The Sting at Parker Theatre

Last night I went to see Parker Theatre's production of The Sting (based on the 1973 movie starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman) and I really enjoyed it. It is 1936 and Johnny Hooker (Spencer Hohl) and his partner Luther (Brinton Wilkins) are grifters working in Joliet, Illinois who trick a courier out of $11,000 unaware that the money was to have been given to the powerful mobster Doyle Lonnegan (Owen Richardson). Luther wants to retire and tells Hooker that he should go to Chicago and learn from Henry Gondorff (Roger Dunbar) because he is ready for the big time. When Hooker discovers that Luther has been killed by Lonnegan for revenge, he escapes to Chicago and finds Gondorff living with his girlfriend Billie (MacKenzie Pedersen). He agrees to help Hooker run an elaborate con game to ruin Lonnegan and they enlist Billie and various criminals, including Kid Twist (Mike Hohl) and J.J. Singleton (Anthony Lovato), for "The Set-Up," "The Hook," "The Wire," and "The Shut-Out" but, before they can get to "The Sting," they must deal with Snyder (Duane Stephens), a corrupt policeman from Joliet chasing Hooker for counterfeiting, and Polk (James Parker), an FBI agent searching for Gondorff. This features snappy dialogue and the talented cast delivers it brilliantly. I especially enjoyed the interactions between Spencer Hohl and Roger Dunbar because they play off each other so well. Seeing the criminals play their roles in the con is also a lot of fun. The fast-paced action takes place in multiple settings which are portrayed on stage with projections, moving panels, and set pieces that are moved on and off stage by the ensemble (it was opening night and I was really impressed with with how seamless the transitions were). My favorites were the projections denoting each part of the con (they reminded me of title cards in a movie), the metal beams representing the elevated train in Chicago, and the elaborate set pieces used for the betting parlor. The staging is very clever, particularly the poker game on the train and a chase scene between Hooker and Snyder through the aisles. This production kept me very engaged and I highly recommend it (I have seen the movie but it was so long ago that I had forgotten a big twist at the end). It runs on Fridays and Saturdays (with matinees on Saturday) through May 3 and tickets may be purchased here.

Note:  Last night was the biggest crowd I've seen at Parker Theatre (there were only a few empty seats) so get your tickets now!

Persuasion at Parker Theatre

As a huge fan of Jane Austen, I was so excited to see an adaptation of Persuasion at Parker Theatre last night. It is very well done and I really enjoyed it. Anne Elliot (Madeline Thatcher) is persuaded by her aristocratic family and friends to reject the proposal of Captain Frederick Wentworth (Daniel Frederickson) because of his lack of wealth and position. Eight years later, their fortunes have reversed because her father Sir Walter Elliot (David Weekes) has mismanaged his estate and Captain Wentworth has prospered from the war. They meet unexpectedly when Captain Wentworth's brother-in-law and sister, Admiral and Mrs. Croft (Michael Hohl and Cecily Bills, respectively), let Anne's ancestral home, Kellynch Hall. Anne still loves him but she fears that he hasn't forgiven her for breaking his heart when he pursues Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove (Emily States and Isabelle Purdie, respectively). Captain Wentworth eventually realizes that he still loves Anne but will she be persuaded by her father and Lady Russell (Melanie Muranaka) to marry her cousin William Elliot (John Hayes Nielsen)? This adaptation is extremely faithful to the novel which makes it quite long with lots of scene changes and, even though they are handled very quickly, the pacing sometimes gets bogged down. Other than that, I loved everything else about this production. Thatcher and Frederickson are very appealing as the two leads (they reminded me of Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds from the 1995 movie adaptation with their physical appearances even if Thatcher is a bit bolder) but I laughed out loud whenever Mckelle Shaw pretends to cough as the hypochondriac Mary Musgrove, whenever Weekes looks at a handheld mirror as the vain Sir Walter, whenever Nicole Holbrook eats a chocolate bonbon as the spoiled Elizabeth Elliot, and whenever Wyatt Bills and Liam Brown run around in circles as the rambunctious Musgrove boys. The set is really beautiful and I loved the projections used for Kellynch Hall, Uppercross Manor, the seaside at Lyme, and the Assembly Room in Bath as well as all of the elegant period furniture. The staging is really clever, especially when Admiral and Mrs. Cross retrieve Anne in their carriage and when Louisa jumps off the sea wall. The costumes are also beautiful and, as much as I love dresses with empire waists and embellished fabrics, I was very impressed by the naval uniforms and hats.  Seeing this production is a lovely way to spend an evening and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).  It runs at Parker Theatre on Fridays and Saturdays (evenings and matinees) through March 8.

