Oscar E Moore

There won’t be any comparisons made here to the original production or the movie.  Let them rest in peace. 

This imaginative production, re-conceived and directed by Michael Mayer with a new book by Peter Parnell based on the original by Alan Jay Lerner who wrote the excellent, witty and memorable lyrics with music by Burton Lane, is daring in its conception and intentions, certainly controversial with its story line and remarkably entertaining with a score to die for brilliantly orchestrated by Doug Besterman.

Perhaps Broadway isn’t ready for a 1970’s gay, chain smoking florist, David Gamble (David Turner) who has major problems with cigarettes and committing to his handsome boyfriend Warren (an excellent Drew Gehling) hypnosis and reincarnation.

Trying to kick the habit and on the advice of his best girl friend/roommate Muriel (Sarah Stiles) David takes in a group therapy session with the sexy, calm-with-a-really-low-key-demeanor psychiatrist Dr. Mark Bruckner (Harry Connick, Jr.) and immediately falls under his hypnotic spell resulting in repeated visits whereupon his past life as a 1940’s Jazz singer, Melinda Wells (Jessie Mueller) bursts forth and a star is born.  More of Jessie in a minute.

The Dr. who is recovering from the death of his beloved wife falls for Melinda in a lapse of professional etiquette.  David falls for the Doctor.  Who wouldn’t?  Even the Doctor’s colleague Dr. Stein (Kerry O’Malley) is in love with him.  All quite simple unless you are part of the “ménage a quatre.”

Whenever Connick sings those wonderful Lerner & Lane songs (some brought in from Royal Wedding) with his laid back Sinatra style in tact the audience is spellbound. 

Pairing him with a compatible 1940’s stylist/Jazz nightclub singer is a smart move.  And casting Jesse Mueller a stroke of genius.  She truly has that “it” quality that will make her a star.  Looking like a young Liza Minnelli with a gorgeous voice, a command of the stage, a naturalness and comic flair that mesmerizes, she makes the Melinda/David/Dr. Bruckner affair believable which comes to full fruition with “You’re All the World to Me” when the three dance together courtesy of sublime choreography by Joann M. Hunter.

NY Times photo by Sara Krulwich

David Turner has an innocent nebbish-y quality that is endearing.  And we truly feel for him as he falls deeper in love questioning what has happened with his show stopping rendition of “What Did I Have That I Don’t Have.”

The set design by Christine Jones is a bit of an eyesore.  Costumes by Catherine Zuber must be blamed on the 70’s and not her talent. 

Take a chance on this radically different love story.  Open your eyes as that beautiful number suggests.  Revel in the sumptuousness of its score and enjoy the charm of Connick and witness the emergence of Broadway’s newest star – the best holiday gift of all – Jessie Mueller – who by the way would make a terrific Fanny Brice in Funny Girl.

www.onacleardaybroadway.com  Photo:  Paul Kolnick

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In this “feel good” original new musical from the skewered mind of Douglas Carter Beane whose brand of humor is an acquired taste and Lewis Flinn who has supplied “High School Musical” hip hop rap type music and lyrics we get an updated retelling of the tale of “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes circa 411 B.C. – that all time great Greek writer – who came up with the satiric anti war plot of “no nookie until we get what we want!”

Only here we have a modern day Lysistrata Jones (a perky and energetic Patti Murin with her golden locks and golden voice and Jane Fonda workout body), a transfer student who rallies her fellow cheerleaders to stop “Giving It Up” to their loser boyfriends who comprise the apathetic basketball team – 33 years without a win – of Athens University.

With an Olympic style opening, our narrator and muse to Lissy J – the buxom (of basketball sized proportions) Hetaira (Liz Mikel whose booming voice threatens to blow the fuses on the awful sound system by Tony Meola) starts us off on this often repetitive journey that only begins to take hold in Act II where love permeates the air instead of sweat and testosterone.

While many of the jokes are sophomoric and fall flat with references to Newt Gingrich, Amelia Earhart, sexting, texting and i-phones the energy level and talent of the entire cast and a brilliant Bacchanal finale “Give It Up” will win you over and have you leaving the theatre in a much better mood than when you were fidgeting in your cramped seat at the Walter Kerr Theatre during the first act.

