
fulfilment of a promise – but was it – and the realization that nothing has
changed has the cruel power to harden a man’s soul, to destroy the love he feels,
and punish those his heart longs to protect and serve.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Austin
Highsmith Garces moves gracefully from naïve charmer to passionate lover to
bewildered waiting woman. Jonathan Slavin as a gay understanding neighbor moves
from playful friendship to compassionate determination while facing a society
that he is aware also demeans him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Langston Hughes famously
asked, “What happens to a dream deferred?” and author Leight answers with the
fate of this proud gentle man. <strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #242424; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">At Victory Theatre Center</span></strong><strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #242424; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">, </span></strong><span class="hqeo7"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #242424; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">3324 W. Victory Blvd, Burbank</span></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">. For tickets: <strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #242424; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">818-841-5421</span></strong> or </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9mHJqymgeAAQNcQQmcV2aTENh6Leh644GXE0cR-2F5Ux5h-2BjmsIL4opBs8KvV5esoYtQ-3D-3Do2HR_1hrRFq1GzbZLExSqIPPtssb4OtfrmuJj23c64JCWiU6bsGA-2B2UfZVNM6GQhgFsmSEVMV1HOL2y0-2BAbhL5ya-2FiwbsCIF-2FCscrukl4vG0daB4V-2F0vvRZuPEfufb0VE4McmA-2BDMdyMjwrPwXAi-2BKtP7ANmGCB3g7IBgoACWE4y2fIhzVWLiQmvZb5nq2xRWmiDdcrq9uZAhgZ8C9aOlE5bPa5wJHiZkrcWa3OWwtSFCPe03hfYvTunmGmmmdGGiS6xn9Vu2A-2F4ni0xdXXShTI5mn-2FINTCol47I0D71iCzj-2Bl0PO-2FBM0VyDFacqFieDKfXlDsBdB03JGsQZiOQn1BGN8ohHvZtC5GpCZP4VfHkTo-2B-2F4-3D" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">www.thevictorytheatrecenter.org</span></a></span><u><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Cover photo by Jennifer Logan. Performance photos by Tim Sullens</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9IDYLn-cCYJe-v8QcEqXXD6jrrD8Lc3r9PjPsKbWPwHfuSNBK48XMaC_LNPTtrhWAuE-tX1-anHctVCcBKe-ScI0uiRoy6cQSRnd_XYopOmRlqA4ekB4ozznCojndIBsf1K7A8vf1MIipykgM-059SGeCqNzWC4WtZGxnMQTnRhe2_qZGCNmUDgm1Q/s2100/Home-Front-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1611" data-original-width="2100" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9IDYLn-cCYJe-v8QcEqXXD6jrrD8Lc3r9PjPsKbWPwHfuSNBK48XMaC_LNPTtrhWAuE-tX1-anHctVCcBKe-ScI0uiRoy6cQSRnd_XYopOmRlqA4ekB4ozznCojndIBsf1K7A8vf1MIipykgM-059SGeCqNzWC4WtZGxnMQTnRhe2_qZGCNmUDgm1Q/w200-h153/Home-Front-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhor64aRs-slDtP5SnuMk6lr3YfAqhfJCcz5-YyZpU9odU_ww7bxGag0H3Ce9JujvL5RX9R8U8DNx7VR89cjN9TUzBJyPfOK4OcN0Jm1z5zm4evJ6dZuHWcrjhRQCVHX-pOfzJlZ4z7ECJY0G7KxYJn_UcPlF5nCe-WVGsSQPFpzn90pnnp-2Jx7PDMUg/s2100/Home-Front-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1649" data-original-width="2100" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhor64aRs-slDtP5SnuMk6lr3YfAqhfJCcz5-YyZpU9odU_ww7bxGag0H3Ce9JujvL5RX9R8U8DNx7VR89cjN9TUzBJyPfOK4OcN0Jm1z5zm4evJ6dZuHWcrjhRQCVHX-pOfzJlZ4z7ECJY0G7KxYJn_UcPlF5nCe-WVGsSQPFpzn90pnnp-2Jx7PDMUg/w200-h157/Home-Front-3.jpg" width="200" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_k2B4t3oRR40OdRvb2yR3eP9qlbR7GrX9W9FAdoBXvxMPrBW1usChvhIP2c7n5A8laW2BCFoS9xIM_94-EfV1HBNqtMtguxHZDZHNrSB7NCsGeTaJhU-TL7GaHgOPGrxdsM92ifno3mCsgAoM4cl0Rf_GNJ7p2cr4BOJsQSW0ypU7fl34n8SYE5HnA/s2100/Home-Front-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="2100" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_k2B4t3oRR40OdRvb2yR3eP9qlbR7GrX9W9FAdoBXvxMPrBW1usChvhIP2c7n5A8laW2BCFoS9xIM_94-EfV1HBNqtMtguxHZDZHNrSB7NCsGeTaJhU-TL7GaHgOPGrxdsM92ifno3mCsgAoM4cl0Rf_GNJ7p2cr4BOJsQSW0ypU7fl34n8SYE5HnA/w200-h164/Home-Front-2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7HCLQE6J-ngQHSeI8IQeMXKvpQ-QFSLcoq5z1ecFVvgE47saJTg14R_FsS8cuGAy_FfovpVp3XIjphcWB57nnqvbFC9vQ0QD36mIShCY7aDYZ1HVCY4I8e8QM8h5xP0mF30oamf-y8p7Paq3p-nPL0O_qEWBWLh7KtsL4AmIZLCqRMUpPsLWGKIl2w/s300/Home-Front-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="300" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7HCLQE6J-ngQHSeI8IQeMXKvpQ-QFSLcoq5z1ecFVvgE47saJTg14R_FsS8cuGAy_FfovpVp3XIjphcWB57nnqvbFC9vQ0QD36mIShCY7aDYZ1HVCY4I8e8QM8h5xP0mF30oamf-y8p7Paq3p-nPL0O_qEWBWLh7KtsL4AmIZLCqRMUpPsLWGKIl2w/w200-h149/Home-Front-4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-41846030179690048422022-11-03T11:51:00.000-07:002022-11-03T11:51:15.086-07:00EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND – review<p> <span> </span><span> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvCSCvDDYq8yXoADG38TEqSqCJNh2l-2HA_MNnwHNHkNeK8LI_yEnN8CUDb2ch5NV9t-4VjcX61DMXw3tm3hot9i9JXo_53AHnbONnWDB0e9mJb-6jSxK0E8tpA6NiC4qPTcRPdEa7tADKg9sOtMClbSkqRfi6bUdvP9T65wN_afi0FqCwy21upzUkg/s1205/Eisenhower%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1205" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvCSCvDDYq8yXoADG38TEqSqCJNh2l-2HA_MNnwHNHkNeK8LI_yEnN8CUDb2ch5NV9t-4VjcX61DMXw3tm3hot9i9JXo_53AHnbONnWDB0e9mJb-6jSxK0E8tpA6NiC4qPTcRPdEa7tADKg9sOtMClbSkqRfi6bUdvP9T65wN_afi0FqCwy21upzUkg/s320/Eisenhower%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It is the early 1960’s and retiree Dwight
D. Eisenhower is writing his memoirs and, to satisfy his publisher, he is
talking into a recording machine. Actually, he is in high dudgeon since the annual
New York list of Best US Presidents has named him the 22</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> best (or
worst) of all time. This indignation has him rethinking about his career and
the events of his life.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Actor John Rubinstein captures the dignity
and authoritative air of this former Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces,
and two-term President of the United States. We are eavesdropping on him as he
reviews his life and learn about his private as well as public triumphs.
However, there are times when the actor, perhaps unconsciously, breaks the
fourth wall and speaks to us directly. This makes the man he impersonates so
well more human and therefore reaches us emotionally as well as intellectually.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyelo5aoni_AJCBMW8xZg4lwtmnOCHwqrw-fxpZQhi9U6lhtWhsm4z1BrWQnWaUISCvUwkkuFLtwUUDyE8hYQZHqLkvBVFrT8ceESw-rbRLZzfh7lRelG8QgfTWZaEI3IviHSsNIMdrRaaLnOt-HhRlx9VY4XOnKSUpHTck66h6iV5gAyLHLECHFkdyQ/s1683/Eisenhower%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1683" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyelo5aoni_AJCBMW8xZg4lwtmnOCHwqrw-fxpZQhi9U6lhtWhsm4z1BrWQnWaUISCvUwkkuFLtwUUDyE8hYQZHqLkvBVFrT8ceESw-rbRLZzfh7lRelG8QgfTWZaEI3IviHSsNIMdrRaaLnOt-HhRlx9VY4XOnKSUpHTck66h6iV5gAyLHLECHFkdyQ/s320/Eisenhower%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">To illustrate his life there is
a vast backdrop with projections that illuminate the facts with pictures of his
loved ones, with familiar newspaper photos from his years in Europe as Supreme
Commander, with soldiers and other military figures, as well as all-to-vivid photos
from the horrors of the Nazi death camps that he helped liberate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">If you love history here is a visit with a
noble historic figure from our US past who, due to the recognition of his many
vital accomplishments, has moved up from 22<sup>nd</sup> to 5<sup>th</sup> greatest
in the decades since. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This new play is written by Richard
Hellesen and directed by Peter Ellenstein. It was developed by New Los Angeles Repertory
Company as part of their series Plays for Peace – “<i><span style="color: black;">productions
that focus on mankind's fascination with war, highlighting leadership that
prevents war and strives for the common humanity and prosperity that leads to
peace.</span></i><span style="color: black;">” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">At Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga
Blvd., Los Angeles, through November 20. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Photos by
Pierre Lumiere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Tickets online at<b>: </b></span><b><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.theatrewest.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #954f72;">www.theatrewest.org</span></a>
</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">or </span><b><u><span style="color: #843c0c; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://www.newlarep.org/"><span style="color: #843c0c; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #843C0C; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 128;">www.newlarep.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-85723435803838518612022-10-19T15:05:00.000-07:002022-10-19T15:05:19.544-07:00Review. ABSOLUTELY HALLOWEEN in Santa Monica<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKd6NbblMFdFfQgTL-TSjgxTS1f_0JPFaCs-K-XQmyTvzxAgzhEKaFZlX1KSI5qo8qGSh6JcMv1_JO6ntFiXszYspo5lA1GNUVgYcCDeSLs21M1W9p7j-V2RFnqKTayBFe30XA3lZKOYoEab7MubvtUpQEHdpmCMrUaPsW46EPkVKxK-LGn5Vbr6WKA/s640/Sophia%20and%20Rachel.2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKd6NbblMFdFfQgTL-TSjgxTS1f_0JPFaCs-K-XQmyTvzxAgzhEKaFZlX1KSI5qo8qGSh6JcMv1_JO6ntFiXszYspo5lA1GNUVgYcCDeSLs21M1W9p7j-V2RFnqKTayBFe30XA3lZKOYoEab7MubvtUpQEHdpmCMrUaPsW46EPkVKxK-LGn5Vbr6WKA/s320/Sophia%20and%20Rachel.2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
review a children’s show requires that I have a child to observe so I can see
it from their perspective. Sophia is four years old and is a very determined
child, who’s not easily pleased, so bringing her to this show was a challenge.
Will she enjoy it? Will she ‘get’ it? Will she join in all the fun, and even
get her photo taken with her favorite character?</span><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many
kids there were dressed in costumes, and all were delightedly engaged in the
story, the performances and the interaction required of them. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">Well, I’m happy to report that, even though Sophia
kept sheltered on her mother, Rachel’s, lap throughout, she was mesmerized and
enchanted. When leopard-skinned feline, Cattypuss, asked for verbal help from
all the children, Sophia led the rest. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XNA0dNES722WktmD2C5i8HOpkqs1rJofV6L-wojdPQpNs2-Rbjwp4dZuVV-e8kYGy6K1j3MjttdAQuFkT7iLP5Jx--e3vopi5-zzguJ1jcaQOrbMl-uRTcH-URQJ27pX9LiuhKo1Yyw83FXPQvu9y4RDL_VAQLZDK-gZ4zZZiKYUe_lQnAxC6sYb7g/s1280/ABSOLUTELY%20HALLOWEEN%20Cattypuss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1253" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XNA0dNES722WktmD2C5i8HOpkqs1rJofV6L-wojdPQpNs2-Rbjwp4dZuVV-e8kYGy6K1j3MjttdAQuFkT7iLP5Jx--e3vopi5-zzguJ1jcaQOrbMl-uRTcH-URQJ27pX9LiuhKo1Yyw83FXPQvu9y4RDL_VAQLZDK-gZ4zZZiKYUe_lQnAxC6sYb7g/w196-h200/ABSOLUTELY%20HALLOWEEN%20Cattypuss.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> It
was at intermission that Sophia, normally a bold, fierce, kid, became a shy
little girl! Awed by the fabulous Cattypuss, who invited her to come and share
a selfie, little Sophia actually held back! Ah, if you knew her, as I know her,
this would amaze you as it amazed me!</span><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
is all to let my readers know that “Absolutely Halloween” is the perfect show
to bring your grandkids, no matter how contrary they sometimes seem to be. It’s
a magical journey wherein a child named Candy learns about the true meaning of
Halloween, i.e., that it’s not only about Trick or Treating for free sweets!</span><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1blm_77RxSQzrXSJUQq2LU-uiXLh-d5NTrt4zhnpMQArb4I-w7jE01jYxfzPPXE0usCxveRCC_K8klXtBV6fmQhh_N9KMwU4gyeHeA62-TaNl_QjE0sDDr5iusxZEASbDWf4PJumtUMtafvMY89FNXs_-ltEoDL5IWCa09KSFttRmA_2MDgCiCATjLA/s1462/ABSOLUTELY%20HALLOWEEN%20Cattypuss%20Candy%20Witch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="1462" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1blm_77RxSQzrXSJUQq2LU-uiXLh-d5NTrt4zhnpMQArb4I-w7jE01jYxfzPPXE0usCxveRCC_K8klXtBV6fmQhh_N9KMwU4gyeHeA62-TaNl_QjE0sDDr5iusxZEASbDWf4PJumtUMtafvMY89FNXs_-ltEoDL5IWCa09KSFttRmA_2MDgCiCATjLA/w200-h198/ABSOLUTELY%20HALLOWEEN%20Cattypuss%20Candy%20Witch.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
fine cast is led by Cydne Moore as a friendly Witch, show-stealing Meghan
Nealon as the ever-mischievous Cattypuss, and Tiffany Haile as Candy, with colorful
support by Kendal Evans, Michala Peltz and Celeste Akiki. Direction is by Chris
DeCarlo, with book, music & lyrics by DeCarlo and Evelyn Rudie. Vivid
costumes are by designer Ashley Hayes.</span><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Santa
Monica Playhouse, now in its 59<sup>th</sup> year, is back live (but wear
masks) and in this case its business is to bring joy and amazement to young people.
