Melendy, Wise Deliver a Physical Comedy Tour de Force in GBSC’s ‘Dinner for One’

November 7, 2024November 11, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Paul Melendy and Debra Wise in Greater Boston Stage Company’s‘Dinner for One’

‘Dinner for One’ – Written by Christina Baldwin, Sun Mee Chomet, and Jim Lichtscheidl. Weylin Symes (Director); Katy Monthei (Scenic Designer); Jeff Adelberg (Lighting Designer); Deirdre Gerrard (Costume Designer); David Remedios (Sound Design); Tim Goss (Music Director). Presented by Greater Boston Stage Company through November 17, 2024.

The Greater Boston Stage Company has opened its 2024-2025 season with a new look, renovating its historic theater (originally built in 1917) including new seats, re-configuring its seating area to create a more intimate feel, and eliminating the poorly conceived all-gender restrooms (much to the relief of its older patrons, one imagines). But it’s the addition of comic powerhouse Paul Melendy to the company’s stable of talent that has given the theater its biggest boost in recent years. While that assessment may be a bit hyperbolic, there’s no underestimating the impact his performances have had on the company since Boston theater emerged from the pandemic in 2021. Since then, he’s appeared in a half-dozen (mostly comic) productions at GBSC, including the brilliant one-man show “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which earned him the Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Solo Performance in 2022.

GBSC’s “Guys and Dolls” Is A Cool Glass of Summer Refreshment

June 22, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Jared Troilo, Lisa Kate Joyce in Greater Boston Stage Company’s ‘Guys and Dolls’
Photos by Gillian Gordon

“Guys and Dolls.” Book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling. Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser. Directed/Choreographed by Ceit Zweil. Musical Direction by Dan Rodriguez. Presented by Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, through June 30.

By Shelley A. Sackett

When it comes to bubbly, breezy, musical fare, Greater Boston Stage Company is as reliable as it gets and “Guys and Dolls,” in production through June 30, is further proof.

An Entertaining “Guys and Dolls” at Greater Boston Stage Company

June 17, 2024June 17, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of “Guys and Dolls” at Greater Boston Stage Company. Photos by Gillian Gordon

“Guys and Dolls”. Book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling. Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser. Directed/Choreographed by Ceit Zweil. Musical Direction by Dan Rodriguez. Presented by Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, through June 30.

By Michele Markarian

A question that often comes up in theatrical circles is, “What musicals make your top 10 list?” “Guys and Dolls,” with its catchy score by Frank Loesser and winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1951, typically makes the list. Ceit Zweil’s lively direction and choreography and Jon Savage’s pared-down, jazzy scenic design make this production a fun one to watch.

‘Dial M For Murder’ a Worthy Addition to GBSC’s Murder Mystery Canon

May 15, 2024May 15, 2024 michaelhoban1 Comment

Lily Kaufman, Robert Murphy, Kimberlee Connor and Michael Ryan Buckley in Greater Boston Stage’s “Dial M for Murder.” Photos: Maggie Hall Photography

‘Dial M For Murder’ – Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original play by Frederick Knott; Directed By Weylin Symes; Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg; Scenic Design by Katy Monthei; Costume Design byDeirdre Gerrard; Sound Design by Andrew Duncan Will. Presented by the Greater Boston Stage Company at 395 Main St, Stoneham, through May 19

by Mike Hoban

The Greater Boston Stage Company has long been a go-to venue for musicals, including classics like 42^nd Street, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and last year’s Eliot Norton Award winner, Ain’t Misbehavin’, with fan favorite Guys and Dolls set to go up in June. In recent years, though, they’ve delved into another niche genre: murder mysteries, including a pair of Miss Holmes productions (starring Marge Dunn as a kind of neurodivergent Sherlock Holmes) as well as a riotous version of The 39 Steps in 2021 (although it was far more comedic than mystery) and Clue, another murder mystery comedy.

Starboard, Overboard, Never Bored in GBSC’s ‘Titanish’

March 13, 2024March 13, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

‘Titanish’ – Written by Jeff Shell & Ryan Dobosh. Music by Mark Siano. Directed by Tyler Rosati. Music Direction by Avery Bargar. Scenic Design by Rachel Rose Burke. Lighting Design by John Holmes. Costume Design by Bethany Mullins. Sound Design by Andrew Duncan Will. Properties Design by Emily Allinson. At Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, MA, through March 17, 2024

by Linda Chin

Making its East Coast premiere at Greater Boston Stage Company, the play Titanish, by Jeff Shell and Ryan Dobos, is a parody – not of the tragic event of 1912 that killed nearly 1500 people, nor the Broadway production of 1977 that won five Tony Awards, including “Best Musical,” but of the Oscar-winning “Best Picture” of 1998 that was the first to gross $1 billion worldwide. I don’t associate the movie ‘Titanic’ – nor its characters Jack and Rose (the roles that thrust Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet into stardom overnight) with comedy. In fact, the only time I recall laughing with the Titanic as the subject matter is the old joke with the punchline, “Iceberg, Goldberg, what’s the difference?”

