Oscar E Moore

Lyndon Baines Johnson was quite a character and Bryan Cranston is quite an actor in his portrayal of Mr. Johnson – “the accidental President” in all his glory – warts and all – from the minute he took office after John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas – November 1963 until his election victory the following year and all that happened in between – most importantly the passage of a Civil Rights Act and the emergence of Saigon on the horizon.

We are like flies on the wall of the Senate Chamber-like set designed by Christopher Acebo as we watch and listen to history reliving itself at the Neil Simon Theatre where a volatile Bryan Cranston charms and manipulates, flatters and deals, finagles and tells tales – enjoying his own brand of humor, and putting the screws on with a smile so that he can get what he wants – whatever that really is.

He sounds like LBJ. He looks like LBJ with a pair of distinctive false earlobes that rival those of Dumbo – which LBJ was anything but. He knew what he wanted and knew how to get it. Not always nice. Not always fair. But he got what he wanted. How to win? BY NOT LOSING!

Holland Taylor in ANN her one woman play about Ann Richards succeeded mightily in a tour de force performance that Mr. Cranston – another television favorite is giving as LBJ. However he is supported by a cast of over twenty fine actors, in Robert Schenkkan’s lucid and enlightening script that director Bill Rauch keeps moving along at a fast clip that makes the almost three hour production seem just right.

With terrific projections by Shawn Sagady, scenes move from location to location speedily and without interruption allowing us to focus on the incredible machinations of our elected officials and the hypocrisy and underhanded dealings of the people in charge of running our government making us wonder how anything of merit is ever accomplished. ALL THE WAY is a real eye opener.

Act I deals with the passage of the Civil Rights Act with all its difficulties and compromises. Act II with LBJ’s nail biter of an election. Brought to vivid life are Hubert Humphrey (Robert Petkoff) J. Edgar Hoover (Michael McKean) Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Brandon J. Dirden) Gov. George Wallace (Rob Campbell) and Walter Jenkins (Christopher Liam Moore) et al.

Many will go to ALL THE WAY simply to see Mr. Bryan Cranston.And rightfully so.He is amazing in his portrayal.But the real star is LBJ with his complicated and conflicted personality that is illuminated in this fully realized production that uncovers the way things really get done and undone in Washington D.C.

www.allthewaybroadway.com

Visit www.TalkEntertainment.com

Photos: Evgenia Eliseeva

Tags: Comments Off on ALL THE WAY – with LBJ starring Bryan Cranston

Most probably the finest new musical to hit Broadway in some time, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is a superb production.  Such care has been taken to bring to the stage a project that started out as a phenomenal best seller by Robert James Waller and then a revered movie starring Meryl Streep and Clint Walker.  How do you top that?

Well, the creative team behind BRIDGES led by the visionary director Bartlett Sher has done just that – a formidable task that is expertly executed.  The score by Jason Robert Brown is fantastic.  He has also done the beautiful orchestrations as well, that we are able to savor due to the fine sound design by Jon Weston.  Sometimes quiet.  Sometimes soaring.  Sometimes reminiscent of the MGM musicals of yore.

With a lump in your throat, tears in your eyes, and an ache in your heart the weekend long love affair of Francesca (an incandescent Kelli O’Hara) and Robert Kincaid (Steven Pasquale – who is both masculine and sensitive with quietly majestic vocals that match those of Ms. O’Hara) unfolds on an airy set by Michael Yeargan – that serves its many purposes extremely well with a luminous lighting design by Donald Holder.

Set in 1965 Iowa, Francesca has been married to Bud for eighteen years.  She was a war bride. In Naples she was to marry Paolo but he never returned from the war.  She met Bud and married him hoping for a better fulfilled life.  Two rebellious teen age children and one cow later she is questioning her life.  She is ripe for something exciting to happen in her hum drum life.  Bud and the kids and the cow go off to the State Fair – leaving her alone for a weekend that will forever change her life.

