5
Nov

Violet

violet

Violet
Act3
through November 19, 2016

This musical about a young disfigured woman seeking physical and psychological repairs, opened off Broadway 20 years ago.  It won a couple of awards, including a Best Musical type of award.  Although the score is instantly forgettable.

Based on a children’s story about The Ugliest Pilgrim, it is the tale of Violet, who suffered a terrible injury to her face when her father was chopping some wood and the axe blade fell off and hit her.  So, now she is a young woman who thinks she looks like a freak, and she sets out from some small town in South Carolina on a Greyhound Bus bound for Tulsa where she hopes that some TV evangelist is going to heal her.

Laura Gronek plays Violet, and she meets up with a couple of GIs on the bus.  One is a white guy named Montgomery (Jeremy Cooper) and his travel mate is a black guy named Flick (Tyree Jones).    The bus travels through Tennessee, stopping in Memphis where one of the guys gets into it with Violet.  But, both of the men are interested in her and she’ll have some decisions to make.

Set in the 1960s there are some racial single entendres and insulting comments, both to and about Flick and Violet.  What you need to understand is that Violet’s dad (Michael Rostek) has passed on and when you see him teaching a young girl to play poker, that the young lass is Violet (Dorey Casey) at an earlier age.  And these images come and go several times in the story.  On the subject of coming and going, there are six other players who double in a dozen or more cameos.

Once Violet gets to Tulsa she tries to get the relief she dreams of from the preacher (Weston Slaton) who does a great job as the self-impressed preacher who can work miracles, although we suspect he is modeled on one or more of those who consider every donation a slight miracle.

What really moves the show along is the 5-piece orchestra in the wings under direction of John-Michael d’Haviland.

The show runs about one hour 40 minutes without intermission; so you may wish to visit the loo before settling in.   They’re located in Sandy Springs right behind Trader Joes.  Free parking, and easy to get to.  Visit them at Act3Productions.org

4
Nov

Becoming Dr. Ruth

dr-ruth-1

Becoming Dr. Ruth
Art Station
through November 20, 2016

Mark St. Germain’s story of how a Holocaust survivor got through life in many phases and became the sex advisor/therapist we know as Dr. Ruth is a finely crafted history of a gutsy woman who overcame so many obstacles to achieve grand success.

David Thomas directed this play which is a one-woman show starring Judy Leavell.  And it is a true delight.  Judy is a fine actor who can handle grief, joy, humor, sarcasm, accents, prat falls and anything else which the role may call for.

You don’t have to be into sex in the sense of what is currently called Locker Room talk, nor do you have to be using appliances or eating certain pills.  For sex, as Dr. Ruth advises, is a part of life.  If can make life better when it is better, and worse when it is missing.  At least, for many of us.

It may not be for teenagers, but anybody over 30 will relate to it and thoroughly enjoy it.  And while her Jewish heritage is a principal part of the story, you don’t have to be Jewish to understand and enjoy her tale.

Art Station is in the village of Stone Mountain, with easy access, free parking, comfortable seating and good staging.  In fact, the set is really quite a job for a small black box theatre.  You’ll love the scene, the projected images, and how well the props work into the play.

The show is a 90 minute one act.  Their website is at ArtStation.org.

2
Nov

Cabaret

cabaret

Cabaret
Fox Theatre
through November 6, 2016

This version of Cabaret is staged by the Roundabout Theatre Company and is on tour to various locations with a large cast and great production qualities.

You’ve probably seen Cabaret at least once before and will recall the opening number Willkommen, and the theme song Cabaret.  It is set in Berlin in the early 1930’s when the Nazis were just stating to wreak havoc on the their country, then the world.  It was a time when the cabarets such as the Lido were THE hot spots in towns like Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam.  It was a time when rules were starting to determine what people could do or not do, and they didn’t have to be reasonable or humane.

But, in these days before WWII really broke out, brothels, clubs and night life were rampant.  Randy Harrison is great as the Emcee and part of the Kit Kat Klub.   He’s eye candy for many in the house, as are the girls of the Kit Kat Klub.  Alison Ewing played Sally Bowles on opening night, and she was spot-on.

The story is about an aspiring scrivener from the States who comes to Berlin to do a manuscript he hopes will sell.  He’s not doing very well plying his craft, but hope springs eternally.  The writer, Clifford, is played by Benjamin Eakeley.   The story line is how he gets sucked into aiding and abetting some Nazi guy, finds the truth of what is coming, and how he should act, and the story goes on . . . .

Thankfully, this production has played down the Nazi aspect a wee bit.  There’s but one guy with a Swastika on his arm, and no horde of thugs in black military uniforms.  But, in the uniform department they get a prize for the ladies of the Klub.  Their skimpy costumes wow the audience, and they are quite talented as they are also musicians in the on-stage band.

I suspect that students these days are taught little about WWI and WWII and know little about National Socialists and Communists or other groups not situate on our shores.   And most of us are quite eager to get through the political garbage being downloaded this final week.  Let’s hope we’re not headed for difficulties in the future.

The show is very well performed.  Sets, music, costumes and props are very good, the score is a classic, and the nastiness isn’t all pervasive.  They’ve toned down the train ride in the final scene, albeit those of us with some history realize what’s going on.

Tickets and more info at FoxTheatre.org

 

1
Nov

Appropriate

appropriate

Appropriate
Actor’s Express
through November 20, 2016

I’m not certain if all the shows about dysfunctional families are coming forth as a reflection of all the political poppycock being generated; or as a result of the creative sorts taking a good look at their own clans, or maybe mine. And whether or not the title word is an adjective or a verb, it is totally appropriate.

But, this production of a brilliantly named show by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, is quite an experience. It not easy to make the playwright’s freaks even stranger than our own, but retaining every semblance of reality. There are no ghosts or zombies. These folks are real characters.

Freddie Ashley directed this work, which is staged on a magnificent set designed by the sisters Moriah and Isabel Curley-Clay. It is an old and somewhat decrepit manor house in which the father of the family had lived for many years. He was a hoarder and maybe a keeper of some secrets. He’s passed on and the daughter, Toni (Jan Wikstrom) is getting the place ready for an estate sale and to dump the property.

An estranged brother, Frankie a/k/a Franz (Bryan Brendle) has showed up at an inconvenient moment, accompanied by his fiancé, River (Alexandra Ficken) who, is not quite their type to the rest of the gang. The family includes Bo (Kevin Stillwell) who is a business professional but who has his own problems with which he must deal. A grandson, Rhys (John Osorio), is there, and not contributing much to move things along. Rachael (Cynthia Barrett) has some relationship problems with Toni, but most of the folks also do. The other younger folks are Devon Hales as Cassidy, a young teen who is, in her mind, almost an adult; and Dylan Moore as Ainsley, the youngest of the group and not really into whatever it is they are doing.

The play is very strong in the language department, so is certainly not for the Ms. Prims. And the secrets which come to light relate back to the days of the mid 19th century, when not all folks were treated equally in places such as Arkansas, as well as many other states. It is a very energetic production which runs more than a couple of hours. But, while the final end may seem a little slow in coming, you will be totally amazed at the technical aspects it presents.

For more info just visit them at Actors-Express.com