A Christmas Carol at Parker Theatre

Last night I went to Parker Theatre for the second of five productions of A Christmas Carol that I have scheduled this season. This version tells the well-known story of the reclamation of Ebenezer Scrooge's soul by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future but it is much more atmospheric than others I've seen and I loved it! I especially enjoyed some of the more dramatic differences, such as when Jacob Marley (Stephen Harmon) dies at the beginning of the show and then haunts Scrooge (Brinton M. Wilkins) before he appears to him in his chambers, when characters that Scrooge meets on the streets of London return at key moments from his past to soften his heart, when young Ebenezer (Matthew Delafuente) has a romantic dance with Belle (Isabelle Purdie), and when Scrooge learns the truth about his fate by opening his coffin in the cemetery (it is so ominous). I also enjoyed all of the elaborate special effects as Scrooge interacts with the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Helene Parker), Present (David Hanson), and Future (Helene Parker) because they are quite impressive. The use of a scrim, fog, and atmospheric lighting as Scrooge sees memories from his past as well as shadows and silhouettes as he is shown a frightening possible future is incredibly effective in creating an otherworldly mood. Wilkins is outstanding as Scrooge because there is a marked change, shown through facial expressions and body language, between the bitter old miser at the beginning of the show and the lighthearted character he becomes at the end after his transformation. His interactions with Bob Cratchit (Lucas Charon), when his clerk tearfully thanks Scrooge for his generosity, and with Fred (Tanner Tate), when Scrooge entreats his nephew to let him into his life, are very moving and brought a tear to my eyes. The sets and costumes may be simpler than other local productions but they portray a more realistic interpretation of Victorian London (I loved the street lamps). This is one of my favorite adaptations of the novel by Charles Dickens and I highly recommend including it as one of your Christmas traditions. It runs at Parker Theatre on Fridays and Saturdays through December 24 (go here for tickets).

Note:  I have become a huge fan of Parker Theatre and I am so excited for next season!  The shows include Persuasion, The Sting, Noises Off, Macbeth, Silent Sky, and A Christmas Carol.  Season and individual tickets are now on sale (go here).

The Woman in Black at Parker Theatre

I was so excited for The Woman in Black at Parker Theatre last night because I had never seen it before (despite the fact that it is the second longest running play in the West End after The Mousetrap). It is based on the Gothic horror novel of the same name by Susan Hill but it has a really clever twist. It is also incredibly scary because I almost jumped out of my seat at one point (I'm surprised I didn't scream). Arthur Kipps (Michael Hohl) is still traumatized by an encounter with an apparition that he had many years ago while settling the estate of Alice Drablow at a desolate and secluded mansion. He believes that he can rid himself of the nightmares that plague him by telling the story publicly on stage so he hires an Actor (Lucas Charon) to help him. The Actor convinces him that it would be better to act out the story rather than recite it from a manuscript so they begin rehearsing in a Victorian theatre using minimal props, realistic sound cues, and imaginative light design.  The Actor portrays a younger version of Kipps while he portrays all of the other characters and narrates the play. The action on stage shows Kipps attending Drablow's funeral, traveling to her house in an old-fashioned pony and trap, working alone in the eerie house, and witnessing unsettling events including the appearance of a strange figure dressed in black. They stop in between scenes to discuss their performances and, during one such break, Kipps promises a surprise. The Actor interprets this to mean that Kipps hired the actress who suddenly appears on stage as the woman in black. The action concludes when the young Kipps discovers the identity of the mysterious figure and when the Actor makes a startling realization about the actress portraying her. I absolutely loved the stagecraft used to create an unsettling atmosphere because it is amazing what just the sound of a door creaking or the appearance of shadows on a scrim can do to the imagination. The woman in black only appears a few times (one of those times was when she seemed to come from nowhere to stand right next to me in the aisle) and this is incredibly effective because it was terrifying every time I thought I saw her in the shadows. Charon's performance does much to add to the unease because his terror is palpable, especially when his only source of light is a torch in the almost pitch black darkness of the marsh. I was also quite impressed with how seamlessly Hohl inhabits all of the characters he plays with just a simple change of costume right on stage. This is one of the scariest shows I've ever seen (and I loved being scared) so it is perfect for this spooky season! It runs on Fridays and Saturdays through November 2 (go here for tickets).