Robert Kincaid, a photographer for National Geographic – a loner – has been assigned to photograph the famous Bridges of Madison County and finds himself asking Francesca for directions in a chance meeting that will change his life as well.  Their relationship starts off slowly and then smolders and then catches fire as they discover that they are soul mates – remembering how it is to feel wonderful again.

Beautifully and fluidly staged by Mr. Sher we become totally involved in their love story.  Her husband (a terrific Hunter Foster) keeps checking in by phone and her neighbors keep watching the goings on through binoculars – Charlie (Michael X. Martin) and Marge (Cass Morgan) – supplying much of the humor in the book by Marsha Norman.  Each has a show stopping song: “When I’m Gone” for Charlie and “Get Closer” for Marge.

But it is the incredibly moving performances of Kelli O’Hara and Steven Pasquale that will forever be etched in your mind to remember and relive the wonders of falling in love with their heart pounding emotions that are echoed by the lush orchestrations that soar to the last row of the balcony of the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre where THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY will hopefully touch many a theatergoer for a long time.

If you loved ONCE you will fall in love all over again with BRIDGES.

www.bridgesofmadisoncountymusical.com

Photos:  Joan Marcus

Visit www.TalkEntertainment.com

Tags: Comments Off on THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY – to be seen and savored again and again and again

With fifteen impeccable actors, appearing in fifty fast paced and impeccably directed vignettes, with impeccable color coordinated costumes ( Gabriel Berry & Andrea Hood); expert lighting (Peter Mumford) and sound (Christopher Shutt) and a unit set that reminds us of a three sided box of gigantic graph paper the New York Theatre Workshop in association with the Royal Court Theatre’s production of Caryl Churchill’s LOVE AND INFORMATION has just been extended through April 6^th.

It is quite the theatrical event.  Ms. Churchill may be seventy five years old but she is right up to date in her observations regarding relationships – and the roller coaster ride of life that we now live in with the inundation of information that causes us to disconnect rather than connect with each other.  Life is faster but is it better?

With dialogue that sparkles with wit all her characters are real and dimensional whether they speak a few lines in a scene that lasts a few seconds or a few minutes before going to blackout and onto the next scene – all accomplished in a flash with new props and furniture that magically appear from seemingly out of nowhere.  James MacDonald has done a smashing job with this fast moving slide show.  It is simply mind boggling – in many respects.

The locales include a sauna, an office, the movies, an airplane, a bathroom, a patio, a disco, an upright bed and lawn, a dressing room – well you get the point…There is also lots of wine consumed.  Fear, secrets, infidelity, smells, boredom, prayer, dreams, memory and forgetfulness are touched upon.

There is a barrage of information that after an hour and a half begins to make some in the audience restless (the show runs approximately two hours without intermission at the Minetta Lane Theatre.)  Squirming, stretching and scratching of necks became apparent.  If only some cuts would be made the evening would be just about perfect.

What we ultimately come away with is a feeling of shell shock and that with all the technology to interact faster – only a click away – people are having greater difficulty in communicating with each other – something you probably have experienced.

The stellar cast couldn’t be better.  Phillip James Brannon, Randy Danson, Susannah Flood, Noah Galvin, Jennifer Ikeda, Karen Kandel, Irene Sofia Lucio, Nate Miller, Kellie Overbey, Adante Power, John Procaccino, Lucas Caleb Rooney, Maria Tucci, James Waterston and Zoe Winters – all give impeccable performances.

