Other Desert Cities

Out of Box Theatre

through September 26, 2015

Jon Robin Baitz penned this opus about your-not-so-average family living in California near the I-10. We all have secrets, and most of us have somebody in our family who might be deemed a piece-of-work, for lack of a more professional term. Well, . . . they all come together in his work, which premiered just 4 years ago and generated mixed reviews; albeit was nominated for several Tony’s and won a Pulitzer for drama.

Unlike some of the other works playing around town, the drama in this one is not so dark and foreboding. Lyman Wyeth (Rial Ellsworth) is a former actor who became an Ambassador then a politician. Kind of recalls another gent from the West Coast. His wife, Polly (Carolyn Choe) is VERY protective of the family name and constantly aware that they live in the public media.

The holidaze are coming and the house is decorated with stockings hung by the chimney and all that sort of stuff, and Turkey Day is upon us. Their daughter, Brooke (Amanda Cucher) has come to visit and has been writing a new book. One slight problem. It is her memoir, and some of the things she recalls the parents wish she would forget, and therein lies the plot. Her brother, Trip (Matthew Busch) is home for the chow-down as well. He’s a TV producer of some show that Brooke doesn’t dig; but what does it matter? He’s reasonable, talented and making a living in a difficult field.

Their Aunt Silda (Rose Bianco) is also there, and she has her own problems such as alcohol. But, maybe that actually helps her deal more easily with the rest of the family. For there was a third sibling who allegedly committed a dastardly deed and then committed suicide. The real facts of the story may be somewhat buried in lies. Lies which might be embarrassing for the parents to deal with right now. And who knows the bottom line to the story? Silda does, and was the one who spilled the beans to Brooke. And there seems to be a time constraint, since Brooke has a publication deal which includes a preview hit the streets in just a few months.

There’s humor in the background of the family, their travel from the local deli to the local Country Club crowd, and the characters of the members. There’s pathos in the history of our nation and the business of wars for so many years, and the losses experienced by so many families. And you can travel the road with this gang to see how things get resolved.

Kirk Harris Seaman directed, and for a small local theatre, I must say that they have done a very fine job, with a very good script, which deserves a much bigger house and longer run. You will sit there thinking that you know some of these people, and wondering how you might handle their problems.

Out of Box is located on Cobb Parkway about a mile south of the Big Chicken. For times and tickets visit them at OutOfBoxTheatre.com

Ruthless, the Musical

Act3 Theatre

through October 3, 2015

If you are a theatre lover, you’ve heard stories of professional betrayal and corruption in the entertainment industry; such as It’s not who you know, but who you . . . . when they talk of casting couches, etc.

This funny take off of the business which was written originally as an all female cast, has been playing to happy audiences since 1992. Although one of the ladies is traditionally played by a guy in drag. And, Patrick Hill pulls off the role of Sylvia to perfection in this one.

It’s a story about a young girl who is really talented and sees herself having a life in the theatre. The role is played by two young actors who alternate dates. The night I saw the play the girl, Tina, was played by sixth-grader Josslyn Milne who has already trod the boards in several shows and has what it takes.

Her mom, Judy, is sung by Lisa Hatt, and she may not be exactly who everyone thinks she is. But, on the other hand, nobody seems to turn out to be who we might have them to be. Ergo, the essence of the story how the show biz folks will stop at nothing to reach their goals. Liane LeMaster is the teacher who has to select the cast for an upcoming play in Tina’s school. The play got some funding help from a couple of businesses owned by the Lerman family; and somehow it just happened that Louise Lerman (Paige Crawford) got tapped for the role, albeit you may not have chosen her were you in the director’s chair.

Kim Hoover, Carly Frates and Jessie Kuipers round out the cast and Paul Tate is on the keyboard to provide the music for the 20 numbers which quickly move from maybe to mayhem. Michelle Davis directed this one and she and the entire cast and crew do a really good job. You’ll fall in love with the young girl who wants to go center stage as Pippi in Tahiti.

Easy to get to in Sandy Springs right behind Trader Joe’s, free parking and good seating. For times and tickets visit them at Act3Productions.org

Calendar Girls

Georgia Ensemble Theatre

through October 4, 2015

The fastest selling show in the history of this fine professional theatre company, is a pure delight to everybody in the house. If you like theater and/or films you know the story about a bunch of adult women from Yorkshire who decide to raise some money to help a local cancer hospital. So, instead of baking cupcakes or crocheting table decorations, they decide to go starkers on a calendar. It may have been a bit shocking to some, but it went viral and the gals who hoped to raise maybe 600 quid, raised over £500,000

As you may know they don’t push frontal nudity. The ladies are posed behind fruit bowls, or pies, or other props which delicately conceal certain very private parts of their anatomy while exposing all the rest to supply plenty of eye candy to those who buy their calendars.

