Brief Encounter – “I Didn’t Want to Leave!”; Marilyn Maye – “Sensational!”; Romeo and Julien – “Boy Meets Transgender”
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave, 2009-09-18
BRIEF ENCOUNTER - DAZZLING!I didn’t want to leave my seat. They had to drag me out after everyone else left the Theatre. I was so entranced that I couldn’t move after the show. The Magic will come back if I just sit here – I said to myself
This story is about love and trains. And they both run both ways, don’t they?
I have always loved trains. I like the clickety clack of the Trains going by and the tooting of the horn – and the cozy little cafes in each station. This is what it was like in the 40’s.
Two people meet each other in the Café Train station. They are both married with children. He's a doctor she’s a housewife. But they can’t help each other -- they both fall in love and agree to meet on certain days in the quirky Café. Oh, if only we could go back to those days. What a marvelous time it was.
The Noel Coward songs drift across the stage and waves dash across the stage (Yes, Waves undulate to Rachmaninoff). The two people on a rowboat that are ‘so much in love’ actually appear first on a big screen (like in the movie Brief Encounter that starred Trevor Howard). The Boat cleverly leaves the screen to be on stage. And that is only one of the many wizardly things that go on in the fantastic show.
When we first see Laura, the woman who is ‘so in love’ is sitting in the front row of the theater. She argues with a man next to her. The ushers tell them to shush up several times. Laura bolts out of her seat to the stage where the screen is showing the movie Brief Encounter. Suddenly she walks into the screen and appears in the movie. Now, if that is not incredible – I don’t know what is. Oh, I know, that others have done this trick, such as Woody Allen. But, it is especially delicious in this musical. By the way – the audience is not aware that the people in row two are sitting behind the actors. What fun!
The Actors act in the aisles on the stage and on screen. They are so versatile. They sing, play musical instruments and do some terrific vaudeville romps. It’s all so charming beyond belief. I just could not get enough of Coward’s wonderful songs and words. Also great is the period music provided by Stu Barker and played by the on-stage musicians. This is a terrific timeless tale. The accelerating plot twists are more than just clever surprises. You’re not going to be able to get this musical out of your head. It’s been dropped from Celluloid Heaven on the A.C.T. stage thanks to Carey Perloff. Now, can I stay in my seat till the end of the run? Please don’t make me leave.
THE SEXY FANTASTIC CAST: Hannah Yelland (Laura). She is luminous and amazing! Marvelous Darling! Alec (Milo Twomey) also Marvelous! Joseph Alessi (Albert/Fred) Great charisma and a great actor! Stuart McLoughlin – (Stanley) plays the music, sings and charms us with his acting. It can’t get any better than this. He’ll be one of your favs. Annette McLaughlin (Myrtle) is sparkly and fun. Beverly Rudd (Beryl the Waitress) is a kick in the rear. She’s hilarious and wildly entertaining! Everyone in the cast gives thrashing good performances!
EXTRAS: MUSICIANS: EDDY JAY AND ADAM PLEETH. GREAT! The Wonderful projection designs are by Jon Driscoll and Gemma Carrington. Thank You to ‘Kneehigh Theatre’. Noel Coward songs like “Mad About the Boy” (Lyric: ‘There’s something Gay about the Boy’) and “Go Slow Johnny”. Exquisite lighting by Malcolm Rippeth. And Love and English Cakes to Emma Rice that directed and adapted this show for the stage.
AT THE AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE
RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-
Marilyn Maye, now at the Rrazz Room.
MARILYN MAYE – BLONDE BOMBSHELL SEARS THE FLOORBOARDS AT THE RRAZZ ROOM
From the back of the room enters Marilyn Maye. She has on enough Bling to stock Tiffany’s. Also you can’t miss the Bob Mackie designer costume. Red goes very well with diamonds. There are the diamond earrings. The Diamond Bracelet, the Diamond Necklace. Here is an idea. Why not sell Marilyn Maye Dolls with real Jewelry? After her completely sold out show at the Rrazz room – sales should skyrocket.
You won’t have any trouble hearing Maye – as she belts out a tremendous rendition of “You’re Gonna Hear From Me.” She says to the audience: “Now that I’m here – your gonna hear from me. I’m staking my claim!” And being a take-charge woman that is exactly what she did.
Maye swings into a wonderful Steve Allen Medley. “He was the original Tonight Host, and wrote over 8.000 songs.” One of his biggest hits was “This Could Be The Start of Something new.” Maye, with her radiant voice
Made the song really special – we knew right away that she has a fantastic voice. She’s a varied talent and can take on any song style. Maye can go from a pensive Ballad to a rip Roaring Louis Armstrong song without losing a diamond.
Take Bette Midler, Francis Faye and Ida Lupino. Put them all together and what you get is Marilyn Maye. Why Ida Lupino? Well, in the Johnny Mercer Medley she sang Maye sings “One For My Baby” – a song that Ida Lupino sang in a Bar in the movie “Roadhouse.” It brought memories back to that Black and White Noir film.
Also, you must hear the fantastic “Guess Who I Saw Tonight” from New Faces. It’s a song for everyone who has caught his or her husband, girlfriend, or domestic partner cheating. The words sung to her husband: “Guess who I saw tonight, my dear. I saw you” Try to get out of that all you little rascals out there.
Maye is also very funny. “Steve Allen gave me my first exposure. On T.V., that is.” Here’s another funny line: “I love to take requests. (Pause) But not tonight!” And: “If you want to keep me alive – buy my C.D. It’s out there.” She points to the entry door.
You still have time to see this ageless and timeless professional. At her age, which I won’t reveal – she still has a young sound and her vocal range is just unbelievable.
You won’t want to miss her. The power and passion of music can transport you to another time and place. And, Maye is ready. She has the power!
RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-
http://www.therrazzroom.com/
Justin Lizanckie (Courtesy Photo from Bio) Now appearing as Mercutio in Justin and Julien.
ROMEO AND JULIEN -- IT’S NOT ZEFFIRELLI’S ROMEO
ROMEO AND JULIEN tells the oft-told tale of two ‘Star-crossed teen lovers. They fall in love with each other and want to marry. But there is a problem. The families, the Montagues and Capulets, are fierce enemies. A ‘Father’ does marry Romeo and Julien in this adaptation, even if they are both boys. One (Julien) is Transgender. This, of course, is not acceptable to Julien’s father.
Actually, I think that this is a brave and new frontier. Why not same-sex couples in a play like Romeo and Juliet? Although this version talks Shakespeare – it’s not Shakespeare’s words that we are familiar with. The dialogue has been tinkered with.
The stage is pretty bare, but effective. The lighting is divine – and the acting is on a par of anything that you would see at a larger theater. Especially, Justin Liszanckie (Mercutio). He has that sly, rascally charisma that keeps you riveted to him. The easy-going stage presence can’t be faked; it’s the real deal. You’ll say – WOW!
Julien is very convincing as both boy and girl. It’s a hard task, and he handled it very well. Peter Matthews as Romeo came across well as the bereaved lover when he thinks that his lover is dead. His death scene is quite engrossing.
Also in the cast are Michael Moerman (Capulet), Diana Gross (Nurse/Friar Laurence) and Adam Simpson as Tybalt. All give sharp-edged performances.
The show has a hard-edged look and style to it and there are unique visuals that cross many decades. Think ‘Rebel Without A Cause’ and ‘West Side Story.’
AT THE BOXCAR THEATRE
http://www.boxcaretheatre.org/
RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! –trademarked-
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