Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Stadium Theatre’s holiday show this year is the new musical production of “A Christmas Carol.” This version of this well known holiday tale contains special flying effects, snow and a full 9 piece orchestra. This version was written by John Popa who also wrote the witty lyrics with music written by Steve Parsons. “A Christmas Carol” is a timeless story that still resonates with people of all ages and carries a message that is as genuine and poignant now as it was when it was first written back in 1843.
Tag: Woonsocket
ANYTHING GOES (Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket, RI)
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The Stadium Theatre’s first musical of their summer season is “Anything Goes” by Cole Porter. Originally written in 1934 for Ethel Merman where it ran for 420 performances, the show’s book was revised in 1962 and then again in 1987. Director Brian Lopes takes this 1934 version of the script and infuses his talented cast with high energy to pull off these roles. The show takes place in the 1930’s aboard the luxury liner S.S. American sailing from New York to London with a group of unusual passengers. The story of boy, Bill Crocker who loves girl, Hope Harcourt who is engaged to wealthy British suitor, Lord Evelyn, who is pursued by singing and dancing evangelist, Reno Sweeney is the basic storyline of this show. Throw in boy’s heavy drinking boss, girl’s overbearing mother, public enemy # 13, his sexy gun moll, Reno’s four fallen Angels, the captain, the purser, the sailors and the passengers plus fantastic music direction by Brittany Dyer and fabulous choreography by Julia Nelson and you have a sure fire crowd pleasing musical entertainment which wins a standing ovation at the end of the night.
A CHORUS LINE – Stadium Theatre (Woonsocket, RI)
A CHORUS LINE
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The current show at the Stadium Theatre is “A Chorus Line”, the 1976 winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Book and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It is a musical based on the lives and experiences of Broadway dancers. Original director/choreographer Michael Bennett wanted to do a show with the spotlight on the class of performers known as the gypsies. The action takes place on a bare stage, where the casting for a new musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, it is a chance of a lifetime. It is the one opportunity to do what they always dreamed of, not only to be a star, but a chance to get a job and have the chance to dance. Through a series of interviews from funny to heartbreaking, it ushers the audience into the lives of these dancers until the final eight are chosen. The original Broadway show opened on April 15, 1975 and ran 6,137 performances, closing on April 28, 1990. Director William Deschenes, musical director Alex Tirrell and choreographer Jennifer Webb create a stunning, high energy and fabulous version of this musical at the historic Stadium Theatre.
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“SHREK, THE MUSICAL” (Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket, RI)
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Stadium Theatre’s fall show is “Shrek, the Musical”, based on the Oscar winning Dreamworks animation movie with the same name from 2001. It has music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire with the original source material from William Steig’s 1990 book “Shrek.” The story begins when Shrek tells the audience his parents sent him out of the house at the age of 7 and into the world to make a living. They warn him because of his looks, everyone will hate him and he will come to a bad end. The audience joins Shrek and his loyal steed, Donkey on their quest to rescue the beautiful if slightly temperamental Princess Fiona from a tower guarded by a love sick fire-breathing dragon. Throw in the diminutive Lord Farquaad who is in love with Fiona, a gang of fairytale misfits, and a gingerbread cookie with attitude to the list of wild and crazy characters that Shrek and the audience meet along the way. Shrek is an outsider who goes on a journey to discover where he belongs in the world. This is something everyone can relate to as well as an important lesson to learn that you should learn to accept everybody no matter how they look. Add splendid singing and dancing by this 41 member cast with excellent direction by Ashley Lopes, terrific choreography by Jennifer Webb and marvelous music direction by Alex Tirrell. This high energy musical is rewarded with a spontaneous standing ovation at the curtain call with the whole audience singing “I’m a Believer” with Shrek and his cast mates.
Ashley picks the best performers for these roles and infuses them with keen insight into the comic and dramatic moments that enthrall the crowd. Jennifer’s choreography is breathtaking especially the tap dance, the twist, the Charleston and some Motown dances. The 19 songs and music soar under Alex’s direction with his excellent 12 piece orchestra. Leading this huge cast is Aidan Horrigan as Shrek. He is dynamic in this role, winning over the audience with his sympathetic portrayal. Aidan’s songs include “Big Bright Beautiful World”, when he sings about being alone in the swamp, “When Words Fail” when he tries to explain his feelings to Fiona, “Build a Wall” when he is angry with everyone around him and “Beautiful Ain’t Always Pretty”, when he falls in love at last. His duet with Fiona is “I Think I Got You Beat” which is reminiscent of “Anything You Can Do” from “Annie Get Your Gun” where they compete with each other in an hilarious burping and farting contest. Aidan closes the show with “I’m A Believer” of Monkee fame with the whole cast dancing to it.
Brian Lopes is a hoot as the Donkey. He is a hoot with his wild and crazy antics as well as his delivery of the witty one liners. Brian’s powerful voice is heard in “Don’t Let Me Go” when he first meets Shrek, “Travel Song” where he explains he’s a GPS in fur, “Forever” is when the Donkey discovers the Dragon is holding Fiona captive, “Who I’d Be”, “Make a Move” when he encourages Shrek to pursue Fiona and “This Is Our Story” which brings the Donkey a happy ending. Multitalented beautiful red head, Dalita Getzoyan is superb as the spunky, Fiona. This character isn’t afraid of anyone and speaks her mind freely. Her lovely voice is heard in the very poignant “I Know It’s Today, where she sings about being rescued by a prince ( sung in perfect three part harmony with Jennifer Leamy as Young Fiona and Elizabeth Larabee as Teen Fiona) “This Is How A Dream Comes True”, “Who I’d Be” where she, Shrek and the Donkey sing of the secrets they are hiding, “Morning Person”, a stunning show stopping tap dance that opens Act 2, “I Think I Got You Beat”, the farting song and “This Is Our Story” where she and Shrek get together at last. Marvelous work by the three leading players.
