Oscar E Moore

Linda Lavin & Dick Latessa

This is the very sad saga of the horrible Lyons family presented in a very funny play by Nicky Silver which is now running at The Vineyard Theatre starring the ever brilliant Linda Lavin as the matriarch from hell Rita Lyons. 

A woman with a bad taste in her mouth (more on that later) who casually sits, leafing through House Beautiful, searching for ideas to redecorate the home that she hates while her cancer stricken husband Ben (Dick Latessa) lays dying – any moment now – in his private room hospital bed, swearing his head off, hooked up to a drip but not looking any the worse for it.  I guess he’s used to suffering, married to Rita all these 40 odd years.

Any moment now isn’t fast enough for Rita whose hateful and hurtful words account for that bad taste in her mouth.  She’ll even eat Jell-O to rid herself of the foul taste but it goes much deeper than that. 

How nonchalantly she spouts her venom, smiling and commenting with a pucker of her lips or blotting them with a tissue or issuing a look of utter disbelief.  Linda Lavin is Queen of the zinger and icy glance that adds an exclamation point to what she’s just said just in case you’ve missed it by laughing so hard.

Visiting their distant father, Lisa (Kate Jennings Grant) an alcoholic single mother in an abusive relationship and her brother Curtis (Michael Esper) who is gay and has an imaginary lover or does he?  that pays off in Act II when he meets Real Estate broker Brian (Gregory Wooddell) while looking at an apartment – the past returns to haunt all.  It’s your typical dysfunctional family at war over a death bed play smoothly directed by Mark Brokaw.

Michael Esper & Gregory Woodell

Ms. Lavin however manages to get some sympathy even though she is a bitch with her Second Act confessional – where she explains what it is she has gone through, what she wants for the future and how she is going to get it.

Curtis ends up in his dad’s hospital bed after he’s died due to a beating by the Real Estate guy in a scene that detours from the main play and is quite unbelievable but Mr. Silver has to get the son into that hospital bed somehow for the last scene which shows the son in a better light with his change in attitude towards his nurse (a compassionate and tough Brenda Pressley) that takes the hard edge off the disturbing evening.

It’s not surprising that Linda Lavin chose to do this play over Follies and Other Desert Cities.  It’s a more ferocious role and she is in top form as the lioness Rita Lyons.

Through November 10^th    www.vineyardtheatre.org          108 E. 15 Street NYC

Photo:  Carol Rosegg

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With trademark cigar close at hand and speaking directly to God with his Harry Potter-like eyeglasses, Joel Rooks as George Burns – who made God a household name in a series of high grossing films in the 70’s starts this beautifully written one man show “SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE” a loving tribute to Mr. Burns and his wife of 42 years, Gracie Allen.  A more loving tribute you will not find on any stage. 

Mr. Rupert Holmes, its author, has fashioned a terrific memoir performed to perfection by Mr. Rooks who was Frank Gorshin’s understudy on Broadway in 2003 and has since played the role nationwide and is now reprising it at St. Luke’s Theatre 308 West 46 Street Friday, Saturday & Sundays at 2.

With the use of original music by Mr. Holmes, vintage projections, movie and television clips, fascinating facts, and the friendly and confidential sharing of them by Mr. Rooks as Mr. Burns we learn about Mr. Burns’ long life in show business (he performed until the age of 98) with the help of Didi Conn who supplies the “Voice of Gracie Allen”.

From flopping in vaudeville to fame on radio to Paramount Pictures to more fame on television to receiving the Oscar for “The Sunshine Boys” we see the love he had for singing, writing and performing and the greatest of his loves the very original Irish girl named Gracie Allen who was his partner on stage and off.

The girl who made “illogical logic” famous and extremely funny with her honest, quirky delivery and unforgettable voice.  At first it was George who was supposed to be the funny guy.  But he soon discovered that the routines he had written came across better with Gracie being the funny girl and he the straight man.  We can all thank God for that.

His best friend was Jack Benny and it’s a delight to hear the many stories about their friendship and their trying to crack each other up.

