Tokens of Affection
Out of Box Theatre
through March 30, 2019

This is a show where everything comes together perfectly. Topher Payne’s Tokens of Affection, is a laugh riot; especially if you thought that your own family was the only dysfunctional one.

Then come to meet the Garretts. Charlie (Matthew Busch) is the son who lives in lower Manhattan and works from home designing computer animated gaming. His sister, Claire (Emily Sams Brown), is up in Connecticut playing housewife to her hubby, Bruce (Daniel Carter Brown). Their father, Frank (Bob Smith), shows up unexpectedly and you have the start of a riotous confusion akin to putting your lives in the blender and then having somebody turn the power on when you least expect it.

Mary Claire Klooster plays their testy mother, Jackie; and Emily Kalat is Charlie’s neighbor, the single woman Rita.  No matter what anybody says, every attempt to skew the facts seems to backfire. If you were a fan of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara you will certainly love this play.

The set designed by Carolyn Choe works perfectly in a Moliere style. It works very well even if Charlie’s ceiling fan or stove may not do so.

Zip Rampy directed the production and I really thought he knew the real Jackie. She’s must have been my daughter-in-law’s mother.

This is one that some day should go to film, it’s that funny. For tickets and more info visit OutOfBoxTheatre.com

I am My Own Wife
OutFront Theatre
through March 30, 2019

While many of us may often think twice before attending a one-actor show, this isn’t that kind of production at all. Peter Smith is a highly regarded comedian/actor who plays regularly in NYC.  They come on here as the transgender Charlotte von Mahisdorf, who was a real person and she wrote her autobiography in 1992; detailing all the events of her difficult life trying to stay safe through the Nazi era and the Russian domination of east Germany after WWII before that wall came down.

The Nazis were trying to eradicate gay citizens and they were sought out akin to those of Jewish faith. And when the Stasi took over in the east Berlin area, where she had started the Gründerzeit Museum, she had even more problems.

The play by Doug Wright was crafted in 2003 from his interviews and conversations with the lady; and the following year he won a Pulitzer Prize for this one. Peter Smith shifts gears and personae instantly when onstage as more than 30 characters. The story starts with Charlotte, nee Lothar Berfelde, as a youngster who kills her father and has to deal with that for the rest of her life. But she was a survivor in every sense of the word.

Graham Miller has directed this work and an incredible amount of energy goes into this one-act play. And while you may know where it is going; the journey is never as expected. A lot of patrons would gladly have stayed on for a discussion group. Alas, many of the younger members of the audience had not lived through the great war, nor been in Soviet occupied East Germany or been through Checkpoint Charlie on the Friedrichstraße.

This is another thought provoking fine production by the OutFront Theatre Company. Easy to get to off 10th Street with valet parking. More info at OutFrontTheatre.com

Joe Gransden
Georgia Ensemble Theatre

Joe Gransden and his 16 piece big band hit the stage at Georgia Ensemble this week for their Fly Me to the Moon concert, which featured a lot of oldies and many you would want to sing along with.

This well known band plays 4 concerts a year at Georgia Ensemble and generally to a full house. They really know how to work the audience and the folks enjoy it fully.

This was their 3rd concert so if you want to catch up, plan ahead as their final concert will be Songs of the South on April 22, 2019

More info at GET.org

South Pacific
City Springs Theatre
through March 17, 2019

The classic musical, South Pacific, is playing right now to very happy audiences at the new Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs. The show is one that hit the boards in 1949, winning 10 Tony’s and a Pulitzer. Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin were the leads in the show and are remembered to this day for their performances as the French plantation owner and the navy nurse.

This production is directed and choreographed by Baayork Lee and brings more than two dozen performers to the stage, as they perfectly run through all 18 numbers, every one of which is a standard to the day. It is a tribute to Rodgers & Hammerstein being played somewhere in the world every day.

William Michals plays Emile de Brecque, who lives in that plush estate on the hilltop, overlooking the beach and with a view of Bali Ha’i. He falls for that navy nurse, Ensign Nellie Forbush, played by Kristine Reese and they both sing their way through attractions, doubts, and final resolutions.

A lot of the humor comes from that tough Tonkanise Bloody Mary, played by Yvonne Strumecki. Bart Hansard appears as Captain Brackett who is trying to get something accomplished. But, as you know the sailors are lonely and deeply feel that there is nothing like a dame; but some of the women would wash those men right out of their hair. What underlies the story line is how people feel about others and how children have to be carefully taught; especially if they expect to grow up into some enchanted evening.

The full orchestra in the pit is under the baton of Brandt Blocker, who is also the Artistic Director of this fabulous new company and venue. Easy to get to on Roswell Rd just outside the perimeter with plenty of garage space, and every seat with a clear view. HC drivers should drive up to main entrance and they have a discounted valet rate, which is a nice deal.

