25
Feb

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera
Fox Theatre
through March 5, 2017

That masked villain is back in town.  When it played here 7 years ago, supposedly that was the final tour.  But the show is more than 30 years old and still going strong.   Andrew Lloyd Webber’s adaptation of Gaston Laroux’s story certainly must have exceeded any aspirations that Laroux might have had back in 1904.   If you are a big Phantom fan, you might even get a kick out of the original Phantom B&W film made in 1925; and of course it starred Lon Chaney as the Phantom.

You may have seen this one before, or seen the 2004 film version.  But, the story remains the same.  A disfigured guy takes control of the Paris Opera and he wants things done his way, or no way.  Derrick Davis is very energetic and demanding as the Phantom, and he falls for young Christine (Katie Travis) who is also sought after by a would-be lover, Raoul (Jordan Craig).

As you know; all hell breaks loose at the Opera.  Christine spends some time down in the sewers with the Phantom, and we find that things do work out in the end as a tale wherein humanity and compassion morph an inhumane creature into a feeling and compassionate man.  Caution: this does not apply to contemporary history in some parts of the world, nor politics in general.

The show is running until March 5th, and they have even opened up the sale of some of those restricted view seats they normally don’t sell.  The sets are incredible, the costuming is over the top, and the performances are all top grade.   Think of the show really as an opera, in that there are some numbers that when they are being sung (usually in chorus) you can’t understand a word they are singing.  So, it wouldn’t make any difference if it were in French or Italian.

This may not be one for little people.  The story is dark, some scenes a little scary, the tempo is slow, and most of the music (or at least the lyrics) are pretty forgettable.  We all recall some of the melodies such as Masquerade, The Music of the Night, and Point of No Return.  But the words.  No way.

Phantom is a wonderful show.  It may not be as energizing at Les Miz nor as smile producing as Cats; but, it is a night of exceptional theatre, by a first class company.   For tickets and more info go to FoxTheatre.org.

24
Feb

Circus Xtreme

Ringling Bros.  and Barnum & Bailey
Circus Xtreme

at Inifinite Energy Center
through March 5, 2017

The Circus has come to town.  Hooray.  But, sadly it is the final curtain for they will pull the plug in a couple of months.  Things have changed quite a bit in the past decades.  Years ago the circus came to town on their train, ran a parade down Main Street, had side shows and gaming shills, and managed to entertain as well as offend some folks.  The freak shows went away many years ago, and the elephants are history.  But, the flair and the sense of danger pervades.

In Xtreme, they bring great set of costumed performers, a full live band on stage, and plenty of action.  Some of the acts are Old School, such as the woman being shot out of a canon, the trainer with 13 tigers, the high wire and slack wire acts, and the aerialists.

The group of performing poodles gets plenty of laughs, and some of the opening numbers are kind of “back at you” to Shen Yun.  Then you also get to see some bikers doing numbers which look like the skateboarders in their championship competition, and a German Wheel act where you think you see a Brodie.  The important thing is that it is theatre, in the round, with performers, music, jokes, and so much more.

Forget about the 3-ring style of circus.  That’s gone and today they perform in one ring, which is really the base of the arena.  There’s no tent, or Roman Riders on horses these days.  But as we say Goodbye and Much Thanks to this huge piece of history, we’ll all recall our first visit as a child, and this final one which is almost akin to the passing of a friend.   Everyone from 5 to 95 had a good time and they were just about sold out with more than 12,000 viewers on opening night.

More info and tickets at InfiniteEnergyCenter.com

23
Feb

Exit Strategy

Exit Strategy
True Colors Theatre
through March 19, 2017

Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company is so spot-on in these days of reform and resistance in the management of education in our land.  Ike Holter wrote this play about a school in a run-down area of Chicago that was to be closed down at the end of the term.

Maybe the south side of Chicago has some problems; but could it not be right here in our town?  The story line deals with people trying to help educate students with less than the usual drive or assets, and with facilities that aren’t state of the art for education.

We start off meeting a teacher, Pam (Tess Malis Kincaid), who is having a face-off with the Principal, a wimp named Ricky (Matthew Busch).   Ricky has no set plan of action.  Meanwhile the local government guys have one, and it includes demolition of the dump school.  Pam is very stressed out and makes a difficult decision in the opening scene.

