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 CHRISTMAS CAROL” (Arctic Playhouse, West Warwick, RI)

December 7, 2017December 7, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Arctic Playhouse’s holiday presentation this year is the premiere production of “A Christmas Carol” adapted and directed by John Martorella with gorgeous and lush original music by his husband, Philip Martorella. John assembled a huge cast of 30. The underlying themes of charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence found in “A Christmas Carol” are universal and are relevant to people of all religions and backgrounds. In his version, John uses two different performers as the narrators of this familiar tale of miserly, curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge. It is the classic tale of this stingy, miser on the road to his redemption. Originally written in the winter of 1843, this show still resonates with audiences, one hundred and seventy five years later. Scrooge is visited by his dead partner, Jacob Marley who has been dead for seven years on Christmas Eve as well as the ghosts of the Past, Present and Future. who hope to change his destiny and save his soul. This musical adaptation is full of lovely music, colorful sets and gorgeous costumes. This musical treat follows Scrooge on his strange and magical journey, where he finally discovers the true Christmas spirit at last.

John obtains laughter and some tears on Scrooge’s journey to redemption. He keeps the action of the show moving from scene to scene. He ends the show with the cast singing “God Bless Us All” to the audience. The music by Philip is magnificent and a recorded track is used for all these numbers. The three marvelous numbers are “Rise and Walk With Me” by Christmas Past, “With All the Dreams We Share” by Belle and “God Bless Us All” by Tiny Tim. Also well done is the chorus dance in the Fezziwig scene. The London sets are by Jim Belanger and Lloyd Felix while the fabulous, gorgeous authentic costumes are by Nancy Spirito and Johnny Cagno.

Terry Simpson plays Ebenezer Scrooge. He plays this miserly curmudgeon excellently and commands the stage in this role. Terry excels in the comic scenes especially when he yells at the carolers as well as when he yells at the two solicitors. However it is in the dramatic scenes that are the most memorable including Fan’s death, the break-up with Belle, the death of Tiny Tim and in his transformation that the pathos pours out to the audience. His exuberance when he awakens on Christmas morning is stunning to behold as he dances with joyous rapture. The audience learns that Scrooge has become a better man by learning from the past, present and the future. The Turkey boy well played by Jacoby Messier helps Scrooge turn a new leaf by sending the turkey to the Cratchitts.

The four Ghosts do a marvelous job in this show, too. Geoff Monti is wonderful as Jacob Marley. He scares not only Scrooge but every person in the audience as he appears on the scene. The chains clang as he drag them across the floor. Marley stands near Scrooge’s bed with huge chains and warns him to reform his miserly ways or suffer Marley’s fate these past seven years. Monti’s delivery of these lines is frightening to behold. Christmas Past is portrayed by Maria Tavorozzi, a beautiful brunette who has a lovely singing voice in her impressive song “Rise and Walk with Me”. She chides Scrooge as he watches his younger self enjoying and loving Christmas with his sister, Fan when she arrives to take him home and again at Fezziwig’s party when he fell in love with Belle. Maria delivers the goods as she takes Scrooge on his journey of enlightenment. Young Scrooge is wonderfully played by Mike Daniels as is Roxy Johnson as little Fan. Mike is also topnotch in the break up scene. Chantell Araial is terrific as Belle, playing it with a great deal of warmth and charm. Their break up scene is poignant to observe as she hands him back the engagement ring while she sings “With All the Dreams We Share” which is gut wrenching and very beautifully rendered. The jolly employer and his wife are splendidly played by Brian Lamothe and Peirson as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig. They lead the party festivities with gusto, bringing the necessary comic relief at this point of the show.

Christmas Present is wonderfully played by Geoff Monti. He is the dominant presence in this show while he spreads good cheer. He teaches Scrooge an important lesson on how to treat his fellow man and uses Scrooge’s words against him. The Ghost cajoles Scrooge while he shows him the plight of the Cratchit family and how his nephew, Fred is spending Christmas day. Mike Daniels is also marvelous as Fred. He brings a comic touch to the role, infusing him with energy. He is hilarious when he puts more coal in Scrooge’s heater and is comical during the party scene. His wife, Agnes is excellently played by gorgeous, brunette Chantell Araial. They have some clever banter during the party scene. Brian Lamothe also plays the Ghost of the Future and he scares the crap out of the audience as he shows Scrooge the fate that will befall him unless he repents his terrible ways. The Ghost accomplishes this by having Scrooge observe the Old Joe scene, the death of Tiny Tim and Scrooge’s own gravestone.