Old people too – you see Grandpa came with us and he never even dozed off for a
second!</span><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Santa
Monica Playhouse is at 1211 4<sup>th</sup> Street between Wilshire and Arizona. </span><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;">Tickets at Playhouse Box Office, or call (310)
394-9779 ext.2 or online at </span><a href="http://www.santamonicaplayhouse.com/"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">www.SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-84498427268989457112022-10-04T11:48:00.000-07:002022-10-04T11:48:37.946-07:00Review: BEARINGS by MATT CHAIT On Hollywood’s Theatre Row<p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-3MMuCVu3K7hQnrZmnLM-V0N-8sYu_WIO7lfwFu0PvUO4CfPEyqv7XeCUENm069EPMTBQjc_a-X_YEKlRxIO2bZOyMDG3tiQUhL51cJuI3-jv64wEWEaBVviIKdsU9fZbkSMDLIojBKzU-ykAz9HTJsK0qLhmEK0TW3mLWTbWlWb753SqXb0DtH9Dw/s1280/Bearings.seducer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1280" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-3MMuCVu3K7hQnrZmnLM-V0N-8sYu_WIO7lfwFu0PvUO4CfPEyqv7XeCUENm069EPMTBQjc_a-X_YEKlRxIO2bZOyMDG3tiQUhL51cJuI3-jv64wEWEaBVviIKdsU9fZbkSMDLIojBKzU-ykAz9HTJsK0qLhmEK0TW3mLWTbWlWb753SqXb0DtH9Dw/s320/Bearings.seducer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"> This intriguing new play starts off
as a Kafkaesque mystery when a near delirious young man enters a luxury hotel in
Pasadena looking for his room that he left only hours before. </span><span style="font-size: large;">There is no record of his having ever been
there but after a while the reception he gets from the management is quite warm
and obliging. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Soon one starts to wonder if perhaps this is hiding a scheme to
destroy the man’s mind. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKIcoBihlsfVhmTTZ9ldcd5bMT3HhCgEVsPCs6uldHIWujFwAYanlFIFB2Qcj7d40BSILa-YL-dtmWE95x9vnr52qVrULdHIWsLWRJWmCCgKLsRoUq-p_1FJbbJxui79mNjuTSPG9EnHjKjt_6tRSYc1AKDYgExAgDPQlJs8a3OM-2WZs_Au4p98nCA/s1280/Bearings.manager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1280" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKIcoBihlsfVhmTTZ9ldcd5bMT3HhCgEVsPCs6uldHIWujFwAYanlFIFB2Qcj7d40BSILa-YL-dtmWE95x9vnr52qVrULdHIWsLWRJWmCCgKLsRoUq-p_1FJbbJxui79mNjuTSPG9EnHjKjt_6tRSYc1AKDYgExAgDPQlJs8a3OM-2WZs_Au4p98nCA/w200-h169/Bearings.manager.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, by being patient and enjoying the journey I
guarantee that when the pieces fall into place, author Matt Chait does not let
us down. The final revelation satisfies one’s curiosity as well as proves a
delight in the magic spell of live theater.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As for the performers, leading an
excellent cast is Will Bradley, tormented but sweetly honest as the beleaguered
hero; then there are Justin Huen and Kim Estes, hotel-managers, both so calm
and reasonable that our suspicions are roused. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX03KT-idVoWBGRZ60kpvEHAOthkW-VYBH5lP1_jrOzNjUz0cuXW2wNa46fsHrLCk71mx7CHwyME6D9i82LVm8w6GCT8WehcBo4nDJIebLLCp8nMe2HzxPLrmdSUUImbMH74BL9tkDav34ZCzSkA03dDI-SQPRqR5KrsiFDWPBZmvjET5Betz1XVDeCw/s1280/Bearings.waitress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1280" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX03KT-idVoWBGRZ60kpvEHAOthkW-VYBH5lP1_jrOzNjUz0cuXW2wNa46fsHrLCk71mx7CHwyME6D9i82LVm8w6GCT8WehcBo4nDJIebLLCp8nMe2HzxPLrmdSUUImbMH74BL9tkDav34ZCzSkA03dDI-SQPRqR5KrsiFDWPBZmvjET5Betz1XVDeCw/w200-h168/Bearings.waitress.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are scene-stealers Rebecca
O’Brien as a wonderfully funny overworked waitress, and Valerie Larsen as a
superbly frustrated and harried mom-housewife. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowtHAdW2uBFVyu7JMl24p37GiYA3m_GH2VIdZOWPyqDn9PN1M1dpOh0Ooy1-5_FnhPzEa3PNeg4N2Veqh_rP1lVbwija6daQREXjte6aY3fv4lMiwBHloJxefECY5aPp5nfCOgiRFcp7wU_axmDndbuUAA5tQkRO5iQU96tTm5ltFNY1h4yb6aTcDLA/s1280/Bearings.wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1280" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowtHAdW2uBFVyu7JMl24p37GiYA3m_GH2VIdZOWPyqDn9PN1M1dpOh0Ooy1-5_FnhPzEa3PNeg4N2Veqh_rP1lVbwija6daQREXjte6aY3fv4lMiwBHloJxefECY5aPp5nfCOgiRFcp7wU_axmDndbuUAA5tQkRO5iQU96tTm5ltFNY1h4yb6aTcDLA/w200-h167/Bearings.wife.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Others worth noting are Trip
Langley as a snotty desk clerk, Jane Papageorge as a lascivious student,
Allison Reeves as a dedicated nurse and Vanessa Born as a cheery boy with a python
pet.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Directed with panache by author Chait and presented by The Complex
with Erin Trainer as executive producer. Performed in the Flight Theatre, (aptly
named for its very high flight of stairs) at 6472, Santa Monica Blvd., in
Hollywood. Yes, this is the row of small theatres, known as The Complex, that are
endangered and demanding that this historic Theatre Row have protective status
as the theatrically productive home for Los Angeles’ imaginative and daring
Live Theatre! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately, I only got to see this evocative play close to
its final weekend and it’s worth hurrying over before it closes, and the fine
cast and crew disperse to other triumphs. TICKETS & <span style="color: black;">RESERVATIONS:</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><b><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bearings-tickets-395606518747">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bearings-tickets-395606518747</a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-45462335279406402392022-04-14T11:45:00.001-07:002022-04-14T11:45:13.103-07:00A HEATED DISCUSSION - Review<p> </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBna0hHBLJlbvxUI-XCRLtDVmmjrDlG9KhJLzkL0feBSt1jRAzo829039iV7NAh0GY2OIHZuXbfcRLoWPKnqVGTzhewkVyle7iO2FTV_rmITqVT_9Fug4Jr3DsgmouNXqNNdqYtTVKCQWyjta0zPmeHqf6pCaOlRSfqCPTH_gNZF5JrXFOpd73qbHzg/s1024/A%20Heated%20Discussion.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBna0hHBLJlbvxUI-XCRLtDVmmjrDlG9KhJLzkL0feBSt1jRAzo829039iV7NAh0GY2OIHZuXbfcRLoWPKnqVGTzhewkVyle7iO2FTV_rmITqVT_9Fug4Jr3DsgmouNXqNNdqYtTVKCQWyjta0zPmeHqf6pCaOlRSfqCPTH_gNZF5JrXFOpd73qbHzg/s320/A%20Heated%20Discussion.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well, Robey Theatre
is back and its choice for first production after Covid is a challenging one by
Levy Lee Simon. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We find ourselves eavesdropping on twelve politically and
philosophically illustrious Black iconic figures, brought from the afterlife by
three Orisha African deities. The purpose is to hear their viewpoints on the
state of their African descendants in America today.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V2CF1n825Rd7r9cvXLxq7vtB9GCelAvKXRz6vl6d_ZFfKQOmJgxfSSGQvpxftV6YaYGP9SlVrgmo8IIPikhaKD7aYwsuUR9aL02xpqSILlA1Q3dNJsOfDz4h-ikkTbaNau0dvflGgt06C-XAASJAh4PXgmMVqn1xqctsfjQTzuZCU0pC67fkMOewlg/s1024/A%20Heated%20Discussion.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V2CF1n825Rd7r9cvXLxq7vtB9GCelAvKXRz6vl6d_ZFfKQOmJgxfSSGQvpxftV6YaYGP9SlVrgmo8IIPikhaKD7aYwsuUR9aL02xpqSILlA1Q3dNJsOfDz4h-ikkTbaNau0dvflGgt06C-XAASJAh4PXgmMVqn1xqctsfjQTzuZCU0pC67fkMOewlg/w200-h133/A%20Heated%20Discussion.3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After heart-breaking
live footage of all too familiar racist killings, the trio asks their opinions
o</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">n what causes these atrocities, exactly who is responsible, and
how can people who are labeled as Black fight back.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The most powerful
argument for militant pushback was Malcolm X (David Bollar) while Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr (Garret Davis) and Maya Angelou (Kimberly Bailey) pleaded for
peace and forgiveness. Most devastating was Ida B. Wells' (Quonta Beasley) description
of a lynching and its aftermath. Most candid were Richard Pryor (Philip Bell),
Tupac Shakur (Kyle Sparks) and Zora Neale Hurston (Vanja Renee). Most calmly
measured were James Baldwin (Julio Hanson) and Bob Marley (Alex W.S.T. Chumley).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tR_j0gBlEY8OLf5s4ILEOMv30AlHs739GshmXUuIp1xAXupdMEVqx6FMTzXkvu66MnSH8GF2wF4cG0iHwpNFvksDHraIwE1MnKfTm-ALSJS3AMihhfNejmg_4aBNzbkuwDHBrBEVj1HHPJCA9dcpuor8QB2teNrBSeMcJcS0kHkalvQoYei01SmRlw/s678/A%20Heated%20Discussion.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="678" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tR_j0gBlEY8OLf5s4ILEOMv30AlHs739GshmXUuIp1xAXupdMEVqx6FMTzXkvu66MnSH8GF2wF4cG0iHwpNFvksDHraIwE1MnKfTm-ALSJS3AMihhfNejmg_4aBNzbkuwDHBrBEVj1HHPJCA9dcpuor8QB2teNrBSeMcJcS0kHkalvQoYei01SmRlw/w200-h113/A%20Heated%20Discussion.1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most hot-headed was Dr. Francess
Welsing Cress (Rosie Lee Hooks) whose passionate indictments almost silenced her
opponents. Most indignant were Lorraine Hansberry (Tiffany Cole) and Nina
Simone (Lashada Jackson). Most commanding was a Spirit Warrior (Ben Guillory)
whose final argument was a reminder of the strength that shows a beleaguered
people's triumph.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Produced and
directed by Guillory, this deeply disturbing play reveals more injustice than anyone
can bear and still live life with joy. Ironically, it opened the same week
that, after a brutal interrogation, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed
as the first African American woman to serve as a justice of the United States
Supreme Court. The discussion continues!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Robey
Theatre, Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St, Downtown LA.
