October

REVIEW: Facing corporate greed and corruption with a sprinkling of levity in Lyric Stage’s ‘Urinetown: The Musical’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

I went in skeptical. 

Having been invited to see this show years ago when a friend was in it, the title and premise lacked a certain initial appeal.  Yes, the show is about what the title suggests, but as narrator or maybe more like ringmaster Anthony Pires Jr as Officer Lockstock insists, ‘The setting is not Urinetown, just the name of this musical comedy.’  Janie E. Howland’s set is dingy in various shades of brown and littered with broken toilets and grime as undefined shapes pepper the stage. 

Anthony Pires, Jr and Paige O’Connor in Lyric Stage’s ‘Urinetown: The Musical’ Photo by Nile Hawver

And yet….

The set is a ruined landscape as one would imagine it would be for a musical comedy called Urinetown, but Mark Hollmann’s piano-infused music is suspenseful, foreboding, urgent and bright and Deb Sullivan’s mood-induced lighting design stands out.  As serious as some of the issues the show addresses are in a story about urination becoming a privilege for the rich and not a human right, the production’s satirical tone sits somewhere between not to be taken too seriously and a cautionary tale of oppression, corruption and more.

With thought provoking direction by Courtney O’Connor with lively choreography by Christopher Shin, The Lyric Stage Company opened its 50th anniversary season with musical parody Urinetown: The Musical live and in person at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, Massachusetts through October 20.  The action is not limited to the stage and run two hours with a 10 minute intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

The cast of Urinetown: the Musical Photo by Nile Hawver

Taking place in an unknown city that suffers from a severe water shortage, Anthony Pires Jr as narrator and Officer Lockstock, Gabriel Graetz as Officer Barrell, and Lisa Yuen as rigid and business minded Penelope Pennywise, must enforce that each city resident pay a fee to urinate passed down by Christopher Chew as President and Owner of Urine Good Company’s Caldwell B. Cladwell.  When an incident takes place involving Remo Airaldi as Joseph “Old Man” Strong, Kenny Lee as Strong’s idealistic and determined son Bobby decides to do something about it.

Urinetown boasts a wealth of powerful vocals including Yuen’s stellar rendition of It’s a Privilege to Pee capped off by an astounding finale belt.  In rubber boots, fanny pack, and pigtails, Yuen brings depth to Pennywise who is caught between a rock and a hard place not unlike another survivor she portrayed earlier this year in Reagle Music’s South Pacific.  Pennywise must do what she thinks she must in fear of the alternative.

Lisa Yuen, Anneke Angstadt and James Turner in Lyric Stage’s ‘Urinetown: The Musical’ Photo by Nile Hawver

Anthony Pires Jr is charismatic, engaging and a lifeline as Officer Lockstock who alternates between law enforcement and narrating the plot at various interludes.  Pires Jr’s self aware humor and sharp comedic timing adds levity to this bold satire that delivers its share of dark moments in a way that does not feel as heavy with Pires Jr at the helm.  The Cop Song, a duet with Graetz and Company, offers an inside look of what it’s like to enforce the law here to a cheerful beat.

Kenny Lee and Elliana Karris in Lyric Stage’s ‘Urinetown: The Musical’ Photo by Nile Hawver

Elliana Karris depicts Cladwell’s rich, beautiful, compassionate, and idealistic daughter Hope who believes in change and shares an endearing rendition of Follow Your Heart with Bobby.  They are goofy, giddy and share each other’s wide eyed optimism and determination.  Kenny Lee is instantly likeable and impressive as Bobby who also longs to make a difference.  Paige O’Connor is excellent as precocious, street smart and conflicted Little Sally who shares some funny and fascinating scenes with Lee and Pires Jr throughout the production.

Christopher Chew and the cast of ‘Urinetown: The Musical’ Photo by Nile Hawver

With commanding vocals, Christopher Chew depicts threatening yet humorous adversary Caldwell B. Cladwell.  Chew strikes a delicate balance between scathing and corrupt with comic wit.  Cladwell could have easily delved into cartoon villainy, but Chew brings enough manipulative chutzpah to songs like Mr. Cladwell and Don’t Be the Bunny to make him a credible and worthy foe.

Musically directed by Dan Rodriguez, Urinetown features not only a number of songs in an array of styles, but also a variety of musical references which includes The Wizard of Oz, West Side Story and Les Miserables.  The cast’s moving rendition of Run Freedom Run and the seemingly peppy I See a River are both memorable.  As the band plays above the stage, it sheds some light as this skillful production delves into themes such as oppression, socialism, corporate greed, fear, corruption and freedom.  It’s also a strong metaphorical satire about something one would hopefully never have to go through.