The Cratchit family members do a remarkable job, too. Bob Mignari as Bob handles the comic moments like being shocked by Scrooge’s transformation in the last scene and also does a nice job in the death of Tiny Tim sequence. Kristen Allen plays Mrs. Cratchit and she shines in this role, as the caring, doting mother. She and Bob display their singing voices and dancing prowess, too. Kristen is very comical when she won’t toast the old miser but becomes properly dramatic and chokes you up during the Tim death scene. Other family members include her daughter, Harper Henning as Martha and Lily Legacy as Belinda. Young Roxy Johnson also plays Tiny Tim wonderfully and delivers the “God Bless Us, Everyone” song with gusto. Other comic performers include Laurie Crabtree as Mrs. Dilber, who delivers Scrooge’s gruel, shocks him at the door, walks slowly to deliver the food to him and sells his bed clothes while John Martorella plays Old Joe. So to get into the Christmas spirit, be sure to catch “A Christmas Carol” at West Warwick High School by The Arctic Playhouse.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (6 to 9 December)

The Arctic Playhouse, West Warwick High School, 1 Webster Knight Drive, 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.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND at The Arctic Playhouse in West Warwick

June 15, 2017June 15, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Henryce Zannini

The current production at The Arctic Playhouse in West Warwick is “Alice in Wonderland,” adapted by Brainerd Duffield from the story by Lewis Carroll. It is the wild story of Alice, who tumbles down a mysterious rabbit hole and finds herself in a strange land where she meets its many odd residents. This nonsense world of Wonderland comes to life with phenomenal costumes provided by John Cagno and “Fantasy Factory Costume” in collaboration with costumer Nancy Rodrigues. The clever set, consisting of revolving panels and created by Joe Welch, also contributes to the magic of Wonderland. When I first walked into the theatre, I felt like I was walking into Wonderland. The aisles are painted in a madcap checkerboard style, and the music that is playing is captivating. This definitely set the mood before the play even began! Eileen Goretaya and Kyle Renee keep the show running smoothly from prop changes to lights to sound.

Director Rachel Hanauer has expertly cast this show, with eight of the eleven actors playing two to four roles apiece. Rachel, a talented singer with a specialty in opera, infuses the show with several recognizable classical pieces of music, to which I found myself happily humming along. This was a great added touch that worked perfectly—not my humming, but the music itself! Rachel successfully directed this show to make it equally appealing to both children and adults.

Alice is beautifully played by Jenna Petrarca. For a young lady who is just entering high school, Jenna is an extraordinary actress. I was mesmerized by Jenna from the very beginning to the very end. Her ability to subtlety transform from a somewhat insecure child into a young girl who can stand up for herself in spite of apparent dangers is flawless. Rachel’s interaction with all 24 characters (yes, 24!) is engaging and so much fun to watch. As Jenna continues to explore theatre, she is going to be a force to be reckoned with!

As Alice falls asleep, she believably falls down the rabbit hole amidst a cacophony of sounds and explosions of flashing, colorful lights. That hole belongs to the White Rabbit, played by Joham A. Rosario. With his quavering voice and quivering knees, Joham is hysterically frenzied, and you can’t help but fall in love with him. Although he is nervous and always in a hurry, he is still somewhat confident. Joham pulls this character off with ease and expertise. As he unintentionally guides Alice through Wonderland, his performance is a pure delight.

Alice next meets the Queen of Hearts, played with great aplomb by Katherine Kimmel. Her character is larger than life, commanding a booming presence every time she enters. Although she plays the perfect authoritative tyrant who enjoys playing croquet with flamingoes as mallets, Katherine is still amusing. The Queen of Hearts constantly orders the beheading of people, which let’s face it, is not a pleasant thing; but again, Katherine manages to have us laughing, even though the Wonderland inhabitants fear her. Her ability to balance fear and funny is amazing.

Rounding out the cast are Shannon McMillan, Stefan DiPippo, Jonathan Sproule, Elizabeth Nelson, Jessica Gates, Selina Amargo, Rose Peralta, and Emerson McGrath, who play the remaining 22 roles. How they manage their constant makeup and costume changes is beyond me! So much craziness abounds among these characters! There’s the Fish Footman (Peralta) with a kooky fish head, a hookah-smoking Caterpillar (Amargo), The Duchess who spouts inapropos morals (Gates), and the 5 of Spades (DiPippo), attempting to paint white roses red. Then there’s the singing and dancing Turtle (Nelson), the crazy and colorful tea loving Mad Hatter (Sproule), Tweedledum (McMillan) shuffling about and popping in and out, and the ever so matter-of-fact (but is it fact?) Humpty Dumpty (McGrath).

A quote from the play perfectly summarizes these characters: “We’re all mad here!” To meet all 24 mad characters, and Alice, be sure to catch this thoroughly refreshing and entertaining show at the Arctic Playhouse! And be sure to look for some of my favorites, including the river of salt tears, the Cheshire Cat, the crying baby, the tea party, uglification, the soup song, and hold your tongue. As always, there’s free popcorn, coffee, and homemade cookies!