Captain of the team Mick (Josh Segarra) a buff, sexy song and dance guy more interested in partying and playing around than winning is not the brightest bulb on stage (that distinction goes to the equally bad lighting design of Michael Gottlieb) but his inner poet is brought forth by Robin (a fantastic Lindsay Nicole Chambers – the librarian – a cross between Orphan Annie and Kathy Griffin whose dexterity amazes.

A computer geek who becomes team Mascot – Xander (an appealing and endearing Jason Tam) taps into a real character and has one of the finest numbers in the show – “Hold On” – one of the many message songs played by the on stage overhead balcony band.

After the initial sex strike announcement, we get the battle of the sexes limping along on and off court.  The guys eventually braving and manning it up enough to venture forth to the Eros Motor Lodge where instead of finding anonymous sex they start to discover who they are really in love with – with startling results.

The best part of the production is the crotch grabbing, Harlem Globetrotters inspired, acrobatic choreography of Dan Knechtges who as director has also kept this young, spirited and exuberant cast on its toes completely winning us over at games end.

www.lysistratajones.com Photo: Joan Marcus

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Where’s the rest of the gang?  The infamous Barrow gang.  Not just Bonnie and Clyde and Blanche and Buck. But Raymond Hamilton and Deacon Jones.  That’s just one of the things missing in Frank Wildhorn’s newest attempt at writing a successful musical for Broadway – Bonnie & Clyde – that boasts a large cast and a slew of producers.  Emotional involvement being another.

Known mostly for having many flops albeit a successful career as songwriter, Wildhorn’s Bonnie & Clyde has some really nice tunes, mostly pedestrian lyrics by Don Black and a slight story line focusing on the love relationship of Bonnie and Clyde and his brother Buck and his devout wife Blanche told by Ivan Menchell (his first B’way musical) in a lethargic way, featuring a poem written by the real Bonnie with gospel, blue grass, pop, country western and some melodramatic underscoring when the jig is up.

The gang is mentioned repeatedly but we never see them.  What we do see are bullets, blood, and a bathtub with soap suds and a seemingly naked Clyde soaking and serenading Bonnie with a lovely simple song entwined around not much of a story that lasts for two long and sometimes too loud acts.

Director/choreographer Jeff Calhoun has opted to make use of cinematic projections and old news reels to help authenticate his production.  Sometimes working; sometimes distracting.  The clap board set by Tobin Ost with its odd angles adds a nice edge clearly depicting the blight of the depression but becomes oddly tiresome.

Perhaps it’s the symmetrical story telling (Bonnie & Clyde – Blanche & Buck) that is to blame.  Not much happens.  Until Act II when the bullets fly and the blood flows.

Starting where the story ends with the infamous couple being gunned down in their car, we quickly flashback to them as young kids (Kelsey Fowler/Talon Ackerman).  Bonnie (Laura Osnes lovely to look at and a pleasure to hear sing) wants to be a movie star.  The “It Girl” Clara Bow is her role model.  Rifle touting Clyde’s hero is Billy the Kid and we all know how that played out.  An arrogant Clyde is played by the handsome Jeremy Jordan with a clarion voice and a radiant Pepsodent smile.

Buck (a sympathetic Claybourne Elder) is simple minded, following puppy dog like in his brother’s footsteps and married to Blanche (a show stealing Melissa Van Der Schyff) who is always trying to reform him.

An excellent Louis Hobson is the sheriff who is also vying for Bonnie’s attention but she only has eyes for Clyde.  They meet.  They argue.  Sex supposedly solves everything.  She writes poetry.  He plays the uke, robs and kills.  She never gives up on her dreams to get to Hollywood.  He is jailed, etc. etc. etc. until the final ambush.

Seated behind me were two couples.  Conversation overheard – not intentionally, I might add.

Guy:  Never heard of anyone in the cast.

Gal:  Only heard that the music is great.

Guy 2:  Don’t need anyone to tell me if the show is good or bad.  Depends on how fast I fall asleep.