Twelfth Night at Parker Theatre

Last night I had so much fun seeing Shakespeare's hilarious comedy Twelfth Night at Parker Theatre. I was laughing out loud the whole time and I was definitely not alone (there were lots of teens in the audience and that made my English teacher heart so happy). Sebastian (Alex Glover) and his twin sister Viola (Camrey Fox) are shipwrecked on the Illyrian coast in a terrible storm and each thinks that the other is dead. Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario and offers her services to the Duke Orsino (Jason Hackney) with whom she immediately falls in love. Orsino is desperately in love with the Countess Olivia (Hannah McKinnon), who is in mourning for her brother, and sends Cesario to her to woo her on his behalf but Olivia, in turn, falls in love with Cesario. Meanwhile, Sebastian is wandering around Illyria and is, of course, mistaken for Cesario. Chaos ensues! There is also a secondary story, which is the source of much amusement, involving Olivia's obsequious steward Malvolio (David Johnson). He makes life difficult for the other members of Olivia's household, most notably her uncle Sir Toby Belch (Tyler Oliphant), her would-be suitor Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Scott Butler), her gentlewoman Maria (Katherine Tietjen), and her jester Feste (Owen Briggs). To get their revenge they have Maria mimic Olivia's handwriting and send him a letter in which Olivia professes her love for him and requests that he wear yellow stockings with cross garters (a fashion she dislikes). Hilarity ensues! This play includes a lot of physical comedy and it is extremely well done. I especially loved the scenes featuring the lovesick Orsino languishing on a chaise longue, Malvolio running to Olivia when summoned, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew engaging in drunken revelry, Sir Andrew half-heartedly fighting a duel with Cesario and then running away when challenged by Sebastian, Olivia chasing Cesario around the stage after declaring her love for him, and Malvolio attempting to woo Olivia with his yellow stockings and cross garters. I really enjoyed everyone in the cast (Johnson gets a shout out) but Oliphant and Butler gave my favorite performances because they have brilliant comedic timing. I laughed and laughed at all of their antics! Every aspect of this production, including costumes, sets, and lighting design, is outstanding and I particularly liked the choice to have Olivia's gowns become progressively lighter as she emerges from her melancholia as well as how the shipwreck is staged. Not only is this a highly entertaining play but it is also very accessible and easy to follow (the teens sitting near me loved it and said that they all want to see it again). It runs on Fridays and Saturdays through September 7 (go here for tickets) and I highly recommend it.

