As Bees in Honey Drown – “The Bitch is Back!”; Seth Eisen’s Revelatory Show – ‘Blackbird’; Arabian Nights – Sex Behind the Veil; Footlight Parade!
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Nov. 21‚ 2008
ARABIAN NIGHTS – SHOCK AND AWE
What you see when you first enter the Theater is what looks like a basement with canvas strewn about hiding things. Are the actors under there? If not, where do they come onto the stage? There is a strange door that looks like its filled up with mortar and brick. Could they be behind that and come crashing through? Well, soon enough, we find out. Suddenly there is blackout, and the sound of stirring, fabulous Arabian sounds, that make you sit up and take notice of the actors entering the stage from all the entrances in the Theater.
[more]->
The Devil’s Disciple – “A Lot of Fun, Impressive!”; It’s Happening! New Shows Open: NiteClub and BuzzStuff
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Nov. 14‚ 2008
THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE – A FUN CLASSIC
George Bernard Shaw’s play is set in a small New Hampshire town in 1777. The colonists were in rebellion against British rule, and you could get hanged for treason for doing so. In the first act, Shaw gives us straight melodrama. There is a widow, a destitute mother, and a black-sheep son, who saves the husband of the woman he is having an affair with. Talk about desperate housewives. Then there is the local minister. The Redcoats want to hang him to make the townsfolk sit up and take notice that they could be next. But, comes along Richard Dudgeon who proclaims himself as the ‘devil’s disciple.’ When the British come for the Minister, who is out at the time Dudgeon puts on the Minister’s Long Coat and pretends to be the man that they are looking for. And he is headed for a trial and a surefire hanging. His own!
[more]->
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone: “Holds You Spellbound!”; It’s Happening! – Stars, Fun, Drama, Events
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Nov. 07‚ 2008
JOE TURNER PLAY IS RAW AND GUTSY
Right off the bat, I knew that I was in for a thrilling experience when I heard the lonely sound of a Train whistle, joined by an equally lonesome sound of a Harmonica. Those sounds are joined by faint clapping and woops. I thought to myself – “O.K, they’ve got me. I’m hooked.”
The story takes place in 1911 in a well appointed boarding house. This boarding house is filled with intrigue and religious eccentricities of one of the roomers, Bynum Walker. August Wilson’s play gives us a close look at African American’s as they arrive to the North to begin life anew. There is one particular haunting man that wanders into the three-story Boarding house to look for a room and his missing wife. His name is Herald Loomis – and he is one of the most frightening, mysterious persons that you’ll ever see. It is remarkable how a young actor can put himself into another time. What you see on the stage is a rare triumph.
[more]->
The Quality of Life – “Crackling, Fast-Moving!”; Flicker Bit: Tru-Loved – “Giddy Fun!”; Fa-Lash! – Hot News!
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Oct. 31‚ 2008
Jane Anderson has written a powerful play that touches every emotion in the book. Bill and Dinah -- are a very religious midwestern couple. Dinah wants to visit their free-spirited cousin Jeannette and her husband Neil. These four people are headed for a collision of beliefs, what marriage means, and the meaning of life.
Anderson was inspired to write this play from her own brother’s experience in the Mt. Vision fire of 1995. Her brother and his wife lost everything in the devastating fire – but being the free spirits that they are, they put together a makeshift encampment in the Oakland Hills after the fire swept away their home. Among the charred trees, they turned an Urt (a Mongolian Hut) into a beautiful living space. Whatever they could find in the burnt ruins they hung it from the dead tree branches. There was a Tea Kettle, aluminum trimming from the windows that was melted into what looks like sculptures and other memorabilia. The kitchen was open air. That means that they cooked outside. As Jeannette says: “When it rains, I don’t have to cook.”
[more]->
Vera Wilde -- Amazing Staging; Insanely Funny -- ‘Russian on the Side’; Fa-Lash! -- Hot News!
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Oct. 24‚ 2008
WHO IS VERA WILDE?
Well, here’s the deal. There really isn’t a person by that name. Her name was really Vera Zasulich, who is a somewhat obscure Russian pre-revolutionary woman who gave another revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin some talking points. Playwright and Composer Chris Jeffries has taken this long lost story and linked it with a story about Oscar Wilde. And that is why the play is called Vera Wilde. There is a small connection between the two. They were both revolutionary in their day. He was Social and she was Political (she went to jail for two years for shooting the Chief of Police of St. Petersburg.) (He went to jail for being who he is.)
[more]->
42nd Street at Lesher Theater – “Smart, Fun, Charming”; Fa—Lash! – Hot News
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Oct. 17‚ 2008
42ND STREET IS FLAT OUT FUN
Its bigger and better than the original. Hey, I’ve seen it a zillion times and this is the one that will curl your toes. It’s hard to tell, but there are some subtle changes and rearranging that makes this show an absolute chart topper. The expanded changes have certainly enhanced Gower Champion’s masterpiece.
The huge cast is so engaging and so talented that I seriously had the urge to jump up on the stage and join them. If ever there was a production in the hands of Theatre pros – this one is it.
[more]->
Shining City – “Complex, Compelling”; That’s What She Said – Satiric, Sexy Humor; Fa – Lash! – Hot News
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Oct. 10‚ 2008
SHINING CITY – SEEING CHOSTS
No one writes Ghost stories better than Conner McPherson. He is a genius at crafting amazing monologues. His gift for words is very apparent in this story about a Dublin therapist and a patient who comes to see the Therapist. The patients wife has just died and he is in shock and suffering grief. And, he also sees her ghost in the house. In the first 30 minutes or so, it is the patient who does all the talking. The Therapist only nods his head once in a while, but says very little. As a matter of fact most of the Therapist’s lines are “Yeah” or “Mmm.” The actors in this play really know how to flesh out the personalities of these two men. And that is especially challenging, given the long monologues that John, the patient has to deliver. There are many pauses, as he gropes for the right words. They come slowly as if he really doesn’t know what he is going to say next. This is great acting.
[more]->
The History Boys – A History Lesson you’ll never forget. -- “Powerful and moving!”; Fa—Lash! – Hot News!
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Oct. 03‚ 2008
THE HISTORY BOYS
The time is the eighties and eight young men at an English Prep School, are now hoping too gain admission to Cambridge or Oxford. There is a tight-assed ‘Head Master’ – who is determined to make sure that his students make the cut. One of the Teachers is Hector, who is a frumpy, older man. He believes that knowledge exists for the “glory” of knowing. Nothing else is needed. No written exams, just give the students the words. Hector, even has the students act out parts of movies, so that they can relate to his rather ‘different’ way of teaching.
[more]->
Bronx Tale – "Teeming Italian Epic"; Moby Dick! The Musical – “Rentlessly Cheery”; Flicker Bits: Humboldt County; Battle in Seattle
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Sep. 26‚ 2008
BRONX TALE – A GRITTY MASTERPIECE
Chazz Palminteri’s one-man memoir is set in the early 60’s. He grew up on the Streets (187th Street & Belmont) where murder, racism and racketeering were kinda par for the course. As a young man, he actually saw a murder right in front of his house, as he was sitting on the front stoop.
[more]->
Word for Word – “Perfection!”; Stoppard’s ‘Rock and Roll’; Footlight Parade
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Sep. 19‚ 2008
November 21, 2008
