ANY FRIEND OF PERCY D’ANGELINO IS A FRIEND OF MINE (Arctic Playhouse)

January 4, 2020February 4, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Arctic Playhouse’s first show of the 2020 season is “Any Friend of Percy D’Angelino Is a Friend of Mine” by Jason Milligan. It originally starred Peter Falk, Christian Slater and Jean Smart in a staged reading at Westwood Playhouse on March 28, 1994. This Mafia style comedy is a series of eight vignettes and takes place on Long Island where much theorizing goes on when a mysterious stranger appears out of the blue. The Mafia boss and his younger wife discover the stranger is going to play the part of the boss in a movie. This sends the both of them into a tizzy with the boss threatening to take “measures” to see it never take place. What are they going to do, let the stranger play him in a movie or will they rub him out at his brazen behavior? These and other questions about life, love, eating, and Mafia antics are discovered in this wacky comedy. Can this young man convince the hoodlum to let him play the gangster in the movie? Director Fred Davison casts these three character roles wonderfully and picks the perfect music for each of the scenes. The second act is better written and it is here where they leave the audience laughing merrily all night long.

‘BERMUDA AVENUE TRIANGLE’ – Arctic Playhouse

January 1, 2020March 3, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Sue Nedar The latest offering at the charming and friendly Arctic Playhouse is “Bermuda Avenue Triangle,” written by Renee Taylor (best known for her portrayal of Sylvia Fine, on The Nanny) and her husband Joseph Bologna. The script is a recipe for success, filled with one-liners, farce, and just plain old funny circumstances.

Arctic Playhouse Presents Three Short Holiday Plays

December 5, 2019December 14, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Tony Annicone

Arctic Playhouse’s holiday shows these year are three short Christmas plays. The first one is based on O. Henry’s story, “A Gift of the Magi”, which centers on a husband and wife who are very young, terribly in love and want to buy Christmas gifts for each other but both have little money to do so. They each want to find a gift that will express their warmth and closeness they feel towards each other. What happens is they find out the true meaning of the Magi gifts of giving of yourself to each other. “The First Noel” is about a homeless and hungry girl, Noel who returns to the site of her childhood home which is now a Chinese takeout. Will her journey get her the handout she wants or the nurturing she needs? “Balls” centers on five eccentric Christmas ornaments who find out just how fragile life can be and who don’t seem to get along with each other – but is that really the case? Each of them are different colors and have different temperaments and their wild and crazy antics keep the audience rolling in the aisles. Director Rachel Hanauer directs “Magi” and “Balls” while Jeff Blanchette directs “Noel” and assistant directs “Balls” with both of them doing double duty by appearing in the shows. They choose topnotch performers for ten roles and infuse them with the insight and energy to make the audience choke up, cry and laugh at all the right times.

VISITING MR. GREEN at Arctic Playhouse

October 1, 2019October 22, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Arctic Playhouse’s current show is “Visiting Mr. Green” by Jeff Baron. Eighty-six year old widower Mr. Green is almost hit by a car driven by young corporate executive Ross Gardiner. When Ross is found guilty of reckless driving, he is ordered to spend the next six months making weekly visits to Mr. Green. The show starts off as a comedy with the two characters bickering with each other and resenting being in the same room. It soon becomes more dramatic when family secrets are revealed and old wounds opened up. It deals with accepting the reality of life while dealing with one’s traditions, their family and accepting the changing world around us. Director Sandy Cerel keeps the comic moments flowing wonderfully at the start of the show during their arguments. However as their relationship continues to evolve the two men finally form a bond that turns things into a heartwarming moment between them.The audience is greatly moved by the acting prowess of both these superb actors in this thought provoking play.

‘ALL MY SONS’ at The Arctic Playhouse

September 1, 2019September 12, 2019 michaelhoban1 Comment

by Henryce Zannini

The Arctic Playhouse opens its fall season with “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller, a drama based on a true story, set in 1947. The original play opened on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre in New York City in January 1947 and ran for 328 performances. The play examines the intricacies of a post-war American family and how far its patriarch, Joe Keller, will go to protect his family and his business, which he wants to hand down to his son, Chris. Joe’s wife Kate is determined that her oldest son Larry has survived the war and will return home to marry his neighborhood sweetheart, Ann. However, Chris and Ann are in love and plan to get married. Joe’s former business partner (who is Ann’s father) is in prison for shipping defective aircraft engine cylinders from his factory to the military during World War II, causing the deaths of 21 pilots.

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (Arctic Playhouse)

March 15, 2019April 5, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Tony Annicone

The latest show at Arctic Playhouse is the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play, “The Diary of Anne Frank.” The audience is transported back to the 1940’s where they learn about the diaries of 13 year old Anne Frank. This play tells the story of a Jewish family forced into hiding in an effort to avoid Nazi persecution during World War II where they were isolated from the outside world. Anne, her family and four others lived in constant fear of being discovered. Anne makes the transition from a smart, mischievous youngster to a passionate young woman. She wrote of her daily life, her budding teenage conflicts with her mother, her strong, loving bond with her father and of her first crush and love for Peter. She also expressed her hopes and dreams for the future and her continuing belief that people are really good at heart. They remained hidden for two years, until their betrayal, which resulted in their deportation to Nazi concentration camps. After the war, the pages of Anne’s diary were discovered on the floor of the annex where the family had been hiding. This young girl’s diary, written 74 years ago, still touches the heart and soul of every audience member by making them empathize with her tragic situation. Also hopefully with the current situation this world is in maybe we can learn from the past not to make the same mistakes in these trying times. Director Rachel Hanauer takes us back to the cramped quarters where Anne spent the last years of her life and with her ten member cast, she creates a stunning dramatic production, making it a must see show of this spring season.