If you can get past that, The Lyric Stage Company continues Urinetown: The Musical at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, Massachusetts through October 20.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Wild high jinks take shape in Central Square Theater’s spooky madcap spoof ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Expect anything and everything to happen as things go bump in the night in this version of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

A striking lass, peculiar locals, a mustachioed stranger, a hobby horse, a stubborn stagehand, wacky beards and hefty accents are all part of this treacherous journey through the moor in Central Square Theater’s spooky and madcap spoof, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Steven Canny and John Nicholson continuing live and in person at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts through Sunday, October 6.  Wildly directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner and very loosely based on Doyle’s legendary tale, this zany and semi-interactive production runs two hours and 15 minutes including an intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Sarah Morin, Jenny S. Lee, and Aimee Doherty in Central Square Theater’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ Photo by Maggie Hall

The Hound of the Baskervilles is no stranger to adaptations.  Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1903 classic Sherlock Holmes crime novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles has been adapted into dozen of films and TV shows including a 1978 British parody film starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.  The actual tale is a chilling and puzzling foray into a mysterious crime and is considered one of Doyle’s best novels.

Haunting, comical and spontaneous is this mystery spoof that mixes the classic with the contemporary while still loosely sharing Doyle’s legendary tale as it veers into several comedic detours along the way.

Sarah Morin and Aimee Doherty in Central Square Theatre’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ Photo by Maggie Hall

A full moon, distant howling and a single illuminated ghost light kick off the foreboding and eerie demeanor of Central Square Theater’s Hound of the Baskervilles as David Bryan Jackson’s dynamic sound design along with John R. Malinowski’s spooky lighting navigate the haunting, humorous, and spontaneous elements of this swiftly shifting production that is not limited to the stage.

While generally not a big fan of spoofs, this self aware trio takes improvisation, physical humor, and even miming to new heights led by the ever impressive Aimee Doherty as herself, Holmes and others, especially during a zany expedition through Act II.  It is at times mind boggling to think how this jocular trio manages to keep track of which comedic detour they are addressing from moment to moment (never mind the accents!) changing identities, and what is real and what is all in disguise, but it seems all in good fun with a considerable dose of goofy silliness.

Sarah Morin and Jenny S. Lee in Central Square Theater’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ Photo by Maggie Hall

Costume designer Leslie Held delivers Sherlock sleuthing at its Edwardian finest complete with Harris Tweed deerstalker caps, wool gray and mustard colored coats, paisley ties, and top hats mixed with some surprisingly whimsical selections as well.  The production also swings from vintage into the contemporary in remarkable self aware fashion.  Spoofing deductions about deducing is Doherty as Holmes who must solve the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville.  Did he die of a heart attack or were there darker forces at work?  Doherty’s comic timing is particularly sharp during a train sequence in which Doherty portrays a repetitive train conductor.  Jenny S. Lee is more than game as admiring and a bit dim Watson, Sherlock’s sidekick.  It is amusing to watch Doherty playfully tease Lee as Watson from time to time as they both attempt to solve this ‘jigsaw’ puzzle of a case.  Lee is a fun sidekick, has engaging chemistry with Doherty, and stands as a firm Robin to Sherlock’s Batman. 

Jenny S. Lee and Aimee Doherty in Central Square Theater’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ Photo by Maggie Hall

Sarah Morin more than has her work cut out for her as not only Canadian Sir Henry Baskerville, but all in the family line not including the zany characters that Doherty and Lee meet along the way.  Trying to unravel this mystery and keep up with all the split second dress changes is a feat in itself. 

Sarah Morin and Jenny S. Lee in Central Square Theatre’s The Hound of the Baskervilles Maggie Hall

However, the greatest feat of all might be how the show manages to remain on course.  After all, The Hound of the Baskervilles is essentially a murder mystery and Holmes and Watson have a crime to solve.

Central Square Theater’s presents spooky madcap spoof, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Steven Canny and John Nicholson live and in person at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts through Sunday, October 6.  Wildly directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner and very loosely based on Doyle’s legendary tale, this zany and semi-interactive production runs two hours and 15 minutes including an intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Speakeasy Stage delivers crackling chemistry and lots of ‘Laughs in Spanish’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Down in Wynwood, Miami, Florida, Mari is in a panic. 

On the eve of one of the most important events of her art career, Mari’s gallery Studio 6 has been robbed.