The school staff seems split as to how, or why, to react.  Arnold (William S.  Murphey) seems quite content to just accept what may come forth and go forth into retirement.  Diany Rodriguez plays the extremely energetic Jania, and Tracey N. Bonner and Ralph Del Rosario are other staff members.  Things start to come together when Ricky teams up with a student named Donny (Lau’rie Roach) who knows the streets and his ’hood, and together they strive to unite the community and stop the destruction of the school; even though he’s not quite ready to be graduated based on his work to date.

It is a story that anybody who has seen some of the news these past couple of months, has to relate to.  After all, it was a few years ago that our State’s schools ranked even below those of Mississippi and Alabama.   And while it is true that Chicago isn’t the same as Highland Park, and some of our burbs south of the I-20 don’t have as many McMansions as some on the north side; do we not all want that every young person have an opportunity for good education and training to perform and prosper in life?   Vouchers don’t see to be the best answer to many of us.  Maybe a national curriculum would do better, so that students might learn some basics such as when the war of 1812 was fought, or the names of some capitols in South America or the EU.

A fine cast, on a typically fine set by the sisters Curley-Clay, and under the direction of John Dillon; this one-act 105 minute opus, yells out to each of us.  Yes, there may be expletives; but WTF, that’s life in these days.  While it is arguable as to whom the quote should be attributed, it is often said that people get the government they deserve.  Let’s hope so in our case.  More info and tickets at TrueColorsTheatre.org

20
Feb

Somewhere Over The Rose

Somewhere Over The Rose
Art Station Theatre
through February 22, 2017

The Art Station Theatre in Stone Mountain Village is a comfortable small playhouse, with easy parking, nice refreshments, and offering enjoyable presentations of shows on their small stage.

Ending this Wednesday is a show about the lives of Judy Garland and Bette Midler, which is written and performed by Kathy Halenda, backed up by Patrick Hutchison on piano.   Kathy is one of those ladies who like so many actors, doesn’t pretend to act as somebody, but actually becomes that somebody on stage.  And she can belt out tunes in grand style.  Maybe that’s why she’s played around the country to very appreciate audiences.

She’ll take you on a tour of the life of Judy Garland, and some imagined interchanges with Bette Midler, and she’ll splendidly deliver up many tunes you will know and probably wish you could sing along.  But, please don’t. . . .

You can get some info and order tickets 24/7 at ArtStation.org

And upcoming for St Patty’s Day will be their 21st Annual Raising of the Green celebration.  A chance to help a local house, and to win BIG.

19
Feb

America, Vol. 1

America, Vol. 1
Georgia Symphony Orchestra

The GSO has started off on a new trail under the baton of Musical Director Timothy Verville.  They will be bringing us in contact with more works by various American composers in this current season.  As Maestro Verville explained, the concert this past week was styled as Volume 1, as there will be several more to come.

While many of us think we may know of most classical composers, there is always the chance that we may yet to be introduced to some new names with intriguing works.  The GSO opened with Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2   A composer whose works are classical and romantic yet speak to us of today.  He rose to fame in the 1900s when George Eastman founded the School of Music at the University of Rochester, and Hanson came on to serve as director.

After a break, the GSO presented Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings and his Angus Dei, with the GSO Chamber Chorus onstage among the players, adding their voices to the score.  After these works the full Chorus took to the stands and presented an engaging set of 10 of Aaron Copland’s American songs.

They performed to a sold out house, which thoroughly enjoyed the concert.  The performances are at the Marietta Performing Arts Center, just a couple of miles west of the Square.  Next up with the GSO will be A Sensory Friendly Concert on March 4th, and if you love jazz, the GSO Jazz will be holding forth at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre on the Square in Marietta on March 18th.  More info and tickets at GeorgiaSymphony.org

13
Feb

And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None
Act3 Productions
through February 25, 2017

We all know that Agatha Christie wrote great mysteries, but this is one from 1939 that she described as one of her most difficult ones.  For in this one we don’t have one victim and several suspects which get revealed in the final scene.  Here we have ten potential victims, each of whom is a suspect and they all go in different manners.

The story is told using a children’s poem about Ten Little Indians (in this case Soldiers) who die off one at a time.  It’s a riot how these little dolls on a mantle just seem to disappear on cue.