Reservations: (213) 489-7402. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photos by Jermaine Alexander.<o:p></o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-2115488697837811192022-04-07T13:04:00.003-07:002023-02-26T09:48:25.596-08:00A DEATH-DEFYING ESCAPE - in Hollywood - REVIEW<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1uvIWeN4yj0ih3XXJ_n9YwgKSZYWbImddhZvytzFLautfNGqodTJKCP3tx9T0ot3nHM3lNyRn_XUAeNvO-Y63wR_x0PUoE1oelaK7KRxtjTXNM8Uew_fYfkSjkBLfyEn6DnxaA9D18HIZcbS2UOJ3v4KHIXSfuj2qEH5l_-dWWXFmovnzqXXPw12lA/s300/Judy%20Carter%20with%20cards.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="207" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1uvIWeN4yj0ih3XXJ_n9YwgKSZYWbImddhZvytzFLautfNGqodTJKCP3tx9T0ot3nHM3lNyRn_XUAeNvO-Y63wR_x0PUoE1oelaK7KRxtjTXNM8Uew_fYfkSjkBLfyEn6DnxaA9D18HIZcbS2UOJ3v4KHIXSfuj2qEH5l_-dWWXFmovnzqXXPw12lA/s1600/Judy%20Carter%20with%20cards.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />Fact: Discovering
at age 10 that the messes in her life were great fodder for comedy, Judy Carter
overcame a speech impediment and began doing magic shows for birthday parties —
leading to a full-page story in the </span><a href="https://www.lucypr.com/Projects/Web/Judy-Carter_LA-Times-1961.pdf"><i><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in;">Los Angeles
Times</span></i></a><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">. She was the first woman to perform at the Magic Castle Close-Up
Gallery in Hollywood — where she was literally picked up and thrown out because
“Cards are for men.” Undaunted, she continued developing her own style of
magic, creating a death-defying escape from her grandmother’s girdle and sawing
a man in half. At one engagement, when the airlines lost her luggage, she went
on without her tricks — and instantly became a standup comic. Since then, she
has appeared on over 100 TV shows and four comedy cable specials, as well as
opening for Prince and playing Vegas.</span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Review: Well, about halfway through this
delightful show Judy mentioned that she is the author of some books. Click! I
suddenly realized I have long admired her for her book "The Message of
You." About five years ago, I was a member of comedienne Rebecca O'Brien's
Standup Comedy Workshop and the tome that was the focus for the year I attended
was Judy Carter's advisory in that book. Tell about your own life, inspire
people to live and love and laugh, while sharing what might even be considered
a sad or tragic life story. So, how to remain a disinterested theater critic
when she was an important influence on my own creative life?</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUOomJj5yu8m4NKD8eLAIKXIDvEeMSHUFdOhWNTbE_dBf3IWGtmBc6RvjkTH_MCCHcb3jqFkdw3PPtUFPTS1ro3X5rjr9ECceoKF_69rr_o5VUN1SfeSn5M_WpnTYTMQ4k4xo4jkbHxfOrrKEtIbHD5gezTruA0jLx6O_5EvrsXtwZ9bSaqW1NAP1Lw/s300/Judy%20Carter%20&%20Lyndsi%20LaRose.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="284" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUOomJj5yu8m4NKD8eLAIKXIDvEeMSHUFdOhWNTbE_dBf3IWGtmBc6RvjkTH_MCCHcb3jqFkdw3PPtUFPTS1ro3X5rjr9ECceoKF_69rr_o5VUN1SfeSn5M_WpnTYTMQ4k4xo4jkbHxfOrrKEtIbHD5gezTruA0jLx6O_5EvrsXtwZ9bSaqW1NAP1Lw/s1600/Judy%20Carter%20&%20Lyndsi%20LaRose.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In this terrific show, directed by Lee
Costello, having conquered the comedy world, and had strong impact as an author,
Judy now brings her magic to live theater. We can see that taking chances was
her path to success as she reaches back to a turbulent childhood where doing
magic tricks entertained her friends and pleased her hypercritical parents. There
was a tragedy in her early life that colored her young days and helped
determine her future drive to succeed, a revelation that brought tears to my
eyes. However, the show itself remedied this pain with its humor and wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30IQIWiNW43uWRwe386KyH_DdDX0LCMMHSSqv_Jn1oZOxdIR00t1rlp2rEYOGmG7fYgp52lJeWA-PSjYrNicinSbg6HKmiRXLzrltWfQpeiWZ68irzJKAdVY0D-1QNDQxyAGYaXCXTG2JSkSLjlP_Gx1YAsC-pLzj7Uiz5gq4GksPuFD-nliT-3CDAQ/s300/Judy%20Carter%20&%20Doug%20Henning.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="235" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30IQIWiNW43uWRwe386KyH_DdDX0LCMMHSSqv_Jn1oZOxdIR00t1rlp2rEYOGmG7fYgp52lJeWA-PSjYrNicinSbg6HKmiRXLzrltWfQpeiWZ68irzJKAdVY0D-1QNDQxyAGYaXCXTG2JSkSLjlP_Gx1YAsC-pLzj7Uiz5gq4GksPuFD-nliT-3CDAQ/s1600/Judy%20Carter%20&%20Doug%20Henning.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Magic requires that we believe what we
see and, believe me, this is a show not to be missed. Judy herself draws us
close, and, with the admirable assistance of two brilliant actors, brings her
story to life. Both play many roles: Lyndsi LaRose is moving as her tremulous
mother and sensitive lover, while Kevin Scott Allen is awesome as her domineering
father, horny mentor and hilarious bikini-clad 'magicians assistant'!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">At Hudson
Guild Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Order tickets </span><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #272751; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">at </span><b><a href="http://www.deathdefyingescape.com/"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #5674b5; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">www.deathdefyingescape.com</span></a></b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">. Photos by J.</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext" style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-color-alt: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-11993968981437333812022-03-17T11:43:00.000-07:002022-03-17T11:43:42.860-07:00YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED A BIT AND OTHER LIES - review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5x_Y7jyzCzZIfsaEtd4o7zJQYt9H5ussrAR68X0FeoIsJcOMD-gxiRR94xdPnLVv1W2DccRsndPXx9WBGENaXUFleAZ3FG17MIdrhi-VRnrpCz_KsDx3GdPz-i9ZbqwehBnVRH-Gi6hlChkUk_dlF2czqdVhwmmzgmUI23ae0lhgm07VSyJJQSgt2MQ=s600" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5x_Y7jyzCzZIfsaEtd4o7zJQYt9H5ussrAR68X0FeoIsJcOMD-gxiRR94xdPnLVv1W2DccRsndPXx9WBGENaXUFleAZ3FG17MIdrhi-VRnrpCz_KsDx3GdPz-i9ZbqwehBnVRH-Gi6hlChkUk_dlF2czqdVhwmmzgmUI23ae0lhgm07VSyJJQSgt2MQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;"> As Bette Davis famously once said, </span><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">“<i>Old age isn't for sissies!”</i> and this delightful revue
certainly proves her point. The various trials and tribulations of old age are humorously
illustrated by author Jerry Mayer, through scenes and songs by himself, and his
son, Steve. In case you doubt it, some predictable limitations that come with
old age are all told with humor and melody. Things such as: <i>Where on earth
did I park the car in this public garage?</i> or <i>I'm not hard of hearing, just
preoccupied!</i> or <i>Don’t tell me it's time for Viagra!</i></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
six performers are divided into three couples, identified as Jewish, Irish,
Italian, who are all planning to renew their marriage vows after 30-some years.
This has raised their awareness of certain problems that are becoming
troublesome. For example, the three wives are perplexed by having their once
career-obsessed husbands now lurking, lounging, or hanging around the house
every day. The three husbands are wondering why their once manly domination in life,
work, and home is gone, and is this why they are starting to feel like they are
becoming the weaker sex? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Through
a series of witty songs, the excellent cast share these dilemmas with the
audience members. This brought much recognition laughter from the older folk
attending. For younger people it's a hint of trials and tribulations to come, yet
Mayer's message is clear - keep living and loving and don't put any limitations
on what you can still accomplish. Hey, author Mayer is 90 and, after a career
writing for many top TV shows, he's clearly not slowing down as here he is, onstage
with live theater.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Directed by Chris DeCarlo, who also performs, along with Rachel
Galper, Kyle T. Heffner, Barbara Keegan, Evelyn Rudie and Tom Van Dyke. Musical
accompaniment is by Steve Mayer. At Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th Street,
Santa Monica. Tkts: (310) 394-9779 ext.1, or </span><a href="mailto:theatre@SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .75pt;">theatre@SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com</span></b></a><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #002060; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-56335800856189395622022-03-10T13:11:00.000-08:002022-03-10T13:11:36.417-08:00RAPUNZEL ALONE - review<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGjfpe1rk9j0tsamjokf4vT9va_XbQic2vzDemsOLJFc1IFIL6qp9PRVPLRbRmNjv2uSDm6xa6_tv4fODrUzQVBVFRH7m32C0QHMwFMVg1UHJYib2kalpRqsa-bs81mrXtVrWzsaZ0XKxt58xiKBtGnK-bwUlD4VGMTpNMJG60OMWVLZei1_-cBC7ugQ=s1280" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGjfpe1rk9j0tsamjokf4vT9va_XbQic2vzDemsOLJFc1IFIL6qp9PRVPLRbRmNjv2uSDm6xa6_tv4fODrUzQVBVFRH7m32C0QHMwFMVg1UHJYib2kalpRqsa-bs81mrXtVrWzsaZ0XKxt58xiKBtGnK-bwUlD4VGMTpNMJG60OMWVLZei1_-cBC7ugQ=w200-h150" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Murphy Girls in WW2</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">During the bombings in the
second World War, for their safety, thousands of children were sent away from
London to stay with strangers in the countryside. In fact, my sisters and I
were among these, and we spent one year on a farm in Dorset. I was two years old,
and people said I enthusiastically went out to herd in the cows each evening. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So naturally I was intrigued when I heard that this show was about a little
mixed-race girl sent to live on a farm in WW2! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzoh0lw3nia7CE5XARYEF-LFIj4qseA8D8kMxRwKgrZgRtZLVDh0UviAhCM4FygJkSiip7Yk3_-TrBVVaXNOd93FusETp90RVFCWBk-dk1swZ7RGS__9FjMVXkL33cYO65v4pz8eexkPod7or_kRZtMuKR0VL-KJPsv5h6EMuIpbe4WtznAZPIe0boAw=s300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzoh0lw3nia7CE5XARYEF-LFIj4qseA8D8kMxRwKgrZgRtZLVDh0UviAhCM4FygJkSiip7Yk3_-TrBVVaXNOd93FusETp90RVFCWBk-dk1swZ7RGS__9FjMVXkL33cYO65v4pz8eexkPod7or_kRZtMuKR0VL-KJPsv5h6EMuIpbe4WtznAZPIe0boAw=w133-h200" width="133" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">However, this child's experience
is far bleaker than mine. Her farm-owner is a formidable, emotionally
unreachable woman who, because she was from Africa, was embittered after being
called a 'witch' by the local rubes. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">How a child deals with
stern domination is the theme of this play that somewhat parallels the Grimms Brother's
(grim) tale of a young girl's imprisonment. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuynJR8AI_uVQ5eRnzmjLT1upHdLbJ5wJLoCOtwEg715rLQ7_ZyRrIDThY8bE3lP8kjHD2yJAsGpWu7UsFrnlOq7U31fGrCYXfRvEFy4fs1NWcHgEh3NqSaUBJgwCAbX6vBfdMKUO91i262MuEmyBko4MZ-p8ya6T82EkiZxzPGKocQutTAx7CyPmZnQ=s300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="300" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuynJR8AI_uVQ5eRnzmjLT1upHdLbJ5wJLoCOtwEg715rLQ7_ZyRrIDThY8bE3lP8kjHD2yJAsGpWu7UsFrnlOq7U31fGrCYXfRvEFy4fs1NWcHgEh3NqSaUBJgwCAbX6vBfdMKUO91i262MuEmyBko4MZ-p8ya6T82EkiZxzPGKocQutTAx7CyPmZnQ=w200-h133" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">All is sadness until Gertrude, a
large goose, a creature that seems to embody an evil spirit, roars in with beak
open to attack. The child is at first terrified, then as she timidly collects
eggs, and witnesses the magical arrival of goslings, her heart fills with
tenderness. As she becomes the protector of these fragile creatures, will Gertrude,
who has tolerated this intruder, now accept her?</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuT9NOMyU0SZZzRv7V98o5gpm7TCq-5xWxESXk9pxpDOwngat-M2wIJVNzltKv6p4nYY5K6vBKfOg_8QAzUCuHfScTTSwrEeNFFQYuBz2rs_gsbx9ew1OZYlFQtvN7u3km7fzY1POzNnO7So4WSiMtxeT9yf6S6rf1IXkQZ2fHs1xLhmrhbdpIXyqg-g=s300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="300" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuT9NOMyU0SZZzRv7V98o5gpm7TCq-5xWxESXk9pxpDOwngat-M2wIJVNzltKv6p4nYY5K6vBKfOg_8QAzUCuHfScTTSwrEeNFFQYuBz2rs_gsbx9ew1OZYlFQtvN7u3km7fzY1POzNnO7So4WSiMtxeT9yf6S6rf1IXkQZ2fHs1xLhmrhbdpIXyqg-g=w200-h133" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> How to categorize this as
a children's story is a problem, as it's so full of undeserved cruelty that one
fears it unsuitable for kids. Still, the production is wildly imaginative, with
moving screens denoting places, people and events that drive the action along.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> The voiceover by author Mike Kenny, that sets up the story, is a needed asset.
Sadly, the exchanges between the child Lettie (Tara Alise Cox) and her unkind
hostess (Marie-Francoise Theodore) are often barely audible, while bratty local
kid (William Leon in a dynamic and delightful performance) can be heard clearly.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Stealing the show is
Gertrude the Goose, the funniest and most energetic bird, boldly escorted by
puppeteer Matt Curtin. Children in the audience clapped and laughed whenever
Gertrude appeared, and someone nearby actually asked their neighbor, "Is
that goose real?" as she certainly appears so.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The show, written by Britisher
Kenny, is produced and directed by the dynamic 24<sup>th</sup> Street Theatre
team, Jay McAdams and Debbie Devine. This production moves to Beverly Hills and
will play at the Wallis Center for further weeks. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">For information: <span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #202124; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">(310) 746-4000 or </span><b><u><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #002060; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">TheWallis.org/rapunzel</span></u></b><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #202124; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Production photos by
Cooper Bates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-69302919022396348692022-03-04T17:30:00.001-08:002022-03-04T17:41:47.490-08:00ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE HAPPY - Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcIMCUgSgFaJc1gPbwh-2dkBxIbY4gaGZfuxq00sY_IZ_Goy3RbLh6fDm9mCytmkA6NbbgDyxfRMir9I4QPWZEn6sEPBPPVeaZgET97ZNlPncq1g1XtiTQlFV-dviZU4RPgyJUje76RTZdHuVvQSNiy6o_A7CqXJNcJt7kCUJNP1OJfTFIwUJC8lNwnw=s300" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcIMCUgSgFaJc1gPbwh-2dkBxIbY4gaGZfuxq00sY_IZ_Goy3RbLh6fDm9mCytmkA6NbbgDyxfRMir9I4QPWZEn6sEPBPPVeaZgET97ZNlPncq1g1XtiTQlFV-dviZU4RPgyJUje76RTZdHuVvQSNiy6o_A7CqXJNcJt7kCUJNP1OJfTFIwUJC8lNwnw" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">This
is a poignant tale of love, loss, and how when one is not afraid to take risks,
life can perhaps bring joy. Playwright Daf James has devised an ingenious way
to persuade us that the love between stolid Josh and effervescent Abbe is deep
and long-lasting. As we view a series of brief live-action snapshots, we see
the changes that take place over the years in a happy marriage. We are enchanted
by these time changes that reveal the dynamic in their marriage. Clearly, both
are eager to share their lives fully especially when, unable to conceive, they agree
to adopt a child. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">There
are events that make this a perhaps perilous choice, not least of all the fact
that the mother of the child offered to them is drug addicted. One of the characters
asks us directly, what would we do in such a case? Take in a perhaps badly
damaged little girl? Would we risk it? Playwright James shows us, through Josh,
the inner doubts for such a commitment but also his deep need to share love as
he has known it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The
three marvelous actors all play double roles smoothly and believably. Rori
Flynn, dazzling as the effervescent Abbe, whose ability to love is boundless,
also plays a calm, assuring social worker whose deep understanding of the
tumult in a childless person's mind is balanced by a firm belief in parenthood.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Christian
Telesmar, as the conflicted Josh, shows how deeply he wants a child to hold yet
reveals the fear that his dream might crash when facing reality. Telesmar portrays
the sensitive husband believably, then suddenly breaks away for one brief scene
to portray the child's father, a boisterous, demanding man that we know has a
darker side.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXAVAPv5s-Tgt9txw4G2gyjadODi3zkqDVs5ldrIrqxY57VOIR_bo2VR68QmIfqfZeIczcvKZma9O1DiVRiiMdpisZNZigR1WyMyRG3LUu1C3J4iGC7D_v441xn8SnNOVUINy3MysRIaLyLTWX2haVROHpZg4K6g5REQwCk72odoy_3qEbjNFX3Stijg=s300" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="300" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXAVAPv5s-Tgt9txw4G2gyjadODi3zkqDVs5ldrIrqxY57VOIR_bo2VR68QmIfqfZeIczcvKZma9O1DiVRiiMdpisZNZigR1WyMyRG3LUu1C3J4iGC7D_v441xn8SnNOVUINy3MysRIaLyLTWX2haVROHpZg4K6g5REQwCk72odoy_3qEbjNFX3Stijg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Perhaps
the most riveting part of the play is when we meet the child's mother. Alexandra
Hellquist is marvelous as a frantic, deeply wounded, almost hysterical woman
whose need to save her child from the degradation and abuse she suffers reaches
levels of nobility. Hellquist also leaps back and forth as the troubled child that
we witness growing into assured womanhood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Director
Cameron Watson moves the action at full speed and yet allows the actors moments
of stillness that tug at our hearts. Perhaps the revelation in James' play is
that no matter what happens, love can heal the deepest hurts if we have the
courage to embrace it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rogue
Machine Theatre are now at the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles.