‘All is Calm’ and Ten Stars Shine Bright at Greater Boston Stage Company

December 13, 2023December 13, 2023 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of ‘All is Calm’ at Greater Boston Stage Company

‘All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.’ – Written by Peter Rothstein with vocal arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach. Directed by Arthur Gomez. Music Direction by Lea Peterson. Original direction and choreography by Ilyse Robbins. Scenic Design by Erik Diaz. Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg. Costume Design by Bethany Mullins. Sound Design by David Remedios. Properties Design by Sarajane Mullins. At GBSC, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, through December 23, 2023.

When GBSC announced their 2023-24 season earlier this year, with All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 – winner of the Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Musical – returning to fill the holiday slot, I had mixed emotions. Having absolutely adored last year’s Little Women the Musical, which was also directed and choreographed by Ilyse Robbins (and which garnered Norton nominations for Liza Giangrande as Jo March, and Amy Barker as Marmee, for Outstanding Leading and Featured Performances in a Musical, respectively), I was hoping the Company would be mounting another new musical that was familiar, family-friendly, and full of big feels. Yet being all-too-aware of the economics of producing musical theater (high ticket prices/attendance/revenue that exceeds high costs), a risky business that has become even more risky in these highly uncertain ‘post’-pandemic times – I was relieved they were making a sensible choice. And having missed seeing the highly-touted production two years ago, I was especially excited for the chance to see it.

Superb Cast Delivers Murderously Good Comedy with GBSC’s ‘Clue’

June 10, 2023December 27, 2023 michaelhoban4 Comments

Jennifer Ellis, Stewart Evan Smith, Sara Coombs, Bill Mootos, Mark Linehan, Paul Melendy, Maureen Keiller, Genevieve Lefevre in GBSC’s ‘Clue’. Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios

‘Clue’ – Written by Sandy Rustin; Directed by Weylin Symes; Scenic Designer, Katy Monthei; Costume Designer, Deirdre Gerrard; Lighting Designer, Jeff Adelberg; Sound Designer, Caroline Eng; Properties Designer, Emily Allinson; Assistant Director, Tyler Rosati; Movement Consultant, Ceit Zweil; Production Stage Manager, Shauwna Dias Grillo; Assistant Stage Managers, Emily Fitzgerald, Cassie Lebeau; Production Assistant, Alexandra White; Production Manager/Master Electrician, Casey Leone Blackbird; Fight Choreographer, Alexander Platt; Scenery Built by The Ogunquit Playhouse Scene Shop. Adapted from the Paramount Pictures film written by Jonathan Lynn and the board game from Hasbro, Inc. Additional materials by Hunter Foster and Eric Price

CAST (in alphabetical order): Fernando Barbosa, Sara Coombs, Jennifer Ellis, Lisa Kate Joyce, Maureen Keiller, Genevieve Lefevre, Mark Linehan, Paul Melendy, Bryan Miner, Bill Mootos, Katie Pickett, Stewart Evan Smith, Ceit Zweil. Performances through June 25 at Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, MA 02180; Box Office: 781-279-2200 or greaterbostonstage.org

**by Nancy Grossman**

One of the hallmarks of growing up in the 1950s and 60s was the simplicity of it. On nice days, children played a variety of outdoor games with their friends – hopscotch, tag, hide ’n’ seek, and disorganized football or baseball, if there were enough kids to make teams. On rainy days or through the colder months, most families could gather around a selection of board games. Monopoly was probably the best-known and most popular, but Clue was one of my favorites for the mystery of it all. It was pretty exciting for a kid to have the chance to play detective and scope out who was the murderer, what was the murder weapon, and where did it happen? I probably didn’t know the term deductive reasoning, but I learned how to do it while playing a great game.

Fast forward about sixty years and CLUE (adapted from the board game and the 1985 Paramount Pictures film) is now onstage at the Greater Boston Stage Company. The black comedy/mystery features a fabulous ensemble cast playing a group of strangers invited to a dinner party where they are to confront their blackmailer, only to find themselves suspect when he is murdered. Mirth and mayhem (and not a whole lot else) ensue, but this trivial pursuit is an amusing ride.