After the show they asked me if I was a reviewer as they had seen me scribbling notes in the dark.  Yes, I replied.  And how did they like the show?  They thought it was terrific and had a great time.  They were from Pennsylvania.  Handing over my card I said that my review would eventually be posted and we all parted company.

www.bonnieandclydebroadway.com Photo:  Nathan Johnson

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The Huxtable’s live on.  That is, Cliff and Clair Huxtable of the extremely successful 1980’s The Cosby Show.  Only in STICK FLY, a fine new family drama/comedy by Lydia R. Diamond which has recently opened at the Cort Theatre, this triple A (affluent Afro-American) family go by the name LeVay.

Daddy LeVay, a neurosurgeon (Joe – Ruben Santiago-Hudson) is awaiting the arrival of his wife who will be spending the weekend in their family home with their two sons and their girl friends on Martha’s Vineyard – not Oak Bluffs, thank you.

Oak Bluffs being the section that has a major Afro-American history on the Island.  Mrs. LeVay inherited her beautiful home in the more desirable location herein superbly designed by David Gallo – living room with African art decorating the walls, books on the shelves, lots of wine in the glasses and board games (Trivial Pursuit, Parcheesi and Scrabble to wit) a kitchen, two staircases (one for the black servant/maid) leading upstairs and an outside area with a seaside view. 

Very posh. Very “Wow!” inducing as Taylor (a spunky and verbose bug collector Tracie Thoms) gasps as she enters and sees the “cottage” for the first time with her boyfriend Spoon (Kent – Dule Hill) the younger of the two sons who wants to be a writer, unfortunately not what the Doctor ordered.  His older more arrogant plastic surgeon brother Flip/Harold (Mekhi Phifer) has a surprise for all of them.  His newest girl friend Kimber (Rosie Benton) is white.

Playwright Diamond has a lot more surprises in store as the extended and soon to be exposed dysfunctional family settles in discussing class, racism; waiting for mom to show up and dealing with Cheryl (Condola Rashad – daughter of Phylicia Rashad of the abovementioned TV program – giving a sensitive, amusing and altogether memorable performance) who is substituting for her ailing mom – their long time maid, and drinking until secrets are spilled resulting in audible gasps from the audience.

The writing is fresh and original and always interesting with lots of comedy and serious talk along the way.  As her characters and plot twists develop is a pleasure to listen to as is the original music by Alicia Keys that accompanies the scene transitions in a lyrical and mood inducing manner – whatever that mood may be.

The fine tuned direction of Kenny Leon adds to his already glowing reputation as director of FENCES and THE MOUNTAINTOP.  How he balances the seriousness and the comedy.  How he gets nuanced performances from each of his actors.  How entertaining, how in the moment, and how clever he can be, enriching the text throughout.

STICK FLY is that unexpected play that surprises, makes one think and is extremely entertaining on its own terms with nary a fly in the ointment.

www.stickflybroadway.com      Photo:  Richard Termine

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Matthew Cottle & Frances Grey

Neighbourhood Watch is Mr. Ayckbourn’s 75^th play.  He might have been wise to stop at number 74.  He also directed, another suspect decision.  Now don’t get me wrong.  I do not mean to be nasty, just expressing my honest feelings. 

Perhaps the subject matter and characters have more meaning across the pond.  It did get rave reviews recently at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough evidently staged for “in-the-round” and awkwardly restaged for “proscenium”

I am a great admirer of Mr. Ayckbourn’s THE NORMAN CONQUESTS.  It had everything going for it.  Unfortunately this latest opus goes on for far too long (2 and a half hours with intermission) with a cast of eight rather bizarre characters where most of the important action takes place off stage while the “Neighbourhood Watch Vigilante Committee” meets and meets and meets to take matters into their own hands when the police can not or are reluctant to control the out of hand violence that has been escalating in their gated community.

Martin Massie (Matthew Cottle) a calm pacifist of a person and his ultra Christian sister Hilda (Alexandra Mathie) of questionable decorating tastes have recently moved into their new home at The Bluebell Hill Development.  They are unmarried and attached to one another with strong sibling bonds as we discover in the overlong opening monologue that has Hilda praising the passing of her younger brother at the opening ceremony of a Memorial Park named after him.