The rest of the cast lives up to the high standards of the leading players. Dillon Tognacci plays the part of Lord Farquaad excellently. He is the villain of the show as he wants Shrek killed so he can have Fiona for his own. Dillon is a hoot as this Snidley Whiplash character as he oozes evilness from every pore of his being. He plays the part on his knees with fake legs and his dancing has to be seen to be believed. His strong voice soars in his two big song and dance numbers “What’s Up Duloc?” and “The Ballad of Farquaad.” Dillon is hilarious while stealing many a scene with his strong comic timing. Farquaad’s even smaller father, Grumpy of Snow White fame is played by tiny Jake Smolan who also plays Young Shrek. He is a hoot as Grumpy who finally puts Farquaad in his place. Michaelyn St. Pierre plays the comical Dragon marvelously. She displays her powerful voice in “Forever” with Brian as she falls in love with Donkey. Leading the fairytale characters is Pinocchio played splendidly by Connor Buonaccorsi and he is hilarious as his nose keeps growing longer every time he tells a lie. Connor speaks in a high pitched voice and leads the chorus in “Story of My Life”, “The Goodbye Song” and “The Freak Flag” which is where the fairytale characters do a Motown dance that captivates the audience. He also plays the Pied Piper and he and the rats do a terrific tap dance. Bryn Martin who is a gorgeous blonde is a hoot as Gingy, the gingerbread cookie who is tortured by Farquaad so he can find his princess and become king. Her fabulous singing voice is heard in “The Freak Flag.” Madison LaPlante has a fabulous voice which soars in “Freak Flag” song where she plays Humpty Dumpty. There are many twists and turns leading up to its heartwarming ending. So for a wonderful musical treat that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, be sure to catch “Shrek, the Musical” at the Stadium Theatre.
SHREK, THE MUSICAL (12 to 14 October)
Stadium Theatre, 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket, RI
1(401)762-4545 or www.stadiumtheatre.com
“SWEENEY TODD” – RISE Playhouse, Woonsocket, RI
Review by Tony Annicone
Rhode Island Stage Ensemble’s fall musical is Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” which opened on Broadway on March 1, 1979 and won 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical. This musical is a macabre tragicomedy based on the legend of a half mad 19th Century English barber who is driven to crime when his wife and his daughter are taken from him by an evil judge.
‘TARZAN” Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket, RI
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Stadium Theatre’s current musical is “Tarzan” which is based on the 1999 Disney film and the classic story by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It features music and lyrics by Phil Collins and book by David Henry Hwang. The classic tale unfolds in the early 1900’s as a shipwreck leaves an infant orphaned on the West African shore. The helpless baby is taken under the protection of a Gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. The helpless baby is adopted by the mate of the leader of this tribe who is mourning the loss of her own baby gorilla. As he grows and matures, the boy yearns for acceptance from his ape father and the reason for his uniqueness. When he eventually encounters his first human, Jane Porter, their worlds collide and transform forever. Director Rebecca Donald casts topnotch performers for these roles while music director Alex Tirrell taught the cast Phil Collins’ music and choreographer Jennifer Webb creates some athletic choreography. This heart warming musical also teaches us to accept others even thought their appearance is different from us. This high energy musical receives a well deserved resounding and thunderous standing ovation from the appreciative audience.
BLITHE SPIRIT (RISE Playhouse, Woonsocket, RI)
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
RISE’s current production is “Blithe Spirit”, a farce by Noel Coward. This show focuses around the paranormal experience of Charles Condomine, a novelist and socialite of Kent, England. In search of inspiration for his new novel, Charles hires an eccentric medium for research purposes, and ends up in contact with the spirit of his first wife, Elvira, who makes her presence well known, much to the consternation of his second wife, Ruth. Add their doctor, his wife and a dippy, half-witted maid to the ingredients of this farce. At the time Coward wrote this play in 1941, England was in the grip of World War 2, and death was not a humorous topic.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket, RI)
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Shining Light’s spring production this year is “Beauty and the Beast” by Disney. The musical first opened on Broadway on April 19, 1994 and ran for 5,464 performances, closing on July 29, 2007. It is based on the 1991 animated Disney movie, the show tells of a spell cast on a Prince which transformed him into a ferocious beast. He must love and be loved before the final petal falls from the rose or he will be a beast forever. Into his life comes beautiful, bookish Belle. They must learn to love each other after he makes her a prisoner in his desolate castle. Belle could melt the ice and even his heart but will she be able to see through his facade in time? Throw in many colorful characters including her inventor father, Maurice, the town strongman, Gaston, his crazy sidekick, Lefou and the numerous enchanted humans turned into household fixtures at the Beast’s castle and you have the makings for this sensational musical presentation. Director Mike Landry, musical director Alex Tirrell and choreographer Matthew Parello cast this show excellently, winning these hard working performers a resounding standing ovation at the end of the night.
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