The Importance of Being Earnest at Parker Theatre

Even though I retired from teaching English four years ago, I still think about the year in terms of the literature I would be teaching. Since I always ended the school year with The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde in my British literature classes, it was so fun to see a delightful production of this witty play at Parker Theatre last night. Jack Worthing (Chris Last) and Algernon Moncrieff (Jonathan McBride) are foppish young men in 19th century England who adopt fictional identities to escape social obligations. Jack invents a brother named Ernest in order to behave badly in London without ruining his reputation in the country and Algernon creates an invalid friend named Bunbury to have an excuse to avoid his aunt Lady Bracknell (Linda Jean Stephenson). Chaos ensues when Jack and Algernon attempt to woo Gwendolen Fairfax (Kristi Curtis) and Cecily Cardew (Kristin Hafen) and are both mistaken for the nonexistent Ernest. The dialogue in this play is razor sharp and the actors deliver it at a breakneck pace as the characters banter back and forth about the trivial concerns that Wilde found so hypocritical among the upper classes of his day. Between the hilarious line delivery and all of the physical comedy, I don't think the audience stopped laughing once during the entire show. I sure didn't! I especially loved how a scene between Gwendolen and Cecily is staged because, as they are fighting over who is really engaged to Ernest, they play a game of chess in which they take out all of their feelings on the pieces. I also really enjoyed all of the subtle bits of business performed by the servants in London and in the country (both played by John-Tyrus Williams and Mary Parker Williams) because, if you pay close attention, it highlights how superficial the main characters are, particularly when they replace all of Algernon's alcohol with flower arrangements when Lady Bracknell visits him. The four lead actors do a great job with the rapid-fire dialogue (their accents are especially good) and with the physicality. Their chemistry with each other is palpable as they move around the stage as if in the middle of a highly choreographed dance and the way they interact with the props, especially when Jack and Algernon fight over muffins and when Gwendolen repeatedly hits Jack with her parasol, is so much fun to watch. Stephenson (most productions I've seen have cast a man in the role of Lady Bracknell) is incredibly imperious and I loved her reaction to hearing about Cecily's wealth. Jayne Luke is suitably flustered as Miss Prism and her scream when she sees Lady Bracknell brought the house down. The sets are some of the most elaborate I've seen at this theatre and the period costumes are very opulent and detailed (I lost count of how many patterns are used in Algernon's suit). This production put a huge smile on my face and listening to the audience laugh was a fun reminder of how much my students always enjoyed reading this play. It runs on Fridays and Saturdays through June 22 and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).

Of Mice and Men at Parker Theatre

Last night I went to a stage adaptation of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men at the Parker Theatre and I loved seeing this American classic come to life in the very capable hands of this theatre (I have yet to see a performance here that I haven't enjoyed). George Milton (Lucas Charon) and Lennie Small (Brinton M. Wilkins) are migrant workers trying to save money for their own piece of land with a cow, pigs, chickens, and, most importantly, rabbits which George has promised Lennie he can tend. However, Lennie, who is very big and strong but mentally challenged, keeps getting into trouble because of his naive love of everything small and soft. After being run out of their last job, they find work on another ranch near the Salinas River in California and soon discover that many of the inhabitants, including and old-timer named Candy (Brook Robertson) who is forced to part with his dog, Curley's wife (Ashley Slater) who is unhappy in her marriage, and Crooks (Kiirt Banks) who is segregated from the other workers because he is Black, are suffering from a crushing loneliness. Even though George laments the fact that his life would be so much easier without Lennie, he knows that it is this friendship and their dream that keeps him from the same loneliness. Events eventually conspire against them when Lennie is once more tempted by something soft and George loses both his friend and his dream. It is an incredibly tragic story because it is a realistic portrayal of the plight faced by many during the Great Depression and I always find it to be very thought-provoking because the American Dream is still often unattainable for those who are marginalized. This production provides a very sensitive and moving portrayal of these dark themes. Wilkins gives a brilliant performance as Lennie because he is always believable as the character with many subtle bits of business that allude to his diminished capacity, such as looking off in the distance, never making eye contact, and stimming with his fingers. His interactions with Charon are also believable and incredibly touching (I had tears in my eyes during the final scene). I was also very impressed with Robertson, because his response to the death of his dog (which foreshadows future events) is another poignant moment which brought tears to my eyes, and with Slater, because her characterization as Curley's wife is much more sympathetic than I have seen before (she is usually portrayed more coquettishly). I also have to give a shoutout to Apollo, making his stage debut as Candy's dog, because he is very well-behaved and so adorable. I loved the use of Aaron Copland's music, because it is very beautiful and evocative, and I also loved the use of corrugated tin and wood in the sets for the bunkhouse and the barn, because it feels so authentic to the time and place. The entire production is outstanding and I highly recommend taking advantage of this rare opportunity to see one of the great novels of American literature performed on stage. It runs on Fridays and Saturdays through April 27 (go here for tickets).