However, those surrounding Mari are not reacting in quite the same way.  Uptight, stressed and just about at her wit’s end, Rebekah Rae Robles as Mari is determined to get to the bottom of it and somehow salvage the event.  In braids and silky loungewear, Luz Lopez as intern Caro and Daniel Rios, Jr. as Caro’s boyfriend Officer Jaun take note of what is happening, but seem a little more interested in each other. 

Rebekah Rae Robles, Daniel Rios Jr. and Luz Lopez in SpeakEasy Stage’s ‘Laughs in Spanish’

Directed exuberantly by Mariela Lopez-Ponce and in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, SpeakEasy Stage Company opened its 34th season with Alexis Scheer’s lively comedy Laughs in Spanish continuing live and in person at Calderwood Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts through Saturday, October 12.  This quick witted production has strong language and is 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Rebekah Rae Robles, Brogan Nelson, Luz Lopez and Daniel Rios Jr. in SpeakEasy Stage’s ‘Laughs in Spanish’

Rebecca Glick’s stylish costumes feature bold colors and vibrant patterns indicative of each character’s personality and especially prevalent of Robles as Mari in a serious gray suit.  Alexis Scheer boasts a refreshing script with good pacing, surprising revelations, and a wild dose of complicated family dynamics as well as a comical cast with crackling chemistry.  Robles as Mari seems as wound about as tightly as her celebrity, model, and movie star mother Estella is vivacious and carefree.  Making quite the grand and unconventional entrance, dramatic, spectacular, and self-centered Paola Ferrer as Estella appears to revel in her role as the adventurous life of the party.  Quick thinking, reposed and resourceful, there is much more to Ferrer’s Estella who delivers a standout performance embellished by a poignant and heartfelt monologue later on in the production.  Robles and Ferrer share a natural, relatable and yet complicated mother and daughter dynamic as these seeming opposites humorously searching for common ground.  Lopez as intern Carol and Rios Jr. as Officer Juan are adorable and genuinely funny as they bicker and flirt attempting to help Mari, but finding themselves in complications of their own.  

Paola Ferrer and Rebekah Rae Robles in SpeakEasy Stage’s ‘Laughs in Spanish’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

With an uplifting Latin-inspired dance soundtrack, Laughs in Spanish boasts a multipurpose split set by Erik D. Diaz featuring an array of tropical greenery with wicker-infused furniture adorned with twinkling lights on one side and a pristine white and mustard colored studio with missing canvases, modern furniture and soft lighting on the other setting a sophisticated yet festive city tone.  This split set doubles the laughs as action often occurs simultaneously on both sides, especially in a notable performance by Brogan Nelson as Estella’s giddy and awkward assistant Jenny in a memorable solo piece of silent, physical humor as cast members converse in the other room.

Rebekah Rae Robles and the cast of ‘Laughs in Spanish’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios.

If you are looking for an upbeat, playful, and lighthearted piece of theatre with some interesting twists, modern pop references and a bit of mystery and family dysfunction with Latino flair, SpeakEasy Stage delivers plenty of Laughs in Spanish.

The cast of SpeakEasy Stage’s ‘Laughs in Spanish’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Directed exuberantly by Mariela Lopez-Ponce and in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, SpeakEasy Stage Company continues Alexis Scheer’s lively comedy Laughs in Spanish continuing live and in person at Calderwood Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts through Saturday, October 12.  This quick witted production has strong language and is 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  American Repertory Theater brings new dimensions to Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Nowhere else but Fair Verona is love and hate so swift and immediate than in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

American Repertory Theater reveals love, rage, loyalty, and passion in an ominous production that integrates a number of Shakespeare’s signature elements.  Director Diane Paulus remarkably illustrates ‘what could have been’ in a haunting sequence of the best laid plans and Emilia Suárez as Juliet is not only beautiful, naïve and headstrong, but depicted in a heightened and more thought provoking manner while adding new dimensions to this classic star crossed love story. 

Directed meaningfully by Diane Paulus and captivating choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui with raw and memorable fight choreography by Thomas Schall, American Repertory Theater kicks off its 45th season with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet continuing live and in person at the Loeb Drama Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts through October 6.  The production is two hours and 45 minutes including one intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet delves into the war between feuding families the Montagues and Capulets.  However, when Rudy Pankow as Romeo Montague sets his eyes on Emilia Suárez as Juliet Capulet, their worlds are forever changed.

Emilia Suárez (Juliet) and Rudy Pankow (Romeo) in A.R.T.’s Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Nile Scott Studios and Maggie Hall

The war between the Capulet and the Montague families take center stage from the production’s first scene and the hate proves as instantaneous as Romeo and Juliet falling in love at first sight – unreasonable, unbridled, and unyielding. Tensions rise and escalate quickly as both clans face off over a gesture on the street.   Amy Rubin’s grand wooden and transformative set pieces which includes a tower that billows smoke, reflects the weighty love and rage contained in these characters who occasionally labor to shift these symbolic set pieces during the production.