Each of the main characters has been invited to an estate on an island off the coast of Dover, England.  None of them seem to know any others, and the alleged host never does appear.  The victim guests are left to delve into each others past, and reasons for being there, as things go badly one after another.  Toby Smallwood and Jessica Hiner play the butler and maid, who are among the early victims.  Emma Green is Vera, who is the first to show up and is a new secretary to the owner whom she has never met.  Gwyndion Calder is a gent who has a secret that comes out in Act II, and Alex Burcar is the young chap who is the first to get offed.

Paul Milliken is a copper who at first is under and assumed name, as he supposedly has been brought there to spy on the others.  Gisele Frame is the Ms. Prim who gets in everybody’s nose when she opens her mouth, and James Conner and Clay Johnson, who is an egotistic Justice, are two more gents with secrets in their past.  A female doctor who comes under a lot of suspicion is Alisha Boley.  And Joshua Herndon comes on in the opening scene as a chap who delivers up the food from the mainland so that these guests can dine.

Directed by Amy Cain Lucas, the set works very well, and you are drawn in as the plot seems to unveil, when it really is just messing with you.  You’ll be sitting there thinking through the actions and figuring out who gets to die next, and at whose hands.  Relax.  You’re wrong, my friend.  The show runs about 2.5 hours in 3 acts, and unless you’ve read the story or seen the play, you’ll be a bit surprised at the results.  Nobody and no thing is what it seems.  Sort of like a company of politicians, no?

Act3 is in Sandy Springs right behind Trader Joe’s, with plenty of free parking, and easy seating.  More info and tickets at Act3Productions.org

12
Feb

Million Dollar Quartet

Million Dollar Quartet
Atlanta Lyric Theatre    
through February 26, 2017

It is brilliant that some of our local theaters now co-produce shows.  For the patrons it means they may not have to schlep 20+ miles for a show they wish were closer to home; but for the theatre companies it saves money on sets, costumes, rehearsal dates and more.  So this high energy show is now in Marietta and come April will re-open in Roswell at Georgia Ensemble.

Chris Damiano directed this one down to the last note, (pun intended) and the cast of 8 players really gets your blood flowing as they open with Blue Suede Shoes and work their way through 23 numbers, which for so many of us AARP members takes us back to the days of our youth.

Sun Records had a pretty basic studio in Memphis.  It was the birthplace of Rock & Roll, as founder Sam Phillips put out records for several performers who were destined to soar into fame with their Rock and R&B numbers.  He was the first to record Elvis and Johnny Cash.   The one-act of total excitement is set at the studio.

A young piano player wants to get his work out.  You’ll thoroughly enjoy seeing Ethan Parker in his role as Jerry Lee Lewis, and he makes those 88 keys really rock.  The show is set on December 4, 1956 when four now-famous players wind up jamming at Sun.  Carl Perkins (Christopher Kent) and Johnny Cash (Chris Damiano) show up.   Carl isn’t too happy with Jerry Lee as back up.  Then Elvis (Chase Peacock) drops by with his lady friend, Dyanne (Alison Brannon Wilhoit).

Sun’s owner, Sam Phillips (Justin D. Thompson), has some problems, as some of the men are going to move on to other larger recording companies, regardless that Sam is the one who gave them their first break.  The story is about the music, and Ethan Parker is incredible on the keyboard, while the other three quartet members really are great on guitars.  Alison has some numbers to sing, and the gang is backed up by Kroy Presley on bass and Andrew Patton on the drums.

The show opened this week to full houses, and certainly deserves it.  It is impossible not to enjoy it and get excited by the music.  When selecting your seats try to get on the left side of the house, where you will have the better view of Ethan’s playing.  But, if you snooze you lose.  Few seats remain for most days.  More info and tickets at AtlantaLyric.com

11
Feb

Coming Apart

Coming Apart
Center Stage North
through February 25, 2017

Colin Kittridge (Brad Rudy) is a humor columnist whose wife, Fran (Ginny Teeter Slifcak) is a writer of romance novels.  Colin’s success has taken a while to come to fruition and that is when his agent, Sylvia (Cheryl Baer) gets him syndicated to more than 100 dailies.  Then he really knows how wonderful he is.