“Alice in Wonderland”
June 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30 at 8:00 pm
June 17 and 24 at 2:00 pm

www.thearcticplayhouse.com

13 RUE DE L’AMOUR (The Arctic Playhouse, West Warwick, RI)

April 20, 2017April 20, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Arctic Playhouse’s current show is “13 Rue de L’Amour” by Georges Feydeau. It was written in 1892 and translated by Mawby Green and Ed Feilbert. It is about locked doors, sexual innuendoes, mistaken identity, clothes switching owners and lying continually about the circumstances in turn of the century, Paris. Justinien is a seemingly blameless husband who periodically leaves his wife Leontine to go on hunting trips. Family friend Gustave, a doctor and man about town, has his suspicions about what Justinien is really hunting. He tries to use his suspicions as a way to get Leontine to visit his bachelor pad on 13 Rue De L’Amour. The confusions begin mounting as Justinien’s young nephew, Jean-Pierre who is still a student, needs money from his uncle to entertain his own mistress; the uncle’s friend Birabeau confesses doubts about his own unseen wife; and several of the men seem to be wearing identical pants while this is going on. Add a love starved female German concierge who was a countess, at the bachelor apartment and a befuddled police inspector to the proceedings and you have the ingredients of a funny French farce to tickle your funny bone. Director Christian O’Brien infuses his cast with madcap shtick to leave you laughing in the aisles.

“A Night of Durang” (Arctic Playhouse, West Warwick, Rhode Island)

February 25, 2017February 25, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The opening show of the Arctic Playhouse’s new season is “Sister Mary Ignatius/The Actor’s Nightmare” by Christopher Durang. They are two one act companion piece plays. Sister Mary Ignatius, a teaching nun who is more concerned with sin in all its various forms, delivers a cautionary lecture to her charges. One of them can quote the Ten Commandments on cue, and each time he does so Sister Mary rewards him with a cookie. But when several of her former students turn up the picture darkens, along with Sister Mary’s indignation. They confess the various paths their lives have taken after leaving her class and teachings. Sister highly disapproves their transgressions and a highly volatile and shocking conclusion to their meeting occurs. One of them is an unmarried mother of an illegitimate child, another is a homosexual, another is a woman who was raped on the night her mother died from cancer and the last one is an alcoholic who is suicidal. “The Actor’s Nightmare”, involves an accountant named George Spelvin, who is mistaken for an actor’s understudy and forced to perform in a play for which he doesn’t know any of the lines. He is dressed as Hamlet but then the show keeps changing from “Private Lives” to “Hamlet” and Beckett plays to “A Man for All Seasons” with a surprising realistic twist to it. Director Christopher Plonka casts these roles wonderfully, giving his 7 member cast the insight into these comic but deeply flawed characters to not only entertain you but to enlighten you along the way, too.

Mary Paolino delivers a tour de force performance as Sister Mary Ignatius. She delivers an enormous 40 minute monologue while speaking directly to the audience. Mary is strict in her lecture but comical at the same time, winning sustained laughter all night long. Her transformation into a tigress at the end of the show by keeping the intruders at bay is hilarious as is her doting on the seven year old prize student, Thomas wonderfully played by Nico Marschat. Another standout performer in this piece is Meg Taylor-Roth who delivers an impassioned speech about how her character felt abandoned by God when her mother was dying of cancer and how she had abortions after being raped on the night her mother died and the second when her therapist had sex with her. This is where this comic piece takes a dramatic turn. Olivia Sahlin plays the unwed mother who is a dumb blonde excellently but she shows great emotion at Meg’s poignant speech with tears in her eyes. She and Jeff Blanchette play a comic Camel who helps Mary and Joseph deliver Jesus in the stable. Jeff plays the alcoholic father who never was allowed to go to the bathroom and wet the floor at school because the nun never let him go to the bathroom. Mario Sasso also delivers the goods in the Nativity skit as St. Joseph as well as when he tells Sister that he slept with 500 men.

Jeff Blancette commands the stage as George Spelvin in “The Actor’s Nightmare.” From the first entrance as this befuddled, confused man who proclaims he is just an accountant not an actor, he delivers a well nuanced performance. As he moves from play to play from “Private Lives” to “Hamlet” to “Waiting for Godot” to Sir Thomas More in “A Man for All Seasons”, he shines at each transformation by calling for line, never knowing the dialogue or whether it’s a monologue for the character which he mixes up constantly in this absurdist play. Victoria Ezikovich is a hoot as Amanda in the Noel Coward play by repeating her lines over again until he delivers the right line and slapping his face when he tries to unzip her dress. Olivia plays the stage manager who enters now and again to feed George his lines in an inaudible whisper. Mario plays Horatio in “Hamlet” and the Executioner in “Man for All Seasons”, delivering a powerful performance as both characters as does Meg who plays Sybil in “Private Lives” and a character in a garbage can in the Beckett play. She urges George to play the death scene as Thomas More to the climatic conclusion. So for a riotous night of comic antics with some serious undertones, be sure to catch “An Evening of Christopher Durang” at Arctic Playhouse. Also enjoy their free cookies, popcorn and coffee while watching these entertaining shows.

SISTER MARY IGNATIUS/THE ACTOR’S NIGHTMARE (22 February to 10 March)

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