Jen Schriever’s dynamic lighting fuels a beautifully contemporary Capulet masquerade with luminous orbs, hazy spotlights and special effects alongside Daniel Lundberg’s mix of foreboding, ethereal and pulsing sound design, but truly shines later in a harrowing display of chilling shadows. 

Rudy Pankow (Romeo) and Terrence Mann (Friar Laurence) in A.R.T.’s Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Nile Scott Studios and Maggie Hall

Romeo and Juliet features a strong and compelling cast highlighted by Terrence Mann as herbalist Friar Laurence.  In tattoos and pulled back hair, Terrence Mann boasts a meaty and enhanced role including part narrator and providing some musical accompaniment on a ukulele.  With sharp dramatic and comic timing, Mann as Friar is stoic, sensible and is humorous in his understandable exasperation and weariness reflecting some the audience’s thoughts as he aspires to advise impulsive Romeo and Juliet.

Emilia Suárez as young and love struck Juliet is riveting from her first meeting with passionate and insistent Romeo and later as she agonizes over the excruciating decisions in front of her, almost losing herself in what feels like an Ophelia-like moment during a scene with Sharon Catherine Brown as Juliet’s compassionate and supportive Nurse.  It is chilling, brilliant and adds another dimension to this complex character.    

Sharon Catherine Brown (Nurse) and Emilia Suárez (Juliet) in A.R.T.’s Romeo and Juliet Photo by Nile Scott Studios and Maggie Hall

Emilio Sosa’s detailed costume design varies from fishnets, ripped jeans and leather to stately and glittering formalwear.  Brown has an enviable wardrobe in floral multicolor dresses and jackets right down to her fabulous boots.  With a glowing smile, Brown shares a protective and sweet rapport with Juliet and while the Nurse is sometimes depicted with a more maternal instinct than Juliet’s mother, it is not necessarily the case here.  Glamorous Nicole Villamil as Lady Capulet may be preoccupied by social matters at times and aware of her limited power as a wife, but has a heartfelt affection for Juliet and wants what is best for her.  Mann and Brown also share a memorably amusing scene together, demonstrating they may be the only rational characters in this tale. 

Terence Archie is dignified and confident as Lord Capulet, even during a moment where he knocks on a wooden set piece.  Archie’s clever turn of Shakespeare’s lines feel contemporary and relatable as Juliet’s father especially in a powerful scene with Juliet later in the production. 

Clay Singer (Mercutio), Rudy Pankow (Romeo), and Brandon Dial (Benvolio) in A.R.T.’s Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Nile Scott Studios and Maggie Hall

From a Hawaiian shirt and sneakers to a multicolored cardigan, Clay Singer’s Mercutio is a teasing, raunchy and saucy presence and may keep you guessing whether Singer is flirting or fighting with the other characters.  Singer plays the darker undertones and unpredictability of this pivotal character with playful yet protective gallantry and shares some mischievous antics with Brandon Dial as warm hearted and earnest Benvolio.  In a black fishnet shirt and leather, Alex Ross as tumultuous Tybalt is a disquieting and menacing force onstage escalating in a gripping scene with Singer, Pankow, and Dial.

Though the production is a bit lengthy, American Repertory Theater delivers an enhanced tale that adds new dimensions to these classic characters which culminate in a unique and insightful epilogue demonstrating that hope rises even in the bleakest of times.   

Rudy Pankow (Romeo) and Emilia Suárez (Juliet) in A.R.T.’s Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Nile Scott Studios and Maggie Hall

American Repertory Theater presents Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet live and in person at the Loeb Drama Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts through October 6.  The production is two hours and 45 minutes including one intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Greater Boston Stage Company gets spooky with ‘We Had a Girl Before You’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Just in time for Halloween, Greater Boston Stage Company stages one creepy ghost story.

Taking a cue from the success of last year’s one man show, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Greater Boston Stage Company decided to draw from a few classic and haunting tales for this one woman show, We Had A Girl Before You.

Directed by Weylin Symes, Greater Boston Stage Company presents Trevor Schmidt’s We Had A Girl Before You live and in person at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA through Sunday, November 5.  It is 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Annie Barbour in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘We Had a Girl Before You’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Wearing spectacles and with hair pulled back in a tight bun is just one of Annie Barbour’s many personas as she depicts Edwina Trout, a lonely and inquisitive woman who embarks on an ardent journey to work as a lady’s companion.  Longing for love and a sense of belonging, she travels with hope on a dangerous journey to Wichham Manor.

