ANY FRIEND OF PERCY D’ANGELINO IS A FRIEND OF MINE (Arctic Playhouse)

January 4, 2020February 4, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Arctic Playhouse’s first show of the 2020 season is “Any Friend of Percy D’Angelino Is a Friend of Mine” by Jason Milligan. It originally starred Peter Falk, Christian Slater and Jean Smart in a staged reading at Westwood Playhouse on March 28, 1994. This Mafia style comedy is a series of eight vignettes and takes place on Long Island where much theorizing goes on when a mysterious stranger appears out of the blue. The Mafia boss and his younger wife discover the stranger is going to play the part of the boss in a movie. This sends the both of them into a tizzy with the boss threatening to take “measures” to see it never take place. What are they going to do, let the stranger play him in a movie or will they rub him out at his brazen behavior? These and other questions about life, love, eating, and Mafia antics are discovered in this wacky comedy. Can this young man convince the hoodlum to let him play the gangster in the movie? Director Fred Davison casts these three character roles wonderfully and picks the perfect music for each of the scenes. The second act is better written and it is here where they leave the audience laughing merrily all night long.

A BRONX TALE, THE MUSICAL – Hanover Theatre

January 2, 2020January 21, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

‘A Bronx Tale: The Musical’ at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The current Broadway National Tour to play the historic Hanover Theatre in Worcester is “A Bronx Tale, the Musical” which is based on the play by the same name. The book is by Chazz Palminteri while the music is by Alan Menkin, and lyrics by Glenn Slater. The original one man play was a story of a young New York boy’s tough childhood in the 1960’s where he is torn by his father’s old school ethics and a life of crime which is based on Chazz’s traumatic childhood encounter with murder. It is a coming of age story about reaching your full potential and trusting your heart. This version took ten years to write and be developed from a one man show eventually being adapted into a new musical. It premiered at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey on February 4, 2016. It opened on Broadway on December 1, 2016, ran for 700 performances and was co-directed by Robert DiNero, who directed the original film, and Jerry Zaks who directed the one man show in 2007. This touring version is directed by Stephen Edlund. The fabulous high energy choreography was by Sergio Trujillo in the original Broadway show while the touring choreographer is Britanny Conigatti. Conductor David Alan Brown keeps the harmonic balance between the performers and his 10 piece orchestra splendidly with the dance numbers performed in perfect unison. This coming of age musical will leave you laughing and crying in all the right spots. Bravo on a job very well done and a spontaneous standing ovation as its reward.

THE COUNTRY HOUSE (The Players, Barker Playhouse)

January 1, 2020February 1, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Players third show of their 111th season is “The Country House” by Donald Margulies. There is a family gathering at the Patterson home in the Berkshires during the Williamstown summer theatre season. Matriarch Anna, who is a star of stage and screen, invites her protege, Michael, a younger man who is now a famous TV star, to stay at her home. She also has family members visit, including Walter, her son in law who is a famous teen picture movie director and his new girlfriend Nell whom had a flirtation with Anna’s son, Elliot 11 years earlier. And they are still mourning Anna’s daughter, Kathy, who was married to Walter and passed away a year ago from cancer at the age of 41. Their daughter, Susie, a senior at Yale, clad in black for the first act, is still mourning her mother. This group of people wrestle with fame, their art and each other. However, all good intentions go awry during their weekend sojourn when arguments break out and secrets are spilled. These happenings threaten the very fabric of the family with memories of the past mingling with new love as well as discarded dreams. Director Alan Hawkridge elicits strong performances from his six talented cast members. They move the audience to laughter and tears with familiar struggles all families face. “Did mother spend more time doting on you or your sibling?” and “ Were you talented enough to make it in show business?” are a couple of the questions asked in this well written play. The show starts off like a comedy about eccentric family members but turns into a dramatic, gut wrenching finale where even the hardest heart in the audience dissolves into tears.

