“Last Night at Bowl-Mor Lanes” – Written by Weylin Symes. Directed by Bryn Boice. Presented by Greater Boston Stage Co., 395 Main Street, Stoneham, through September 29.
Full
disclosure – this reviewer will get tickets to see Nancy E. Carroll, whose
excellent acting never disappoints, in anything. Throw in the buoyant Paula
Plum as scene partner, and you have an onstage chemistry that’s unbeatable, and
undoubtedly the biggest reason to see “Last Night at Bowl-Mor”.
Audience members are immediately thrust into a sense of place with James J. Fenton’s incredible set, the interior of Bowl-Mor, a suburban bowling alley complete with a broken sign (the “M” dangles, upside down) and handwritten “CASH ONLY” sign on the cash register. So ingenious is its construction that the actresses – wait for it – actually bowl during the course of the 90-minute piece, no easy feat.
BOX INFO: World premiere of Greater Boston Stage Company Producing Artistic Director Weylin Symes’ one-act, 90-minute comedy, appearing through September 29:, 395 Main St., Stoneham. $47-$57; seniors, $42-$55; students with valid ID, $20; Wednesday, Sept. 18,25, at 2 p.m.; Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 3,8 p.m., Sept. 21, 8 p.m. only; Sunday, 2 p.m.781-279-2200, greaterbostonstage.org.
One day, Greater Boston Stage Company Producing Artistic Director Weylin Symes got an exciting idea. Wouldn’t it be cool to produce a play featuring bowling on stage. That’s right – bowling. Why not? He answered himself, as he settled down and wrote his one-act , 90-minute comedy, “Last Night at Bowl-Mor Lanes”.
Symes also had an underlying reason. In the mid-20th century, in the former movie theater basement, where Greater Boston Stage Company’s current rehearsal and offices are, formerly existed a bowling alley, where Symes’ dad set up bowling pins when he was a teen-ager. In a sense, this play is Symes’ way of honoring the building and “a generation of women who don’t always get to see themselves on stage,” he said. I’ll spare you some details and strike out with a few reasons you don’t want to miss seeing this – namely, because for the first time, two multi-award winning, versatile Boston area-super stars co-star, illuminating this world premiere production.
Nancy E. Carroll, who lives in Rockport, and Lynn native Paula Plum, are fantastic, portraying longtime friends-foils, Ruth and Maude. While Ruth is more reticent yet snjppy, Maude is upbeat, hyper, and adventurous. The sole trait they share is their competitiveness. They’ve broken into the closed local bowling establishment to settle a 49-year score, once and for all. Their record is tied, and they want to break it by playing one last game to determine the winner. Problem is, the bowling establishment has been closed for awhile, has been sold, and will be handed over to the new owner the following day.
Wielding a flashlight, Carroll and Plum break into and wriggle through a small window space in the dark. As the first ladies of Boston-area theater stand on stage, side by side, and remove their ski masks, the audience greeted them with admirable applause. I know why we’re really here, quips Ruth. “After 49 years, I beat you, and it’s killing you.” The ladies’ rivalry is shattered when owner Ed arrives, wielding a baseball bat, to catch the trespassers on his closed-up property. Thinking it’s teenagers who crashed his place, Ed’s surprised and amazed to discover Ruth and Maude. Ed says he came to the bowling alley to pick up some papers, but discovered the two sprightly ladies instead.
Another surprise erupts. Ruth’s daughter Charlene also arrives, creating an awkward moment. Why is she there? Other surprises, one after another, unfold, shocking all of them – and us. We also discover Maude has a more serious reason for breaking into the bowling alley, which she reveals later. Bryn Boice has an easy task directing this superb Equity cast that also includes Arthur Gomez portraying married, bowling alley owner, Ed; Greater Boston favorite Ceit Zweil as Ruth’s daughter, Charlene; and Winchester High School sophomore/YoungTheater Company actress Isabella Tedesco, who makes a brief, likable appearance in her MainStage debut, portraying Ruth’s granddaughter Teddy.