Kathy Monthei’s gloomy and effective set boasts a distant and lit manor on a high hill, a large full moon, a wide staircase, a veiled and translucent black curtain, and bronze-like etchings on the walls with a built in crawl space.  The show relies a great deal on David Remidios’s moody sound design and spontaneous special effects for a few jump scares along the way.

Annie Barbour in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘We Had a Girl Before You’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Annie Barbour not only depicts Edwina Trout, but a number of unsavory characters on her journey such as a gruff and surly barmaid and an abusive and resentful teacher.  The physical prowess that Barbour carries is substantial, but she handles it while exacting accents, mannerism, and conversations varying from a dark scowl to a hypnotic stare.  Trout is far more complex of a part than it seems and Barbour handles these variations of temperament believably.  ‘We Had a Girl Before You’ is not as strong of a story as a classic tale of ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,’ but it contains enough chilling content and wily twists  that make for an interesting day at the theatre. 

Annie Barbour in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘We Had a Girl Before You’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Greater Boston Stage Company presents Trevor Schmidt’s We Had A Girl Before You live and in person at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA through Sunday, November 5.  It is 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Between laughter and rage, the Huntington Theatre, Alliance Theatre, and Front Porch Arts Collective’s leaves food for thought with ‘Fat Ham’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Whether in a kingdom or a small town, rumors still fly.

However, at this small town barbeque and with the audience as small town witnesses, Juicy has to overcome more than a Fat Ham to make things right within his wild and dysfunctional family.

Based partially on Shakespeare’s classic production Hamlet and conscientiously directed by Stevie Walker-Webb, the Huntington Theatre in association with Alliance Theatre and Front Porch Arts Collective presents James IJames’s semi-interactive dramedy Fat Ham through Sunday, October 29 live and in person at Calderwood Pavilion in Boston, MA.  This Pulitzer prize-winning show is 90 minutes with no intermission and contains mature themes and strong language.  Click here for more information and tickets.

Marshall W. Mabry IV, Lau’rie Roach. The Huntington’s Fat Ham by James Ijames. Directed by Stevie Walker-Webb. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

What is refreshing about this contemporary iteration of Hamlet is not only is it much more of a comedy than a tragedy, but it also roots itself far more into the family dynamic than even Shakespeare portrayed.  Watching Hamlet, one assumes that the king and his son had a traditional and loving father-son relationship.  What if it everything was far more complicated?  What if the father is not the model dad that a child grows to admire?  Fat Ham bears a resemblance to the classic production in key plot points, but then flips the script and transitions into its own entity that delves into the cycle of intergenerational trauma swinging from ruthless, creepy and suspenseful to not taking itself too seriously. 

Rather than Hamlet standing for Juicy, the metaphorical star of this production is just what one roasts during a barbecue, a fat pig as a grill takes center stage.  However, there is a struggle of who is king of this house as Juicy’s father has just died and Juicy’s uncle suspiciously soon after marries Juicy’s mom, Tedra. 

Victoria Omoregie, Thomika Marie Bridwell, Lau’rie Roach, Amar Atkins, Marshall W. Mabry IV. The Huntington’s Fat Ham by James Ijames. Directed by Stevie Walker-Webb. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

Fat Ham is humorously set in ‘Virginia or Maryland or Tennessee’ and in a small town where gossip travels fast.  Luciana Stecconi’s working class set design boasts tiny, multi-functional and mood setting white lights that adorn a large tree on a dilapidated back porch strewn with arbitrary clothes hanging on a disheveled clothesline.  Baby shower balloons, a tire swing, grill and a fire pit surround a half decorated picnic table and chairs.  Costume designer Celeste Jennings leans on frenetic colors and patterns to accentuate the essence of each character.  Aubrey Dube’s rich sound design, Xiangfu Xiao’s sharp lighting, and Evan Northrup’s amazing illusion design all team up to illustrate some startling, eerie, foreboding, and pivotal revelations. 

Marshall W. Mabry IV. The Huntington’s Fat Ham by James Ijames. Directed by Stevie Walker-Webb. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

In some key ways, Fat Ham’s cast improves on the Shakespeare’s classic play and Ijames diligently exposes the hypocrisy of each character.  The casting is also particularly astute as Juicy, depicted with timid and burdened inquisitiveness by Marshall W. Mabry IV and Lau’rie Roach portrays lively and wisecracking cousin Tio who buries insightfulness in raunchy humor.  Ebony Marshall-Oliver as self centered Tedra still shares a nurturing and sympathetic rapport with Mabry while flaunting spicy swagger with Vincent Ernest Siders as Rev/Pap.  A particular scene in which Marshall-Oliver and Mabry both shine is a dynamic musical interlude that shows off their individual charisma and prowess. 

