"CURTAIN CALLS" #246
By Pat Launer
06/13/08
The Little Shop sells deadly plants;
On the Sun they only
dance.
The story unfolds, bit by bit,
In the Buckley world premiere, The
Hit.
Hit it, Mike!
THE SHOW: The Hit, a world premiere by Mike Buckley, the multi-talented theatermaker
who’s been associated with Lamb’s Players Theatre for two dozen years, and has
designed well over 100 productions. He’s written a number of plays, one of
which (Under the Mask) toured
THE STORY: With a romantic
comic thriller, it’s probably best not to say too much about the plot. Suffice
it to say that Susan, the spunky owner of the Memorabilia antiques shop that
was left to her by her recently deceased mother, has gotten some unfortunate
health news that makes her want to end it all before she slides downhill. She’s
anxious to protect her younger brother, Steve, who’s staying on in the shop to
help her and avoiding his scholarship to Stanford. So she decides to hire a hitman. And the rest is… well, mayhem, mistaken identities,
false moustaches, wild accents, faux Slavic language, missed mail, lost calls,
and all the other elements of farce (except numerous slamming doors). The
question is less ‘Whodunnit?’ than ‘Will it get
done?’. There are numerous humorous twists and turns along the way, of course.
And, it being a romantic comedy, a happy ending (with mates) for all.
THE PRODUCTION: In some ways,
the production belongs to Buckley. The ‘sextuple-threat’ wrote the play,
designed the set, amassed the props and he plays a leading role (he’s also
skilled at singing and designing lighting, but he didn’t contribute those
talents to this effort; he had to leave something
for someone else!). The set is a delectably cluttered, overstuffed, two-level
affair with a ladder to the loft and a stairway to the basement. It’s crammed
to the gills with every gewgaw, knickknack, trinket, ornament, curio,
bric-a-brac and reject you can imagine (which you can, if you’ve been to any antique
stores). Many of the items are written into the play and scattered about for
comic effect. In the delightfully rapid, punny
repartee between Steve (engaging Chris Bresky) and Samm (punky, spunky Season
Marshall), they run around the room picking up items that will illustrate their
next contribution to the agile verbal-acrobatics competition. Bresky also hops around hilariously, retracing his steps
through the maze of stuff, trying to find the stack of mail he’s forever
misplacing. David Cochran Heath is funny as the nefarious Slavo,
a speaker of some invented Slavic tongue, which is interpreted by the heavily
accented Paul Maley, a funnyman who plays seven
characters and brings down the house as he inhabits each one, with his
outrageous wigs, accents, costumes and behaviors. Gail West lends support in
another bevy of crazy customers (she’s best as Sal, the no-nonsense
fire-fighter).
The laughs are
loose and unforced; the writing is quick and clever. Lighting designer Nate Parde lends the proceedings a golden-rosy glow, Jon Lorenz
nicely manages the sound, and Jeanne Reith has done another whiz-bang job on
the quick-change costumes. Robert Smyth’s direction and the excellent cast’s
comic timing are pitch-perfect. No deep, hidden meanings here. Maybe there’s a
subtle focus on family protection and self-sacrifice, taking risks, making
changes. But really, it’s all about having a good time at the theater. Take a
Big Gulp of up this summer slurpy and enjoy.
THE LOCATION: Lamb’s Players
Theatre, through July 13
BOTTOM LINE: Best Bet
Feed me,
THE SHOW: Little Shop of Horrors, that musical perennial (1982 book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and
music composed by Alan Menken; based on the 1960 film by Roger Corman with screenplay by Charles Griffith). The Plant is
Back… in new company. Arts Off Broadway has just graduated
from a youth theater to a community theater, dedicated to “encouraging and
educating children, youth and adults in all aspects of theater arts and related
fields,” among other pursuits related to providing the community with “a
greater appreciation of the performing arts and contribut[ing] to the quality of life in the region.” Noble goal. And
for their first community theater production, they went BIG.
They secured a space at the
Lovely-voiced 20 year-old Alicia Kassel was
especially impressive as Audrey, nailing the squeaky voice and the plaintive
Madonna/whore innocence. Miles Grimes, 18, was engaging as
THE LOCATION:
All I Wanna Do Is Dance
THE SHOW: Dance on the Sun, the latest play by multi-talented Ruff Yeager, which premiered as part of his Vox Nova Company’s wonderfully impressive Super Nova new play
festival.
Back in 2001, when Ruff and Robin Christ were
appearing together in Sledgehammer’s Richard
III, they began talking about the ideas behind this play. Ruff wrote the
one-act for himself and for Robin, a former ballet dancer. It’s a taut, lyrical,
heartbreaking piece, about two former dancers (and former lovers) who come
together for the first time in 25 years. Their lives mirror so many real-life
ballet stories: the prima ballerina subjugated by (and married to) the
autocratic choreographer whom both principals adored; the bisexual male dancer
who sleeps with and mistreats everyone and anyone – and pays the ultimate
price.
A scent of melancholy infuses the piece. Andre and
Solange recount decades filled with pain and regret,
disappointment and poor choices. He’s in a wheelchair; she still lives to
dance, though a bit too old for it now. They get off to a haunted, cryptic,
halting start. But nothing can keep them from recalling their head-spinning
triumph as “Romeo and Juliet,” how brilliant they were together, how that was
the pinnacle of their lives. As their sometimes contentious, resentful
relationship re-establishes and evolves, they begin to forgive themselves and
each other, and learn something about holding on and letting go. In the shadow
of the past, we get to see Robin dance, executing a few achingly graceful
moves, while Ruff, wheelchair-bound, sweeps his hands into precise and delicate
gestures. We ultimately see that he’s practicing. And then, at one
gut-wrenching moment, the couple is united again, across the years and
heartaches, for a final duet.