Be prepared for a wild ride.

www.nytw.org

Photos:  Joan Marcus

Visit www.TalkEntertainment.com

Tags: Comments Off on LOVE AND INFORMATION – slow down, you move too fast…

I’m SO THRILLED to say that I’m performing at Scott Siegel’s Broadway by the Year on Feb 24th!  The years are 1915 to 1939 and I’m singing a gorgeous Judy song, and am in some incredibly intimidating company?!? Come see!

http://thetownhall.org/broadway-by-the-year

Feb – May ‘14 – Come see Tenderloin at the York! Jillian plays Jessica:

http://www.yorktheatre.org/20132014-season.html

Two GREAT concerts I’m in on Monday– BROADWAY BY THE YEAR @ 8pm (http://thetownhall.org/broadway-by-the-year) and MUSE MATCH @ 11:30pm http://54below.com/artist/muse-match/

“The point is Jillian Louis. And she is a star. The moment she steps on stage she captures our attention and it never wavers. We care about her – totally. She radiates sincerity, vulnerability, humor, spunkiness, a quirky charm, confidence and warmth with a glorious voice.”
—Oscar E. Moore, Talk Entertainment, Marry Harry

http://www.talkentertainment.com/c-44886-Marry-Harry-New-York-Musical-Festival.aspx

Tags: Comments Off on Jillian Louis Update

You have a wonderful marriage.  Two kids after twelve years.  Successful.  You finish each other’s sentences.  Travel together.  Work together.  Cook together.  And so you invite your best friends to dinner.  Friends that you set up together at your home in the Vineyard called Martha’s about twelve and a half years ago.

Only one shows up as her husband needs to travel.  He’s a lawyer.  She’s an artist.  But she seems distracted.  She cries.  She spills the beans.  He’s leaving her.  Wants a divorce.  You are both upset and thus begins your self-examination of your own marriage.

Are you really happy as you appear to be to your friends?  Is it better to break up or stay together?  What happened to having sex?  These are some of the questions examined in DINNER WITH FRIENDS, a tame and tired revival of Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize winning drama – 2000.

In a series of scenes from two marriages, we witness what makes these four tick.  Unlike “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” brilliantly directed by Pam MacKinnon who has been hired to breathe fresh life into this play – histrionics don’t get out of hand and Ms. MacKinnon directs in a straightforward manner, delving deep into the subtext and psyches of the characters.

But DINNER WITH FRIENDS comes across as a sit-com and adds nothing new to this genre.  “Friends” and “Two and a Half Men” have said and done it all.

Which brings me to one of my pet peeves.  Projection.  Marin Hinkle (Karen – the artist wife of Gabe – Jeremy Shamos) has done tons of TV.  One show is Two and a Half Men and we can turn up the volume if need be.  Not so here.  She is so low key that she seems to be whispering.  I heard the other three actors just fine so is isn’t my hearing that is at fault.  I sincerely wish that the powers that be listen and make sure the audience gets what it is paying for.

Jeremy Shamos – who seems to have a cloud of sadness over his head – speaks volumes silently as he listens to Tom’s side of the story played with great flair by Darren Pettie explaining why he wants out of his marriage and run off with his new lover – a travel agent that his wife Beth (Heather Burns) insists of calling “a stewardess”.  They also have two children that don’t seem to matter.

Allen Moyer has designed a blank neutral grey box set.  Other set pieces slide in and out for the various locations and flashback in time that covers the twelve and a half years of their friendship.

Tom and Beth decide to move on and look terrific after their split and hooking up with new lovers.  Gabe and Karen remain together but apart as we see them in a final tableau in bed not cuddling but reading books – but with a cute button to end the play.

I had seen the original at The Variety Arts Theater and thought much the same as I think now about the play wondering how it won a Pulitzer…

At The Laura Pels. www.roundabouttheatre.org

Photos:  Jeremy Daniel

Visit www.TalkEntertainment.com

NOTE:  When a play starts at 7:30 the audience should be already seated and not meandering in at 7:40 delaying the production.  PLEASE BE ON TIME.  Thank you.

Tags: No Comments.

Blame the economy for all your troubles or blame Charles Busch for writing this somewhat amusing, escapist and totally too long nonsensical farce THE TRIBUTE ARTIST – an excuse for him to don mascara, heels, gowns and wigs once again and use his immense talent for mimicry of aged actresses with his company of cohorts to cavort across the 59E59 Theater stage in a production that defies all reason and one that has more twists and turns than the Olympic Giant Slalom run – only not as exciting.

