Gloucester Stage Closes Season with Poignant, Powerful “Mockingbird”

October 12, 2017October 12, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Mike Hoban

“To Kill A Mockingbird” – From the novel by Harper Lee; Stage adaptation by Christopher Sergel; Directed by Judy Braha; Set Design by Jon Savage; Lighting Design by John Malinowski; Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl; Sound Design by David Wilson. Presented by the Gloucester Stage Company at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, through October 28.

During a pre-trial scene in To Kill A Mockingbird, the stage version of Harper Lee’s semi-autobiographical novel about racial injustice and the loss of innocence, there’s this defining exchange between defense attorney Atticus Finch and Scout, his 10-year old daughter.

“Atticus, are we going to win it?”

“No, honey.”

“Then why –”

“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,” says Atticus.

THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY

October 10, 2017October 29, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Walpole Footlighters’ first show of their 94th season is “Savannah Sipping Society” by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooton. Four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day to day routines are drawn together by fate. At an impromptu happy hour, they decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost throughout the years. Randa, a perfectionist and workaholic, is struggling to cope with a surprise career derailment. Dot, still reeling from her husband’s recent demise and the loss of their plans for idyllic retirement, faces the unsettling prospect of starting a new life from scratch. Earthy and boisterous Marlafaye, a good ole Texas gal, has blasted into Savannah in the wake of losing her tom-catting husband to a twenty three year old dental hygienist. Finally, Jinx, a spunky ball of fire, offers her services as a much needed life coach for these women. Directed by Wendy Stuart who gives these actresses the insight into these comic characters but also makes them deliver the goods in a poignant moment to give the show a nice mixture of comic and dramatic moments. This creates a well rounded show that the audience can savor and thoroughly enjoy.

Wendy gives each actress their moment to shine in this show. All four actresses do a superb job in this high energy show. This whole season is dedicated to Barbara Pettis, a 45 year member, who originally was to direct this show and had cast it before her unexpected passing away in July. I first met Barbara back in 2004 when I reviewed “She Loves Me” which she directed. The gorgeous set 2nd story verandah of a home is by Dan Sheehan while Kate Smith supplied the comic costumes which reflect the characters personalities. Cindy Bell shines as Randa, who goes from uptight to friendly during the course of the show. She’s lost her job and has a bitter rivalry with her lawyer brother, Alden and a contentious relationship with her rich shrewish grandmother. (There is a hilarious scene with this crotchety old woman at the end of Act 1 that has to be seen to be believed.) Cindy’s character hasn’t had a date in 30 years and on Valentine’s Day finally does with surprising results. Randa, Dot and Marlafaye first meet after a failed yoga class and then meet again at Randa’s home. The first meeting has a lot of cheese brought by the women. Cindy’s interactions with the other characters are excellent especially her first meeting with Jinx when she recognizes her as the one from the express line in the market. Evie Rayburg does a terrific job as Dot, a lovable grandmother type more concerned about others. Evie stepped into this role seven days before the show due to an accident that Kay Carter Blaha had. She does an amazing job with the enormous amount of dialogue. Some of her funniest bits include smacking a doll on the table because she was upset that her husband died so suddenly on her, takes her bra off in a very comic scene and reads dirty books from the library.

Barbara Pettis’ real life daughter, Cynthia Wegel plays Marlafaye, the funniest character in the show. She has the best one liners including cutting the crotches out of her husband’s pants. Cynthia is dynamite with her larger than life charm and the anger directed at a cheating hubby. Barbara Schapiro is marvelous as Jinx, a sympathetic busybody who moves from place to place constantly and has come to Savannah to take care of her sister who has dementia. Barbara looks like Shirley Maclaine with her blonde wig. She has many funny lines and also a serious monologue later in the show which hits home with the audience. They teach us life lessons while entertaining us. So for a marvelous new show from the writers of “Golden Girls” TV series, be sure to catch “The Savannah Sipping Society” at Footlighters before time runs out. A show that I am sure Barbara would be very proud of indeed. Brava!

THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY (20 October to 5 November)

Walpole Footlighters, 2 Scout Road, East Walpole, MA

1(508)668-8446 or www.footlighers.com

The Ghost Sonata – Fort Point Theatre Channel

October 10, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by James Wilkinson

August Strindberg’s The Ghost Sonata. Performances run October 6^th through 14^th. Thursday/Friday/Saturday at 8pm. Durrell Theatre at Cambridge Family YMCA, 820 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA Tickets: $20, Students, seniors and Stagesource members: $14. For tickets call 800.838.3006 or visit www.fortpointtheatrechannel.org

It’s best, I think, to drop any notions you may have about narrative structure before walking into August Strindberg’s The Ghost Sonata. This is a play that’s going to shatter each of those notions right before your eyes. Kudos to Fort Point Theatre Channel for having the nerve to take on this twisty puzzle box of a play. It is fascinating to have all of the play’s secrets and mysteries unfold in front of you until you turn around and realize you’re enveloped. If you have the chance to catch this production, now playing at the Durell Theater at the Cambridge Family YMCA, perhaps you’ll spend the whole evening, (as I did), with one eyebrow perpetually cocked as you silently repeat the phrase, “Wait…what?”

“INHERIT THE WIND” (Attleboro Community Theatre)

October 8, 2017October 8, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The opening show at Attleboro Community Theatre’s 62nd season is “Inherit the Wind” by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. While this Tony Award winning play debuted in 1955, its story is as relevant today as it was then. It is a fictionalized account based on the Scopes monkey trial of 1925, when a Tennessee teacher was arraigned for reading passages from “On the Origins of Species” to his pupils. The teacher, Bertram Cates is a callow Darwinian. The real battle in this show is between the two counsels. For the prosecution, in Hillsboro, a small town in the Bible belt, is Matthew Harrison Brady, a thrice defeated presidential candidate and a religious fundamentalist. Opposing him is Henry Drummond from Chicago who believes in the right to individual thought. The controversial subject of evolution versus creationism causes two polar opposites to engage in one explosive battle of beliefs. Says Jerome Lawrence about this play, “We used the teaching of evolution as a parable, a metaphor for any kind of mind control. It’s not about science versus religion. It’s about the right to think.” Director Kelli Tallman casts 23 performers in these roles. They make us see how the more things change the more they stay the same. People have to remember their individuality and not be controlled or swayed to think one way or the other due to the popularity of one person or one cause.

Kelli uses music from this time period in the show including religious songs “Old Time Religion” and a comic song “Monkey Business” to lighten the heavy drama of the show. When this show was first written in 1955, the McCarthy hearings were fresh in the minds of the American public, having come to an end two years earlier. The mindset of the country was that there was a Communist hiding behind every tree. This can be comparable to some current day feelings on illegal immigrants, fake news and alterative facts and everyone minds blindly follow the dictates of those in charge without having a free thought of their own. “Inherit the Wind” is a marvelous example that freedom of thought is important for not just the selected few but for everyone. There are electrifying moments in this show especially in the trial sequences. Some of the standout performers in this show are Paul Nolette playing Henry Drummond who is based on Clarence Darrow and Paul Tourville as Matthew Harrison Brady who based on William Jennings Bryan. They both deliver multilayered performances and stun the crowd with their enormous amounts of dialogue. Paul Nolette has to convince the jury the right to free thought is the crux of the matter. Drummond cautions Cates to beware of all shine and no substance. I last saw Paul in “Mack and Mabel” in Pawtucket back in 1978 before he moved to CA. He is brilliant in this role. Paul Tourville has to use the religious ideals the character has been championing for many years. Brady quotes Proverbs when he states “He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise in heart.” Their combined efforts wins them a well deserved standing ovation at the end of the show.

Matthew Moos does a marvelous job as the cynical journalist, E.K. Hornbeck who is based on H.L. Mencken. He keeps things boiling in this small town by bringing in the hot shot lawyer from Chicago. Bertram Cates, the defendant is excellently played by Bob Lively. His earnest and brilliant portrayal is a shining moment in the show. Another standout performance is by Ryan Foster as Mrs. Brady who has a tugging of the heartstrings scene with her husband when he is crushed by being laughed at in the courtroom. Two comic performers are Jay DiLisio as Mr. Bannister who can’t read and Joe Livingston as the Mayor who talks directly to the audience to help win him reelection in town. So for a thought provoking show from the past that still resonates with contemporary audiences, be sure to catch “Inherit the Wind” at Attleboro Community Theatre.