Pride and Prejudice at Parker Theatre

Last night I went to see the first of two productions of Pride and Prejudice that I have scheduled this year at Parker Theatre. As a huge fan of the novel by Jane Austen, I absolutely loved this particular adaptation! When Mr. Bingley (Tom Hohl), a single man in possession of a good fortune, lets Netherfield Hall, Mrs. Bennett (Eden Benson) immediately sets her sights on him as a possible husband for one of her five daughters. Bingley falls in love with the beautiful Jane Bennett (Jasmine Hohl) but her sister Elizabeth (Maryn Tueller) takes an immediate dislike to his friend Mr. Darcy (Spencer Hohl) because he is so aloof and disdainful. Elizabeth must overcome her prejudice and Mr. Darcy must overcome his pride for them to realize that they belong together. No adaptation can include everything but this one comes very close and I was really impressed with its faithfulness to the novel. I sat in the audience with great anticipation for all of my favorite quotes ("You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.") and I was not disappointed. One of the things I love most about the novel is that the characters are so well delineated and every member of the cast is perfect for their role, especially Tueller as Elizabeth because she is incredibly quick-witted and does a great job sparring with Darcy, Benson as Mrs. Bennett because she is hilariously overwrought when she insists that Elizabeth marry Mr. Collins and when she faints after learning of Lydia's elopement, Spencer Holl as Darcy because he is arrogant but also displays some vulnerability when he proposes to Elizabeth, and Tom Hohl as Bingley because he is so awkward when he dances with Jane. However, both Megan Heaps, as Caroline Bingley, and Tyler Hanson, as Mr. Collins, steal the show! I loved it every time Caroline tries to get Darcy's attention and I laughed out loud watching Mr. Collins dance at the Netherfield Ball. The set, featuring panels of board and batten walls, arches, and windows that slide on and off stage along with the addition of various Regency furniture pieces, is incredibly effective and I particularly liked how the panels are quickly used to create the different rooms in Pemberley during Elizabeth's tour. I also really liked the staging of scenes involving letters because they include voice-overs as they are written and read while the events described are acted out on stage. The period costumes are gorgeous (I love Empire waists), especially Elizabeth's gown at the Netherfield Ball and Lady Catherine De Bourgh's gown. I enjoyed this production so much and I highly recommend it to fans of the novel. It runs on Fridays and Saturdays through March 9 (go here for tickets).

A Christmas Carol at Parker Theatre

Last night I attended my first of four productions of A Christmas Carol this holiday season at Parker Theatre. I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing the reclamation of Ebenezer Scrooge's soul by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future because it is such a beautiful story about keeping the spirit of Christmas in your heart all the year long. I really enjoyed seeing a new and different interpretation of this classic story last night. This version begins, rather unusually, with the death of Jacob Marley (Stephen Harmon) and I liked seeing his ghost haunt Scrooge (Mark Knowles) before he appears to him in his chambers because it is so ominous. There are some elaborate special effects used as he and the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Alina Smith), Present (Brinton Wilkins), and Future (Alina Smith) appear to Scrooge (the Ghost of Christmas Future is quite scary) and the lighting design is incredibly effective.  I especially liked the use of a scrim, fog, and atmospheric lighting as Scrooge sees memories from his past and the use of low lighting, shadows, and silhouettes as he is shown a frightening possible future. I liked seeing all of the characters that Scrooge interacts with at the beginning of the show, such as a caroler (Caroline Jensen), a poor woman (Jasmine Hohl) and her child (Oliver Hohl), and his nephew Fred (Tanner Tate), return at key moments as if appearing in a dream to soften Scrooge's heart. I loved the staging of the romance between a young Ebenezer (Spencer Hohl) and Belle (Isabelle Purdie) because the dance conveys everything they are feeling without saying a word and it is in sharp contrast to the later scene between them when she releases him. I also liked the staging of the scene where Scrooge learns the truth in the cemetery because having him open the coffin to see who is inside is so dramatic (and very different from how I've seen this scene portrayed in other productions). Knowles gives one of the best performances of Scrooge that I've seen because there is such a huge difference between the bitter old miser at the beginning of the show and the lighthearted character he becomes at the end. You can actually see it in his facial expressions and body language as he learns the lessons taught by the spirits. I was especially moved by his interactions with Bob Cratchit (Lucas Charon) who thanks him for his generosity (this almost brought me to tears) and with Fred and his wife Rowena (Jasmine Hohl) as he entreats them to allow him into their lives after his transformation. The sets and costumes are much simpler than those of other productions I've seen but they are still very effective at bringing Victorian London to life (I loved all of the street lamps). I am so happy that I found Parker Theatre, not just for this show but every one I saw this year, and I will be sure to make this production a Christmas tradition from now on. It runs on Fridays and Saturdays through December 23 (go here for tickets).