For reservations call (855) 585-5185 or </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9v3yqVZN99y659hcQNKyrrDhWCHOdDzG5u8T2hzq1u0agxbC_1hrRFq1GzbZLExSqIPPtssb4OtfrmuJj23c64JCWiU6bsGA-2B2UfZVNM6GQhgFsmSEVMV1HOL2y0-2BAbhL5ya-2FiwbsCIF-2FCscrukl4vG0daB4V-2F0vvRZuPEfufb0VE4Mcm19SIHTf21QN0ZK94aqXBqX5I1pPazYY-2FcvHHpto70QUjbjFFjIodd3O9uHUSLQSondnIQuYI3ibUPhMF2ZYJLiprHqIpqKpHk0J-2BRJLiX95Or2XEZ1vDzx133jgvHehZy9LCqrCuVXLTbz31SvKYKsMYtqL5eBXT6lJ8b62hybIk0hmqfO2XzlUaVDrrOJOI4Z6KLQkBabrt43mSuOZZHI58iCIxNVlqoZXs59BLjZo-3D" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">www.roguemachinetheatre.net</span></a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1.6px;">Photos by</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; letter-spacing: 0.3px; text-align: center; word-spacing: 1.6px;"> John Perrin Flynn</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-12130467994417449502021-12-17T11:18:00.000-08:002021-12-17T11:18:11.624-08:00GOOD PEOPLE - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjlebBJWRvjEq99h4UZKUCEq68_OPqH62G-9DQiiO0Z9vkR5iiQjJZ3Ix_lzT3zwlE8whzzYhxlatRJZW2PAsgK8YVxFQYSax5L_9rr06Tb9N5K-CyQgKaDtt5cgBiCx9NTMidGkPcmzlYXBd5wlo7CNMnI4CtoNvmuuByLO8RpnwuIhgicq8Wnv46bA=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjlebBJWRvjEq99h4UZKUCEq68_OPqH62G-9DQiiO0Z9vkR5iiQjJZ3Ix_lzT3zwlE8whzzYhxlatRJZW2PAsgK8YVxFQYSax5L_9rr06Tb9N5K-CyQgKaDtt5cgBiCx9NTMidGkPcmzlYXBd5wlo7CNMnI4CtoNvmuuByLO8RpnwuIhgicq8Wnv46bA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
I saw "August: Osage County" on Broadway back in 2007, and it won the Pulitzer
Prize for Drama, I realized that an entirely new genre in theater had arrived.
No longer entertaining or emotionally moving, now we were being exposed to somewhat
cynical domestic dramas. Author David Lindsay-Abaire, born in South Boston, is grimly
determined to reveal the pain in everyday life in this poor area. He was privy
to the desolation and crushing of spirits among the people there, and he
certainly brings that to our attention in this often bleak but also amusing
comedy-drama. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">As
reported formerly: <b>"</b></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;">
Margie is a white woman from the working-class neighborhood of South Boston. She’s
a single mom caring for a grown, severely autistic daughter. Mike, her former
high school beau, has gotten out of South Boston, become an M.D., and moved to
the tony suburb of Chestnut Hill with his beautiful Black wife and their
daughter. Now Margie has recently been fired from her job and is facing
eviction. Some friends at the local church Bingo game suggest that she look up
her old fling and ask him for a job. When Margie arrives at his doorstep, what
will she ask and what will he do?"</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9KO82q9XeF9PUmDpzqGM0fnMq_SqXtCbcREi2HE0UvWReuVwNneRAHvqoEi9m2Ic15uNZVdvg6wB0n1KZOjOCXx7P5LtGK-w91GFft4K59QWtWQ-Vy34l1ucL-NsyaNIe2lcUPCVAdBaq4S2eM619xDOop1J_leRFxBbCrY_Ky8KjEhRKCiTlPAqdiA=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9KO82q9XeF9PUmDpzqGM0fnMq_SqXtCbcREi2HE0UvWReuVwNneRAHvqoEi9m2Ic15uNZVdvg6wB0n1KZOjOCXx7P5LtGK-w91GFft4K59QWtWQ-Vy34l1ucL-NsyaNIe2lcUPCVAdBaq4S2eM619xDOop1J_leRFxBbCrY_Ky8KjEhRKCiTlPAqdiA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Yes, this is a play that
resounds today as its about contrasts, about those who 'make it' and those who
don't. It's casting an eye on the unlucky in life and the now privileged, and
what happens when they collide because of a long ago claim of kinship. It's so <u>now</u>
when in essence one character says, in pleading desperation - <i>you have all the luck,
and I had all the hard knocks - now help me… and if you won't then I'll bring
you down - maybe!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We are flies on the wall when
Margie (a quixotically funny but tragic Alison Blanchard) is first mistaken for
a domestic by the elegant Black lady of the house (a dazzling Charlotte
Williams Roberts) in an ironic turnaround. We see the embarrassment and
resentment that her old boyfriend, now a successful doctor (seething volcano Scott
Facher) is driven to by his buried past. The scene between these three is
riveting and the alternate pleading, threatening, placating, resounds through
the house. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip9xtKXIgLZiHN94Z-99wn4S-uhfi4PV4CL6jZu0Mg0Ma5nBngLGpIAGbYjxNBGM3ERapWpciC_dCP0PI8Qfae8_W5r2rhu9-bDU43PGr0o0falxB1zGGOXToQbOEwELTUGIeQkcp5nFvmy5-EouguoNNl8MVBv-e687VWHTLAq6GiHDtT9VLuybSCPw=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip9xtKXIgLZiHN94Z-99wn4S-uhfi4PV4CL6jZu0Mg0Ma5nBngLGpIAGbYjxNBGM3ERapWpciC_dCP0PI8Qfae8_W5r2rhu9-bDU43PGr0o0falxB1zGGOXToQbOEwELTUGIeQkcp5nFvmy5-EouguoNNl8MVBv-e687VWHTLAq6GiHDtT9VLuybSCPw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">The lead up to this confrontation
is adroitly brought to life by clever director Ann Hearn Tobolowsky. My only
concern is that much of the dialogue was lost due to the intimacy between the
actors, especially Facher and Blanchard, who dug so deeply into their battle
that they forgot they were onstage in a theatre, not in an actual living room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Let's not overlook the rest of
this excellent cast: Michael Kerr was wonderfully bewildered as a man caught in
the crossfire between work and compassion; Suzan Solomon was delightfully
casual as a friend with some clever suggestions, and Mariko Van Kampen was
airily ditzy as a landlady with no heart of gold. Photos by Amir Kojoory and Eric Keitel.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;">Produced by David Hunt Stafford
for Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Drive, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Beverly Hills</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in;">. Free Parking. Strict Covid protocols. Tickets: (310) 364-0535 or
</span><a href="http://www.theatre40.org/" target="_blank"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">www.theatre40.org</span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-88090260811534220362021-12-08T13:15:00.002-08:002021-12-09T07:24:17.187-08:00THE WICKHAMS: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY - Reviewed by Cosmo Murphy<div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_aHYE8ukVVb2r8tkswisEcsbDDY6IcnG-YsdHV7-ynpsJhN_Yx0sMQ7bQ_va6E0hCPlU_xHbjjyKz22fpW_xQoP6tqreyxzoMHmyVGhmxHVvmCT2PVZ0hhhBhk5KLAQYHxJ57TppFcKY/s1280/The+Wickhams+poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="1280" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_aHYE8ukVVb2r8tkswisEcsbDDY6IcnG-YsdHV7-ynpsJhN_Yx0sMQ7bQ_va6E0hCPlU_xHbjjyKz22fpW_xQoP6tqreyxzoMHmyVGhmxHVvmCT2PVZ0hhhBhk5KLAQYHxJ57TppFcKY/s320/The+Wickhams+poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Well, I had a fun time at
the show and am having even more fun writing this review as this sequel to
"Pride and Prejudice" is a holiday treat where Jane Austen meets "Downton
Abbey." This comic-drama, written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon,
is about the events leading up to a Christmas party at Pemberley. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>Housekeeper Mrs. Reynolds has hired a new maid named Cassie
and another character, Brian, has a crush on the girl. He spends a lot of time
showing off his “inventions” to her, such as a device that makes baking
biscuits easier. (It’s a roller combined with a biscuit cutter so she can roll
dough and then immediately cut it into shapes for biscuits).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmqOWcTZ79AiQCPCiPt6VOBMyt6oLkUXJzhxNexZXA3LLGESXBxsuBoEqrHToj-C3mEvZXldmnsHI1HVOtTxITiUanTPKwUPYSbMzzYo_8vk4cS_ErQU4qyjWy7ogzM-e-lyxFU0g5K8J/s600/THE+WICKHAMS.3+actors.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmqOWcTZ79AiQCPCiPt6VOBMyt6oLkUXJzhxNexZXA3LLGESXBxsuBoEqrHToj-C3mEvZXldmnsHI1HVOtTxITiUanTPKwUPYSbMzzYo_8vk4cS_ErQU4qyjWy7ogzM-e-lyxFU0g5K8J/w200-h133/THE+WICKHAMS.3+actors.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Meanwhile,
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have invited their friend, Lydia Wickham, who is
married to George Wickham, who no one likes because of his toxic behavior. They
all talk about how they don’t want George to show up and spoil their Christmas
party. So of course, George shows up belligerently drunk </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">with his head bleeding
from getting beaten up at a bar. To keep George’s arrival secret from Mr.
Darcy, Elizabeth occupies his time by having sex with him upstairs, while Mrs.
Reynolds occupies Lydia's time by shoving biscuits in her face and having her
go to her room to eat them.</span><p></p></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLhMGlBmt-NbjQoDUaZNpwDPIfOG8juZvY0G-pc_3HA0JcyIEwu0Ugd8HkEpOf6PNybXN6jRSE_ofFdVHBFXEqIj1ULvbDZzgoq7myItGD5Dal4s4PLVHaXKNwOo8v4U3nDYzuxWZfXkc/s1280/THE+WICKHAMS.4+actors.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLhMGlBmt-NbjQoDUaZNpwDPIfOG8juZvY0G-pc_3HA0JcyIEwu0Ugd8HkEpOf6PNybXN6jRSE_ofFdVHBFXEqIj1ULvbDZzgoq7myItGD5Dal4s4PLVHaXKNwOo8v4U3nDYzuxWZfXkc/s320/THE+WICKHAMS.4+actors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then
the maid, Cassie, discovers a letter addressed to George that reveals he had
got another girl pregnant, and he owes a bunch of people money. (It was the
brother of the girl he got pregnant who found him and beat him up). George realizes
he lost the letter, that has now made its rounds to everyone in the house
except for Lydia, his wife. George, eager to leave Pemberley, tells Lydia they
ought to go abroad and she’s excited since she really wants to go to
Paris. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Lydia
gets money from her dad, George and Lydia pack their bags and get ready to go,
but just before they leave, the bombshell of George's behavior is dropped on
Lydia. Although heartbroken, Lydia gives George the money her dad gave her for
their trip abroad and George leaves the house alone. The final scene shows
Brian giving Cassie a gift of a music box and they do a little dance to the
music and that’s the end of the play.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY23XHW-XXcy1pglgPjQybvTvkwkQyz2WoJZuQ8A3y-W9QtF4SmLycZP_8TJQ1y32c3VFG8yursUeQQ1pUOLfnfN8GYhfJ6oAKWem26iXXz8IxHY3PUDBelg0i38mzIVKSBW0pqIJD7D2/s900/THE+WICKHAMS.2+actors.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY23XHW-XXcy1pglgPjQybvTvkwkQyz2WoJZuQ8A3y-W9QtF4SmLycZP_8TJQ1y32c3VFG8yursUeQQ1pUOLfnfN8GYhfJ6oAKWem26iXXz8IxHY3PUDBelg0i38mzIVKSBW0pqIJD7D2/w213-h320/THE+WICKHAMS.2+actors.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span> </span>My
favorite actor was Chelsea Kurtz for her portrayal of Lydia that had me
laughing when she acted like a bimbo, and I empathized with her after she got
her heart broken by George. Kyle T. Hester as George did an excellent job of
being the antagonist but as his character was toxic I understood why no one
wanted him around. Will Block played Brian with a schoolboy crush that had the audience
laughing whenever he would introduce an invention. Kodi Jackman's Cassie
strives for independence while her job as a maid allows her to have freedom
from societal norms. <p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Nike Doukas as Mrs. Reynolds was the backbone of
Pemberley, doing everything she could to ensure everything was fine and
going well. Rebecca Mozo as Elizabeth was a moral person, a good friend to
Lydia and a loyal wife to Mr Darcy. Adam Poss, was a badass Mr Darcy, charming
towards the girls and didn’t take any nonsense from George while on the
staircase.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmAJ-yRzbR7AlVuyyf0tRmBaldAIYMugRRuAaB0EEX9xoz0AslrnZcurn88tlxf24KlB7SMPrq810LkGnGe_-Ykh6JdBHcF6MfrOWTj0IYoyF6OqDO0YrepUHtWruX3DqwrJkD_gQEDs4/s1200/THE+WICKHAMS.2+guys.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmAJ-yRzbR7AlVuyyf0tRmBaldAIYMugRRuAaB0EEX9xoz0AslrnZcurn88tlxf24KlB7SMPrq810LkGnGe_-Ykh6JdBHcF6MfrOWTj0IYoyF6OqDO0YrepUHtWruX3DqwrJkD_gQEDs4/s320/THE+WICKHAMS.2+guys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Directed
by Michael Butler, it's a fun show and an emotional experience as there were
parts where I laughed and parts where I gasped. I enjoyed how the stage was set
and how the characters used the space to tell the story. I recommend this play for
Santa Barbarians that want to go out, be entertained, and cruise State Street
after the show! </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Photos by Zach Mendez.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ensemble Theatre Company at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria
Street, Santa Barbara. For tickets or info: (805) 965-5400 or <b>www.etcsb.org</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-20091974089714275012021-12-07T11:48:00.000-08:002021-12-07T11:48:14.983-08:00THE GAMES AFOOT review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHxBhQWI9gJq7kJugx1egqTdVvqByX6G79j6D9v0ioXOeQEIEFV35kNwrluc6HZPY0qdR8pPfSEN92IqpK0uz2bZ0mMkHq4N_tSf0Ge4nRDHdxVhSLO-HxuYOIDe0_0nGfTM1draDJpTJ/s1024/The+Games+Afoot.2+actors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHxBhQWI9gJq7kJugx1egqTdVvqByX6G79j6D9v0ioXOeQEIEFV35kNwrluc6HZPY0qdR8pPfSEN92IqpK0uz2bZ0mMkHq4N_tSf0Ge4nRDHdxVhSLO-HxuYOIDe0_0nGfTM1draDJpTJ/s320/The+Games+Afoot.2+actors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">If, like myself, you are an avid Sherlock Holmes
fan this rousing comedy, full of mystery and suspense, is the chance to visit
with the super sleuth. </span><p></p><p><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">Playwright Ken Ludwig's script is cleverly based on the 19<sup>th</sup>