The piece was beautifully, elegantly directed by DeAnna Driscoll, and the acting was moving and heartfelt,
the story sad and oh so poignant. It marked a lovely end to a superb and ambitious
new Festival.
NEWS AND VIEWS ….
…Yankee
Doodle… Diversionary Theatre is gearing up for the West coast premiere
and first regional production of the musical Yank!, which pays
tribute to
… McMurtry Meets Macbeth… The San Diego Shakespeare
Society presents Jonathan McMurtry and
Shakespeare Friends, featuring the award-winning Old Globe Associate Artist
(winner of the Patté Award for Lifetime Achievement) onstage with celebrity
pals, including Kandis Chappell, Ron Choularton,
David Ellenstein, Sandra Ellis-Troy, Antonio “TJ” Johnson, Rosina Reynolds, and
me -- and other surprise guests. Monday,
June 30 at 7:30pm at Moonlight’s Avo Playhouse in
…The Write Stuff… The Tutor, the chilling and
thrilling world premiere by Allan Havis
that was part of this month’s Super Nova Festival of New Plays, has already
been slated for publication. Later this summer, New York-based Broadway Play
Publishers, which has published all of Havis’ works, will print this one, too.
Look for it soon…. And more news from New York: writer/actor/teacher Bil Wright, who made such a splash in
the Cygnet/Black Ensemble Theatre reading of Fences in 2006, has just written the book and lyrics of a new
musical, Lizan (music by Joseph-Vernon
Banks), which is getting a ‘developmental reading’ this week at the Roy Arias
Theatre Center. Break a leg, Bil.
… A Gaffney gala – A celebration of the late Dr. Floyd Gaffney will be hosted by Common Ground Theatre, of which he was artistic director for 36
years. Titled “This is Gaffney” (his
signature telephone greeting), the event is the first annual birthday tribute
and fundraiser for the theater. Special guests will provide music, drama,
dance, song, awards and a silent auction. Saturday, June 14, 6-9 pm at the
Educational Cultural Complex. 619-263-7911; cgtheatre@sbcglobal.net.
… Getting ready for the Tonys…David Javerbaum,
executive producer of “The Daily Show,” is a Tony Award nominee for his (and Adam
Schlesinger’s) original score for Cry-Baby,
which originated at the La Jolla Playhouse.
Javerbaum recently
wrote a very funny open letter to the Tony voters (“you are the 793
best-looking people in the theater world”), to solicit their support and votes.
He accuses the competition of “felony convictions ranging from armed robbery to
the unlicensed importation of baby seals. Against such opposition, Adam and I and
our kennel of abandoned inner-city puppies may seem to have little chance.” He
goes on to offer several reasons for the voters to choose him, including the
fact that “it is customary for winners to thank their families during their
acceptance speeches. However, if given a chance to make such a speech, Adam and
I are willing to thank yours.” All
his life, he says, he’s “dreamed of hearing a theater luminary open the
envelope and mispronounce my name at the Tonys.” On
June 15 (mark your calendar; could you possibly be doing something else that night??) he may get that
chance. Javerbaum, whose missive can be viewed at
broadway.com, closes by pandering just a bit: “Thank you. By the way, have you
lost weight? ‘Cause you look great.”
Don’t forget the TONYs… Sunday, June 15
on CBS.
… Not sure what to do
with the kids this summer? How about Dancing Day Camp? The San Diego Ballet is
offering 1-2 week summer sessions on ballet, jazz, character, theater dance and
music appreciation. Programs for ages 6-8, 9-11 and 12-18 will be held in
August. The last day of each session will conclude with a performance and
reception for family and friends. Info at: 619-294-7374; sandiegoballet@aol.com.
… Plaudits for Strings,
with No Strings… The Cecilia String Quartet, ensemble-in-residence at SDSU,
has won second prize in the 6th Osaka International Chamber Music
Competition and Festa held in
.. Local film news: Ready! OK!, the marvelous film written and
directed by talented San Diegan James Vasquez, and featuring local
actors Sandra Ellis-Troy, Jim Chovick, Steve Gunderson and Ari Lerner, made a huge splash at NewFest
in New York, with two sold-out houses and thunderous ovations. The film moves
on to other Festivals around the country… Meanwhile, Ari Lerner has
moved on to his next venture. The 13 year-old has just wrapped a commercial for
Al Gore’s stop-global-warming campaign, and it was posted on the web
this week. The plan is for national cable and print distribution, and
hopefully, national network broadcast. Ari’s in the last section. Check him out
at http:.www.wecansolveit.org/page/s/millions… And Daoud
Heidami, a USCD MFA alum (2003), who appeared in
the Sledgehammer Theatre production of The
Chairs, can now be seen in the Adam Sandler movie, “You Don’t Mess With the
Zohan,” where reviews have singled him out as a
friend who aids and abets the clueless, plotting Rob Schneider.
'NOT TO BE MISSED!' (Pat’s Picks)
The Hit – clever, fast-paced, fluffy and fun; well
written, acted, directed and designed
Lamb’s Players Theatre,
through July 13
Three Days of Rain – wonderful performances, excellent direction, provocative play
Compass Theatre
(formerly 6th @ Penn), through 6/16.
Get a jump on summer… at the theater!
Pat
© 2008 PATTÉ PRODUCTIONS, INC.
For more than 20 years, Pat Launer has been the only regular broadcast theater critic in