Your gracious host is Wadsworth, the butler, captivatingly played by GBSC favorite Paul Melendy (Elliot Norton Award winner for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow). He sets the pace and tone as the other characters arrive on the scene and jump into the fray. Thanks to Ceit Zweil’s inventive movement design and Melendy’s physical comedy chops, seven actors snake and trot from room to room in a series of humorous parades, enhanced by atmospheric lighting changes (Jeff Adelberg) and zippy music (Caroline Eng, sound).

The familiar suspects include pompous Professor Plum (Mark Linehan), femme (is-she-or-isn’t-she) fatale Miss Scarlet (Jennifer Ellis), tipsy Mrs. Peacock (Maureen Keiller, over the top in a good way), stuffy Colonel Mustard (Bill Mootos), timid Mr. Green (Stewart Evan Smith), and serial widow Mrs. White (Sara Coombs, u/s). They are supported by the maid Yvette (Genevieve Lefevre) and cook (Katie Pickett, u/s) until they join the growing pile of bodies atop Mr. Boddy (Bryan Miner), the apparent blackmailer.

Scenic designer Katy Monthei and the Ogunquit Playhouse Scene Shop provide a dollhouse of a set with lots of moveable walls and a multitude of doors that add to the fun. Watch for little details like color-coded costumes (Deirdre Gerrard) and oversized murder weapons (Emily Allison, properties) to heighten the experience. Like any good detective, the more things you notice, the more likely you are to solve the puzzle. Kudos to Director Weylin Symes for putting together this crackerjack ensemble and helping them to show that murder and blackmail can be a team sport.

“Beehive: The ‘60s Musical” Swarms with Talent and Fun

April 16, 2023April 17, 2023 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian

“Beehive: The 60s Musical”, created by Larry Gallagher. Directed/Choreographed by Ilyse Robbins. Musical Direction by J. Kathleen Catellanos. Substitute Musical Direction by Jim Rice. Presented by Greater Boston State Company, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, through May 7.

“Beehive: The 60s Musical” is not so much a musical, but a terrific revue starring six extremely talented women singing the music of various female artists from the 1960s. While there is no narrative arc other than the social and political struggles of the decade itself as a backdrop, the music and the feelings it conveys are more than enough to carry this entertaining show forward.

‘Boulevard of Bold Dreams’ Shines a Light on Hattie McDaniel and Her 1940 Oscar

March 14, 2023March 14, 2023 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Samantha Jane Williams, Michelle Fenelon, and Stewart Evan Smith in *‘Boulevard of Bold Dreams’* at GBSC. Photos by Nile Scott Studios

‘Boulevard of Bold Dreams’ — Written by LaDarrion Williams; Directed by Taavon Gamble; Scenic Design by Rachel Rose Burke; Lighting Design by Corey Whittemore; Costume Design by Klara Escalera; Sound Design by James Cannon; Property Design by Emily Allinson. Presented by the Greater Boston Stage Company at 395 Main St., Stoneham, MA through March 19.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Playwright LaDarrion Williams has cherry-picked a dramatic moment in history to explore in his well-crafted ‘Boulevard of Bold Dreams.’ The date is February 29, 1940, the night of the Academy Awards. The setting is Los Angeles’ Ambassador Hotel bar, outside the grand ballroom where the awards will be presented.

Before the ceremony even starts, this year’s Oscars have made history. Hattie McDaniel is the first Black actor to be nominated for an award. She is up for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Scarlett O’Hara’s ‘mammy’ in the Civil War era blockbuster, “Gone With the Wind.”

‘Little Women: The Broadway Musical’ Is Another Home Run for Greater Boston Stage

December 4, 2022December 4, 2022 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Little Women’ at Greater Boston Stage Company – L to R Sarah Coombs, Liza Giangrande, Amy Barker, Abriel Coleman, Katie Shults

‘Little Women: The Broadway Musical’ – Book by Allan Knee based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and Music by Jason Howland. Directed and Choreographed by Ilyse Robbins. Music Directed by Matthew Stern. Scenic Design by Shelley Barish. Lighting Design by Katie Whittemore. Costume Design by Gail Astrid Buckley. Sound Design by John Stone. Presented by the Greater Boston Stage Company, Stoneham through December 23.

by Shelley A. Sackett

Greater Boston Stage Company has a knack for picking the perfect material and director for its holiday offering. Last year, the musical, ‘All Is Calm,’ also directed and choreographed by the talented Ilyse Robbins, was a crowd pleaser that raised the bar and spoke to audience members of all faiths with a message that transcended the usual Christmas pablum. This year, with its flawless production of Little Women: The Broadway Musical, that bar got even higher. At 150 minutes (including intermission), the play didn’t seem too long, a feat in and of itself.