century actor William Gillette who donned a deerstalker hat and smoked a
crooked pipe when he performed Holmes over a thousand times. Gillette was one
of the biggest stage stars of his day, </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">extremely
wealthy, and lived in Connecticut in a 24-room mansion that he designed himself
to look like a medieval castle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXIIKz5OY6QZMwWUux0wM51M2_AM8iFCOXRmI-i1J2cLGeVRjvyO_mbNwLgcth53kUaLYzTIfzrNvg2HmEhrTdsSUZFoL6JVSxtZnnmBlvGDlruYgWYUkQWkVybO02OuG5vSMqM6YdHgY/s696/The+Games+Afoot.3+actors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="696" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXIIKz5OY6QZMwWUux0wM51M2_AM8iFCOXRmI-i1J2cLGeVRjvyO_mbNwLgcth53kUaLYzTIfzrNvg2HmEhrTdsSUZFoL6JVSxtZnnmBlvGDlruYgWYUkQWkVybO02OuG5vSMqM6YdHgY/s320/The+Games+Afoot.3+actors.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">This play is a mystery thriller with many
characters, and anyone present <i>could have done it! </i></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">After an attempt on his life, Gillette has invited
members of his theater company there for a Christmas weekend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">His actor-guests are a delightful bunch</span>, flirting and teasing
each other mercilessly with sly digs, even as they grandly quote from
Shakespeare. All are <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">extravagant characters with underlying motives and superb
comic timing so,</span> when <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">one of his guests falls victim to foul play, the evening darkens
and becomes a double whodunit. </span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">Neil Thompson is calmly clever as the enigmatic Gillette;
Clara Rodriguez is sweetly dotty as his carefree mother; </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sascha
Vanderslik and Troy Whitaker are delightfully devious as newlyweds with a dark secret;
Patrick Skelton and Barbara Brownell are a joyful married couple who enjoy fun
and games, and Susan Priver is hilarious as a glamorous but vindictive <i>theater
reviewer</i> (hmmm) who admits with great glee that she has panned everyone
there. Also delightful is Michele Schultz as the local police inspector who forgets
her badge at the precinct and is suspicious of everything that moves.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGWNjLMuquQt0GooHd-JHIQZyIl_HpB2ahKMpHy5FgtilP3pJjuvjAACP3enBx2LiRi05MsUsOAoG2Fp6XqWwXJKlVusiV7pyiUbgE2lqpdaW0Yac0ZTPn9sErd_aMt-FEZp3VsL8Wfih/s1024/the+games+afoot.detective.gal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGWNjLMuquQt0GooHd-JHIQZyIl_HpB2ahKMpHy5FgtilP3pJjuvjAACP3enBx2LiRi05MsUsOAoG2Fp6XqWwXJKlVusiV7pyiUbgE2lqpdaW0Yac0ZTPn9sErd_aMt-FEZp3VsL8Wfih/s320/the+games+afoot.detective.gal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Bombastically directed by
Larry Eisenberg, who emphasizes the tongue-in-cheek nature of the comedy with larger-than-life
emotions and theatrical gestures. The set by </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chris Winfield</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> is superb, and colorful</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> costumes by Angela M. Eads </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">capture the era. Bravos to producer Lloyd Pedersen. At
The Group Rep's Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd. NOHO. Tickets: 818-763-5990
or </span><a href="http://www.thegrouprep.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.thegrouprep.com</span></b></a></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-41139404280259098132021-11-26T11:52:00.000-08:002021-11-26T11:52:32.458-08:00Review - "THE CHILDREN" - Hollywood<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBPxZXQOWID6QJkfg2mskFpQ96mQkiBgtnqwQdLNIoYaJr78TYO-e24wV8fxphUHBPy5eNs1ux_heG45ac94C2V0deQA_EK-YqK88vVTrXtOXIJos9QmDsBrLRZoKFyLxM3Qrq-UhkKEv/s300/THE+CHILDREN.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="300" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBPxZXQOWID6QJkfg2mskFpQ96mQkiBgtnqwQdLNIoYaJr78TYO-e24wV8fxphUHBPy5eNs1ux_heG45ac94C2V0deQA_EK-YqK88vVTrXtOXIJos9QmDsBrLRZoKFyLxM3Qrq-UhkKEv/s0/THE+CHILDREN.2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />In this futuristic drama, two married
scientists who once worked on a nuclear reactor are hiding out in a house in the
country after the nearby reactor has imploded. The risk of radioactivity hangs
over their lives as they attempt to carry on as normal. Then a visitor, a
former colleague and friend, turns up with a shocking proposal. They may be
safe, but the danger they think they are hiding from is an illusion and those
who created this danger should help to disentangle it. It isn’t fair for the
young people, the children, to have to risk their lives for the sins of their
elders. It's a brilliant premise but, to my chagrin, the question of the play
is never really answered. <o:p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFHBAAQJIwt2ht6OgqzfUXisUpWEDfYTu4Wd3rAcGjgd1qajNWybjn9k89EBtGm4pwTrFmXeZEmLE1b4dIiGq1ooahREVDErgq99C92ZbwVCum99H8VyiUwxzVQRskZ09fvMvruQOUZuE/s300/THE+CHILDREN.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="273" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFHBAAQJIwt2ht6OgqzfUXisUpWEDfYTu4Wd3rAcGjgd1qajNWybjn9k89EBtGm4pwTrFmXeZEmLE1b4dIiGq1ooahREVDErgq99C92ZbwVCum99H8VyiUwxzVQRskZ09fvMvruQOUZuE/w182-h200/THE+CHILDREN.1.jpg" width="182" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Director Simon Levy has laid
the question out well, stating “<i>What I love about the play, is that it
tackles these enormously important contemporary issues about our responsibility
to the planet, to each other, to future generations, and grounds them in funny,
complex, identifiable characters grappling with a moral dilemma….”</i> To add impact
to the theme, there is a discussion of these issues after each performance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00rH4kgEkzzjgq3XLZuUhOennY8MDlxFbh8f1HVW696vEg1lZsUK7OTKJFhlyZ4YlntMmISt-IEV-zhMAfz-VREbngv6l49j3_uXaWugyuL1nFQGPwW4-y5eAFwv7ljht7fVLAUgHviXl/s300/THE+CHILDREN.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00rH4kgEkzzjgq3XLZuUhOennY8MDlxFbh8f1HVW696vEg1lZsUK7OTKJFhlyZ4YlntMmISt-IEV-zhMAfz-VREbngv6l49j3_uXaWugyuL1nFQGPwW4-y5eAFwv7ljht7fVLAUgHviXl/s0/THE+CHILDREN.3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Lily Knight and Ron Bottitta
are superb as the couple determined to continue in their lives as if danger is
an illusion. Elizabeth Elias Huffman has the more difficult task of challenging
their reality while her own life is in chaos. No stranger to controversy, playwright
Lucy Kirkwood is writer in residence at Clean Break a British theatre company
that performs the hidden stories of women in prison.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Produced by Stephen Sachs and
James Bennett, with executive producer Karen Kondazian. At The Fountain
Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave, LA. Tkts: (323) 663-1525 or www.info@fountaintheatre.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-40761861541682840392021-11-11T10:47:00.000-08:002021-11-11T10:47:41.215-08:00REVIEW: "A PERFECT GANESH" - West Los Angeles<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVY4wezSEioXXyto2h0q01RgvK7BiDVGI1X840uJbxsOWCW0HfWVn3MzHJyGXX_cmBGQ7jmSzn2fi8C4KfCdfzNtg21Kf5KJFgs0VeIkKbUOPxGYXvUASKfI3LSXfvV8FPPDwR0-DZJLtG/s1280/A-Perfect-Ganesh+2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1208" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVY4wezSEioXXyto2h0q01RgvK7BiDVGI1X840uJbxsOWCW0HfWVn3MzHJyGXX_cmBGQ7jmSzn2fi8C4KfCdfzNtg21Kf5KJFgs0VeIkKbUOPxGYXvUASKfI3LSXfvV8FPPDwR0-DZJLtG/s320/A-Perfect-Ganesh+2001.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br />When Terrence McNally's play opened in New
York in 1993 it received mixed reviews before becoming a finalist for the
Pulitzer Prize. His work always centered on the urgent need for human
connection between disparate people and this play deals with many conflicting
ideas and is certainly overlong. Then inspired by the ongoing AIDS crisis it resounds
today during the Covid-19 epidemic. Ironically, the fact that McNally died in
March 2020 from complications from Covid-19 brings it full circle as its theme
of loss and unresolved grief rings especially true today.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">For this critic it served as an emotional reminder
that no matter how bravely you face life, and how far you travel, you can never
escape your past. When two upper class American women vacation in India they come
face to face with the bitter memories they believed were buried too deep to any
longer cause pain. There to confront their blindness is Ganesha, the Hindu god
of "wisdom, prudence, acceptance and love." Under his omnipresence they
relive the deepest sorrow of their lives and yet are saved when they learn that
what we have now are the people we are still able to love!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR3QDjpm6j5AqbzAUVeu9zhOXHMhVifFKMiatecUd28qxVx2H80aPjxjNc8anx3fv0HOYyqEIWLRXD-4tX1xlhCM7FBbGcx5XF-S2pu8-oIJ3V2TYFpl5K4JZWvWHY6DRkkV96dAeeNfh/s1280/A-Perfect-Ganesh+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1280" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR3QDjpm6j5AqbzAUVeu9zhOXHMhVifFKMiatecUd28qxVx2H80aPjxjNc8anx3fv0HOYyqEIWLRXD-4tX1xlhCM7FBbGcx5XF-S2pu8-oIJ3V2TYFpl5K4JZWvWHY6DRkkV96dAeeNfh/w200-h184/A-Perfect-Ganesh+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br />Heading the excellent cast is Mueen Jahan as
Ganesh, perfect as a mercurial god whose wisdom is balanced by his sense of
humor; Kathleen Gray as Katherine captures the hyper-enthusiast manner of a
woman determined to be fun and friendly in the face of hidden tragedy; Mary
Allwright as Margaret gets us to be really fed up with her imperious demands
before revealing the vulnerability she covers so well. Judd Yort is deeply
moving as Walter, a gay man who dies bravely and despised; Cameron Gregg and
Delio Eswar shine as various characters interacting with the women as they
journey, and Svetlana Tulasi and Pavia Sidhu are luminous dancers as well as various
modern or historic women.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eH2LdL6sQi1GNYyJlS6S59wzbB4OEOkd2fyfasp6PhT7MP_1ea7xbTAxlSMhMvYiNlO56Tus9KBZGKNI9j9O756zFrHx8W8UMcQlN31Qmo-_Chn65GMECr5dqQEOMtoGrSVDdQSFgSJI/s1280/A-Perfect-Ganesh+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1280" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eH2LdL6sQi1GNYyJlS6S59wzbB4OEOkd2fyfasp6PhT7MP_1ea7xbTAxlSMhMvYiNlO56Tus9KBZGKNI9j9O756zFrHx8W8UMcQlN31Qmo-_Chn65GMECr5dqQEOMtoGrSVDdQSFgSJI/w200-h178/A-Perfect-Ganesh+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Directed with sensitivity and humor by David
W. Callander and produced by his own Campus Cabaret. At the Pico (Playhouse),
10508 W. Pico Blvd. As the theme is adult no one under 12 will be admitted. All
Covid protocols - vaccination cards and masks - are required. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Reservations at: </span><a href="http://onstage411.com/ganesh" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">http://onstage411.com/ganesh</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-2395825912502357732021-10-14T11:57:00.001-07:002021-10-15T04:45:30.477-07:00REVIEW: "VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE" at Kentwood Players<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvE54d5yOhgVUd3WboMxt6QhSBLpjg04IQnVz7lszq7XBL1YrSb2vqB5VuOn6RRhAQjRxBaKBhRM81FA0urLX2qskkdBM2omA9Mk48OOHPmlnmwIzBkLiDZAyFdIHspkZ-xp_-GOXoX3V0/s1280/Vanya+%2526+Masha+poster+by+West+Maatita.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvE54d5yOhgVUd3WboMxt6QhSBLpjg04IQnVz7lszq7XBL1YrSb2vqB5VuOn6RRhAQjRxBaKBhRM81FA0urLX2qskkdBM2omA9Mk48OOHPmlnmwIzBkLiDZAyFdIHspkZ-xp_-GOXoX3V0/s320/Vanya+%2526+Masha+poster+by+West+Maatita.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Originally slated to open in March 2020 this play, by one of my favorite playwrights Christopher Durang, has
been rehearsing virtually since the shutdown happened immediately after the
final dress rehearsal. It finally opened on September 17, but unfortunately
this critic did not get to see it until the final performance. Such is life
under Covid and here for the record is my review.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was delightful to recognize the familiar Chekhov
characters from a number of his plays, as well as one from Greek mythology, all
spending a sunny weekend in Bucks County, PA. There's </span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;">Vanya and Sonia, living and bickering in the house where they
cared for their elderly parents; their fortune-telling maid Cassandra warning
of impending dangers, and their movie star sister, Masha, arriving with her
sexy, boy toy, Spike. The realization for Vanya and Sonia that their ancestral
home is about to be sold, and they ejected, adds to their mourning their lost
dreams and missed opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZL3h_vlgs_RvTEsU0HvnbGleQdstyjSr6zW_NGNZKugJbQgGwq7Php0FifcLq-MXQwFwAOWFsEspk4NjF53bToHfhGjE_e5yGE7T0svUa0x-No2UBWQyAoWV48Ts6HgYag3sv4k0SktK/s1280/Vanya+3+actors.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZL3h_vlgs_RvTEsU0HvnbGleQdstyjSr6zW_NGNZKugJbQgGwq7Php0FifcLq-MXQwFwAOWFsEspk4NjF53bToHfhGjE_e5yGE7T0svUa0x-No2UBWQyAoWV48Ts6HgYag3sv4k0SktK/w200-h133/Vanya+3+actors.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;"><br /><br />Heading the excellent cast is Chris Morrison who, as Vanya, has a
show stopping final diatribe when he speaks his mind to the heedless modern generation.