We then discover the twisted events that have led up to his demise when a window is broken and Martin chases away a would-be young thief.  Misunderstanding after misunderstanding ensues until the denouement that includes a statue of Jesus, a broken Gnome and the cutting of the ribbon ceremony honoring the fallen Martin who was killed in the act of duty.

Participants include Rod Trusser (Terence Booth) ex-security man who is game to take on the world and retell a story about a stolen hedge trimmer that might find better use in trimming the play, Dorothy (Eileen Battye) in charge of gossip and PR, Luther (Phil Cheadle) an abusive husband to his young wife Magda (Amy Loughton) a teacher of the clarinet and oboe and The Janners – Gareth who loves medieval torture instruments and his much younger tart of a wife who sleeps around a lot Amy (Frances Grey) whose micro mini skirts barely reach her private parts that Martin all too easily succumbs to.

Not my cup of tea.  Limited engagement thru January 1 – Theater A at 59E59

Photo:  Karl Andre Photography

www.59E59.org  or visit www.britsoffbroadway.com

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How incredibly exciting it is to want to race home and write a review of a show that you have just seen, to spread the word at how astounding it is.  Such is the case with this reinvented, amusing and poignant production of Anton Chekhov’s tragicomic THE CHERRY ORCHARD superbly directed by Andrei Belgrader with a hint of Ingmar Bergman and Fellini and a sparkling new translation by John Christopher Jones that infuses it with renewed vigor through December 30^th only.  Put this show high on your Holiday shopping list.

Who needs to see another long, tedious, yawn inducing production of The Cherry Orchard?  Not the Classic Stage Company.   This production will snap you to attention from the very beginning.  Never underestimate the ingenuity, daring and creativity of the CSC.  Production after production amazes.  And The Cherry Orchard is one of its finest.

Scenic designer Santo Loquasto has hidden his surprise of a nursery set behind three gossamer curtains that at first seem to suffocate the audience using up the entire acting arena.  When the curtains are drawn the magic begins.  It’s a subtle effect.  In sneaks up on you that we are witnessing the lives of these characters, perhaps as a one ring circus as the round stage suggests with its miniature set pieces and rocking horse and trains all in a ghostlike ashen white palette where Madame Ranevskaya – a superb Dianne Wiest – is returning after having lived in Paris to her homeland and beloved cherry orchard that is to be sold at auction to pay off her debts.

The maid Dunyasha (Elisabeth Waterson) dressed like a Russian doll and Epikhodov – an amazing Michael Urie – Mister Disaster – a klutzy clown-like young man with his unmatched red socks further the circus atmosphere which reaches its peak in Act II as Charlotta (Roberta Maxwell) looking very much the ringmaster does card tricks and some ventriloquism.  Ms. Maxwell has some odd bits of business in the first act with the audience that at first seems to distract but it all makes sense later on.  It’s an absolutely compelling and captivating concept that surrounds this tragic story.

A charismatic John Turturro as Lopakhin who was once a peasant and has now made lots of money has a solution that Ranevskaya won’t be bothered with.  If you know of any farmers out at the Eastern end of Long Island who have been forced to sell their valuable family land for some land developers who want to subdivide, build, sell and make millions Mr. Turturro has nailed the portrayal of such a character.  Late in Act II he has a touching and heartbreaking proposal scene with the older daughter Varya (a strong and radiant Juliet Rylance) that is another brilliant directorial touch.

As stubborn as Ranevskaya is to resist change, the perennial student Trofimov (a fiery Josh Hamilton) embraces it as their only salvation.  Her brother Gaev (a debonair Daniel Davis) gives in; eventually obtaining a job. The always looking for a loan Pischik (a fine Ken Cheesman), Anya the young daughter (a fragile Katherine Waterson), Fiers the mumbling dedicated old servant (a remarkable Alvin Epstein) and Yasha (a seductive Slate Holmgren) a young, egotistical manservant who enjoys champagne and his own image make for a perfect cast which also includes – for the record – Michael Wieser, Ben Diskant and Bentley an adorable well mannered dog.