James T. Alfred, Ebony Marshall-Oliver, Victoria Omoregie, Thomika Marie Bridwell. The Huntington’s Fat Ham by James Ijames. Directed by Stevie Walker-Webb. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

Vincent Ernest Siders stepped in as Rev/Pap and punctuates his performance with a domineering sneer as well as savage and manipulative taunting.  Victoria Omoregie as Opal and Thomika Marie Bridwell as Rabby deliver a relatable and hilarious mother-daughter relationship while Amar Atkins bears his own burdens as Opal’s seemingly straight laced brother Larry.

Victoria Omoregie, Thomika Marie Bridwell, Lau’rie Roach, Amar Atkins, Marshall W. Mabry IV. The Huntington’s Fat Ham by James Ijames. Directed by Stevie Walker-Webb. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

Sometimes it takes something big for life to change.  Fat Ham explores overcoming betrayal and one’s supposed lot in life against all odds to forge a new path in a crazy world.

Based partially on Shakespeare’s classic production Hamlet and conscientiously directed by Stevie Walker-Webb, the Huntington Theatre in association with Alliance Theatre and Front Porch Arts Collective presents James IJames’s semi-interactive dramedy Fat Ham through Sunday, October 29 live and in person at Calderwood Pavilion in Boston, MA.  This Pulitzer prize-winning show is 90 minutes with no intermission and contains mature themes and strong language.  Click here for more information and tickets.

REVIEW: Sparkle and charm fuel Titusville Playhouse’s ‘The Prom’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Having been invited to The Prom for the second time this year, it seemed best to celebrate this time around in a frilly dress. It was especially appropriate catching a show while away on vacation and with Jordyn Linkous’s festive and glittery wig and costume design, it was easy to fit right in.

Innovatively directed and creatively staged by Niko Stamos with lighthearted choreography by Jordyn Linkous, Titusville Playhouse presents musical dramedy The Prom live and in person in Titusville, Florida through October 1.  This show contains some strobe lighting and special effects.  It runs two hours and 25 minutes with one intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Mandy Kerridge as Dee Dee Allen, Steven J. Heron as Barry Glickman and cast in ‘The Prom’ Photo credit to Titusville Playhouse

The Prom should sound a least a little familiar since its 2020 Netflix film adaptation debut with an abundance of its own star power including Meryl Streep as Dee Dee and James Corden as Barry.  Inspired by a true story, anxious Emma, depicted with self effacing humility by Delaney Sue McGough, invites a date to the Prom with none other than Myanell Enriquez as popular Alyssa, the daughter of the head of the Parent Teacher Association.  Once a group of egocentric Broadway celebrities gets wind of this human interest story, they decide to make a difference in this small Indiana town.  The Prom is a satirical blend of inspired true story and over the top musical comedy set in New York as well as in Edgewater, Indiana.  The Prom delivers plenty of humor ranging from silly to satirical with a sincere and underlying message about helping others.

Mandy Kerridge as Dee Dee Allen and Delaney Sue McGough as Emma Nolan in ‘The Prom’ Photo credit to Titusville Playhouse

With extraordinary music direction by Spencer Crosswell, The Prom boasts strong vocals from an amiable cast.  Glamour takes center stage with Mandy Kerridge as Dee Dee Allan, a self absorbed and award-winning actress.   Kerridge’s impressive vocal range and wonderful belt is on full display for It’s Not About Me and The Lady’s Improving.  Along with Steven J. Heron as warm, lovable, and lauded actor Barry Glickman, Danny Sanchez as no nonsense PR rep Sheldon, Corey Evans as openhearted Trent, and Sarah Ruth Joyner as inspirational Angie Dickinson, these seemingly shallow thespians bring some humorous moments, but their real charm is exposed by the people they meet in this fish out of water production.

Lit with soft and cheerful multicolored lighting by Davis Vande Steeg , The Prom features a dynamic set design by Niko Stamos including a digital screen that transforms settings in an instant including the store front of a 711, a monster truck rally, and the glittering festivities of a Prom.  Some clever staging includes the transformation of an Applebee’s to a balcony seat during a beautiful rendition of We Look to You as well as veiled and translucent staging for the number, Tonight Belongs to You.