The charming and amusing comedy suddenly grows electric when he explodes with words
that show his anguish and rage. It's
hard to believe that this speech was written for the original 2012 production
as it resonates so powerfully today. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg6XX0VPVIYfmdskK0apQS4lmpHGsJU7n2Uz6fJcBOKqH7CnIGJtaXUXpH1d0Vk4vUo-rUQKMS1T_fwyYWa5xYessST3m07a4dQEIpFzo0-fC6AjdFmJY-QljCdHIPAzDV7uJwHyCIkGF/s1280/Vanya+4+actors.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg6XX0VPVIYfmdskK0apQS4lmpHGsJU7n2Uz6fJcBOKqH7CnIGJtaXUXpH1d0Vk4vUo-rUQKMS1T_fwyYWa5xYessST3m07a4dQEIpFzo0-fC6AjdFmJY-QljCdHIPAzDV7uJwHyCIkGF/w200-h133/Vanya+4+actors.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;">Plaudits to Sarilee Kahn as delightful diva Masha; to Giovanni
Navarro as her saucy sexy boy toy Spike; to Valerie Sullivan as the tremulous
but spunky Sonia, and to a tour de force Susan Stangl as frantically bombastic
Cassandra - as well as her splendid work as the Director of the play.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;">Produced by Alison Boole and Myron Klafter for the Kentwood
Players in their newly upgraded Westchester Playhouse at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los
Angeles. Upcoming in November is a special One-Weekend Musical Event "All Together
Now" and in December "The Ultimate Christmas Show (Abridged)." For
information call: (310) 645-5156 or email </span><a href="mailto:boxoffice@kentwoodplayers.org" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">boxoffice@kentwoodplayers.org</span></a><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit;"></span>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-71151913250634649222021-10-08T17:41:00.002-07:002021-10-08T17:41:59.377-07:00REVIEWS: AS GOOD AS GOLD (Beverly Hills) & BIDEN MY TIME (Los Angeles) <p>In the online issue of NOT BORN YESTERDAY for October 2021, I announced these two shows in my column without having seen them. Since I am now happily returning to the real world, vaccinated and masked, I am able to review them both. Herewith...</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYHGgfWX4H2ff_7uhvzLhKzrnUDBT50RcI86rT_i6JKhPBntLrbHSAsUKdeM_PZ_-hJKvBS4NiQLlypRSBOMOY6DjnRQQzFNVxuxVlES_2K1Xb2y5WBxUVicnAmL9vldxPmae81cy7vSh/s500/As-Good-As-Gold+poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYHGgfWX4H2ff_7uhvzLhKzrnUDBT50RcI86rT_i6JKhPBntLrbHSAsUKdeM_PZ_-hJKvBS4NiQLlypRSBOMOY6DjnRQQzFNVxuxVlES_2K1Xb2y5WBxUVicnAmL9vldxPmae81cy7vSh/w200-h200/As-Good-As-Gold+poster.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large;">AS GOOD AS GOLD</span> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM3ZSFH29qaP0J6v_wnAPk2Ty5lBBuzNnvaC38r0ht1Ohd_MUU5EC4QyH_T9xLq9IOeqq-V4RR-B7Caq3vSDGzqv3Q5L7idNhZ8pgebuQiM-TEi5AtR4uB79mPOAeLzLy_26QObjuDEOA/s640/As+Good+as+Gold+photo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM3ZSFH29qaP0J6v_wnAPk2Ty5lBBuzNnvaC38r0ht1Ohd_MUU5EC4QyH_T9xLq9IOeqq-V4RR-B7Caq3vSDGzqv3Q5L7idNhZ8pgebuQiM-TEi5AtR4uB79mPOAeLzLy_26QObjuDEOA/w200-h133/As+Good+as+Gold+photo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Marilyn Anderson's comedy
is witty and funny as it gives a shout-out to Hollywood's treatment of creative
women. Three female writers decide their solution to the problem of selling a
script is by writing a sex-saturated-action screenplay. After we witness their imagined
scenes with guns, sex, and sadism, we can believe they have a sure hit.
However, reality says their names as authors will send it right into the round
file! Then fate steps in, with a goofy salesman without ambition or guile who
gladly agrees to pose as the pretend author. The result, as might be expected,
is a confusion of laughs and betrayal.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZ-7LvceOAaaP2Sktb7tkENZ7Ldy3U2OnxB3k2nmVRtKXUrjK584RlqgC0QmVRAY4P9vSno9D6IhPBJh11sTpif282FxpR6QmkoL0gSpI8ruYpwrkUm17lMZLI4B_QlOz0BsAMtsjHYfY/s640/As+Good+as+Gold+photo+3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyYk3NaNefb-9COqGv0Vg4H96Mo7Eon1cu5xZPELtaRbXkid1wD0rX0cJAT_4J_yA96DUX5uir8AChe64jY9fbAf2JSSeuVFzwqdg7CnY6It2eRKyN_CEqOceNghbdDvjnUtEeRGMaKUo/s640/As+Good+as+Gold+photo+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="640" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyYk3NaNefb-9COqGv0Vg4H96Mo7Eon1cu5xZPELtaRbXkid1wD0rX0cJAT_4J_yA96DUX5uir8AChe64jY9fbAf2JSSeuVFzwqdg7CnY6It2eRKyN_CEqOceNghbdDvjnUtEeRGMaKUo/w200-h136/As+Good+as+Gold+photo+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Heading this excellent cast,
Marie Broderick, Nicola Victoria Buck and Wendy Hammers are delightful as the ambitiously
beleaguered writers; Landon Beatty is charming as their rustic understudy; Chance
Denman is impressive as 007 and other screen hunks; David Westbay is genuinely
earnest in disparate roles, and Will Bradley is outstanding especially when, as
an auditioning actor, he hilariously shows the desperation and determination of
a performer seeking work.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoSWtJcpi0FFTv_lfJDZ8mIQBTos8hDn2p-iixiyf9f0kl6RagNgClCeUzxr-rl5zz37SgK2PDaFPEJx7ZSbup_l71sB8yjZ4KwrnIElEagaIVT51uy9NUpaCvaZo92_1HUaxQbgSqTpS/s640/As+Good+as+Gold+photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="640" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoSWtJcpi0FFTv_lfJDZ8mIQBTos8hDn2p-iixiyf9f0kl6RagNgClCeUzxr-rl5zz37SgK2PDaFPEJx7ZSbup_l71sB8yjZ4KwrnIElEagaIVT51uy9NUpaCvaZo92_1HUaxQbgSqTpS/w200-h140/As+Good+as+Gold+photo+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Fast paced direction by
Ann Hearn Tobolowsky keeps the laughs coming, even though at times the play radiates
rather like a TV sitcom. Produced by David Hunt Stafford and presented by
Theatre 40 in The Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills. Info
at </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;"><u><a href="http://www.theatre40.org/" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext">www.theatre40.org</span></a></u></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfhoUeuqAvHucuVCXpyvv7F_6i4x7AbOd0sqfLwqmo-lZfRHMZUU6dBpv3bb2FWTzdUN3qRuAPvSi67BQ1PjEfs9lQg1quwcBsGMwH1KYflEnxgNjNSapyLVPFmLIjjhg8xVG0hxvlGYz/s605/Biden+My+Time.Capitol+Comedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="418" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfhoUeuqAvHucuVCXpyvv7F_6i4x7AbOd0sqfLwqmo-lZfRHMZUU6dBpv3bb2FWTzdUN3qRuAPvSi67BQ1PjEfs9lQg1quwcBsGMwH1KYflEnxgNjNSapyLVPFmLIjjhg8xVG0hxvlGYz/w138-h200/Biden+My+Time.Capitol+Comedy.jpg" width="138" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />BIDEN MY TIME <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Capital Comedy troupe,
founded by Washington DC producer-writer Nicholas Zill, has been doing musical comedy
political satire shows for over 15 years. In this age of savage attacks against
anyone who dares to raise their heads publicly, one might expect to see acid
being thrown in this new revue. However, it’s a gentle spoof on our present
President, and other familiar notables now in the hot seat.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What raises this show above
the amiability of its attack are the excellent ensemble performers, all who
play multiple roles. There is Daniel Amerman as a geniality personified Joe Biden;
Shefali Deshpande as a beleaguered but game Kamala Harris; Cristina Florez as a
dynamic dancing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Joy Mamey as a delightfully pompous
Mitch McConnell, and best of all Aaron Matijasic as a bombastic Bernie Sanders
and a sardonic Jeff Bezos.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Taking well known songs
and adding satiric lyrics makes for a truly fun show. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For example: Biden Introduces
his cabinet with "</span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">76 Skin Tones</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">" and Harris asks for patience
with "</span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">Give Biden Some Time</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">" while Sanders and AOC as they visit
McConnell's office warn "</span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">There Is a Dark and Gloomy Place</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">"!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Scheduled to perhaps run
at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave, LA, if fate decides. Look for listings
online.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-92187971743366406182021-09-14T15:19:00.001-07:002021-09-14T15:19:11.752-07:00NBY September 2021, SOLOMON'S CHILD & END OF THE WORLD <p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>THE POWER OF THE NEW YORK TIMES!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Back
in the 1980's, when I was The Broadway Critic for The Hollywood Reporter, I reviewed
a number of fabulous dramas that sadly bit the dust! The reason being that the
NY Times critic dismissed these plays and they disappeared in short order. Here
are my still vivid memories of two great works that deserve to be revived since
their themes still resound today.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMyR6ER2xxSeN7QAM25-34brsq-ZBuG1itSiLjMrsetFFZ66qX-9NGioAR7IUlHzVAwaLpUhmFAP2E-kG1kBqhu40IPQ2axNML1fRp5nc7AsXzUHMf2nAtfISXf0WkwKpZ4yUWG16_Glz/s715/King+Solomon+as+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="715" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMyR6ER2xxSeN7QAM25-34brsq-ZBuG1itSiLjMrsetFFZ66qX-9NGioAR7IUlHzVAwaLpUhmFAP2E-kG1kBqhu40IPQ2axNML1fRp5nc7AsXzUHMf2nAtfISXf0WkwKpZ4yUWG16_Glz/s320/King+Solomon+as+child.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /> SOLOMON'S CHILD by TOM DULACK </b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A Professor of English at U. Connecticut, this
was Dulack's first play and the NYTimes critic massacred him: </span><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"… isn't the worst production of this limp Broadway
season, but it just may be the most pointless.</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>The evening's nonfiction subject - fanatical cults of the
Jim Jones ilk - has already been examined ad infinitum in print, movies and
television programs. The play's author, Tom Dulack, has nothing new or
enlightening to say about this phenomenon and little discernible facility for
playwriting." </i>The show closed after 4 performances. </span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Actually, the story was wildly contemporary for the 1980's, with
a desperate couple hiring a renowned de-programmer to kidnap their son and rescue
him from the cult he has joined. The young man is a match for the cynical adults
since their arguments and threats cannot pierce his rejection of all their
values. In the end nothing can keep him from re-joining his fellow dropouts
except one thing. The door is open, he can leave, but mockingly his captor has left
a classical record - Rachmaninoff? Tchaikovsky? - playing as dawn is breaking. The
boy's decision</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> had the audience in shocked emotional silence
for perhaps 60 seconds.</span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Happily, Tom Dulack went on to write more
Broadway plays and received The Kennedy Center's New American Plays Award, and The
Kaufman and Hart Prize for New American Comedy. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Prolific director John Tillinger had
brought this play to Broadway from Long Wharf Theatre, Connecticut and four y<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">ears later I met him at Sardi's Tony
Awards Gala. When I told him that I considered "<i>Solomon's Child</i>"
one of the best plays I ever reviewed he lit up and thanked me for helping heal
the wound he suffered after its harsh rejection. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><b> </b><br /></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7abSv8xlKh42AtOqZ9SrZqF_MUpORaeK32oXByP7kMUn6PR6Wn-fLPYG5gf6bNhoIbTEQFkfqE20xpGkXpKhSz6FMzw6NOvloSQ4kJomapE-HycCm2sfNBfyd6BNoMhISSJZpmZl6XbY/s1121/Arthur+Kopit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="783" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7abSv8xlKh42AtOqZ9SrZqF_MUpORaeK32oXByP7kMUn6PR6Wn-fLPYG5gf6bNhoIbTEQFkfqE20xpGkXpKhSz6FMzw6NOvloSQ4kJomapE-HycCm2sfNBfyd6BNoMhISSJZpmZl6XbY/s320/Arthur+Kopit.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arthur Kopit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">END
OF THE WORLD by ARTHUR KOPIT (1937-2021)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Here
in 1984 was an intriguing and passionate play exploring the capacity for evil
in all of us. Using a unique way of pursuing his theme, Kopit made it seem
almost autobiographical, with John Shea as stand-in for himself. <span style="background: white; color: #252525;">A mysterious man offers a playwright
unlimited wealth if he will write a play about the nuclear crisis. "<i>Why
me?</i>" asks the playwright? The man explains "</span><i><span style="color: #333333;">your greatest trait is innocence</span></i><span style="color: #333333;">" yet he perceives in him <i>''a thorough
understanding of evil</i>.''</span> Told in three acts, this culminates in one
carefree scene when the playwright realizes that even he is capable of committing
an unthinkable crime. The play, directed by Harold Prince, was dismissed by the
NYTimes critic who clearly missed the point. In spite of other perceptive
reviews, and even though the audience reaction was again a stunned silence
followed by wild applause, it closed after 33 performances. A Theater Legend: I
heard that Arthur Kopit was outside the Music Box Theatre as <i>"End Of
The World"</i> was closing and the critic, Frank Rich, passed by. Kopit
chastised him saying that when they were in Harvard together Rich had passion
for theater that spoke to justice and saving mankind and now he had sold out! Rich,
now the illustrious NY Times critic, just gave an enigmatic smile and went on
by. Wish I coulda been there...<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>- 30 -</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-70058029385425841272021-08-10T17:09:00.001-07:002021-08-10T17:09:56.439-07:00NOT BORN YESTERDAY. August 2021. MATRIARCH, SING FOR HOPE PIANOS, THE LAST, BEST SMALL TOWN<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">For
some interesting programs that will help one feel safe because they are OUTDOORS,
here are a few suggestions for the month of August.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs1incV73Sd2p3zwm1CO5eMP_EIZMA66_8rRz6enOULmbQG0JaqG9XtvttsQ38jpvZ0_Y8kRFJoZ238OOpFyJk0UBL7uVVrd-_vtt9mIwY3dxgdOSE7ZzfS_jbjA-sApNJNKV3Qwpb7nq/s750/Matriach+poster+by+Alfie+Numeric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs1incV73Sd2p3zwm1CO5eMP_EIZMA66_8rRz6enOULmbQG0JaqG9XtvttsQ38jpvZ0_Y8kRFJoZ238OOpFyJk0UBL7uVVrd-_vtt9mIwY3dxgdOSE7ZzfS_jbjA-sApNJNKV3Qwpb7nq/w200-h200/Matriach+poster+by+Alfie+Numeric.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="font-size: 14pt;"> </b><b>MATRIARCH - North
Hollywood.</b> <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The
Roots and Wings Project (RAW) is a politically charged, socially
transformative, project-based theatre company whose goal is to provide space
for voices of the unnamed, unknown and misunderstood. Now, a number of Los
Angeles’ writers and performers are bringing a live program that will empower,
provoke, and uplift attendee's spirits. The show will perform outdoors on
Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21 at</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">8 pm at the MKM Cultural
Arts Center, 11401 Chandler Blvd. NoHo. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Plays include<i> Lioness</i> written
and performed by Jesse Bliss; <i>Perfecta</i> by Diane Rodriguez performed by
Cristina Frias; <i>Age Sex Location </i>by Roger Q. Mason performed by Ramy
El-Treby; <i>Remember This</i> by Sigrid Gilmer performed by Bahni Turpin, and <i>Gabriel’s
Monologue </i>by Tamar Halpern performed by Gabriel Diamond. Taylor Lytle from
California Coalition for Women Prisoners has written <i>Tell the Light</i>
performed by Morgan Day. The program also includes songs by Sheila
Govindarajan; poetry by Carla Vega, and a dance performed by Adrianne Sledge."