More info at CitySpringsTheatre.com

Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Lionheart Theatre
through March 24, 2019

Steve Martin wrote this play and it is sooooo Steve Martin in so many respects. The Au Lapin Agile was a real bistro in the Montmartre area of Paris; and in the days when Montmartre was a colony of now famous artists, it was a hangout for artists as well as musicians, students and a variety of weirdos. Of course these days it is more like Yuppieville, but still loaded with tourists who go to visit Sacré Cœur and then stroll down the rue Lepic past the galleries and souvenir shops to the Moulin Rouge.

As the show opens we find Einstein (Grant Carden) coming into the bistro where he decides to await a lady friend who is to meet him elsewhere. Only Einstein can really understand his own reasoning. Bartender, Freddy (Aaron Sherry) serves him up, and at the same time tries to deal with his wife and the joint’s waitress Germaine (Jamie Goss). A local ne’er do well sot named Gaston (Doug Isbecque) watches and joins in except when his over active bladder seems to interfere.

Picasso’s art dealer, Sagot (Gregory Nassif St.John) shows up for a dink and he and Einstein start to criticize the sheepish landscape that Freddy has hung on the back wall of the bar area. Enter Picasso (Daniel Cutts) who also needs a drink and the discussion seems to turn from art to sex; especially after sexy Suzanne (Jessie Kuipers) drops by. In real life Pablo was a bit of a womanizer and had relations with a good number of ladies. You’ll also meet Charles Schmendiman (Colton Combs) who is a real schmendrick and Steve Martin named him accordingly; pun intended. Cat Rondeau appears as a countess. And you shall get to meet one unnamed visitor (Briana Murray). Who that might be becomes quite obvious, but I shall not spoil the pleasure of discovery for those who have yet to see the play.

For if it is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then pleasure is in the mind and heart of the attendee; and it is an evening of really fine performance by a dedicated cast directed by Scott King on a really good set by Tanya Moore. The theatre is easy to get to, with free parking, good view from any seat and even home baked goodies at intermission. More info at LionheartTheatre.org

And, if you wish to visit Au Lapin Agile, which dates from the 1860s, they are still in business at 22 rue des Saules, as a cabaret.

Men with Money
Aurora Theatre
through April 14, 2019

What a treat, to have a local theatre company produce a strikingly enjoyable premiere of a new musical show, that surely should go to New York. This show, book and lyrics is by Bill Nelson and some additional music and lyrics by Joseph Trefler brings us back to New York in the 1950’s when life was quite a bit different and less stressful than today.

Three guys live in a flat that a somewhat difficult woman runs. Ms. Mugsten (Candy McLellen) thinks that tenants should actually pay the rent they owe, or get tossed out. She comes on as a tough gal who is unanimous in her decisions.

The three guys are Louis (Sean Doherty), Max (Marcello Audino) and Sonny (Kenny Tran). They put together a plan which is based upon each finding some wealthy person to wed. The story gets a bit complicated with such facets as the objects of adoration may not all be female, their presumptuous posing as well-to-do single gents can be seen through by many, and each of them is not always sure that whatever he is thinking may be the best idea.

One of them falls for a wealthy guy they call Frenchy (Jimi Kocina) who wants to take him on a holiday to Havana. Ooops. The guy thinks Havana is in France, so it gets pretty silly. Kind of reminds one of when Sky Masterson takes that gal there. Then one of the others goes for a wealthy gent (Cecil Washington, Jr.) who runs Marvatech. And the third one goes for that wealthy tycoon with a yacht (Brian Robinson).

A couple of others weave into the story as one of them is a secretary named Thursday (Adrianna Trachell) who works for one of the rich guys, and a good looking hot dog vendor (Daniel Wisniewski) who may not be quite the chap you expect him to be. But, nobody gets killed and all comes out right in the end.

Justin Anderson directs this grand scale production, which has some great dancing choreographed by Ricardo Aponte with the live band under the baton of Ann-Carol Pence; and the scenic designs by Julie Ray are all Broadway quality. The show runs a little more than a couple of hours, featuring 20 new numbers, a terrific story line, acting, singing, dancing and it really draws one in.

They are playing to full houses, so visit their website for more info and tickets; AuroraTheatre.com

And Then They Came for Me
Georgia Ensemble Theatre
coming only March 10, 2019

This production by Georgia Ensemble has played for 22 years and been seen by an audience of more than 500,000 viewers. The play by James Still is based on Eva’s Story, the memoir of Eva Schloss; who was a friend of Anne Frank during the holocaust. Eva Schloss is a Holocaust survivor, peace activist, teacher and a humanitarian, who became Anne Frank’s step-sister who wrote the book “The Diary of Anne Frank”.