And, in fact, the Georgia Ensemble company has actually followed the fold and published their calendar with their girls and it is being sold to help the wellness center Piedmont Hospital cancer center.

The show is a riot of laughter, and something we all can enjoy. Directed by Heidi Cline McKerley, there is a cast of 14 terrific players. The character’s names aren’t a big issue with the possible exception of Lady Cravenshire, the Ms. Prim of the town. We meet the ladies at their meeting of the local Womens’ Institute. The husband of one of them has passed away from leukemia, and they want to do something in his memory for others. What do you think they came up with?.

Alex Bond, Courtney Collins, Joanna Daniel, Vicki Ellis Gray, Meg Galantine, Bethany IRBM, Kathy Kuczka, Jennifer Levison, Stephanie Wilkinson (Lady C), and Maggie Birgel comprise the ladies of the town. The gents include Robin Bloodworth, Kevin Stillwell, Ty Autry and Ptah Garvin. They may keep their clothes on, but they are a real part of the story. For these gals need the photographer, to take the shots once their clothes are off and the light screens are in place.

It is kind of like that little whore house in Texas. There is really nothing dirty going on. No proper lady need be offended, as this deals with womens’ rights. No old geezer is going to get too excited thinking that he’s about to see a stripper waving her boa. What it is a very good production of a very wonderful and true story, which provides tons of laughs, great sets and props and fine acting.

This one is selling out to many performances, and has already been extended. I hope they may even extend it further as folks turn off the TV and turn on their minds. Easy to get the GET and free parking and a fine facility. For more info and tickets visit them at GET.org

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Alliance Theatre

through September 20, 2015

In 1962, in the days of early civil rights movements and usage of LSD, Ken Kersey wrote the book about people controlling people in a psych hospital in Oregon. The book caused quite an uproar and was thought to be a grand epic by some, and a piece of you-know-what by others. In fact, it was banned from many schools and libraries.

It was later made into a play in 1963 and a film in 1975. Jack Nicholson was in the film which won several Academy Awards. But, regardless that there are a few adaptations which have been made, it is still a difficult piece of work.

This is not one you want to bring Ms. Prim to see, if she will take offence at the usual F words. And, you certainly do not want to use a show like this to introduce youngsters to live theatre. While there is some humor in it, the pathos underlies every minute and the ending is not what you may wish to see a second time.

Saying that, I can also say that this is the best performance of this work that I have ever seen. Susan Booth and her casting director Jody Feldman brought together a incredible cast of 16 players who represent the cream of the local crop of actors; and they each work their magic 100%.

The principals in the story are a street guy named Randle Patrick McMurphy who gets in the face of a nurse with a pole in her, named Nurse Ratched. Neal Ghant as McMurphy and Tess Malis Kincaid as the nurse, really get into it and move the story along on the twisted tracks. There are some inmates who are there because they opted to be in the facility, and then there is Randle who is there because he faked being a nutter to escape getting sent to a prison work farm for some misdeeds.

He’s not the only one faking things. The Native American Indian, Chief Bromden (Jeremy Proulx) feigns deafness as his way of avoiding issues. Richard Garner plays a weird old guy who has very few lines, while Andrew Benator, Chris Kayser, Joe Knezevich and Anthony P. Rodriguez are each in supporting roles rather than being center stage as usual.

Eric Mendenhall plays the stuttering virginal Billy Bibbit, and he’s the one who gets caught getting it on with Candy which leads to all hell breaking loose among the patients and the staff. Just in case you have never read the story nor seen the film or play, I shall not say just where it goes; other than to remark that this is not a comedy in any sense of the word. Alas, it may be a reflection of what actually went on in some institutions such as Bellevue and others. Oh yes, those were the days before lawyers were allowed to advertise on TV.

Bottom line is that this is a truly excellent, Broadway quality presentation, and it is selling out many dates. So, for tickets and info visit them at AllianceTheatre.org

Driving Miss Daisy

OnStage Atlanta

through September 5, 2015

In addition to GWTW, probably the most memorable tales dealing with life in our area have to be the trilogy of works by Alfred Uhry. He wrote Driving Miss Daisy, as well as Last Night of Ballyhoo and then Parade. Each a significant work in its own right.