Growing up watching Jack Benny and Burns and Allen I was particularly taken with the performance and how well put together the show is.  It brought back so many fond memories of laughing in front of my TV set in the 50’s.

For those of you who might not have ever heard of these people I can only hope that you will race down to the St. Luke’s Theatre to find out about them and become new fans of George Burns and Gracie Allen.  And for all of you who want to hear again one of the most famous catch phrases ever – “Say Goodnight Gracie” – you’ll have a great time remembering and reliving those good old days.

85 minutes without intermission.   Staged by William Franzblau                 

www.saygoodnightgracie.net    Photo:  Scott Myers

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How brave and how wonderfully moving this production of LA STRADA is.  Based on the 1954 Academy Award winning film by Federico Fellini and presented by La Strada Company, under the artistic direction of Luis Carlos de La Lombana – the original sold out production which appeared last year at IATI Theater in the East Village is being revived at TBG Theater – 312 West 36 Street through December 4^th.  I urge you to see it – even if you do not speak Spanish. 

There is a simultaneous English translation on a screen of this Spanish version of La Strada written by Gerard Vazquez – above the left side of the stage.   But it is the excellent actors that convey all the emotions you’ll need to understand this purely theatrical presentation of the film.

It is imaginatively co-directed by Rene Buch and Jorge Merced.  The bleak set, a single circular ring with a cinemascopic backdrop of sky (Jason Sturm), reminds us that we are at a circus in the middle of nowhere and then three clowns arrive – Hat (Winston Estevez), Coat (Maria Peyramaure) and Scarf (Israel Ruiz) to the music of a violin (Stephanie Davis), trumpet (Jennifer Harder) and kazoo, played live.  The clowns must come up with a story or be fired.

It is Scarf – an amazingly agile and amusing Israel Ruiz who starts the proceedings in a too long mimed prologue telling the story of a pebble, a chain and a young girl.  He later becomes The Fool – a high wire performer and the man who tries to comfort the forlorn Gelsomina (a sensitive and lovely Nanda Abella) the assistant of Zampano (the magnetic Luis Carlos de La Lombana – who holds his own against any comparisons to Anthony Quinn who portrayed Zampano in the Fellini/Pinelli/Flaiano film.  He is magnificent as he performs his act of breaking the chain across his chest as the simple minded Gelsomina beats the drum as instructed and is brutally treated by this beast of a man.

This love triangle of sorts becomes tragic.  And it is the strength of the actor’s abilities to convey this in another language that is so compelling and heartbreaking.  This story of the young girl sold to Zampano by her mother after her sister died working for him.  She falls in love with the man simply because he takes care of her and sometimes not in a very kind way.  The Fool tried to help but to no avail.

What makes this production so magical is the use of mime, the simple use of the hands to convey doves, the black and white and gray color palette for the costumes (Kanako Hiyama), the on stage application of clown make-up, the kazoo and the toy trumpet.

The film had a magnificent score.  The music used in this production by La Lombana and Caridad Martos will almost make you forget the original.  One theme, used repeatedly, is haunting, melodic and heartbreaking adding to the overall longing and innocence in the eyes of the simple minded and lovely Gelsomina who meets a tragic ending.   www.lastradacompany.com

NOTE:  Mr. Ruiz received the HOLA Award for Outstanding Performance by a Featured Actor Oct 17, 2011 which is so well deserved as his performance is spectacular.  Rene Buch & Jorge Merced received the HOLA for Outstanding Achievement in Direction. 

On November 5^th there will be a talk back after the 3PM performance – “Adapting Fellini to the Stage” which will include Mario Fratti – playwright of the musical NINE based on Fellini’s 8-1/2.

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If you liked the show you are going to love the recording of ELF being released November 1^st, just in time for the gift giving/receiving holiday season.

The CD, released by SH-K-BOOM/GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS, fully captures the spirit of the Broadway show and the true spirit of Christmas with its bouncy, bubbly, Big Band sounding score by Matthew Sklar (music) and smart, witty lyrics by Chad Beguelin.  The liner notes alone by Sheldon Harnick make this one hot collectible album.