And it was Sylvia who got Fran hooked up with her first publisher and she had gone on from that to start a series, to hopefully become another Janet Evanovich type.  Sylvia is the pivot point in the story, as Fran and Colin first ran into one another, literally, at Sylvia’s office.

As we watch the story unfold, Fran and Colin tell one another they want a divorce.  Do they?  Maybe there are some reasons why they say that, to see what the reaction of their spouse may be.   And, as they seem to be getting ready to part, Colin’s buddy, Bert (Jerry Jobe), gets into a relationship with Sylvia.   So we find two couples where every one of the four people has some hidden agendum.  But, nobody gets hurt, there are plenty of laughs and all comes right in the end.

Prodigious playwright Fred Carmichael had put this one together some years back, but it is still relevant. Calvin Wickham directed the show, which is an easy one to watch and fun to get into.  Look on the bright side.  No politicians nor pundits, nobody gets killed, they have nice coffee and cookies in the lobby and the parking is easy and free.  It don’t git much better than that some days.

You’ll enjoy it as you start to determine who is doing what and why.  But, . . . you’re wrong.   And I am unanimous in that.  More info and tickets at CenterStageNorth.com

10
Feb

Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens

Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens
New Theatre in the Square
through February 19, 2017

Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten love to craft comedies under the pseudonym of Jones Hope Wooten.  They usually focus on groups of ladies as they try to work their way through disasters in the making.  This latest one of their plays is set down in Sweetgum, Texas where the Vereen cousins are trying to save business which is the Wide Bride shop, and do some event planning for the final reunion of the class from their high school, where one of them had become the Guacamole Queen some years ago.

Gaynelle (Lynda Palmer), Peaches (Terri Callozzo) and Jimmie Wyvette (Abby Avery) each have their own to-do list, including attending the funeral of a dead ex, trying to attract some guys to a gal who works beautifying corpses, and overcoming some bad on-air publicity after a religious relapse.

The story starts off on a local station with CeeCee (Marsha Fennell) as emcee of a broadcast where she’s trying to bring everybody together.  Well, that ain’t gonna happen.  There’s an aunt who is determined to get elected mayor (Marge Krengel) and also be Queen.

The reunion has no place to be staged and I can’t tell you all of what takes place, as you gotta go see this one for yourself.  I can tell you that there are laughs aplenty.  The old geezer (Bill Mann) with the oxygen tank gets into it with two sisters at the same time, and one of the cousins winds up in a fracas with the local Sheriff (Frank Harris).   What else could happen?  Could one of the gals start having an affair with Dewey and his right-hand guy Obediah?   Not sure if it will work, but you gotta hand it to them for trying.

Directed by Peter Borden, with a cast of 12 players, the show is a full-time riot of chaotic stuff when anything that could go wrong seems to with great aplomb.  The Theatre in the Square is right there in Marietta, easy to get to, on-street parking, comfortable seating and good view from any seat in the house.  For more info and tickets go to TheatreInTheSquare.net

5
Feb

Le Petit Prince

Le Petit Prince
Theatre du Rêve
through February 12, 2017

Our French Theatre of Dreams starts off it’s 21st year with their adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s children’s classic, The Little Prince.

The show is on the back stage facility at 7 Stages in Little Five Points.  What is really cool is seeing two fantastic actors doing a 75 minute schtick all in French, without a problem.  I couldn’t do that much in English.  Atlanta’s renown Chris Kayser plays the aviator which the author dew upon his self to include in the tale.  And the prince is played by Jasmine Grace Thomas who recently was graduated with degrees both in theatre and French.  So she carries off the role with great aplomb.

If you are not familiar with the story, it is about an aviator who winds up stranded in the Sahara and meets up with a prince from some asteroid.  They have trouble understanding one another, but as the tale for children goes on, they bind and grow together.  As the prince feels that adults can be pretty weird, and the adult seems to benefit from seeing himself anew.  So there are ideas strewn for both the youngsters and the older folks.

Carolyn Cook, who founded this group serves as the Director, and everything moves along just fine.  You don’t have to be fluent in French to enjoy the show as they also project English super-titles.  If planning to take in the show, try to be a little early and seat yourself on the longer side, to the right as you enter, and higher up; as ths will give you better view of the projected titles which appear on the wall in front of you.

For more info and tickets visit TheatreDuReve.com