OnStage has reprised this work with the same wonderful cast who played in it in 2014. Bobbie Elzey is Miss Daisy, who ages gracefully through decades on stage. She’s a Jewish older woman who really shouldn’t be driving any more. Her son, Boolie (DeWayne Morgan) insists of hiring a driver for her, even though at the outset she rejects the idea in every way. But, time works wonders. Nat Martin plays Hoke who is a black man hired to service the lady; a role he has played for many a year in various venues.

The time is in the 1950’s and things aren’t that good for Blacks in our town, nor elsewhere in the South. The keynote event of the script is the bombing of The Temple on October 12, 1958 and Dr. King’s speech at The Temple in the 1960’s.

Hoke and Daisy find that the glue which binds them to one another is far greater than any grit which could keep them apart and they wind up as the best of friends.

Directed by Cathe Hall Payne, the show moves quite gracefully and you really get to feel as if you know each of these three good people; each of whom is somebody you wish you had for a friend today. Just one more weekend, and not many tickets left; so visit OnStageAtlanta.com for times and prices. Their new home is on East Ponce out near I-285, so easy to get to from almost anywhere.

Hot Pink, or Ready to Blow

The Weird Sisters Theatre Project

through August 30, 2015

It’s always such an amazing thing that actors will work their buns off to learn lines and moves, and stage a show that runs for only a few performances. Especially when it turns out that the show deserves a nice long run.

I could just imagine this one being staged in SOHO, where it might run for months on end. And I hope that the creators find that happening. Playwright and Actor Jonny Drago put this one together about a town named New Pompeii, which just happens to lie next to a volcano which has the habit or erupting unless some helpless virgins are sacrificed into it.

Veronika Duerr brought together a versatile cast and must have really enjoyed directing this riotous offering. Casey Gardner, Bryn Striepe, Parris Sarter, Bobby Labartino, Gina Rickicki and Topher Payne bring the house down as three high school BFFs have to decide whether to give up their virginity or their lives. Guess what . . . They have to deal with my grade school math teacher, an egocentric Daddy type, a kinda different man-woman or woman-man, and a pop singer and sports coach as well as others along the path.

This is not your usual performance from a group of talented women who started out at the Atlanta Shakespeare Company . . . but they did prove that even all women can perform the Scottish Play if they wish to do so. There are plenty of expletives and single entendres, so this isn’t for Miss Prim or the kindergartners.

This time they are playing in the Black Box theatre on the 3rd floor at the Alliance. So it is easy to get to using Marta to Art Station, or use the garage at Woodruff Center. They are playing for only these 2 weeks, with shows through the 30th, but dark on 25th. Show time is 8pm and it runs about and hour and 40 minutes. Tickets and more info at BrownPaperTickets.com

Peter Pan

Lyric Theatre

through August 30, 2015

If you’ve been alive for a few years, you know the story by J. M. Barrie about a girl who flies off to Neverland with Peter Pan. Barrie was truly a great story teller and had a special thing with kids. He adopted two children whose parents had died and in 1929 he donated all the royalties from this timeless book to a Children’s Hospital in London which endures to this day.

This Broadway quality production by the Atlanta Lyric Theatre is one that any kid from 5 to 95 will thoroughly enjoy. With great costumes and sets, choreography by Ricardo Aponte and spot-on music direction by BJ Brown, the cast of 34 very talented and determined actors bring off this production in a very engaging manner.

Leslie Bellair stars as the high-flying Peter Pan who really enjoys life as he has it, and doesn’t really want to grow up. I could kind of buy into that idea. Alan Kilpatrick who is the Associate Artistic Director for the Lyric just loves being on stage himself; and in this one he is the father of the 3 kids in the Darling household as well as the infamous Captain Hook. He plays off as if Jack Benny were doing Hook. Candler Budd is his more-or-less right hand man, Smee.

Remington Bogdanovich is a very athletic young woman who delights the audience as the family pet, Nana, as well as that scary old croc chasing after Hook. And she is also on of the Indians. The lovely Tiger Lily is played by Natalie Rhae Goodwin. The three children in the Darling home are Wendy (Devon Hales), John (Evan Bauer) and Michael (Joseph Masson) and their mother is Deborah Stipe.

The one number that we all recall is I Won’t Grow Up and we kind of want to sing along with the cast on that one. But, you will just love when Peter and some of the others fly, and when the Pirates and Indians get into it. It’s a sweet story and well presented under direction by Jeff McKerley. No expletives and certainly a perfect first stage play to bring a youngster to enjoy.

For performance times and tickets just visit them at AtlantaLyric.com But don’t miss out, this one is a real winner. . . .