The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Parker Theatre

Last night I saw the absolutely hilarious musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Parker Theatre and I had so much fun! I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud so much! This show features a play-within-a-play as a Victorian acting troupe performs The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens at the Music Hall Royale. Will Cartwright (Tyler Oliphant) is the Chairman, who acts as a narrator and master of ceremonies for the show, but he is also called upon to perform the role of Mayor Sapsea in the middle of the show with a script in hand. Leading man Clive Padget (Spencer Hohl) is John Jasper, ingenue Deidre Peregrine (Lisa Zimmerman) is Rosa Bud, London's most famous male impersonator Alice Nutting (Jasmine Hohl) is guest starring as Edwin Drood, the grand dame of the theatre Angela Prysock (Mary Parker Williams) is Princess Puffer, character actors Victor Grinstead (Brandan Ngo) and Janet Conover (Janzell Tutor) are Neville and Helena Landless, respectively, veteran Cedric Moncrieffe (Curt Jensen) is the Rev. Crisparkle, vaudeville duo Nick Cricker, Sr. (John-Tyrus Williams) and Nick Cricker, Jr. (Caleb Ceran) are Durdles and his Deputy, respectively, and bit player Phillip Bax (Jonathan McBride) is Bazzard (although he yearns for a bigger part and is eventually allowed to sing his original song "Never the Luck" as consolation). With lots of amusing commentary to the audience (some of which is ad-libbed), the Chairman introduces the characters as they appear and the narrative establishes that Jasper, Edwin, and Neville are all rivals for Rosa's affections, that Rosa is dismayed by Jasper's advances, that Helena will do whatever it takes to protect her brother, that the Princess Puffer has an unknown connection to one of the characters, and that the Rev. Crisparkle was once in love with Rosa's mother. After Edwin Drood disappears by the river, the Chairman reveals that Charles Dickens died when he got to this point in his novel and, since no one knows the resolution to the story, it is up to the audience to decide who the murderer is by voting. The show ends when the chosen murderer confesses to the crime! I really enjoyed the melodramatic element to the show, as if the audience is really watching a musical revue during the Victorian era, and I especially loved Spencer Hohl's over the top performance as an opium addicted Jekyll-and-Hyde like character (his facial expressions and exaggerated tics are hilarious) and Tyler Oliphant's perfectly delivered wisecracks and double entendres. I was also really impressed with Williams (the director of the show) because she had to step into the role of Princess Puffer at the last minute after the original actress broke her wrist and she hams it up spectacularly! The songs have a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta feel to them and my favorites are "Both Sides of the Coin" by Sapsea and Jasper, because it is performed faster and faster with energetic choreography, "A Man Could Go Quite Mad" by Jasper, because the physicality of this number is incredibly entertaining, and "Moonfall" by Rosa with accompaniment by Jasper, because it is a beautiful song with the added comedy of Jasper's love-struck responses to it. The set resembles an old fashioned music hall with floodlights and stylized backdrops and the costumes are beautiful. What makes this show so much fun is all of the audience participation beginning before the show even begins with the actors of the Music Hall Royale mingling with the audience and lobbying for their character to be chosen as the murderer. The audience is also encouraged to respond to certain elements of the show, such as the waving of hands when the name Edwin Drood is spoken, and, of course, the audience votes for the murderer as the characters stand on stage holding numbers. My audience voted for Rosa Bud but this is not a spoiler because every performance will be different (which makes me want to see it again!). I cannot recommend this show enough! It runs at Parker Theatre on Fridays and Saturdays through October 28 (go here for tickets).