To hear song previews and pre-order the CD, visit http://sh-k-boom.com/elfthemusical.shtml.

Elf will put a smile on your face from overture to tap dancing finale with its heartfelt message and tuneful score that sparkles with its own Christmas glow that will even entertain the most jaded Grinches, Scrooges and Riedels of the world.

I thought for sure like the Rockettes at Radio City, ELF would make a return engagement this season.  It hasn’t but you do have the best substitute there can be in this uplifting and “sparklejollytwinklejingley” recording.  Enjoy!  and Merry Christmas to one and all…

Here is my original review of ELF the Broadway show posted 11/18/2010 on Talk Entertainment.com and www.oscaremoore.com

Elf the musical – Holiday Happiness at the Hirschfeld

Oscar E. Moore “from the rear mezzanine” for Talk Entertainment.com

Sometimes even Santa Claus (a droll George Wendt) needs help as is the case in the new family friendly, tuneful, smart and thoroughly enjoyable musical Elf that is here to spread its holiday happiness through January 2nd, 2011 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Santa’s sleigh won’t budge after crash landing in Central Park as there are not enough believers in Santa Claus these days in the tri state metropolitan area to help propel his distribution of presents.  There is a discernable lack of true Christmas spirit as well. 

And so Buddy the Elf (Sebastian Arcelus) – who grew up at the North Pole – a misplaced human orphan surrounded by fellow elves does the trick.  But not before he finds his real dad (Mark Jacoby) in New York who is on the naughty list, falls in love with Jovie (Amy Spanger) makes believers of his step mom (Beth Leavel – looking great and nailing every laugh) and half brother (lovable Matthew Gumley) experiences revolving doors, learns about paper shredders and tries to impart what it means to enjoy each other – not only for the holidays but all year long while all the time smiling.

For those cynics and Christmas spirit bashing naysayers, I say Humbug to you all.  Go see this show and rediscover your inner child.  Stop and smell the fir trees and enjoy the glistening snowflakes.  You’ll be happier for it.  Yes, Elf is sentimental.  But it is heartfelt sentimentality at work here combined with musical comedy show business expertise that makes Elf so entertaining.

Based on the New Line Cinema film Elf, Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan have delivered quite a humorous book, Chad Beguelin some fun and clever lyrics and Matthew Sklar a jaunty and jingly score that has a few highly memorable songs including “I’ll Believe in You” and the show stopping “Nobody Cares About Santa” with a great Benny Goodman sounding arrangement.  If that number doesn’t do something for you, you are a lost cause.

Scenic designer David Rockwell takes us on a grand tour to the North Pole, Macy’s, Radio City’s ice rink, Tavern on the Green and into the home of Buddy’s dad and his office in the Empire State building where he is a tyrant, under a deadline to come up with a new children’s book idea leaving little time for his family and having to deal with this tall, naïve pest in a green suit with curled up at the toes footwear.  Nice costumes by Gregg Barnes.  But isn’t Jovie on Christmas Eve on a bench in Central Park just a bit freezing in her short red dress and light white sweater?

As Buddy, Sebastian Arcelus gives his all but the ghost of Buddy past, Will Ferrell who starred in the movie, lingers in the mind.  As good as Arcelus is and he is very good he is missing that nebbishy/cuddly factor that makes Ferrell so endearing.

The rest of the cast sparkle like stars in the sky and seem to enjoy spreading the good cheer rustled up by director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw.  Michael Mandell and Valerie Wight are two more very special gifts to savor in this holiday show destined to make many theatergoers think twice about what they want for Christmas.

www.ElfMusical.com

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Your enjoyment of RELATIVELY SPEAKING, three one-act comedies by Ethan Coen “Talking Cure” – Elaine May “George is Dead” and Woody Allen “Honeymoon Motel” will depend entirely on your definition of comedy and what you find funny. 

You may have a change of heart after seeing these plays at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre featuring some very good actors including Marlo Thomas, Julie Kavner and Steve Guttenberg in some very mediocre material.