Painting by Alfie Numeric. Presented by Roots and Wings in collaboration with
Houston Coalition Against Hate ((HCAH Texas). For information: <a href="https://dmanalytics2.com/click?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.therootsandwingsproject.com&i=3&d=QxZStl6LTGq8IIF_lC0tFQ&e=mornamartell%40hotmail.com&a=bhDuvKS0SUKymdZeTFX47w&s=Wiq2sW_1Fa0" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">www.therootsandwingsproject.com</span></a> </div><div style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiOmephcPbfoFuso8n2iD9QEBqIV7JqVSNi8zvVKt-C1xYdqrwWLrPTHg_AgKxLrGHRokG126HP4ztQuzsaV_UghnKDF_4N_aU6Skxjf8ivBmMcp5wDHpOdscTgkii-zPoHVYYfoSCes1/s270/Piano+hand+painted+with+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="270" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiOmephcPbfoFuso8n2iD9QEBqIV7JqVSNi8zvVKt-C1xYdqrwWLrPTHg_AgKxLrGHRokG126HP4ztQuzsaV_UghnKDF_4N_aU6Skxjf8ivBmMcp5wDHpOdscTgkii-zPoHVYYfoSCes1/w200-h139/Piano+hand+painted+with+girl.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt;">SING FOR HOPE PIANOS - Beverly Hills</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQrCXSOc7ZHRF_40jmJ3UXQ1nuOrIOKsRZAma4QEvfSexlHNgTJKhHpsYaGJk_EzCeuIka_cBXJYhCmzO-cyTeQkzaR8rDSFzYIU0W3fxuz7TuPns0ho3obgVQXJA_mygkFqLLgVE0hXx/s300/Piano+hand+painted+with+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQrCXSOc7ZHRF_40jmJ3UXQ1nuOrIOKsRZAma4QEvfSexlHNgTJKhHpsYaGJk_EzCeuIka_cBXJYhCmzO-cyTeQkzaR8rDSFzYIU0W3fxuz7TuPns0ho3obgVQXJA_mygkFqLLgVE0hXx/w200-h112/Piano+hand+painted+with+boy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;"></span></p><p dir="rtl" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">From August 5 to
September 6, a number of uniquely colorful pianos, hand-painted by local
artists, will</span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"> be in public spaces across Beverly Hills as part of the </span><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sing
for Hope Pianos</i><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"> community initiative. These 16 piano artworks will be
available for anyone and everyone to play, listen to, and enjoy! Piano
locations include BH City Hall and Wallis Annenberg Center. Parks are Beverly
Gardens, Will Rogers Memorial, La Cienega, and Roxbury. Artists were selected
by a panel of art and community leaders in June. In the Fall, the Pianos will
be given permanent homes in public schools across the greater Los Angeles area.</span></p><p dir="rtl" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;">THE LAST, BEST SMALL TOWN - Topanga</span></b></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e;">In this</span><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">
modern-day <i>Our Town</i> by LA-based Latinx playwright John Guerra, <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Hank and
Willow Miller, and Benny and Della Gonzalez, have been neighbors for years. The
Millers are a perfect picture of the American Dream: Hank (Christopher Wallinger) is editor of
the local paper, while Willow (Christine
Breihan) is a stay-at-home mom who loves fitness and their
daughter, Maya (Jordan Tyler Kessler)
who excels at everything she attempts. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Meanwhile, hard-working Benny (</span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Richard Azurdia)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"> must rise early
each morning to catch a bus to work at a local car dealership, while Della (</span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jeanette Godoy)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"> spends her days
cleaning houses that includes, occasionally, those of her neighbors. Their son,
Elliot (</span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Kelvin Morales</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">),
has been named class valedictorian and seems about to make all of Benny and
Della’s sacrifices worthwhile. However, Benny’s hard drinking father (</span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Miguel Pérez</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">) is a constant source
of frustration for the Gonzalez's. </span><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;">Says
director Ellen Geer: <i>“You see the differences and complexities in the
cultures of these White and Latinx families who live next to one another in the
same town. Their different lives and the way they make choices.” </i><em><span style="font-style: normal;">The play</span> </em>runs in repertory with <em>Julius
Caesar</em> and <em>A Midsummer Night’s Dream</em>, that opened earlier in the
season. </span><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Performances are
on Theatricum’s beautiful* outdoor stage in Topanga. </span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Note: *</span><i style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">“The amphitheater feels like a
Lilliputian Hollywood Bowl, with pre-show picnics and puffy seat cushions, yet
we were close enough to see the stitching on the performers costumes. Grab a
blanket and a bottle and head for the hills.” </i><em style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Los Angeles </span></em><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">magazine. </span><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Through Nov. 7. Info: (310) 455-3723 or </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9vBLQcTrHbWl24qnHO4Z7riMQtMmkxNH8FhwxtlHYCDqG3Pq_1hrRFq1GzbZLExSqIPPtssb4OtfrmuJj23c64JCWiU6bsGA-2B2UfZVNM6GQhgFsmSEVMV1HOL2y0-2BAbhL5ya-2FiwbsCIF-2FCscrukl4vG0daB4V-2F0vvRZuPEfufb0VE4McmNrZG4ux7GX98tZueWLW1ky-2FZCTeTxDiwpjTfdVgGatvi1qiX5qGzoTItG4EXm4iNXgwkQS-2BSHXAaqhg6Cyr6YyYRrX8EiA-2BBIwwMPTTLoADsaV2WdizLG6qZTGlSR5nUDx7m1v6U61XksLILxIE3db5Xp7fMXwCu1vGlpnZC7hwGk-2BvuC0LrNlbn5O9wWJ-2B1ha7V8cB-2BgqKuBL2PabUZmypso-2B7ALB-2Fjv-2BjA-2FVU4myQ-3D" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;">www.theatricum.com</span></a> </b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-51678284196755898832021-07-07T18:37:00.000-07:002021-07-07T18:37:32.141-07:00NOT BORN YESTERDAY. July 2021. Taming The Lion; You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Meet Lucy Stone.<p> <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZCeIz6iVuPZB2VPMD2TrWa0-pn7phx-zKp_ZR4X7vVCgg77fOcYCWhVuNrKfol7hy6r_F9ue6v9O7mTE9p1LyaYd3i6-Yenc97GWVKoG5rmEP9nvqPknfhW1HzEH2nvnciX0NgJzl-oS/s670/William+Haines+%2526+Joan+Crawford+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZCeIz6iVuPZB2VPMD2TrWa0-pn7phx-zKp_ZR4X7vVCgg77fOcYCWhVuNrKfol7hy6r_F9ue6v9O7mTE9p1LyaYd3i6-Yenc97GWVKoG5rmEP9nvqPknfhW1HzEH2nvnciX0NgJzl-oS/w149-h200/William+Haines+%2526+Joan+Crawford+2.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haines & Joan Crawford</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;"> TAMING THE LION - Beverly
Hills</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="xgmail-msohyperlink"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">After being shuttered for sixteen months due
to the global pandemic, Theatre 40 is re-opening for <u>live</u> performances.
It is resuming the interrupted </span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">World Premiere engagement of a
new play</span><span class="xgmail-msohyperlink"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">by Jack Rushen,</span><span class="xgmail-msohyperlink"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> suggested by true events in Hollywood in 1934. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="xgmail-msohyperlink"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Actor William
Haines acted in 50 films between 1922 and 1934 and was the number one
box-office draw at the end of the silent era. He was also the first openly gay
movie star, a fact that the MGM studio attempted to conceal, fearing that
Haines’ gayness would prove to be box-office poison. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="xgmail-msohyperlink"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">In the play, Studio
executives Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg attempt to force Haines to marry
a woman, to please the fans. But Haines is devoted to his male lover, Jimmie
Shields. So, Mayer sends Haines’ best female friend, Joan Crawford (see photo
attached), to try and persuade Haines to marry a woman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haines is given an ultimatum: marry a woman
and continue to be a movie idol or turn his back on his movie career and lose
everything so that he can stay with Jimmie. </span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Produced by David Hunt Stafford. Directed by Melanie MacQueen, (who
</span><span class="xgmail-msohyperlink"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Theatre 40 audiences might know best from her appearances in the
perennial cast of <i>The Manor</i>)<i>.</i></span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> Theatre Forty is in the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno
Dr., Beverly Hills. Plays </span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">July 9-August 1st. </span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Tickets: (310) 364-0535 or </span><a href="http://www.theatre40.org/" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">www.theatre40.org</span></a><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">. Free Parking. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18gTXy4lBqIgn5s2VRtcK3cykayyhsbjriHoCwLa4NOM3G1YNjW2-suimxHkKWPtgFZGyocL9TltgTWQHl9h_YbuRsfFpNWSOorfzMusfw0jkHIZGopx1Y27BUBOpxRxAAzMpKVmKtadW/s290/Charlie+Brown+gang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18gTXy4lBqIgn5s2VRtcK3cykayyhsbjriHoCwLa4NOM3G1YNjW2-suimxHkKWPtgFZGyocL9TltgTWQHl9h_YbuRsfFpNWSOorfzMusfw0jkHIZGopx1Y27BUBOpxRxAAzMpKVmKtadW/w200-h120/Charlie+Brown+gang.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN - Sierra
Madre</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">This classic musical comedy,
based on the beloved <i>Peanuts </i>comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz,
will be performed <u>outdoors</u> in Sierra Madre Memorial Park, at 222 W.
Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre. Here Charlie Brown and the entire <i>Peanuts </i>gang
explore life’s great questions as they play baseball, struggle with homework,
sing songs, swoon over their crushes, and celebrate the joy of friendship.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">The
cast includes Hamilton Davis Weaver as <i>Charlie Brown</i>, Mary Zastrow as <i>Lucy</i>,
Marcha Kia as <i>Sally</i>, Luke Sweeney as <i>Schroeder</i>, Alexander
Mashikian as <i>Snoopy</i>, and Melvin Biteng as <i>Linus</i>. This </span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Sierra Madre Playhouse’s
outdoor production is the ideal summer entertainment for the whole family.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Covid
safety protocols will be observed. Seating will be in socially distanced
circles, six feet apart, to accommodate parties of two, four, or six. This will
primarily be lawn seating (please bring your own blankets), but there will also
be circles designated for people who bring chairs. Plays weekends from July 30
- August 29. Tickets at (626) 355-4318 or </span><a href="http://sierramadreplayhouse.org/" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #0563c1; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">http://sierramadreplayhouse.org</span></a><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuPChM3MSEKaL2sHt_rJWzdmGyVWDuV5S6UDXSmYdBetQ127GZucRH_RbHmMluH6WQGHD6GR0VGyJHQn84Od4n5mSXhR8uyIyIbfkkFcZMQ_xpGpgxtWzu2z9Q91PmUvIpe5BzjPHRXWM/s506/OAW+Susan+B+%2526+Lucy+in+Hwd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="379" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuPChM3MSEKaL2sHt_rJWzdmGyVWDuV5S6UDXSmYdBetQ127GZucRH_RbHmMluH6WQGHD6GR0VGyJHQn84Od4n5mSXhR8uyIyIbfkkFcZMQ_xpGpgxtWzu2z9Q91PmUvIpe5BzjPHRXWM/w150-h200/OAW+Susan+B+%2526+Lucy+in+Hwd.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HB Kennedy & myself</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></span> <b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">MEET LUCY
STONE - on YouTube</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Lucy
Stone was the first person in history to ever speak publicly for women’s rights<span style="color: black;"> and this one-woman show, with songs, illuminates the start
of the Women's Rights movement when one bold young woman stepped forward and
demanded equality for women. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">Over </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">100 years ago, women got the vote! And over 50 years ago I was an actress
on Broadway! Now Jewish Family Service LA asked me to repeat the role I
originated as activist Lucy Stone in the musical <i>Only A Woman, </i></span><span style="color: black;">that was a hit in both Hollywood and New York City. (Photo:
HB Kennedy as Susan B. Anthony, myself as Lucy Stone). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">Show</span> is based on
actual people and true events and, a<span style="color: black;">t this time, when
<i>#me too </i>is making headlines, this performance </span>informs people
about the women - and men - who fought for Human Rights! Composer-lyricist Ralph
Martell adapted his original score for this special event, recorded and
available on Zoom. <span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Runs about 48
minutes. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Click on the link: <b><span style="background: white;">Meet Lucy
Stone:</span></b><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/SDTLFKa0-gU"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">https://youtu.be/SDTLFKa0-gU</span></a></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-42264157982204929862021-06-10T11:03:00.000-07:002021-06-10T11:03:20.334-07:00NOT BORN YESTERDAY. June 2021 - An Octoroon - Tevye In New York - Julius Caesar & Others - LIVE THEATER IS BACK!<p> <strong><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">AN OCTOROON (Hollywood)</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">This Obie Award-winning
play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins will launch live performances on Fountain
Theatre’s new outdoor stage in June. Judith Moreland </span></strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">directs this outrageous
deconstruction of a moustache-twirling melodrama by 19th century playwright
Dion Boucicault. <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matthew Hancock </span></strong>stars
as a modern-day Black playwright struggling to find his voice among a chorus of
people telling him what he should and should not be writing. He decides to
adapt his favorite play, Boucicault’s '<em><span style="font-style: normal;">The
Octoroon</span></em>' - an 1859 melodrama about illicit interracial love. The
Black playwright quickly realizes that getting White, male actors of today to
play evil slave owners will not be easy, so he decides to play the White male
roles himself - in whiteface. What ensues is an upside down, topsy-turvy world
where race and morality are challenged, mocked and savagely intensified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioE5RUhrDz9lIXVfnZm2CCqR5X_OQv31f_iS2MkIGwDfxxLWRcC1tEBWsiR6qdN8JtItiaNqD_9-rUe9I7YddiYXCAPjGOA_iJ-qz3g7OT85nAlPvwJnL-fWtWvd3Tg7I8c_abjq40R6mt/s375/Mara+Klein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioE5RUhrDz9lIXVfnZm2CCqR5X_OQv31f_iS2MkIGwDfxxLWRcC1tEBWsiR6qdN8JtItiaNqD_9-rUe9I7YddiYXCAPjGOA_iJ-qz3g7OT85nAlPvwJnL-fWtWvd3Tg7I8c_abjq40R6mt/w133-h200/Mara+Klein.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mara Klein</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">This
theatrical melodrama tells the story of an octoroon woman - a person who is
one-eighth Black - and her quest for identity and love. The cast includes <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Rob Nagle</span></strong> as playwright Boucicault; <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mara</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Klein</span></strong> (photo) as Zoe the Octoroon; <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hazel Lozano </span></strong>as a production
assistant, and <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Vanessa Claire Stewart</span></strong>
as a Southern belle in love with the plantation owner (Hancock in whiteface).