Romeo and Juliet at Parker Theatre

My least favorite Shakespeare play is Romeo and Juliet but I decided to see a production at Parker Theatre last night because my friend Karen highly recommended it and I have really come to love this theatre. They did some interesting things with it and I actually liked it! The Montagues and Capulets are two noble families of Verona who have an ancient grudge against one another that escalates when Tybalt (Zachary Ballard), a Capulet, and Benvolio (Brendan Hanks), a Montague, get into a fight on the street. They are warned by the Prince (Lucas Charon) to stop disrupting the peace with their feud or face severe consequences. Soon Romeo (Dallin Suman), a Montague, and Juliet (Isabelle Purdie), a Capulet, fall in love and secretly wed despite the fact that their families are enemies. However, they find themselves in a hopeless situation after Romeo kills Tybalt to avenge the death of his friend Mercutio (Spencer Hohl). Romeo is banished and Juliet's family forces her to marry Paris (Michael Kelly) so Friar Lawrence (Palmer Scott) devises a plan for them to be together but it ends in tragedy which ultimately leads to peace between Montague (Bryson Dumas) and Capulet (Joseph Kyle Rogan). Some creative liberties are taken with the original text and, while I am usually not a fan of doing that, I think the changes make the play more accessible. My audience responded with lots of laughter to many of the anachronistic ad-libs and to the updated character of the Nurse (Madeline Thatcher) who seems more like a sympathetic friend to Juliet rather than a caregiver. I also really liked the update to Tybalt's character because he seems incredibly volatile and irrationally angry at all of the Montagues and this serves to emphasize that the division between the two families is groundless and unreasonable. There is also an interesting twist involving Lady Montague (Missy Stebbing) that adds to the devastation in the final act. I was quite impressed with many members of the cast. Purdie, especially, gives a highly nuanced performance (a highlight of the show for me) that brilliantly showcases Juliet's arc. She is a young and naive girl when the audience first meets her but she visibly matures over the course of the play and her performance in the scenes where she mourns the death of Tybalt and discovers Romeo's dead body in the tomb is truly heartbreaking. As previously mentioned, Thatcher provides a lot of comic relief with her interactions with Juliet but her discovery of Juliet's lifeless body is incredibly affecting. I always think of Romeo as feckless (which is why I find the play to be so problematic) but Suman really leans into his immaturity, especially in the scene where the Nurse demands that a sniveling Romeo go to Juliet after the death of Tybalt (it is so powerful), and this interpretation worked for me. I also liked Hohl's Mercutio because he gives the character a swagger to match his wit. The beautiful set is another highlight of this production and I especially loved the symmetry of the balconies, arches, columns, and staircases on either side of the stage to represent the two houses. The fight choreography uses the various levels very effectively to add visual interest. Speaking of which, I was particularly struck by the lighting design in this show, which is unusual for me, because it creates so many beautiful vignettes (the wedding scene is gorgeous). Even if you are not a fan of this particular play I definitely recommend getting a ticket to this imaginative retelling (go here). It runs through September 2 with performances on Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday matinees.

The Pirates of Penzance at Parker Theatre

I am a big fan of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operetta The Pirates of Penzance so I was really excited to see a production at the Parker Theatre (one of my new favorites) last night. It was so much fun! Frederic (Alan Smith) has reached his 21st birthday and decides to leave the band of pirates to whom he has been mistakenly apprenticed. Soon after, he meets Major-General Stanley (Owen Richardson, Jr.) and his daughters, falls in love with the youngest daughter Mabel (Karllen Johnson), and enlists the Sergeant of Police (Connor Evans) and his constables to arrest the pirates. Chaos ensues when the Pirate King (Tyler Oliphant) and Ruth (Natalie Killpack-Daniel), Frederic's former nursemaid, tell him that he was born during a leap year and, since he has only had five birthdays, he must continue to serve his apprenticeship. I was really impressed with the main cast because they all have beautiful voices! Smith is incredibly engaging with brilliant comedic timing, especially in his interactions with Ruth in "Oh! false one, you have deceiv'd me" when he learns that she is not as beautiful as she has claimed to be and with the Pirate King in "When you had left the pirate fold" when he learns that he must join the pirates once again. Oliphant also has great comedic timing and I loved his melodramatic version of "Oh, better far to live and die." Johnson gives one of the best performances of "Poor wand'ring one" that I've seen and she has tremendous chemistry with Smith in "Stay, Fred'ric, stay," "Ah, leave me not to pine," and "Oh, here is love, and here is truth." Richardson is absolutely hilarious in "I am the very model of a modern Major-General," especially when he marches and clicks his heals together, and I laughed out loud during "I'm telling a terrible story" when he admits that he is not really an orphan. However, Evans steals the show with his exaggerated movements and facial expressions (watch his eyes) during "When a felon's not engaged in his employment." The ensemble, including pirates (Danny Eggers, James Carter, Daniel Pittam, and Matty Boyd), daughters (Alicia Fairbanks, Alice Maphey, Elizabeth Myers, Natalie Sandberg, and Katherine Tietjen), and constables (Doug Hendriksen, Arza Joseph Marsh, Ryan Withers, and Logan B. Stacey), are also outstanding because each of them have distinct personalities which make them fun to watch (especially the daughters when they rebuff the advances of the pirates and the costables when they try to hide in the graveyard).  The costumes are great, particularly the colorful dresses worn by the daughters, the epaulets and medals worn by the Major-General, and the spats worn by the constables. The set is quite simple but effective and consists of a ship, the seaside, and a graveyard, and I loved the use of the Union Jack on the proscenium arch.  Hurrah for this delightful production because I enjoyed everything about it!  It runs through May 13 and tickets may be purchased here.