All three are loosely directed by John Turturro.  It appears that the writers and the actors progressively lose steam as the evening unfolds.

Ethan Coen’s darkly humorous play, “Talking Cure” deals with a Doctor (Jason Kravits) interviewing a Patient, Larry (a superb Danny Hoch) in a mental facility.  The patient is adamant that he has no problem even though he has had an incident with someone at the Post Office where he is employed.  It is extremely funny until we go to a flashback and meet Larry’s parents.  His mom is pregnant with him and all they do is argue about Hitler.  The final joke is one of the funniest of the evening.  SHORT INTERVAL

Danny Hoch & Jason Kravits

Elaine May has written a star vehicle for herself “George is Dead” and has cast Marlo Thomas in the part of Doreen.  Her husband has just been killed in an avalanche in Aspen and she has no one to turn to except Carla (Lisa Emery) the daughter of her old nanny (Patricia O’Connell). 

She arrives at midnight, knocking on the door looking like Charo, seeking comfort and refuge and some Brie cheese and insisting that Carla take the salt off the saltines.  She has never grown up and still acts like a spoiled rich debutante.  Carla has her own problems with her husband Michael (Grant Shaud) as she has missed going to an important speech because of her needful mother. 

All this is funny up to a point.  Then we begin to be bored by Doreen’s antics – she is unable to even make funeral arrangements.  Marlo Thomas, in a blond wig and pink frock is unrecognizable except for the trademark raspy voice.  Her comic timing is still spot on.  But by the time the body arrives we have long since given up caring and laughing.  INTERMISSION.

Marlo Thomas & Lisa Emery

The song, “I’m Old Fashioned” starts off Woody Allen’s “Honeymoon Motel”.  And it is.  I thought humor like this went out with The Show of Shows starring Sid Caesar.  In fact Mr. Caesar would have made a great Rabbi Baumel (Richard Libertini) wagging finger and penis envy jokes and Borscht Belt schtick et al.

Tuxedoed Jerry Spector (a great Steve Guttenberg) arrives at the Motel’s tacky and garish suite complete with spa and round bed with Nina Roth (Ari Graynor) in her wedding gown directly after he had interrupted her nuptials to his step son Paul (Bill Army) and run off with her.  She loves the much older Jerry, not Paul.  Judy Spector (an hysterical Caroline Aaron) is not amused but has the one other memorable funny line of the evening that deals with a bracelet and its inscription.

Ari Graynor & Steve Guttenberg

The parents of the bride Fay Roth (Julie Kavner) and Sam (Mark Linn-Baker) add to the farce which also runs out of steam, one-liners and sex jokes until the Pizza man arrives Sal Buonacotti (Danny Hoch) in another memorable performance who ties up the unwinding events with his philosophy of life – forgive and forget.

Which is exactly what I intend to do after posting this review.

www.relativelyspeakingbroadway.com  Photo:  Joan Marcus

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Joseph Douaihy (a remarkable Santino Fontana) and his brother Charles (an excellent Chris Perfetti) are gay, Lebanese, and distantly related to Kahlil Gibran author of THE PROPHET where the catch-phrase “All is Well” seems to be the panacea for every problem.

Playwright Stephen Karam has fashioned an interesting, low key, very funny and sometimes gripping new slice of life play SONS OF THE PROPHET dealing with pain and suffering after this tome which is directed in an almost lethargic manner by Peter DuBois.

The brothers live in Nazareth Pennsylvania.  Being gay is the least of the many problems plaguing these siblings.  In fact it isn’t a problem at all.  Charles is out but has problems hearing as he was born with one ear that has been surgically replicated.  He is open about all he does and says and hears. 

Joseph has knee problems, wears braces and limps.  Their father has recently died as a result of a heart attack brought about or maybe not by a car accident when Vin (Jonathan Louis Dent – “a mulato”) who on a dare put up a deer decoy which caused said accident. 

Joseph is also beset by a series of strange symptoms which has made him take a job at a small publishing company so that he can get health insurance coverage, run by a rich, deranged woman – Gloria (a wacky Joanna Gleason) who has a couple of bad habits:  drugs, showing up unexpectedly and receiving phony phone calls when she needs to avoid certain situations.  Her husband has recently committed suicide.