Mr. Busch is Jimmy – a drag queen that has been given the new moniker of “tribute artist”.  But as the saying goes, “a rose is a rose is a rose.”  Jimmy has been fired from a Las Vegas revue as the younger generation knows not of Bette Davis and Katherine Hepburn et al.  He finds himself back in New York – in a room he rents from his dear friend Adriana (a delicious and soon to die Cynthia Harris) a retired fashion designer who married up – plopping her in the lap of luxury – a Greenwich Village town house that is now worth millions.

Enter Rita (Julie Halston) mugging her way into our hearts as Jimmy’s side kick.  Once they had an act together.  Now as a not-so-terrific real estate broker they are about to come up with a new act and it’s a doozy.

Adriana hasn’t been feeling well and has decided to sell the manse (beautifully designed by Anna Louizos) a study in Hunter Green.  Conveniently after a few glasses of wine they all fall asleep.  Adriana for good.  And that’s when desperation gives Rita and Jimmy the guts to come up with the implausible plot that becomes more and more implausible.

Jimmy will take over the role of Adriana – after supplying the deceased with a false ID from Rita’s handbag.  Rita will sell the building and they will split the profits.  Foolproof!  Ha!

If you are wondering why the police of NYC accept this ID for a dead woman in a townhouse you would not be alone.  No need to explain such details.  It appears that Mr. Busch writes himself into corners and then adlibs his way out of them with his trademark comedy routines.

Enter the niece Christina (Mary Bacon) – a whiner from Wisconsin who believes herself a victim of everything and her bullied son Oliver (Keira Keeley) who used to be Rachael.  It seems said niece read on the internet about the desire to sell “her” house – it was left to her in Adriana’s husband’s will.  Adriana could live there until she died.  And so they keep her alive in spirit and caftans until they can sell it.

Enter the ex-younger beau of Adriana – Rodney (Jonathan Walker) also found on the internet by Oliver.  Jimmy falls for him – although he deals in body parts – and not from automobiles.

There you have the ingredients for the stew that Mr. Busch brews well beyond the time to take it off the stove.  Act II goes off on the back stories of the characters that we don’t care for in the first place.

There are some big laughs as Jimmy slips into dialogue from old movies and Rita explains what movie it is from and who is speaking for all those too young to know what he is doing.  It’s vintage Busch in his prime.  THE TRIBUTE ARTIST unfortunately is subprime.

Directed by Carl Andress.  Extended through March 30^th.

Visit www.TalkEntertainment.com

Photos:  James Leynse

www.primarystages.org

Tags: Comments Off on THE TRIBUTE ARTIST – the not so prime of Charles Busch, illusionist extraordinaire

In this somewhat dull albeit affectionate tribute to The Yankees – past and present, alive and dead, famous and not as famous that Eric Simonson has written (first strike) and directed (second strike) called BRONX BOMBERS that is running out of steam at the Circle in The Square, Yogi Berra (Peter Scolari – in a part that fits him like a catcher’s glove) is trying to settle a rift between arrogant new comer Reggie Jackson (Francois Battiste), team captain Thurman Munson (Bill Dawes) and cry baby, wild man manager dressed like a cowboy Billy Martin (Keith Nobbs) in the summer of 1977.

There is a lot of pep talk from Yogi about team spirit and the great tradition of The Yankees – peppered with a few funny Yogi-isms that have become famous…but there is more to the rift than meets the eye as Munson resents Reggie’s color and higher salary.  Not much is resolved.

Mrs. Berra (Tracy Shayne) descends in a bed from above for the second scene and we wonder if she has been waiting up there all this time.  At least I did.  She tries to calm our tiger in a cage who paces around wearing out the carpet that has now covered the Yankees logo on the stage like arena designed by Beowulf Boritt as he begins to see players from the past in his dreams.