Designer James Fenton has
recreated a vintage heyday bowling alley, with a bowling lane, benches,
blinking light-neon sign, juke box, shelves of bowling balls, and more; David
Wilson captures the sounds of rolling balls in the alley, strikes, spares, and
their return; and Jeff Adelberg’s lighting switches off and on at poignant
moments, including plot surprises.
Chivalry comes to life with a comic, swashbuckling and intriguing version of The Three Musketeers at Greater Boston Stage in collaboration with the Front Porch Arts Collective, who seek to advance racial equity in Boston. D’Artagnan, a country boy, is determined to join the prestigious Musketeers in defending one and all from the evil Cardinal Richelieu. Director Dawn M. Simmons presents a gender bending version of the show as they take us on an exciting journey into yesteryear. The show is written by Catherine Bush and adapted from Alexander Dumas’ novel. It celebrates honor, lust for life, romance and true friendship. Of course there are many evil plots and schemes to avert by these Musketeers and their young protégé. Their friendship is what endures during their struggles with adversity and how sticking together through thick and thin wins the day. The astounding swordfights, fights and pratfalls are breathtaking and directed perfectly by Angie Jepson, while the costumes by Amanda Mujica are beautiful.
‘Million Dollar Quartet’ – Book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux; Directed by Ilyse Robbins; Music Directed by James Scheider; Scenic Designer, Patrick Lynch; Lighting Designer, Jeff Adelberg; Costume Designer, Stephen Pasqual; Sound Designer, John Stone; Presented by the Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street, Stoneham through May 19
From the hammering opening riffs from Carl Perkins’ guitar until the rocking finale, Greater Boston Stage Company’s production Million Dollar Quartet is a scorcher of a show. A fictionalized account of an actual studio session featuring early rock n’ roll pioneersElvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, Quartet may be the first “jukebox musical” that doesn’t make the moniker sound like an insult. In fact, the term is both accurate and complimentary as the songs blasting out of this jukebox are given explosive new life.
“Onegin” – Based on the poem by Pushkin and the opera by Tchaikovsky. Written by Amiel Gladstone and Veda Hille. Directed by Weylin Symes; Choreographed by Ilyse Robbins;Music Direction by Steve Bass;Scenic Design by Katy Monthei; Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg;Costume Design by Deirdre Gerrard; Sound Design by John Stone.Presented by Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street, Stoneham through March 31.
“Do
you see someone worth dying for?” asked Vladimir Lensky (a winsome Michael
Jennings Mahoney) to a random woman in the audience. She thought a moment. “You!”
she said softly. He looked momentarily taken
aback, but recovered enough to thank her and keep the scene moving. Such is the
spirit of “Onegin”, a randy, insouciant and utterly captivating musical
rendering of Pushkin’s tragic novel in verse, “Eugene Onegin”. For anyone, and
that means everyone, who’s ever loved and lost, this show is a must-see.
‘Keeping Faith: Sisters of Story’ –
Written and performed by Rohina Malik, Kim Schultz, and Susan Stone. Music and
vocals by Lucia Thomas. Presented at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham on February 22-24; New
Repertory Theater in Watertown on February 25-26.
“The greatest thing in the world is to do somebody a favor.”
Three women grace the stage and tell moving stories of compassion,
hope and understanding. These exceptional storytellers from different branches
of the Abrahamic faith traditions, are joined by a wonderful musical artist, to
weave a series of stories that celebrate their separate beliefs while
cultivating the commonalities we all share.
Rohina Malik, a Muslim woman, collaborated
with Kim Schultz, a Christian woman, and Susan Stone, a Jewish woman, to create
an artistic response to the hate and intolerance currently plaguing our
society. Lucia Thomas, a gifted and versatile
musician, uses violin, oud, guitar, and a
newly acquired banjo, to compliment the storytellers with songs that underscore
the themes and emotions in the tales. The performance is enhanced by the layering
of singing, instruments and storytelling. The effect is intimate and serves to
draw the listeners in.