Uncle Bill (Yusef Bulos) uses a walker and has respiratory problems – traipsing around with oxygen tubes.  But that doesn’t stop him from wisecracking in the best politically incorrect Archie Bunker style.  He’s moved in with the boys and has a tiny downstairs bathroom where the door doesn’t close completely.

Joseph meets up accidentally – or is it? with reporter Timothy (Charles Socarides) at a bus station waiting for the snow to stop.  He is also gay.  They strike up a friendship.  Timothy wants to cover the “accident” and family connection to the author of The Prophet and Gloria wants to make her big comeback with its publication.

Vin has written an apology which is read aloud at a school board meeting that bleeds out into the audience in a very amusing scene with Lizbeth Mackay and Dee Nelson – but is it so that he can play on the team or is it heartfelt?  Is he also using the family?

Playwright Stephen Karam puts a lot on his plate.  Lots for the audience to digest.   It deals with many subjects – symbolic and otherwise.  You will think and feel and perhaps identify uncomfortably with all the suffering on stage.  Suffering that is peppered with satirical and not so subtle barbs with overlapping dialogue and very true to life situations. 

Laughter may be the best medicine and Mr. Karam seems to have us believe, and rightfully so, that to get through all the pain and suffering one has to have a sense of humor to survive. 

Extended through Jan. 1^st at the Roundabout Laura Pels Theatre.  www.roundabouttheatre.org

Photo:  Joan Marcus

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Quaint.  That’s the word that comes to mind to describe this “Time Capsule” production of A. R. Gurney’s CHILDREN which is based on a short story By John Cheever that is now running at The Beckett Theatre on Theatre Row home of The Actors Company Theatre, first produced in London in 1974.

Taking place in 1970 on the terrace of a large ocean front house in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July weekend, CHILDREN deals with the trials and tribulations of your typical Gurney WASP family.  Bloody Marys included.

Bleached wood, white wicker furniture and red geraniums by the sea offer tranquilly and calm.  Life there is ordered.  Neat.  There are rules to be followed.  Issues to be avoided. 

And so when Mother (Darrie Lawrence) five years after the death of her husband by drowning decides that she is going to marry “Uncle Bill” an usher at her wedding years ago and give the house to her three children – Barbara (Margaret Nichols) who is divorced and having a clandestine affair with the man who used to cut their lawn and is now a local builder and Randy (Richard Thieriot) a spoiled, whiney and testy man interested in getting the tennis court fixed who is married to a questioning Jane (Lynn Wright) and Pokey who works for the Department of Justice, is married to a Jewish girl whom Jane admirers and is described as a kook and someone who doesn’t wear a bra and allows their children to use four letter words and call adults by their first name things are put in a very minor uproar.  As WASPS will do.

Pokey, his wife and all the children of Mother’s children are never seen and never heard from.  Pokey, near the end of the ninety intermission-less minutes, is seen through the screen door as Mother has her face to face with him.  Sort of.

The production looks great thanks to scenic designer Brett J. Banakis, Lighting designer Bradley King and costume designer Haley Lieberman. 

Director Scott Alan Evans does his best to keep us interested even to the point of having a butt naked Randy.  The use of the instrumental “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” is a nice touch but the problems facing this particular family seem to be mostly superficial until they begin to be honest with one another and then we connect.  Watching Mr. Thieriot and Lynn Wright struggling with their feelings is very satisfying. 

In fact watching all the actors come to terms with the oncoming changes in their lives makes CHILDREN worth a visit.  Especially when Mother lets loose her hidden most feelings.

www.tactnyc.org  Photo:  Stephen Kunken

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A tale of revenge told by a cast of twelve that sometimes seems to be thirty from the unbridled imagination of Justin Moran and Jonathan Roufaeal (Book & Lyrics) with a tuneful, jaunty score by Adam and Matt Podd make NIGHTFALL ON MIRANGA ISLAND a boisterous, hysterical cross pollination of Gilbert and Sullivan, Saturday Night Live and Monty Python. 

