“OUR TOWN” (Burbage Theatre, Pawtucket, RI)

March 1, 2019March 16, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Let’s all head up to Grover’s Corner, New Hampshire at the turn of the 20th Century for the fifth show of Burbage Theatre’s eighth season. The show is “Our Town”, Thornton Wilder’s 1938 Pulitzer Prize winning play. The show tells about life in Grover’s Corner, New Hampshire from 1901 to 1913. This version is intimate and timely. It features a stage manager who not only explains the action of the characters but also becomes part of the show. Through the use of flashbacks, dialogue, and direct monologues, the other characters reveal themselves to the audience and interact with them. Director Mark Peckham picks the best performers to play these roles and molds them into these town folk splendidly. His cast pantomimes the props and handles the transitions from scene to scene beautifully. Peckham makes the message of live each day to its fullest ring true for contemporary audiences in the 21st Century, too.

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE – Burbage Theatre Company, Pawtucket, RI

July 26, 2018August 26, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Burbage Theatre Company’s first show of their season is the adaptation of the 1998 Academy Award winning romantic comedy “Shakespeare in Love.” It comes to the stage, complete with sword fights, secret trysts, and backstage drama. Young playwright Will Shakespeare is short on inspiration until he encounters the beguiling Viola, and their star crossed love inspires a masterpiece. Will has writer’s block with his current play he’s working on “Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter” which is a half ass mess. “Shall I compare to thee to a something, something, is the problem Will is facing. His patrons want comedy but Will wants more but can’t figure what that could be. Then he meets Viola, a smart beauty who loves his work and lights his creative flame. But Viola has a secret, and “Romeo” is turning out be anything but a laugh fest. Filled with action packed adventure, fiery romance, and wit, get ready to fall head over heels in love with this lush, lavish and lusty production that celebrates the power of live theatre. Jeff Church directs this Lee Hall adaptation of the Academy Award winning screenplay and comes up a winner with his huge 19 member cast.

“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE MUSICAL” (The Community Players, Pawtucket, RI)

December 1, 2017December 1, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE MUSICAL”

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The holiday musical at Community Players this year is “It’s A Wonderful Life, The Musical”. Based on the beloved 1946 film, this family friendly musical faithfully follows the familiar story of George Bailey’s life from childhood dreams to midlife disappointments. After George wishes he had never been born, an angel is sent to earth to make his wish come true and we all take the journey to discover whether his time on earth has mattered at all. Cinematically scored, this musical adaptation breathes new life into a familiar story, while retaining the warmth, humor and pathos of the original. Director Vinnie Lupino picked a strong leading man to portray George Bailey in Duane Langley who is onstage the entire show. His comic timing as well as his dramatic acting as he wrings every bit of pathos from this role,leaving the audience in tears. So you have the necessary ingredients for a very successful Christmas musical that audiences of all ages can enjoy thoroughly from start to finish. The musical score adds layers to these well known characters from the movie version especially Mary Hatch’s character as the audience discovers she yearned for George all through high school by being madly in love with him as she reveals in “My George Bailey.” Bravo on a job well done!

THE GREAT GATSBY (Burbage Theatre Company, Pawtucket)

October 4, 2017December 4, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Burbage Theatre Company’s second show of their season is “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This is their first show in their new location in Pawtucket. This classic novel from 1925 has been adapted for the stage by Simon Levy, it remains the evocative story of the pursuit of wealth and romance in The Jazz Age of the roaring 1920’s. Enigmatic self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby pursues the married, moneyed Daisy Buchanan as his party guests drink and Charleston their frenzied way of life at his opulent Long Island mansion.

“YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU” (Community Players, Pawtucket, RI)

June 19, 2017July 10, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The final show of Community Players 96th season is “You Can’t Take It With You”, a 1937 Pulitzer prize winning comedy by Moss Hart and George F. Kaufman. Meet the Sycamore family, a collection of lovable eccentric incompetents who keep a printing press in the parlor, manufacture fireworks in the basement, are friends with an Ex-Grand Duchess, and includes a grandfather who doesn’t believe in paying taxes. When daughter, Alice falls in love with straight laced Tony Kirby and invites his conservative, high society parents to dinner, she orders her family to ”ordinary up”, which means act like normal people. As with most things in this wacky family, things don’t go exactly as planned. The important message is to live in the here and now, live life to the fullest and do whatever makes you happy. Director Patricia Hawkridge casts this huge show wonderfully. It is a positive and light hearted show that is definitely needed in these trying times we are living through now.

FOREVER PLAID (The Community Players, Pawtucket, RI)

April 14, 2016April 14, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The final show of Community Players’ 97th season is “Forever Plaid” directed and choreographed by Andrew Bobola and musically directed by Ron Procopio. Once upon a time, there were four guys, Frankie, Jinx, Sparky and Smudge, who love to sing. They met in 1956 in high school when they all joined the audiovisual club. The quartet discovered their mutual love of music especially the close harmonies of their idols: The Four Aces, The Four Lads, The Four Freshmen, The Hi-Lo’s and The Crew Cuts. They rehearsed in the basement of Smudge’s family’s plumbing supply company.