THE MAIDS (Providence College)

January 1, 2020January 24, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Providence College’s Theatre Department’s current show is “The Maids” by Jean Genet. It is based loosely on a true historical story which occurred in Le Mans, France in 1933 where two sisters Christine and Lea Papin brutally murdered their employer and her daughter. The two sisters, Claire and Solange, have been trained to be exceptional servants where they work for Madame and Monsieur. They feel that they are treated like outcasts and looked down upon by their high society employers where one mustn’t break the servant/mistress barrier. Claire, the younger more head strong girl, likes to dress up and pretend to be the Madame when her employer is out of the house. Solange joins her in this role playing by casting aspersions on the Madame by saying she considers them worthless like filth beneath her feet. However the husband has been put in jail by the sisters and when the Madame returns to the house, she tells the maids she will stand by her husband no matter what happens.

‘Suddenly Last Summer’ at Epic Theatre Company, Cranston

January 1, 2020January 11, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Epic Theatre Company’s first show of 2020 is Tennessee William’s “Suddenly Last Summer.” This one act show is set in 1936 in the New Orleans garden of the home of wealthy Violet Venable. It begins after the death of a young man away on a holiday. She speaks nostalgically about her late son, Sebastian to her guest, a doctor. Her son was a poet who died under mysterious circumstances in Spain the previous summer. His mother has put his memory up on a pedestal. The only witness to Sebastian’s demise was her niece, Catherine who has been under psychiatric care at St. Mary’s asylum since then. Violet wants her son’s reputation preserved from her niece’s revelation of his violent and lurid death that might reveal a family secret. The wealthy woman wants to protect her son at any cost and the change it might bring about might not be the one she wants or expects. When everything is revealed the consequences for past actions rear their ugly head and once again the downtrodden are marginalized by the haughtiness of wealth and position. Director Geoff Leatham casts these seven roles splendidly. He gives them the insight into each of William’s finely drawn characters and obtains the depth each role calls for. A gut wrenching finale of the show leaves every performer and audience member in tears.

‘BERMUDA AVENUE TRIANGLE’ – Arctic Playhouse

January 1, 2020March 3, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Sue Nedar The latest offering at the charming and friendly Arctic Playhouse is “Bermuda Avenue Triangle,” written by Renee Taylor (best known for her portrayal of Sylvia Fine, on The Nanny) and her husband Joseph Bologna. The script is a recipe for success, filled with one-liners, farce, and just plain old funny circumstances.

Trinity Rep’s ‘Tale of Two Cities’ Re-Imagines Classic

January 1, 2020March 7, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Cast of Trinity Rep’s ‘Tale of Two Cities’ Photo by Mark Turek)

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Trinity Repertory Company’s latest blockbuster epic show deals with the French Revolution and is one of the best shows about the best of times and the worst of times. Events of that time are examined in a unique way with Trinity Repertory Company’s “A Tale Of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens. It was adapted into a two hour show that examines the major events in the novel. It was written by Company member Brian McEleney who delves through the layers of the Dickens epic novel and brings the major characters into clearer focus for the audience to enjoy and savor in the hopes that the same mistakes are not repeated in the 21st Century.

RICHARD III (URI Theatre Department)

January 1, 2020February 23, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

URI Theatre Department’s first show of 2020 is “Richard III” by William Shakespeare. Richard III is an historical play by Shakespeare written in 1592 and is his second longest play after Hamlet. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and the subsequent short reign of Richard III of England from 1483 to 85. He had a glamour of evil about himself that led him to do unspeakable harm to others including women and children that happened to get his way. Richard would convince people to do his bidding. Before having them offed, he’d flatter and woo them as well as manipulate and connive people to attain his nefarious goal of becoming the King. Joe and Josh Short are the co-directors for this splendid Shakespearian tale of a man who would do anything to attain power while stepping on people and having them disposed of in any underhanded manner possible. Both Joe and Josh had strong theatre training at URI, having appeared in many shows here during their college days. They shorten the show to an energetic and fast paced 90 minute one act with 15 performers playing multiple roles. They make it more understandable and enjoyable for the entire audience from start to finish.