Beautiful and imaginative costumes by Marco Piemontese, atmospheric lighting by James F. Ingalls, the fantastic original music and sound design by Christian Frederickson & Ryan Rumery and choreography by Orlando Pabotoy make this Cherry Orchard an unforgettable theatrical experience.

www.classicstage.org

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The Peccadillo Theater Company has to be applauded for attempting to revive this dated albeit classic 1939 The Man Who Came to Dinner and employing twenty three actors in the process which doesn’t include all of the creative staff needed to try and breathe some life into this very old fashioned relic and out of fashion comedy written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman.

But all the period music, costumes, wigs, elaborate setting and fine acting can’t put this comedy back together again.

One can only imagine the fun that Kaufman & Hart had coming up with the zany plot that includes references to their many show biz friends and acquaintances and fashioning a cavalcade of characters after them – especially the lead based on Alexander Woolcott – herein becoming the irascible critic, wit, lecturer and radio personality Sheridan Whiteside portrayed by Jim Brochu in a tailor made part but in a less than commanding manner.  Perhaps he was feeling under the weather during the preview performance that I saw as he was coughing a lot.  But this usually excellent actor who was brilliant in Zero Hour fails to deliver the Christmas present of a performance that one expects.

It’s a splashy role, this Sheridan Whiteside, a man who doesn’t mince words and has a thousand insults on the tip of his tongue just waiting for any victim to dare to cross his path.

A man who agrees to come to dinner at the home of Ernest and June Stanley in Masalia, Ohio on his way to Hollywood – where he slips on some ice on their front porch which lands him in a wheelchair recuperating from a fractured hip and overtaking their home, telephone, staff and lives in the process making for what should be a night of high comedy in three acts.

Despite the strong performances of many of the cast, this production directed by Dan Wackerman doesn’t quite gel as well as their previous revival of Room Service which I loved.

Scott Evans was in that production playing approximately the same type of “Juvenile” role.  Does this guy never age?  He is fast becoming the Robert Cummings of period revivals and he is excellent as Richard Stanley who dreams of becoming a photographer.

As the put upon Nurse Preen, Kristine Nevins adds some deft comic touches to her characterization.  Amy Landon as Maggie Cutler, Sheridan’s secretary holds down the fort with her grounded and honest portrayal as a woman who has finally found love.  Falling for the local news writer and author of a play – Bert Jefferson (a fine Jay Stratton looking very much like Jimmy Stewart) that causes all sorts of twists and troubles for her.  Especially when Sherry wants to keep her from leaving him and giving the play to the famous actress Lorraine Sheldon (Cady Huffman, strutting her comedic skills in some glamorous duds designed by Amy Pedigo-Otto).

Not to be out done and stealing the thunder from one and all is the brilliant take on a Douglas Fairbanks/Noel Coward type actor – Beverly Carlton – the incredible John Windsor-Cunningham whose performance and rendition of Cole Porter’s “What Am I To Do?” – should keep St. Clements sold out until Dec 18^th.

Kristin Griffith as the mysterious Harriet Stanley commands the stage whenever she appears.  John Seidman looking like Dr. Irwin Corey is Professor Metz who brings along a bunch of cock roaches.  Also delivered are some penguins, some convicts for dinner, a mummy case and a bizarre Joseph R. Sicari as Banjo channeling Jerry Stiller channeling Harpo Marx.

It’s a mixed bag of styles at best.  Some laughs.  Some groans.  Some nice comedic performances.  And lots of wonderment at how The Man Who Came to Dinner was ever so successful.

www.ThePeccadillo.com Tickets $25.00   Photo:  Carol Rosegg

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Jay Armstrong Johnson

This titillating new play by Thomas Higgins centers around a weekend camping trip in the woods with a couple of unlikely best friend Boy Scouts, a couple of yin and yang dads and one manly, nature loving Scout Master. 