Breaking Legs (Arctic Playhouse, West Warwick, RI)

March 1, 2019March 16, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Sue Nedar

Breaking Legs – Written by Tom Dulack. Co-directed by Hen Zannini and Fred Davison.

There’s always something cleverly ironic about a play about a play; but when you throw in some stereotypical Italian New England mobsters, a brassy gum-snapping Boss’s daughter, and a nerdy (and very neurotic) professor, sprinkle it with pasta fagioli, (pronounced Fazool) and some not greasy, not fishy calamari, (pronounced Galmar) you’ve got the cute and funny Breaking Legs.

A Life In The Theatre (The Arctic Playhouse)

January 1, 2019February 13, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Sue Nedar

The current offering from The Arctic Playhouse is, David Mamet’s A Life In The Theatre.

A 1977 two-person dramedy which examines the relationship between two stage actors; Robert, the more seasoned actor, and John, the relative newcomer. Written in a series of short scenes, the audience witnesses an evolution of the dynamics between the two actors, as slowly we see the rise of one, and fall of the other.

Under the skillful direction of Tony Annicone, the play moves along at a brisk pace, keeping the audience invested throughout the two-act performance. Annicone gets good performances from his actors, who bring out the sometimes subtle comedy written into the script.

ON GOLDEN POND, (The Arctic Playhouse)

September 18, 2017October 1, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The current show at the Arctic Playhouse is “On Golden Pond” by Ernest Thompson. It is the love story of 80 year old Norman Thayer and his wife, Ethel. They are returning to their summer home for their 48th year. It not only shows their relationship but the plot revolves around their 42 year old daughter, Chelsea, her dentist fiancee, his 13 year old smart mouth son and Chelsea’s former boyfriend from high school now a mailman. Directors Sandy Cerel and Chris Margadonna take this well written script and cast some wonderful performers which wins them a thunderous standing ovation at the close of the show.

Jim Belanger and Lloyd Felix designed and built the gorgeous rustic set for the show. It looks so realistic that you feel as if you could live in it. Terry Simpson plays the role of the lovable curmudgeon excellently. His role has many one liners which leave the audience in stitches. Some of the funniest include the slang learning scene with Billy and the illicit sex talk with Bill. He does a terrific job in this role. Sandy Cerel does double duty in the show, also playing Ethel, the doting and loving wife of Norman. She also has some comic moments while talking about the loons, arguing with Norman and a comic with Chelsea and Charlie while reminiscing about camp days of yore. Sandy’s best dramatic moments come when she argues with Chelsea about letting go of the past and when she thinks “her old poop” is dying on her.

The couple’s estranged daughter, Chelsea is well played by Cherylee Dumas. She handles the moments of growing up with a cold distant father who always wanted a son but finally accepts her at this late moment in his life. Cherylee handles the comic and dramatic moments of the character beautifully. Her scene with Sandy is electrifying and when she admits she loves Norman during the phone scene is poignant, too. Steve Dulude plays Bill, the dentist who is Chelsea’s boyfriend. Steve does a topnotch job especially when he puts Norman in his place after all his barbs that he flings at him. He tells him that he and Chelsea will be sleeping together in the cabin. Steve also has a comic one running away from the bear scene, too.

The smart aleck boy is excellently played by 13 year old, Ethan Clarke. His comic moments include the bull shitting and the suck face scenes and the fishing scene where he is bogged down with all the fishing gear. Ethan has a bright future in show business. Chris Verleger plays the constantly laughing and eating mailman wonderfully. He wins many laughs with Ethel in the first act and with Chelsea and Ethel in the second act while talking about delivering the mail at the camp. So for a superb comic show with some excellent dramatic moments entwined in it, be sure to catch “On Golden Pond” at the Arctic Playhouse. Tell them Tony sent you.

ON GOLDEN POND (29 September to 14 October)

The Arctic Playhouse, 117 Washington St, West Warwick, RI

1(401)573-3443 or www.thearcticplayhouse.com

“LOST IN YONKERS” (The Arctic Playhouse, West Warwick, RI)

September 14, 2017September 14, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Arctic Playhouse’s current show is Neil Simon’s 1991 Pulitzer Prize winning play, “Lost in Yonkers.” The show is set in 1942 and it examines the relationships in the emotionally crippled Kurnitz family. The show is a coming of age tale that focuses on brothers, Artie and Jay, left in the care of their Grandmother Kurnitz and Aunt Bella in Yonkers, NY. Their desperate father, Eddie, works as a traveling salesman to pay off debts incurred following the death of his wife. Grandma is a severe, frightfully intimidating immigrant who terrified her children as they were growing up, damaging them in varying degrees. Bella is a sweet but mentally slow and highly excitable woman who longs to marry the usher at a local movie house so she can escape the oppressive household. Bella’s brother, Louie is a small time, tough-talking hoodlum who is on the run, while sister, Gert suffers from a breathing problem whose cause is more psychological than physical. Neil Simon shows why the five adults in this show have become the way they are and how it affects the two teenage boys left in their midst. Directors Christian O’Brien and Eileen Goretaya blend the comic and dramatic moments together splendidly, leaving the audience laughing and crying at all the appropriate moments. With their direction, Christian and Eileen’s cast wins a thunderous standing ovation at the close of the show.