Steven J. Heron as Barry Glickman and the Executive and Artistic Director of the Titusville Playhouse and Delaney Sue McGough as Emma in ‘The Prom’ Photo credit to Titusville Playhouse

The Prom deals with some serious topics including betrayal, but balances it well with the show’s overall optimistic tone.   It is positive throughout, even in the face of Emma’s most difficult challenges.  McGough’s chiming vocals in forlorn yet earnest number Just Breathe is a compelling revelation while Holly Fuller’s tight lipped delivery proves fitting for tough and immutable antagonist Mrs. Greene.  Emma’s high school classmates are painted as shallow and insensitive and as far as storytelling, it might have been nice to have at least one of them sympathetic to Emma’s plight from the start.

Cast photo Photo credit to Titusville Playhouse

The Prom contains a wealth of welcome, inside Broadway humor and references as well as notable choreography including a sweet rendition of You Happened and the Fosse-inspired choreography of Zazz.  The Prom provides a message driven and sparkling escape to fun and frivolity if only temporarily from the realities of life.  

Titusville Playhouse presents The Prom live and in person in Titusville, Florida through October 1.  This show contains some strobe and special effects and runs two hours and 25 minutes with one intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW: Fitz and the Tantrums groovily beat the heat and a storm at Indian Ranch

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

No one can make people forget an unforgiving and sweltering heat quite like indie pop neo soul band Fitz and the Tantrums.  Though the day called for storms, nothing was going to stop their positive vibes until after these multi-platinum artists finished their set.  Their performance was politics-free, but no less personal and full of encouragement with a repertoire of groovy and upbeat sounds that make even those determined not to dance in this heat, bob and sway, get up and get down.

Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums Photo credit Adam Klein

Fitz and the Tantrums appeared at Indian Ranch in Webster, MA on July 29 and it was one stop on a national tour that continues through October 1…so far.  Click here for more information on upcoming Indian Ranch performances and click here for more information on Fitz and the Tantrums latest national tour.

Indian Ranch is an outdoor concert venue and more which features a lakeside view and beach.  A portion of the seats do have a cover for rain and the shows are mostly rain or shine.   The VIP pre-concert experience that day started at 11:30 am and featured barbeque with a choice of hamburgers, hotdogs, or veggie burgers, baked beans, corn, salads, and an array of desserts.  Fitz and the Tantrums took the stage at 1:30pm for an almost 2 hour set including an encore.

Noelle from Fitz and the Tantrums Photo credit Adam Klein

Fitz and the Tantrums took the stage for a feel good set featuring an array of hit tunes and some songs off their new album, Let Yourself Free.   Despite the heat, the group remained dedicated to their unique and classy style in dark pants and converse sneakers as the band heated up with horn –infused rhythms and flashing, multi-colored lights.

Most of the songs were infectious, lighthearted, and boasted wild rhythms.  The enthusiastic band made the best of the heat as they encouraged the audience to dance and sing-along.  A few of the highlights included a tune that lead singer Michael Fitzgerald or ‘Fitz’ wrote for his wife, Silver Platter.  It’s a breezy, flirty and snappy single off their new album as he exclaimed, ‘Gimme-gimme that love-that love-that love.’  They also revved the audience up with the inspirational number, 123456 as the audience sang along, ‘Count it out! Shout it out!’

Noelle and Fitz from Fitz and the Tantrums Photo credit Adam Klein

Featuring an amazing saxophone solo by James King and Noelle Scaggs’s rhythmic tambourine, Fitz and the Tantrums grooved to Out of my League’s reverberating synth rhythms before delving into the knock down, get up workday struggle with Living for the Weekend.

Fitz and the Tantrums at Indian Ranch Photo credit Adam Klein

Fitz and the Tantrums kept the party going with their brief, but endlessly catchy title track, Let Yourself Free, the story of a dream with AHHHH! and didn’t leave out their biggest hits such as The Walker to the crowd’s delight.

Fitz and the Tantrums appeared at Indian Ranch in Webster, MA on July 29 and it was one stop on a national tour that continues through October 1…so far.  Click here for more information on upcoming Indian Ranch performances and click here for more information on Fitz and the Tantrums latest national tour.

REVIEW: Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ a family treat and delivering more surprises than things that go bump in the night

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Under a glimmering moon, fog rolls in as a candle burns. 

Near a tattered fence and curtains behind a pedestal table sits The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’s author Washington Irving, portrayed by Boston-based actor Paul Melendy.  Poised to share his gothic novel, Washington Irving is just one of several personas Melendy charismatically manifests for Greater Boston Stage Company’s semi-interactive, one man performance of Halloween classic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Paul Melendy in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios

With lively direction by Weylin Symes, Paul Melendy aptly bares the weight of this local, legendary, and family-friendly tale live and in person at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, Massachusetts as well as virtually through Sunday, November 6.  This show is just under 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and tickets.