It’s the newest most fun to see musical.  Perfect for a Friday night date or a Monday night off trek downtown to The Magnet Theater 254 West 29 Street for all those otherwise engaged on stage during the week.  In short, everyone who loves theatre and each other should see MIRANGA.

The only thing missing is a parrot in this original off beat pirate saga, directed by Mr. Moran, that has Declan Bruntfodder (Travis Nilan) and his faithful to a fault Manservant Balric (Jonathan Roufaeal) on a quest to find the evil LaFoe (Jamie Cummings) who ten years past killed Declan’s dad and kidnapped his sister whom he wants to rescue.

King Azahd (Jon Bander) head honcho of Miranga Island is also searching for LaFoe as is the Bandit in Black (Liz Bachman) epee in hand.  There are wenches (Claire Neumann & Robin Rothman) an oat meal eating Guard (Ryan Nelson) a love interest for Declan named Clara (Molly Moran).  A blind, one eyed Colossus (Jon Bander).  The imprisoned Rebecca (Elana Fishbein).  A Gravedigger (Justin Moran) and the horniest, funkiest blacksmith ever conceived Grizwald (Nick Kanellis) who just happens to have a show stopping song entitled aptly enough “The Blacksmith Song”.

Mr. Moran seems to have created his own rep company of improvisational actors as many of them have joined him in Pope! An epic musical and The Spidey Project both of which I have seen and loved.  I consider myself a charter member of the Justin Moran/Jonathan Roufaeal fan club.  Not only do they write these fun musicals but they faithfully engage some of the best talent around. 

The opening number “We Sail” sets the tone beautifully and soon has the audience engaged in laughter.  Then the lovely and amusingly touching “It Should Have Been Me” – followed by “I Have Found You” a wonderful silly trio and the rollicking “The Blacksmith Song”.  The Finale sort of ties up the story without answering too many left over questions “Story For Another Day” and leaves you smiling and happy to have seen NIGHTFALL ON MIRANGA ISLAND.

Although the entire cast is first rate, Elana Fishbein carting around her jail cell and her characterization of Rebecca is priceless.  There really is an improvisational atmosphere here and it is infectious.  It’s great seeing the scene changes and what happens when something happens that isn’t supposed to happen and how well it is incorporated.

The incredible swordplay and fight choreography is by Dylan Giannunzio, aided by some nifty dances by Liz Bachman and Diana Yourke and lighting design by Jake DeGroot which does so much with so little. 

Friday and Monday evenings at 8:30 at The Magnet Theater through December 19^th.  Tickets General Admission $18.00  Students $10.00 and anyone dressed in full pirate attire.

www.magnettheater.com

www.compasstheatrical.com   Artwork:  Mike Short

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Frank Langella.  Is there any other actor who can portray Gregor Antonescu, the vile financier, a man with no conscience, a man who is as charming as can be on the surface but hiding the manipulative viper just beneath as well as Frank Langella in the 1963 Terence Rattigan revival of MAN AND BOY at The Roundabout American Airlines Theatre?  I think not.

As he strides around the Greenwich Village basement apartment of his long ignored son Basil Anthony (a fine Adam Driver) where he is seeking sanctuary from the prying press and orchestrating a meeting with the President of a major company – Mark Herries (Zach Grenier) with whom he is seeking a merger and Herries’ accountant David Beeston (Brian Hutchison) who has discovered vast discrepancies halting the merger and sending Antonescu’s stock plummeting, Mr. Langella is all smiles and charm in his double breasted, impeccably tailored suit. 

Meticulously clothed.  Focused.  Concentrating on getting exactly what he wants.  Even if it means baiting the homosexual Herries with his own son to get the deal done and keep him form being arrested and ruined.  Nice guy.

He’s hateful, but how wonderful to watch Mr. Langella portraying him under the eye for detail director Maria Aitken.  A glance.  A pause.  A flick of the cuff.  So confident.  So sure of himself as he side tracks one and all.  All make Langella’s performance worthy of our attention and attendance even if the play is a bit creaky.