Bringing us to Act II where fantasy reigns as Mrs. Berra scurries around setting a very formal dinner table for their guests in pin stripes that include:  Mickey Mantle (Bill Dawes) drinking heavily, Lou Gehrig (an excellent John Wernke) drinking milk, Mr. High-and-Mighty Joe DiMaggio (Chris Henry Coffey) dapper in suit and tie, Elston Howard (Francois Battiste) the first black man to play for The Yankees, a boisterous Babe Ruth (C.J. Wilson) with fur coat, cigar and booze – and to bring us up to date Derek Jeter (Christopher Jackson).

They all have some rifts to resolve too – but really don’t.  We do get some bits and pieces of historical data about each of the players and Yankee Stadium and that the fans are to be thanked for their success.

There is also a running gag concerning potatoes (strike three).

BRONX BOMBERS is like a collection of baseball cards attempting to come to life but ultimately striking out with only one three dimensional home run performance given by Mr. Scolari as Yogi Berra as he says his sentimental good-byes to the old stadium in a locker room in 2008.

Photos:  Joan Marcus

Visit www.TalkEntertainment.com

www.bronxbombersplay.com

Tags: Comments Off on BRONX BOMBERS – This is your life Yankee Stadium

What starts out as engrossing and eerie eventually winds up being endlessly confusing and unsatisfying with more holes in the script than a pound of Swiss cheese.

Ken Urban’s THE CORRESPONDENT tries hard at being strange and in that respect he succeeds, attempting to be a combination of O’Henry and Hitchcock, but the story is ridiculous and we never know what is true and what is not in this well produced play at The Rattlestick Playwrights Theater where strange seems to be the norm – with varying amounts of success.

Ominous music and darkened lights set the sullen and mysterious mood – even the floor boards squeak.  There is also a thunderstorm.

Philip Graves – note the last name – a successful Catholic lawyer living in Boston (Thomas Jay Ryan – giving his all) is distraught and comforts himself with wine – lots of wine.  His wife of twenty five years had been struck by a car and died in his arms.  Guilt and grief taking their toll.

The vases of white roses have barely wilted when he brings home Mirabel (Heather Alicia Simms) a young black woman who claims to be dying but looking like the picture of robust health promises him that she will give a message to his dead wife when she dies and he will be contacted via e-mail for the agreed upon fee.  He is looking for forgiveness.

Then he receives a letter from someone who has entered his apartment with a set of keys gone missing way before and he has never changed the locks…

The letter appears to be from his dead wife – with her signature and referencing only things that she would know.  And so Philip, who had argued with his wife and hit her (for the first and last time) just the day before she was hit by the fatal car or did she willingly step in its path? – wants her to come back.  He is looking for forgiveness.

Meanwhile Mirabel needs a place to stay as her job as “correspondent” for the service that Philip found on the internet knows nothing about the letter but decides to find out who delivered it and why…

Everything accelerates from here on in this intermission-less ninety minute short scene filled horror.

Philip falls hard for Mirabel and they share a yucky, uncomfortable to watch kiss.  She finds the young student (Jordan Geiger) who supposedly left the letters – there is more than one…and this young man supplies the most ludicrous twist of the evening.

What follows is hard to believe let alone accept.  All I will say is that when all else fails playwright and director Stephen Brackett have the young man strip naked to perk things up with a more than yucky simulated sexual intercourse scene – with whom I won’t tell…

Will Philip ever find out what is going on?  Will the audience?  Will he ever be forgiven?  I mean the playwright Ken Urban.

Visit www.TalkEntertainment.com

www.rattlestick.org

Tags: Comments Off on THE CORRESPONDENT at Rattlestick – RETURN TO SENDER

LONI ACKERMAN

IN

“NEXT TO AB-NORMAL”

FEBRUARY 25^TH 2014

AT 54 BELOW, BROADWAY’S SUPPER CLUB

www.54Below.com

­­­­­­­­­­_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, presents.