Meanwhile, <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Leea Ayers</span></strong>,
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Kacie Rogers </span></strong>and <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Pam Trotter</span></strong> portray three
startlingly modern slave women. <em><span style="font-style: normal;">The play</span></em>
satirizes racial stereotypes in a whirlwind of images and dialogue that forces
audiences to look at America’s racist history exposed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Production
manager for the Fountain’s outdoor stage is <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Shawna Voragen, with </span></strong>scenic design by <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Frederica Nascimento. Stephen Sachs</span></strong> and
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Simon Levy</span></strong> co-produce;
associate producer is<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> James Bennett,
while</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Barbara Herman </span></strong>and
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Susan Stockel </span></strong>are
executive producers. <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Theatre </span></strong>is
at <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">5060 Fountain Avenue </span></strong>(at
Normandie) in Los Angeles.<em><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></em>For
information call (<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">323</span></strong>)
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">663-1525</span></strong> or go to </span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9lpbUlxUoJ7cndviE7HS7qtobb25-2B62FOG9QP7gjuTscBwmp_1hrRFq1GzbZLExSqIPPtssb4OtfrmuJj23c64JCWiU70KjURTbMg4ZnMg-2BKMGMzUatipcq-2FLCfw-2Fs-2BtywGEehyXtfBOT9NusTD2LmMJlFaqgNDhHQNi2SQ-2BV8m2RyGC-2BPZ4-2B8WCnrtcnX26DqpGSSTK2P1DCcXFqZFXrdDkbXm4DWGsvdeRng8J-2BE2OMPccvaMMz6gFelJogNhXJ5bfR80oF-2FfXsCCLcQIyATg6VaAbUDjFl9v9c84T5Y1p2o4KbMytfJa8PUNCAur4vVUCbF40LAcg3iCUoL8ZW2gESH5uxJACZNNHprdA3plRsuKNrHKYsb7ZuWg4e2McFIkLa0WSla6kV-2BIRz26valLdwLQE-3D" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">www.FountainTheatre.com</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">TEVYE IN NEW YORK (Beverly
Hills)</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Wallis
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts re-opens in June with an outdoor
performance space with tiered seating, creative lighting and sound. With a firm
commitment to the health and safety of staff, artists and patrons, it
accommodates 100 socially distanced audience members each night. This Return of
In-Person Audiences to The Wallis launches with the World Premiere performance
of a one-man show written, co-directed and performed by </span><a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Tom-Dugan/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Tom Dugan</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
and co-directed and designed by </span><a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Michael-Vale/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Michael Vale</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2sQ0in7SA29UMhOBosTro_BDkOeBHlcNXbNByCp26FKtCAiRxh6oa-MleYtRHb1Lzu7sIvaywEb2tbKB0wnt6xtNbxYvSLCCHWPmj-bYWohmoExa6s7vdjH5Dq-poykVg1YJXXPweIGW/s720/Fiddler-on-the-roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="529" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2sQ0in7SA29UMhOBosTro_BDkOeBHlcNXbNByCp26FKtCAiRxh6oa-MleYtRHb1Lzu7sIvaywEb2tbKB0wnt6xtNbxYvSLCCHWPmj-bYWohmoExa6s7vdjH5Dq-poykVg1YJXXPweIGW/w147-h200/Fiddler-on-the-roof.jpg" width="147" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Ever wonder what happened to Tevye, wife Golde,
and their daughters, after the curtain came down in Fiddler on the Roof? Tevye
in New York finally answers this decades-old question. Follow Tevye as he
fights for his piece of the American dream - his journey with his family across
the Atlantic Ocean, through Ellis Island, and into the crowded streets of
Manhattan’s Lower East Side. You’ll fall in love with Tevye all over again in
this funny and poignant one-man show. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For
performance dates and ticket information: 310-746-4000 or <u>https://thewallis.org</u>.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><strong><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">JULIUS CAESAR
& OTHERS (Topanga Canyon)</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Best
known for presenting lively and engaging renditions of the works of <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">William Shakespeare</span></strong>, Will Geer's Theatricum
Botanicum will open the season on <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Saturday</span></strong>,
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">July 10</span></strong> at <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">7:30 p.m</span></strong>. with a fresh look at Shakespeare’s
iconic thriller about power, politics and the elusive nature of truth through a
different lens. Director <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ellen Geer</span></strong>
tells the tale from the vantage point of the Soothsayer. Audiences yearning for
live theater after a year-long drought can satisfy their cravings by returning
the next day, <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sunday</span></strong>, <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">July 11 </span></strong>at <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">4 p.m.</span></strong>, for the opening of<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream'</span></strong>. This version
infuses the Bard’s beautiful language with music and song to heighten the
pleasure. For tickets call <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">(310)
455–3723</span></strong>, or go to <u>www.</u></span><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUbeZ7mOF3edpt9dHc-2FuxitI-3DXSHi_1hrRFq1GzbZLExSqIPPtssb4OtfrmuJj23c64JCWiU70KjURTbMg4ZnMg-2BKMGMzUatipcq-2FLCfw-2Fs-2BtywGEehyXtfBOT9NusTD2LmMJlFap9oAXg9m1lMO1qzxSGQFLH30iKItu9jwtNGuUoRdNY0PjFvNtuV1HFpupUqP38uvwBHjWdOAJedTUwtaonChNu-2B8YS9KktYj5-2BCwa-2BhnSycJXUMWO2A-2F4SnnI3EtFH8O6wsOAY4vwOyJ4EdPV6C3gOqXRhbXDpc8qmms0-2F6dhR3YDzkCK7CVCmnRmFqvx2KAyIXY49-2BNBFODh2VFhpfj5I2lFuW8Wh2LIPbJTdFpKK3R6CjRLmKKoKEsNQf7Wax9s-3D" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">theatricum.com</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5150639601026887170.post-77074218697004319772021-06-10T10:48:00.000-07:002021-06-10T10:48:06.809-07:00NOT BORN YESTERDAY. May 2021 - ELISABETH BERGNER - a true story<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><strong><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"></span></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8yTAvarTk9yN6oKepR_gq0snecT70fnr8Up4K5Z1sb4Wj1IgCJFa9Ey4Obpo08n9lzgWB0XxxGmCG7EtQtma4qaoN-lob68PpKk52DjO39Td_6xdWudtP9j2aEJATKuxJPar4KJUpya4/s273/Elisabeth+Bergner+as+Catherine+the+Great.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"></span></strong></a><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8yTAvarTk9yN6oKepR_gq0snecT70fnr8Up4K5Z1sb4Wj1IgCJFa9Ey4Obpo08n9lzgWB0XxxGmCG7EtQtma4qaoN-lob68PpKk52DjO39Td_6xdWudtP9j2aEJATKuxJPar4KJUpya4/s273/Elisabeth+Bergner+as+Catherine+the+Great.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxgRXloDv6gkwswAvpejNtBuAY5ehNT9Jsf-YUIryXldNMD9QMaRKYLABKFB-ZAdPhvMadEWiC8vb0ZXahb4w3wOoufq2RZbOtEPhB8N4NflFtbagZ3K1MYksjnaFJP3BjnOB7MaTIbhi/s273/Elisabeth+Bergner+as+Catherine+the+Great.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxgRXloDv6gkwswAvpejNtBuAY5ehNT9Jsf-YUIryXldNMD9QMaRKYLABKFB-ZAdPhvMadEWiC8vb0ZXahb4w3wOoufq2RZbOtEPhB8N4NflFtbagZ3K1MYksjnaFJP3BjnOB7MaTIbhi/s0/Elisabeth+Bergner+as+Catherine+the+Great.jpg" /></a></div><br />Why I love live theater is
back on my agenda, having received a letter from solo performer Arnold Weiss
regarding Austrian actress Elisabeth Bergner, who I'd mentioned seeing perform
onstage in a past column. Arnold wrote: "<i>I'd give a million dollars to
have seen Elisabeth Bergner in "First Love" - I'd seen her in two
films. She had a great presence - to me the perfect Rosalind opposite Olivier
in "As You Like It"…"</i> Hence, this true story!</strong></strong></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><strong><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">In the early 60's I was a
young beginner-actress who by pure luck had managed to be cast as understudy to
the great Joan Plowright in "A Taste of Honey" on Broadway. When the
show closed in New York City, I found myself on the road with the National Tour
- nine months that now count among the most exciting and fruitful of my life.</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><strong style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Whenever we were in a town
where another Broadway tour was playing, we sometimes managed to get to see
these fabulous shows. It was in Chicago that I saw the great Elisabeth Bergner
in the stage adaptation of Romain Gary's memoir "Promise At Dawn." Now
titled "First Love" the play was on its pre-Broadway tour. They had a
Thursday matinee (ours was on Wednesday) so with other cast members I eagerly
went and sat in orchestra seats close to the stage.</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><strong><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"></span></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVYdTe_Ne_k_UnxR3_SGsGvfTjLKnykWCfkqlfvzb5njejUz1MvyFA_ivjM3CoFbq-gDKqaIksSI0B61cVJzBrcJjPJwnZx3t2FuMr7WtK942_3zKNPOCvxL1i6hLtn_cfIChPnvW6EfK/s1000/Elisabeth+Bergner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="647" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVYdTe_Ne_k_UnxR3_SGsGvfTjLKnykWCfkqlfvzb5njejUz1MvyFA_ivjM3CoFbq-gDKqaIksSI0B61cVJzBrcJjPJwnZx3t2FuMr7WtK942_3zKNPOCvxL1i6hLtn_cfIChPnvW6EfK/w129-h200/Elisabeth+Bergner.jpg" width="129" /></a></strong></div><strong>In my memory: The play was
about Gary's mother, Nina Kacew, a Polish Jew, living in Nice, France, during
the brutal Second World War. The person I saw onstage had no theatrical airs, she
was clearly uneducated, but a highly patriotic and energetic woman, whose love
for her son was boundless. Romain (Hugh O'Brien) was a young man, a loyal
Frenchman, determined to fight the Germans. His mother encouraged him to join
the Free French Air Force headquartered in England. In one marvelous scene,
forever etched in my memory, he came to say goodbye to her in full military
dress before going away to war.</strong><strong><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><strong><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Ah, was she proud of him!
What levels of ecstasy surged through her bosom as she took him out of their
house to show the neighbors, exclaiming, <i>"This is my son! See him. See
how brave he is. How magnificent!"</i> The neighbor-actors were fine with
their admiration, but that was not enough for this woman Bergner inhabited. To
my utter amazement she looked out at us sitting, watching in the dark. <i>"See
my son! He will save us from these beasts!"</i> she cried and in a burst
of enthusiastic joy dragged him down off the stage to us. </span></strong><strong><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><strong><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">I saw her next to me, her
eyes blazing, the actor-son squirming in embarrassment but grinning happily. <i>"This
is my son, my hero!"</i> she said to me proudly, and I believed her with
all my heart. At that moment I knew that as an actress I could never again hide
behind a fake wall and not share totally with my audience. Elisabeth Bergner
taught me that and, from that time, my playwriting and directing has always
been inter-active with an audience.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVqDvwmuy_oEGi5NBEfJyBnFaf_2WP7u9KTHWjGid9emmaFAy3ibs5lao-pm8GfJuCg4O1Iaab6ikJlDUWMjDftB0exly2jORqz9wtE7sJx74By77FIbq2DbUMDUGqP1oPvbjI4fclm89/s180/Olivier+%2526+Bergner+AS+YOU+LIKE+IT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="180" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVqDvwmuy_oEGi5NBEfJyBnFaf_2WP7u9KTHWjGid9emmaFAy3ibs5lao-pm8GfJuCg4O1Iaab6ikJlDUWMjDftB0exly2jORqz9wtE7sJx74By77FIbq2DbUMDUGqP1oPvbjI4fclm89/w200-h196/Olivier+%2526+Bergner+AS+YOU+LIKE+IT.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivier & Bergner "As You Like It"</td></tr></tbody></table></span></strong><strong><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><strong><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #201f1e; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">A few days later I was
shocked to hear that the show was going to Broadway without her. I learned
through the theater grapevine that she and the director, Alfred Lunt, had a disagreement
over her interpretation of the role. They chose director over actor and it
opened on Broadway with Hungarian star Lili Darvas on December 25, 1961. The
show closed after 24 performances.</span></strong><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>THEATRE SPOKEN HERE by Morna Murphy Martellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033261644518356397noreply@blogger.com0