INHERIT THE WIND (5 to 21 October)

Attleboro Community Theatre, 71 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA

1(508)226-8100 or www.attleborocommunitytheatreACT@gmail.com

GHOSTS OF APPOMATTOX, MMAS, Mansfield

October 6, 2017October 6, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

MMAS’s latest show is an original script about the Civil War called “Ghosts of Appomattox” written by local residents and playwrights Tom Souza and Alex Salachi. A modern day college professor challenges her students to explore the relationships between key figures of the American Civil War and its aftermath. In doing so, the professor hopes that the students will be able to find connections between the lessons of the past and our present political environment. Alex was a classmate of mine at Assumption College in Worcester. Director Steve Dooner takes this well written script and brings these historical figures of U.S Grant and Robert E. Lee to life so we can look at history from a perspective and of that time period to learn that two attributes that stand out are of character and perseverance that are very sorely lacking from this current U.S. government.

A Bright Room Called Day – Flat Earth Theatre

October 6, 2017October 6, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By James Wilkinson

BOX INFO: Two and a half hour, two act, production of Tony Kushner’s 1985 play, appearing September 30-October 14, 2017; Thursday-Saturday 8pm; matinee Sunday at 2pm. The Black Box Theatre at The Mosesian Center for the Arts, 21 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472. www.flatearththeatre.com

There’s a moment early in Flat Earth Theatre’s production of A Bright Room Called Day that, intentional or not, strikes me as oddly prescient. The character of Agnes is attempting to write a skit that will mobilize the Communist party. She speaks the lines, “The world is perched on the brink of…the brink of…” She searches for the right word then gives up and sighs, “Shit.” Sitting in the audience, I wanted to yell out, “You have no idea…”

CHICAGO (Footlights at the Grange, Swansea, MA)

October 4, 2017November 4, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome to the 1920’s with the current musical at Footlights at the Grange. Director/choreographer Brian Barry Pereira transports the audience to the prison atmosphere needed for this terrific blockbuster musical “Chicago.” Kander and Ebb’s 1975 vaudeville type show is based on the 1926 play by Maurine Watkins. The 1997 musical version won six Tony Awards and the 2003 movie version won the Academy Award.

Halloween Family Fun with ‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’

October 3, 2017October 20, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Sheila Barth
A nod of the shroud to North Shore’s Stage 284 for its two-act, two-hour finger-snapping, fun production of musical comedy ”The Addams Family”. Based on Charles Addams’ cartoons, the spoofy, spooky, kooky family play resurrects the popular 1960‘s TV wacky, weird, family, and their creepy, abnormal, anti-societal demeanor.

YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

October 2, 2017October 23, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The current show at MMAS is the 1999 revival version of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” which is based on Charles Schultz’s beloved “Peanuts” comic strip. The revival opened on February 5. 1999 and made a star out of Kristen Chenoweth, winning her the Tony Award for best featured actress as Sally Brown. The show takes us through an average day in the life of Charlie Brown. The audience catches a glimpse of their favorite characters and includes many moments from all the days of his life from Valentine’s Day to baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair. They include all his friends. both human and non-human and strung together on the string of a single day, from bright uncertain morning to hopeful starlit evening. Director/choreographer Adam Joy infuses the musical with high energy from start to finish with his talented cast while musical director Eli Bigelow not only conducts his five piece orchestra but plays keyboards and taught them this glorious music. They are rewarded with a resounding ovation at curtain call.

“Hair” Still Rocks at Fifty

October 2, 2017October 2, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian

“Hair” – Book and Lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni. Music by Galt MacDermont. Directed by Joey C. Pelletier. Presented by Heart and Dagger Productions at Club Café, 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston, through October 20.

I was a little kid when my parents bought the album of the original Broadway cast of “Hair”, after they’d gone to New York to see it. I thought the music was contagious and would sing along to the soundtrack. My naïve mother didn’t know the meaning of the words in “Sodomy” any more than I did, so the singing worked out nicely. Years later, I found a book in our local library by original cast member Lorrie Davis, called “Letting Down My Hair: Two Years With the Love Rock Tribe–From Dawning to Downing of Aquarius”. Fans of “Hair”, this book is not to be missed! ($30 used on Amazon.) I read and reread it cover to cover until my mother, who had wised up by then, got her hands on it and declared it “filthy”. Years later, as a young theater reviewer in college, I volunteered to see a Brown University production of “Hair”. The show itself was excellent, but I was disappointed to experience it as a piece of history, rather than something relevant to the times.

Read more ““Hair” Still Rocks at Fifty”