Richard III was the last King of his lineage at the end of the War of Roses when the Tudor’s ascended to the throne and who were in power when Shakespeare wrote this show. Joe and Josh have a keen eye into this show and the Shakespearean world of the past and obtain strong performances from their college performers. They add contemporary music during the death scenes which frightens you. Commanding the stage as the egotistical and maniacal Ricard III is Matthew Oxley. He oozes venom as this despicable man. He flatters the person and then betrays them the minute they leave his presence. Richard’s body count seems endless including his brother, his cousin, his wife, his mother, his nephews and so on. Matthew delivers his lines flawlessly.

The other performers are strong in their roles, too. His right hand man and cousin, Buckingham is excellently played by Lily Ferreira. Her authoritative voice and bearing fits the part perfectly. The assorted women he abuses along the way include his very own mother, Duchess of York, his wife, Lady Anne and his dead brother Edward IV’s wife Queen Elizabeth. Mary Mullane delivers the goods as his mother who curses him at his causing the death of her two sons and her two grandchildren. Erin McGowan is also strong as Lady Anne who at first berates him for her first husband’s death but eventually falls under his evil spell. Lorraine Guerra is very impressive as Elizabeth who is very upset at the death of her husband Edward IV and her two children. These three women run the gamut of emotions in their roles.

Richard’s cruelty tugs your heartstrings when Clarence, his brother pleads for his life as well as the scene with his two nephews who he has murdered to obtain the throne. Magenta Kolakowski plays the hapless, Clarence while young Paige Barlow plays the Young Prince. Conor Delaney plays the heroic Richmond who finally defeats Richard after “His Kingdom for a horse” speech. He not only plays this role but several smaller comic roles with a funny high pitch voice in the comic ones. So for a look back at this cautionary tale that could be ripped out of current day headlines about those in power abusing their authority although not as severe as Richard did, be sure to catch “Richard III” at URI to witness sensational acting and direction.

RICHARD III (20 February to 1 March)

URI Theatre, J Studio Theatre, Upper College Road, Kingston, RI

1(401)874-5843 or web.uri.edu/theatre

Theater Mirror Editors Favorite Theatrical Experiences of 2019

January 1, 2020January 10, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian and Mike Hoban

2019 was another banner year for theater in Boston, with the widest range of themes and offerings we’ve seen in a while. Fresh new theater companies and faces surprised us this year, so it’s energizing to see so much burgeoning talent bursting out in one small city. Theater Mirror Co-Editors Michele Markarian and Mike Hoban had a hard time pulling their respective lists of favorites from 2019, as there were so many deserving theatrical events, but here goes:

DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE – MMAS Black Box Theatre

January 1, 2020January 20, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

MMAS’s current show is “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl. This dark comedy centers on Jean, a 40 something unmarried woman who works at the Holocaust Museum. She answers a constantly ringing cell phone while sitting in a cafe. She picks it up to answer it and then realizes that the owner of the phone is dead. The man still has the phone in his hand and after picking it up, she starts on a journey to first call 911 and then keep the phone to keep the man alive. Gordon, the deceased man was involved in a unique line of work that unsettles Jean when she learns about it in the second act. Along the way she meets Gordon’s wife, Hermia, his brother, Dwight, his mother, Mrs. Gottlieb and his mistress, Carlotta. She attends the funeral posing as a co-worker, travels to the cafe to meet the mistress, goes to the Gottlieb home to have dinner, then to a stationary store with Dwight and then to heaven and back again as Jean unravels the mystery of the dead man’s cell phone with interesting, unsettling and intriguing information on her journey. Jean reinvents Gordon to bring peace to his family. The moral of the story is to spend less time with your cell phone and more time with your family, friends and loved ones. Becky Price makes her debut as a director at MMAS and does a stellar job with her casting, blocking and her keen eye into the comic elements of the script as well as the weightier ones dealing with unsavory business practices, immoral behavior and people’s unkindness to others.