The play, directed by Erin Bushko runs about one hour and is staged with five players and projected images. For those of us, of a certain age, the story of the Nazi atrocities in WWII can never be fully eradicated from our memories; no matter how many may wish to revise the history of those years. For, as George Santayana opined in 1896,  “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Anne Frank is played by Dayanari Umaña and Alex Renée Hubbard is Eva. Amy L. Levin and Jacob Jones appear as family members and acquaintances; while Christopher Holton has the cajones to come on as a Hitler Youth member as well as several other roles. It can’t be easy to present one’s self in such a role.

We do have a problem in our nation, inasmuch as many students are taught very little history and/or geography. And, when we think of what is going on in our nation and our world in these days, we need to consider where and how things may develop.

The final one-night performance for this Family Stage Series event will be at their Roswell location on March 10th, and I encourage anyone who has not seen it to attend. If you know very little of the background, you will learn more. If you recall quite a bit of the background, you will be pleased to see that the show, in cooperation with the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, is keeping the history alive.

More info at GET.org

Eugene Onegin
Atlanta Opera
through March 10, 2019

It was around 1830 that Alexander Pushkin was putting together his various segments each written in verse, which were put together and published as Eugene Onegin. It really appealed as a saga for Tchaikovsky who wrote a very symphonic score to which he and noted poet/artist, Konstantin Shilovsky, created the libretto, and it premiered in Moscow in 1879.

It is another one of those love sought, found, lost, regained, lost and lost forever. The lead, Eugene Onegin (David Adam Moore), gets involved with a local lady, Tatyana (Rachael González), who he meets when he accompanies his friend, Lensky (William Burden),to visit his friend’s object of adoration, Olga (Megan Marino).

For these were times when they had to deal with the fact that country folk and city folk were quite different. Not that really has changed so much. On the opening night, David Adam Moore had a medical issue and could not be singing full voice; but he came on doing a lip-synch with Justin Stolz singing at stage right. Stolz also came on as the magician, Monsieur Triquet, performing at a cotillion.

The Opera Orchestra was live in the pit under the baton of Ari Pelto, and they were terrific. The entire production directed by Tomer Zvulun is right up to our current standards, if not even better. As in most operas, the story line is not the real essence of the show. It is great sets, costumes, music, dancing and singing; and they brought it all to the stage.

Yes, somebody does die, but this is an opera. What else is new? Lensky and Onegin get it on in a duel and their friendship finds an unhappy end. But, there are more unhappy meet-ups as the tale goes on. Presented in 3 acts, which run about 3 hours with the two intermissions, and sung in Russian with English super-titles. The opera is staged at Cobb Energy Center near 285 and 75, with plenty of parking and easy to get to. There are but 3 performances remaining, March 5, 8 and 10. More info at AtlantaOpera.org

Driving Miss Daisy
Georgia Ensemble Theatre
through March 17, 2019

and Conant Theater at Oglethorpe

June 28 through July 21

This current production of Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize winning play is really a delight. The cast of three players couldn’t be better. Jill Jane Clements once again plays Daisy, the widow with a very strong sense of what she wants and what she approves of. She has a slight problem in that at her advanced age her son, Boolie, doesn’t want her to drive any more; since she seems to run into things by accident.

And William S. Murphey comes back to reprise a role he has played for many years. He is the son, Boolie, who runs a very successful printing business; and he hires a black man to serve Miss Daisy as her driver. Oops! Daisy doesn’t think she needs nor wants a care giver, and they start off on a very difficult road to becoming friends for life.

And Rob Cleveland is back again as her driver, Hoke, who is happy to have the work, but would like to feel that he is doing something of value for the money that Boolie is paying him each week. He eventually gets to be appreciated.

We hear of other members of the family and if they seem a bit difficult in some ways, that isn’t unusual. After all, whose family is perfect? The play is derived form the real life personal experiences of the playwright who grew up in Atlanta. And it is set here with references to Virginia Highlands, Little 5 Points, and The Temple.

The crisis point is when Miss Daisy is heading to The Temple on the day in October 1958 that some miscreants set off dynamite at the entrance. And there is also the inclusion of the time when in 1965 Martin Luther King was honored by the UJA for his winning of the Nobel Prize.

But the story really is not about anti-Semitism, and discrimination in those bad days. It is more about how two people from vastly different backgrounds get to know and appreciate one another as human beings. Directed by Laurel Crowe, with a fairly simple set that works for Daisy’s home and Boolie’s office. It is a one act 90 minute show where everything works just perfectly. This is an evening full of laughter and one you can truly enjoy.

For performance times and tickets you can visit GET.org