Ebullient Broadway veteran Loni Ackerman brings her cabaret show, “Next to Ab-Normal,” to 54 Below on February 25^th at 7 pm.  In this charming and thoughtful musical evening, Ms. Ackerman recalls personal stories of her unusual New York upbringing (including her childhood associations with such “family friends” as Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon,) as well as revisiting songs she sang in New York hits like “Starting Here, Starting Now” or in one of her lengthy associations with the shows of Andrew Lloyd Webber.  Directed by Barry Kleinbort, with musical direction by Paul Greenwood, Ms. Ackerman’s repertoire also includes golden standards, contemporary songs, even one of her own compositions which became the theme song for a “very special” French film made during her time in Paris.  Another prime example of her life as something just “Next to Ab-Normal.” Loni Ackerman in Next to ab-Normal plays 54 Below (254 West 54^th Street)on February 25^th at 7 pm. There is a $35 cover charge and $25 food and beverage minimum. Tickets and information are available at www.54Below.com. Tickets on the day of performance after 4:00 are only available by calling (646) 476-3551.

MORE ABOUT LONI ACKERMAN

Loni Ackerman’s magnetism and dynamic vocal prowess as a Broadway musical theater star, has made her a longtime favorite of Broadway theatergoers.  She captivated New York audiences in such coveted roles as Eva in Evita  and Grizabella in Cats.

Other Broadway credits include leading roles in The Magic Show,  So Long, 174th Street,  No, No, Nanette, and George M! . She was in the original cast of Starting Here, Starting Now   and appeared Off-Broadway in Diamonds, The Petrified Prince  (both under the direction of Hal Prince), Brownstone  and Dames At Sea.

Her one woman show,Next to Abnormal,was most recently seen at The Metropolitan Room in NYC and at The O’Neil Center in Conn.

She is married to Broadway Sound Designer Steve Kennedy and has two sons, Jack and George.

MORE ABOUT 54 BELOW

54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, is the new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife.  A few blocks from the heart of Times Square and just below the legendary Studio 54, 54 BELOW is a classically designed state-of-the art nightclub in the theatre district that hosts audiences with warmth and style.  The venue provides a food and beverage menu from early evening through the wee hours of the morning that is worthy of the world-class entertainment on the stage.  In their description of 54 BELOW, The New York Times writes “the club has the intimacy of a large living room with unimpeded views and impeccable sound; there is not a bad seat. Its sultry after-hours ambience is enhanced by brocade-patterned wall panels planted with orange-shaded lanterns. And the atmosphere is warmer and sexier than in Manhattan’s other major supper clubs.”   Located at 254 West 54th Street, 54 BELOW features up to three shows nightly with cover charges ranging from $15-$95.

Here is my original review of her act at The Metropolitan Room

NEXT TO AB-NORMAL – PITCH PERFECT CABARET – February 27, 2012

At the close of Loni Ackerman’s most engaging and entertaining new cabaret act – “Next to Ab-Normal” she sings James Taylor’s “The Secret O’ Life” after sharing her life and her philosophy of life with us for the past ninety minutes.  Ninety minutes that you do not want to miss.

Beautifully scripted and directed (Barry Kleinbort) and sung to perfection you’ll discover what makes Loni tick and talk and sing with heartfelt passion and humor.  It’s an original and totally charming evening.  A class act!  And you have three more Fridays to see her.  March 2^nd, 23^rd and 30^th at The Metropolitan Room, at 7PM.

Taking a deep breath, looking lovely in her black pants and slightly sparkly top (who needs sparkles when you naturally glow) Loni Ackerman with a calm and a confidence and a giggle sings “A Shine on Your Shoes” which is a wonderful way to begin.  Sharing her optimism and openness she then takes us on a journey of her life – so far.

A life that has included growing up on Central Park West hobnobbing with the very rich and famous – Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, Leopold Stokowski, the Black Panthers, Bagels and Bongos, Ted Kennedy and Nureyev (she still holds on to a piece of his intimate apparel) – and her family and not so famous friends where love and home are valued above all else.