Paul Melendy in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios
Paul Melendy in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios

Already proving to be a wonderful talent in Greater Boston Stage productions such as The 39 Steps and Miss Holmes Returns, Paul Melendy captures the spirit of Sleepy Hollow through a frenzy of distinct personalities, rapid fire mannerisms, and occasional scares.  This version has a historical and contemporary context, delivering more family- friendly and comedic content than a fright fest.

Paul Melendy in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios

Melendy’s Icabod Crane is an eccentric, bumbling, and polite schoolmaster in love with the lovely Katrina and sets out to impress her and her family, but rumor has it that something ghostly just might be lurking through Sleepy Hollow.  Feeding off the audience while drawing comedic inspiration and wide- eyed vigor reminiscent of Jim Carrey or Jerry Lewis, Melendy’s pliable features transform into a number of characters ranging from the elegant Katrina to a tough guy New Yorker to the mysterious Mister Knickerbocker.  A cross between a recollection and a retelling, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow treats the audience to an assortment of dynamic characters who roam through this secluded valley along the Hudson River.

Paul Melendy in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios
Paul Melendy in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Photo credit to Nile Scott Studios

Melendy is an animated and quick-witted storyteller on this partially introspective journey as David Remedios’s chilling sound effects highlighted by a wild horse whinnying, Katy Monthel’s haunting scenic design, and Deirdre Gerrard’s eerie lighting elevate the production’s mysterious and uneasy tone.  Add Melendy’s exuberance to the mix and audiences are in for an enjoyable ride.

The cast and creative team for Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Photo courtesy of Nile Scott Studios

Greater Boston Stage Company presents The Legend of Sleepy Hollow live and in person in Stoneham, Massachusetts as well as virtually through Sunday, November 6.  This show is just under 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and tickets.

REVIEW: Fueled by a nostalgic rock soundtrack and a charismatic storyteller, Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s ‘Wild Horses’ a lively and momentous tale

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Nothing brings back memories quite like a song.

The power of music is in full force in Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s (MRT) production of Alison Gregory’s Wild Horses streaming on demand through Sunday, October 17.  Merrimack Repertory Theatre previously offered the production in person from September 15 through October 3 at Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts.  The show contains mature language and some adult themes. Click here for more information and tickets to this virtual performance.

  • Leenya Rideout and Rafael Molina during filming at Unitas Community Center, Lowell. Photo: Kathy Wittman

Directed with heart and humor by Courtney Sale, Wild Horses delves into the life of the mother of a teenage daughter, portrayed with a blend of lively charm and excitable nervousness by Leenya Rideout, as she gets wrapped up recalling her story of a special California summer during her 13th year in the 70s while onstage at an open mic night.  Rideout evokes a sense of adventure during this musically-fueled Moth Radio Hour featuring lyrics from 70s greats Rolling Stones, Heart, Van Morrison, America, and more.

Having delivered a likable performance in the 2020 indie film, Love, Repeat, Rideout further showcases her dynamic range in this meatier Wild Horses role with a humorous, heartfelt and sometimes raunchy performance.  See what Sleepless Critic had to say about Rideout in Love, Repeat here. 

  • Leenya Rideout performing “Wild Horses” at Western Avenue Studios.

With a love for music almost as much as horses, Rideout sings, strums an acoustic guitar, and proves an energetic and engaging storyteller sharing her experiences from a studious perfectionist to a teenager not afraid to break a few rules with the encouragement from her daring friends.   With no shortage of excitement, scandal, humor, and heartache, Rideout’s onstage demeanor switches from responsible mother in need of a night out to wide eyed, youthful innocent with all the angst that goes with it.  She blends what she remembers with her current wisdom, dwelling in the sacredness of youth. Ranging from teenage pranks to rites of passage, Rideout recalls these stories with wistfulness and passion, interacting with the audience like old friends.

  • Leenya Rideout during filming at Unitas Community Center, Lowell. Photo: Kathy Wittman

Costume designer A. Lee Viliesis has Rideout ready to rock in an animal print scarf, Fender T Shirt, and ripped jeans and accompanied by guitarist Rafael Molina, she slips right into this adolescent spirit longing to be wild and free.  All that is necessary is a little courage.

Here’s to the ‘freedom takers’ with Merrimack Repertory’s production of Wild Horses continues streaming through Sunday, October 17.  Click here for more information and to get a closer look on MRT’s new season.