The four strong voices blend together
messages of tolerance and wisdom. Each storyteller approached personal
struggles by reaching deep into their individual religions to find strength,
insight, and solace. While these religions are traditionally patriarchal, we
follow the footsteps of important women in the separate faiths, and learn more
about the singularity of the Divine Source central to them all.
The audience is invited to stay for a
question and answer session after the performance. It is a chance to process
the powerful messages crafted by these talented women, and a brief chance to
add our own piece towards healing the world.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” – Adapted from Frank Capra’s original screenplay by Weylin Symes. Directed by Tonasia Jones and Tyler Rosati; Scenic Design by Sarah Rozene; Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl; Lighting Design by Kayleigha Zawacki. Presented by the Greater Boston Stage Company at 395 Main Street, Stoneham, through Dec. 23.
Greater Boston Stage Company’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life is a lot like seeing a tribute band do songs from one of your favorite artists – just hearing the familiar tunes can bring a smile to your face or, in this case, the re-creations of scenes will certainly bring a tear to your eye. There are few holiday films that have the emotional impact that this classic does, rivaling the granddaddy of them all, A Christmas Carol. And for those of us who have made a viewing of the movie a Christmas season ritual, it’s almost impossible to not choke up when you know what’s coming – whether it’s Clarence getting his wings or George saving Mr. Gower from giving a lethal prescription to a child after he finds out his own son has died.
The Salonnieres, by Liz Duffy Adams. Directed by Weylin Symes. Produced by the Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, through November 11.
As you walk into the theater, the first thing you see is Katheryn Monthei’s whimsically gorgeous set – what appears to be a lovely gilded cage, with period furniture, and a glossy purple cloth partially draped over it. This could be fun, I thought with some relief, a little subdued by the play’s fancy French title. And fun it is, as well as funny. Despite the laughs, the play has a pointed feminist bent that’s not without bite.
Calendar Girls – Based on the Miramax Motion Picture by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth; Directed by Nancy E. Carroll; Scenic Design, Jenna McFarland Lord; Costume Design, Gail Astrid Buckley; Lighting Design, Karen Perlow; Sound Design, Dewey Dellay;Presented by Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street Stoneham, MA through May June 17
By Alicia Googins
The women of “Calendar Girls” show enormous courage under fire. Fire, that is, of the camera snapping shots of them in the buff for an annual calendar. Based on the true story of the English Ladies Club members who bared it all in the name of love and scientific research, the play follows six women as they wade into the unknown waters of artistic nudity. To be fair (a phrase used often by the most modest and endearing of the lot, Ruth (Sarah DeLima), the photos are tasteful, and the women insist on referring to their state of undress as “nude,” not naked. But there’s plenty of room for scandal nonetheless.
BOX INFO: Greater Boston Stage Company presents the Boston premiere of multi-award winning playwright Matthew Lopez’s 100-minute, one-act, musical comedy through May 20: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 2 p.m. 395 Main St., Stoneham. Includes adult language and content. $45-$55; seniors,$40-$50; students with valid ID, $20. 395 Main St., Stoneham. greaterbostonstage.org, 781-279-2200.
Directed and choreographed by Russell Garrett, Matthew Lopez’s one-act play, “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” currently at Greater Boston Stage Company, brought last Wednesday afternoon’s audience to its feet, applauding enthusiastically.
Although the play is classified as a musical comedy, the actors primarily lip-synch, excluding co-star Jared Reinfeldt’s strumming an acoustic guitar and singing his original love song to his fiancé Jo. For me, though, seeing the show was a little bittersweet, especially after learning Boston iconic actor-director Tommy Derrah originally was supposed to helm this show. Unfortunately, he died after a brief illness on Oct. 5, 2017, at Mt. Auburn Hospital, Cambridge.