A life told seamlessly with recollections that are funny, confidential and cozy with a wide variety of songs (great arrangements) under the incredibly smooth musical direction of Paul Greenwood on piano with Jeremy Clayton (Sax, Clarinet, Flute) and Tom Hubbard on bass resulting in a fresh new sound.

Just one of the highlights is her foray into songwriting while in Paris, “Come Back, My Love”.  Another, her New York Medley (I love medleys) and her salute to Andrew Lloyd Webber (She’s starred in Cats, Evita and Sunset Boulevard).

Remembering her good life with “Sentimental Journey”/”Journey to the Past”.  Remembering her first time “Blame It on My Youth” and remembering love above all with “All TheThings You Are”/”My Romance” and a gorgeous “Toys in the Attic”.

“Next to Ab-Normal” is truly a romanticists dream come true.  Loni’s dream.  Hopefully they’ll make a live recording of the show.  Mistakenly identifying her as Loni Anderson at curtain call Loni Ackerman, trouper that she is, handled the blip with great aplomb.

Photo: Alex Hering

www.metropolitanroom.com 34 West 22^nd Street 212 206 0440

$20.00 cover/two drink minimum

Tags: Comments Off on LONI ACKERMAN at 54 BELOW – FEBRUARY 25th at 7 pm

Unexpected kisses.  Unexpected visits.  Unexpected revelations resulting in variations on a theme called “love” by playwright John Cariani in this first New York revival of his worldwide phenomenon of a play ALMOST, MAINE sensitively and strongly directed by Jack Cummings III with a large dose of off-beat humor – both verbal and physical for the Transport Theatre Company at 243 Thompson Street – GYM at JUDSON.

Love IS lovelier the second time around in this stunning yet simple production with a cast of four versatile and memorable actors – John Cariani, Donna Lynne Champlin, Kevin Isola and Kelly McAndrew.

The GYM has once again been transformed to fit the play with stadium seating along one side of the elongated playing area where it has been snowing (even indoors) as John Cariani (Pete) and Kelly McAndrew (Ginette) sit side by side on a bench looking silently skyward at the Northern Lights (and each other) as we enter the serene space designed by Sandra Goldmark that is beautifully lit by R. Lee Kennedy.

The original music by Tom Kochan is spellbinding and sets the mood magnificently.

Eight spotlighted areas will one by one come to life as the eight episodes unfold with different combinations of characters in this heartfelt and hopeful “tales of the heart” encompassing all the pain and joy and loneliness and fears and hurts and miscommunication that come with falling in and out of love in this heightened reality of life up in Maine where going South means going to Vermont.

It’s almost an “otherworldly experience” as strange situations are dealt with in a regular, average person’s speaking their hearts out style.  Unexpected events happen that take us by surprise (including the characters) in this fresh and original work that is extremely funny and moving.

Hearts are literally broken.  Sacks filled with “love” that have been given are given back – strewn across the snowy stage.  Two guys literally fall in love (and two women at some performances).  A couple try to find the fun that they once shared while arguing on ice skates before waiting for the inevitable shoe to drop.  And there is an incredible, hysterical removable of layers and layers of winter snow mobile outfits as two friends finally find that they want to make it into the bedroom.

Donna Lynne Champlin glows in every aspect of her portrayals.  Sensitive and comic.  Brash and heartbreaking.  John Cariani has an original voice as a playwright and as an actor.  A young David Steinberg.  Your average everyman loser who sometimes can win.  Kevin Isola has an honesty and strength that is conveyed without even having to move – much can be said in silence.  And the radiant Kelly McAndrew brings a warmth and edge to her characters.  All four can convey the hurt that lies just beneath the surface and bring joy to that ultimate feeling of love requited.

The wonder of love befuddles and bewilders but there is hope that all will turn out OK up in ALMOST, MAINE.  Terrific production.  EXTENDED through March 2^nd.  One 15 minute intermission.

Photos:  Carol Rosegg

Visit www.TalkEntertainment.com

www.transportgroup.org

Tags: Comments Off on ALMOST, MAINE – What’s love got to do with it? Everything.