MAN AND BOY takes place in 1934 but resonates with today’s Bernie Madoff scandal and the relationship and suicide of his son and what if anything the people surrounding Madoff – especially his wife – knew of his duplicitous dealings.

In Act II we meet Gregor Antonescu’s wife, the Countess Antonescu – his ex secretary who wears expensive jewelry and enjoys the good life but falls apart when faced with disaster.  She is played with brittle charm by Francesca Faridany and if I didn’t know better I would have sworn it was Jane Seymour.

His right hand man/body guard Sven Johnson (Michael Siberry) is always ready to light the cigarette, pour the drink or offer the gun when warrants are issued for Gregor’s arrest even though Gregor has the nasty habit of looking right through him or ignoring him completely.  One wonders why people put up with such behavior.  I guess the pay is good.

Also we wonder why Basil after being ignored for so long – his father had even declared him dead – shows such affection for the man.  Even his girlfriend Carol Penn (Virginia Kull) is seduced by his utterly charming ways.  As we all are.

Does he escape or kill himself?  Guess…      www.Roundabouttheatre.org

Photo:  Joan Marcus

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GREENWOOD, an original new musical by Tor Hyams and Adam LeBow (Book,Music & Lyrics) is pleasant enough with its happy tunes and its feel good message that it’s never to late to follow your dream.  It boasts a fine cast of singers but is burdened with a much too complicated plot where a lot of excellent ideas are struggling to emerge.

It takes place at a summer camp called “Greenwood” up in the Catskills circa 1986 where drama queens and kids looking to fit in somehow sing and dance to their hearts content.  Friendships are made and talents are discovered.  It is a place where most everyone had the time of their lives.  That’s just part of the story directed and choreographed by Paul Stancato.

Flash forward twenty five years and we discover the same group of kids now grown up and mostly unhappy especially Adult Sheila (Andrea McArdle the original Annie and still sounding great) living a safe life but regretting what could have been and remembering all the good times she had at Greenwood.  So she gets on Facebook, planning a reunion of all her fellow happy campers.

We then go back and forth following sub plots and sub sub plots and sub sub sub sub plots trying to figure out who this show is really about.  There are simply too many detours. 

The creators, trying to find a balance between the present and the past, are only partially successful.  Some hard rethinking and restructuring might help immensely and get them back on the right road, discovering the strongest through line and cutting the clutter.

It is Adult Sheila’s story?  If so, we do not get enough of Young Sheila (Jenavene Hester).  Or is it Alex and Zoe’s relationship that is most important?  It seems to be and all four actors are excellent (Young Alex /Andrew Redlawsk – Adult Alex/ Cary Shields Young Zoe/Alicia Morton – Adult Zoe – Mary Mossberg). 

And what about Young Daniel (a top notch Bryan Welnicki) who has a great song – “Wings of Fire” who then disappears for the reunion, replaced by Sam (Ben Nordstrom) only to show up later as a mysterious man/Adult Daniel (Daniel Blinkoff)? 

Or is the flamboyant dancer Jeff (Young- Jacob Liberman Adult – Patrick Boyd) the obviously gay guy longing for Alex too important?

As the best friend of Alex (Nick Dalton as Josh) comes on strong as he persuades him to go to the reunion as does Zakiya Young as Stacey who performs the same function for Zoe.

The heavy set son of the owner of Camp Greenwood steals the show.  Both as Young Ronald – Christopher Brent Davis and Adult Ronald – Jayden Lund.  They provide most of the comic relief.

Andy Gale as Gary the Camp Director does an excellent job in getting the heartfelt  messages of following your dreams and doing your best that Hyams and LeBow obviously feel very strongly about which is summed up in the very Kander and Ebb type number “Do A Musical”. 

Part Glee, part Follies GREENWOOD has to find its own identity.  It already has its soul.  The final image of the Adult /Young characters standing side by side is probably GREENWOOD’S best remembered moment.

www.nymf.org            www.greenwoodthemusical.com

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