Understandably Mr. Higgins is hitting on a hot topic – sexual shenanigans turned upside down – but he detours from the three main characters in question and has so much extraneous stuff going on that what should be shocking and horrible is dulled by much that could be trimmed.  It’s a case of too little meat and lots of potatoes.

The handsome, straight (or so he insists) narcissistic and evil Matthew (a well toned, handsome and charismatic Jay Armstrong Johnson) begins the play by doing a strip tease via Skype while reciting the Boy Scout Oath as a birthday gift for his best friend on the receiving end – nerdy and 100% gay Jacob (Gideon Glick – who might do well to enunciate better and project his lines).

Jacob adores Matthew.  And Matthew adores that Jacob adores him.  Matthew wants everyone to adore him and his body.  But he is only willing to go so far and they are interrupted with the vision of their male neighbor – seen through binoculars – having sex with another man.  It just so happens that their neighbor is their Scout Master – Rodney (masculine and handsome John Behlmann).

Matthew decides to ruin Rodney in one of the best scenes of the play.  A scene of seduction where the sexual tension is thick and heavy, where he insists that Rodney admit that he wants him or he will out him forcing him to resign.  If Mr. Higgins had focused on these three I believe the play would be the better for it.

However, we get to meet the parents of Matthew:  Marsha (the talented Alice Ripley whose character is hardly there) and her unlikely husband Walter (Patrick Breen) a man who has just been fired and is talked into accompanying their son Matthew despite his aversion to sports and anything remotely connected to the outdoors.

The other dad, Larry (Daniel Stewart Sherman – who also gets to be an embarrassing Chief Wigwam) is your stereotypical overweight beer slugging macho idiot whose idea of strapping a six pack of beer to his belt is the ideal thing to do while supposedly keeping an eye on the kids – and I use the term loosely as both guys are a bit too old to be believable Boy Scout buddies.

There is another not so subtle scene of seduction where Matthew asks to be instructed by Rodney in fly casting which has him rubbing his rear up against Rodney’s crotch, rocking back and forth before casting his bait.

Director Trip Cullman can’t decide on an overall style.  Sometimes naturalistic, sometimes absurd, sometimes satiric, and sometimes bordering into Edward Albee territory, Wild Animals You Should Know’s true path remains to be found.

Through December 11^th at The Lortel.  A MCC production.

www.mcctheater.org   Photo:  Joan Marcus

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There are thousands of Chinese characters used for writing.  They are complicated.  And that is not the only thing complicated about the Chinese.  In David Henry Hwang latest culture clash play Ch’ing-lish, now playing at the Longacre Theatre on West 48^th Street you will have ample opportunity to discover what it is like to try to do business with them on their turf if that event should ever happen to you.

As the main character, Daniel Cavanaugh (Gary Wilmes) your average mild mannered, unhappily married, struggling with his sign business based in Cleveland and now trying to jump start his career in Guiyang China by landing a contract with Minister Cai Guoliang (Larry Lei Zhang) to do the signage for the new Center For The Performing Arts that has been already promised to his sister-in-law, with the help of a very necessary translator Peter Timms (Stephen Pucci) your not so average teacher from Britain has been living in China for 19 years and is now a consultant whom the Minister owes a favor and running into language difficulties, government restrictions and the Minister’s right hand “Iron Lady” Xi Yan ( an excellent Jennifer Lim) a married to a Judge (Johnny Wu) woman who will make whatever sacrifices necessary for success – you have the basic plot of Ch’ing-lish. 

If all this sounds dull.  It isn’t.  Only sometimes.  But when the translations (Jeff Sugg & Shawn Duan) hit the walls of the double turntable Chinese puzzle like set by David Korins you will be highly entertained with the mangled humor. 

When the actors revert to verbal charades – smiling and giggling in true stereotypical fashion you will also be amused.  But I found myself growing impatient until one surprise after another sets the plot in motion and the laughter growing.

But underneath all the laughter, there lies the serious matter of truth and honesty for both the American and his Chinese counterparts which aren’t fully realized until the end of the production.  We are more alike than we realize.