Emma at Parker Theatre

My friend Karen recommended the play Emma at Parker Theatre so, because I trust her and because I am a huge fan of Jane Austen, I decided to check it out last night. I am glad that I did because I was incredibly impressed with both the production and the theatre and I will definitely be back! After Emma Woodhouse (Ariana Bagley, a wealthy young woman who has no desire to get married herself, is successful in matching her former governess Miss Taylor (Eden Benson) with Mr. Weston (Michael Hohl), she decides to take Harriet Smith (Taylor McKay Barnes), a young woman of unknown parentage, under her wing. She encourages Harriet to reject the proposal of Robert Martin (Sam Schmuhl) because he is a farmer and not worthy of her and sets her sights on the vicar Mr. Elton (Seth Larson) as a suitor instead.  However, he mistakes Emma's interest in him and declares his love to her. Then she selects Frank Churchill (Ren Cottam), whom everyone tries to match with her, but he is secretly engaged to someone else. Finally Harriet falls in love with Mr. Knightley (John Hayes Nielsen), a Woodhouse family friend, but chaos ensues when Emma realizes that she has loved Mr. Knightley all along! There are some other delightfully eccentric characters in the village of Highbury, such as her hypochondriac father Mr. Woodhouse (David Glaittli), a chatty old maid named Miss Bates (Abbie Webb), the long-suffering Jane Fairfax (Liz Nielsen), and Mr. Elton's snotty wife Augusta (Madeline Thatcher), and I absolutely loved the amusing projections that introduce and describe the dramatis personae! This adaptation, much like the one I recently saw of Pride and Prejudice at HCTO, does not include everything but it captures the essence of the novel in a way that feels fresh without sacrificing any of my favorite lines ("If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more."). I am normally a purist when it comes to changing the source material but I really liked having Robert Martin propose to Harriet first before Knightley declares his feelings to Emma because this allows the play to end with a touching moment between the two main characters. Bagley is wonderful in the title role, especially when she breaks the fourth wall to address the audience because it seems like we are all in on her schemes, and so is Barnes as Harriet because she is so physically awkward (I loved a scene where she is described as graceful while she slaps a bug on her arm and then wipes the guts off her sleeve). I also enjoyed Glaittli as Mr. Woodhouse, because he is hilariously overwrought, and Cottam as Frank Churchill, because he is such a foppish rake. However, there isn't a lot of romantic chemistry between Bagley and Nielsen (I think there should be a spark between them from the beginning and not just at the end) but that is my only criticism of the performances. The impressive set features an elegant drawing room at Hartfield that moves forward when needed, a backdrop with board and batten paneling that, with the addition of a few Regency furniture pieces, is used for the other houses in Highbury, and arches that come in from the wings to represent outdoor locations. The period costumes are a lot of fun but, strangely, I preferred the ones for the men over the ones for the women because they are more embellished. I loved this thoroughly entertaining show and I highly recommend getting a ticket for one of the three remaining performances (go here).