Reagle Music Theater’s “ANYTHING GOES” A Rollicking Voyage

July 7, 2018July 7, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome to the 1930’s aboard the luxury liner S.S. American sailing from New York to London with a group of unusual passengers. Reagle Music Theatre of Boston’s second show of their 50th season is the classic 1934 musical “Anything Goes” by Cole Porter. The show was originally written for Ethel Merman back in the 1930’s. It was revised in 1962 and again in 1987 when it starred Patti Lupone as Reno. The premise of the show is boy, Billy Crocker, who loves girl, Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to wealthy British suitor, Sir Evelyn, who is pursued by singing and dancing evangelist Reno Sweeney. Throw in boy’s heavy drinking boss, girl’s overbearing and domineering mother, public enemy # 13 and his sexy gun moll, Reno’s fallen angels, the captain, crew and assorted passengers. Director Eileen Grace infuses this show with high energy as well as supplying the fabulous choreography while Dan Rodriguez supplies the fantastic musical direction. Their combined expertise makes this one of the must see musicals of the summer season.

“BAREFOOT IN THE PARK” – Renaissance City Theatre Inc

July 7, 2018July 7, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome back to New York City in 1963 to witness the Tony Award winning “Barefoot in the Park” by Neil Simon. This is the current show by Renaissance City Theatre Inc, the producing entity at the Granite Theatre. The show follows the lives of two newlyweds, Corie and Paul Bratter as they start their lives in a 5th floor brownstone walk up on 48th Street in New York City. They continually have to climb up six wheezing flights to get there. They also have no furniture and there is no room for a double bed. Also the paint job is all wrong, there’s no heat and it’s February. On top of all that their bohemian neighbor is only able to access his padlocked apartment via their window ledge. What results is a tale of two people coming to terms with loving each other for who they are, and accepting each other for who they are not. When Paul fails to grasp the romance of their quirky living situation, Corie begins to fear her husband is a stuffed shirt. Director Judy George directs and blocks this 1960’s Neil Simon comedy wonderfully. She obtains fine-tuned performances from them. This topnotch comedy receives a thunderous standing ovation at the close of the show as well as nonstop laughter all night long.

‘BORN FOR THIS’ Raises Hopes and Spirit

July 1, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

BOX INFO: ArtsEmerson presents the New England premiere of new musical “Born for This,” based on the true story of BeBe Winans, through July 15: Tuesdays-Thursdays, excluding July 4, at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2,8 p.m.; Sundays 2,7 p.m. Emerson Cutler Majestic Theater, 219 Tremont St., Boston.$20-$80, prices subject to change; senior, student, group, package discounts. ArtsEmerson.org, 617-824-8400.

Hey, you sinners and believers, get ready to shout, sing, clap those hands and rejoice with hallelujahs and hosannas at new musical “Born for This.” A high-powered, stellar, spectacular, 20-strong member cast of well-known Broadway, national and international fame drives this vibrant two-act, two-hour production. Because the play began had its infancy in Boston in 2013 and 2014, Mayor Thomas J. Walsh declared its official opening this year, June 22, as Boston’s “Born for This” Day. The show’s last day is July 15, so grab the kids, and don’t miss this inspirational story of reaching for the stars and achieving it.