There are a couple of clandestine bedroom trysts with Daniel and Xi Yan – sex being the universal equalizer when words fail which further shows the differences in how the two cultures deal with sex and love.  And then there are more revelations that occur that make us realize that all is not what it seems to be – whether in Mandarin or English.

It’s an entertaining and different evening of theatre that makes you work to understand what is happening and gives fresh insight to the phrase “building a relationship.”

The actors are all first rate, with Angela Lin and Christine Lin turning in additional comic relief in cameo parts.

Leigh Silverman has fluently directed this bi-lingual cast.

www.chinglishbroadway.com   Photo:  Michael McCabe

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A remarkable and unusual new musical with beautiful words and music by Michael John LaChiusa, QUEEN OF THE MIST, will be running for only two more weeks at The Gym at Judson 243 Thompson Street @ Washington Square South. 

I strongly urge you to see this emotionally packed, entertaining and inventive production by the Transport Group Theatre Company directed by Jack Cummings III that is stamped throughout with his distinctive style and eye for detail nicely complemented by the choreography of Scott Rink. 

It is incredibly thrilling when all of the theatrical elements that make for a classic musical come together – the fantastic lighting effects by R. Lee Kennedy, sound design by Walter Trarbach (that transforms an acoustical nightmare of a gymnasium into a listening pleasure), simple yet precise period costumes by Kathryn Rohe (note the shoes), scenic design by Sandra Goldmark that evokes the turn of the century with a bit of lace which allows us to view the orchestra playing the phenomenal orchestrations by Michael Starobin – each and every component allowing for the freight train performance of its leading lady Mary Testa as Anna “Annie” Edson Taylor – a 63 year old widow who seeking fame and fortune decides to use her wit, intellect, scientific knowledge and her great ability to talk almost everyone into anything – to shoot the Falls at Niagara in an oaken barrel of her own design.  And survive.  A true story.

If she were writing this review the line outside the Gym at Judson would curl right around Washington Square Park twofold.  As well it should with yours truly suggesting such.

You will not be disappointed as I falsely believed I might have been. What a strange subject for a musical I thought.  Well, I was overwhelmed by this production featuring not only the exceptional and stalwart Mary Testa in a role perfect for her multi talents – portraying a woman with a fierce determination when others thought her nuts, a woman with a pure driven focus on her destiny, a woman who “thought like a man” and unfortunately believed that “pride would be her downfall” – but a cast of six other immensely talented actors.

Andrew Samonsky as Mr. Frank Russell, Anna’s Manager with his oily hair, rumpled wrinkled clothes and drunken demeanor who happens to have an equally strong presence and gorgeous voice is the perfect foil for Anna.

As her sister Jane, Theresa McCarthy brings a thoughtful and confused attitude towards Anna but always with an underlying affection and positively shines as she plays a substitute version of the woman who went over the Falls in an hilarious vaudeville act.

Carrie Nation (a forceful Julia Murney) makes an appearance as Anna tries to convince her to let her speak first on the lecture circuit taking her down a peg.  And Tally Sessions as “Man with his Hand Wrapped in a Handkerchief” – Leon Czolgosz whom she meets and inadvertently urges him to follow his passion and act on it which results in President McKinley being assassinated.

After she fires Frank she needs a new Manager and he is the wonderful DC Anderson.  As a young doughboy who remembers seeing her “stunt” when a young lad, Stanley Bahorek has one of the loveliest and touching scenes of the show with a down and out Anna selling souvenir postcards that no one wants.

Yet she remains true to herself.  As we have rooted for her in Act I to achieve her dream so do we feel for her when she starts to lose her mind, lose her speech and begin to go blind.  Where we finally see her hidden emotions emerge.

It is the soaring score, the intelligent and witty words and music filled with the melodies of Mr. LaChiusa that make QUEEN OF THE MIST so uplifting and memorable.  You will laugh, you will cry but most importantly you will be transported and remember the show and the woman who is finally getting the recognition she so longed for.

ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS.   GO!

www.transportgroup.org  Photo:  Carol Rosegg

NOTE:  QUEEN OF THE MIST will be archived on film by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts – however that’s not the same as seeing this unique and engaging musical LIVE.

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