Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

And what a title for it. Let me explain:

Let me point out that in seeing the show, I was exhausted from an 8+ hour day already so sleep was begging to hit. But the Shakespeare Tavern has a very "homey" appeal, very comfortable, very personable. The food is much better than it was years ago when I attended shows there.

"R&G", as I'll shorten the title of the show, was very long. 40 minutes for Act I, an hour for Act II and 40 minutes for Act III. Go Stoppard. The main actors, Mr. Nicholas Faircloth and Mr. Paul Hester were quite on their mark: interacting with guests, with each other, concerned about their plights and situations...everything actors should be. But The complaint is not in the actors themselves (make note that Mr. Drew Reeves was absolutely hilarious), the complaint is in the writing. It was boring. There were humorous parts, of course, but over-all I just wanted it to be a 2 hour play and be done with it. It was hard trying to focus on the plot, the main concern of the two protagonists, and God forbid that the players stood on stage and said nothing at all - that was the moment to close ones eyes and bid sleep to take them away until words engulfed the stage again.

Over all it was not the best night of theater, but the Tavern has done better work.

Perfect Arrangement

Why in the world would anyone be truly surprised by anything Topher writes? Well, it just happens. One is never left un-satisfied from his shows. "Perfect Arrangement" is no exception. Directed by the bright and delightfully talented Barbara Cole-Uterhardt, this twisted story of two couples, an old college fling and working for "the man" leaves the audience on the edge of their seats by the middle of Act I. Granted, the show lasted close to 2 and 1/2 hours - but the time flies! The story tells of two married couples living next door to one another and sharing a door to each other's livingrooms. The husbands are really married to each other and the women are really married to each other. The wonderful fake smiles they put on when company is around is so Donna Reed it's sticky-sweet. And absolutely hilarious. But when a college fling enters in the mix and threatens to reveal the "Perfect Arrangement" - oh, that's where everything gets good! Topher's plots are always delicious to watch and heart-felt to learn about. He always mixes romance and humor and serious topics of the gay community into one lump sum. The stakes were high, every player was involved, the characters were real and the audience actually cared about them - it was perfect for any Drama class anywhere in the world! Sound Designers could learn something from Ms. Cole-Uterhardt's mix of old-time commercials during the brief scene changes. The jingles and commercials were just the right touch to catch the audience and keep them in the time of the story. The set was simple and Topher used everything sparingly and necessarily. Norma Baxter, played by Amanda Renee Baker, was divine in her costume changes as was Barbara Grant, played by Amanda Cucher. Props to Costume Designer Jane Kroessig for the gorgeous dresses, jewelry, and making sure the ladies knew how to sit and how to hold those hand-bags! Girls were different back then!

This story really needs to be on Broadway. Or in the West End. Or in Berlin. It needs to be performed around the world. Now, granted, it would shock the heck out of "conservative Middle-Class America" - but maybe they need to be shook up a bit!

Anything Goes

The Lyric has done very, very well. The show, "Anything Goes", was performed at the Ferst Center for the Arts and artfully done. Parking was easy, the walk to the theater was very pleasant, the lobby is much to be desired with it's curves and turns, but oh...that theater. Wow. Not a bad seat in the house. And with a set so masterfully designed by Drew Monahan. Lighting and set definitely talked to one another on this one. Costume Designer, Joey Ellington, did a great job setting the glamorous 1930s. And "hot-damn" the choreography! You can always tell a Jen MacQueen show! She works her actors just like Mr. Aponte! Well-done to Jen, as usual!

Now, the show itself, as far as storyline and song...the music was cleaver, and there were some great songs in it, but the relationships were something else. This is coming from someone who has never seen "Anything Goes" before and speaking as a pure audience member - I didn't get the relationship between Reno, played lovingly by Shea Johnson, and Billy Crocker, played by Joe Swaney, or Reno's relationship (or past) with Moonface Martin, played by Alan Kilpatrick. Was Billy really seeing Reno in Act I before getting on the ship? Were they just playing around as pals? What about Reno and Moonface? They talked briefly about the past in the beginning of the song "Friendship" but - so what was the history? Did the original writers say what it was? Movement-wise, Reno was a bit stiff at times and some notes here and there in different songs were questionable, but she was quite a believable "gal." The sailor quartet was so wonderful to my ears! Oh my goodness, the tones in those boys voices! I could hear their CD of Christmas music all year long if they made one! Didn't really get Billy and Hope Harcourt, played by Laura Floyd. They evidently romantically involved at one point, but where does the other engagement come in? What time had passed between them loving each other and her being with someone else? There was so much I wanted to know.

Best songs in the show: "Friendship" - fun with all the bells and whistles, including the fun choreography. - "There'll Always Be a Lady Fair" - ah the tones of the Sailors Quartet. - "Public Enemy Number One" with the Captain, Purser & Chorus - just a lot of fun and so obscure that it was enjoyable. - "Be Like the Blue Bird" was funny, sung by Moonface Martin. Act 2 showed a lot of Alan Kilpatrick's comedic timing and I seriously could watch him in any show anywhere in the world.

So all and all, not a wasted evening. And with that set and the 30 actors, may they bring this delight back again either next year or the year after to delight the crowd!