Review- No More Waiting (Thirteenth Street Repertory Theatre)

The Fab Marquee review by Antonio Miniño.

Thirteenth Street Repertory Company has been around since 1972. Established by Edith O’Hara, they are home to one of the longest running Off-Off Broadway plays, Line, by Israel Horovitz, now in its 34th year.

Thirteenth Street Repertory Company brings us the new musical comedy No More Waiting, with book & lyrics by Chris Widney, music by David Christian Azarow and direction by Samantha Salzman.

No More Waiting is as refreshing as a mint mocha frapuccino on a hot summer day. No More Waiting follows five waiters-actors that work at a Cabaret. When the night is over, and the boss is not around they put on their own shows. The sketches serve as a glimpse of who these actors really are. Although the book seems properly outlined, the dialogue itself falls short. Right when the stories are going somewhere fantastical, they linger on that found note and lose momentum. Chris Widney has a better grasp on his lyrics than he does on the book. The shows strongest suit is the music by David Christian Azarow.

Director Samantha Saltzman made sure she camped it up, in the best sense of the word. There’s even a roller skating sequence in great Xanadu style.

Jenny Paul is darling as Samantha; her scenes with Benjamin Mirman who plays Elliot are golden. The rest of the ensemble is a riot as well, exceptional vocals by Dustin J. Harder (Steve), and great comedic timing by Brian C. Curl (Robert).

Choreographer Lynn Spector kept it simple and to the point. The technical aspects of the show were also minimal.

No More Waiting is right on 13th Street and closes tomorrow. If you are celebrating Gay Pride, and are in the area for the Parade, I suggest taking a break from the sun and the crowds, and cooling down in this refreshing show.

If the show is not incentive enough, the Thirteenth Street Repertory Theatre is in a legal battle to save its space from real estate developers who want to tear it down. Supporting their shows is a great way to make a difference and take with you a great experience.
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Thirteenth Street Repertory Theatre presents
No More Waiting
May 23-June 29th, 2008 (Fri & Sat @7pm; Sun @3:30pm).

Tickets are $18.00 available at www.theatermania.com or by calling 212-352-3101

13th Street Repertory Theatre | 50 West 13th St |Manhattan.

Review- Cinephilia (PossEble Theater Co.)

The Fab Marquee review by Amanda Stokes.

The New York premiere production of Cinephilia, presented by the PossEble Theater Company at The Studio Theatre at Theater Row, is an energetic and entertaining evening of theater. And although you may leave feeling the show hasn’t quite lived up to its potential, it is still a worthwhile ride.

The play centers around two young twenty-somethings, Arden (Katie Cappiello) and Johnny (Brandon Scott), who have been lovers for years – Arden wants a relationship, Johnny does not. These two deal with each other, and life, so it seems, through the world of movies – discussing, debating and non-stop quoting. This is a clever device by playwright Leslye Headland, which can be quite amusing for the audience. The characters spout out snippets from dozens of films – from Say Anything to Breathless, from Reds to Reality Bites – slipping in and out, blurring the line between movies and ‘real’ life. Of course, this is also their way of hiding, escaping; incapable of speaking their own thoughts, these are lost, lonely people who don’t seem to know who they are or what they want from life.

A similar statement might also be made about the play. We are presented with issues of inaction, obsession, denial – but it is unclear what exactly is being said. No one in this play seems to want to be honest about the way things really are, or to care about anyone but themselves, which can make it difficult at times for the audience to care about any of them. Luckily, there is well-written dialogue, plenty of comedy and above-average acting to keep us happily distracted, so we don’t bother to wonder where the play is going.

Brandon Scott gives a wonderfully subtle, true performance as the introverted Johnny. Katie Cappiello as Arden bounces deftly from hysterical freak-out to tearful stillness and back again. Rounding out the cast are Christian Durso as Johnny’s roommate, Plato, and Nila K Leigh as Natalie, Johnny’s new girlfriend, both of whom give capable and charming performances. The cast and director Michael Silverstone deserve praise for their proficient handling of the many comedic moments.

Silverstone has the actors using just about every inch of the set (designed by Daniel Zimmerman). The chaotic nature of the characters is reflected in the staging – dialogue, people, and even the occasional can of beer fly around Johnny’s apartment; but this sometimes feels forced and overdone – that rather than supporting the scene, the audience is being bombarded with this frenetic energy purely for the sake of energy. Perhaps this might not have been an issue if the script was tightened up a bit, cutting out some of the redundancies.

Cinephilia as a whole may ultimately fall short of the possibilities glimpsed in certain moments, but it leaves me looking forward to seeing more work from these artists in the future.

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PossEble Theater Company presents
Leslye Headland’s
Cinephilia
May 29-June 15, 2008 (Show is now closed)
The Studio Theater -Theatre Row

The Fab Bachelor- ERIC C. BAILEY

photo credit: www.eric-bailey.com

Eric C. Bailey has been acting in NYC almost 10 years now. He moved to New York the day before Princess Diana died, although he doesn’t think the two were related. His first acting job was doing Children’s Theatre a few weeks later at the Grove Street Playhouse-which no longer exists. He also doesn’t think those two events are related. Eric is starring in Duncan Pflaster’s Prince Trevor Amongst the Elephants at The Midtown International Theatre Festival this July.

Do you consider yourself a native New Yorker?

I don’t consider myself a native. I wasn’t born here, I was born in Central, PA. Though I don’t consider myself a native of Central, PA. either. NY is home to me now, but I still haven’t acquired the swagger nor the accent of a native New Yorker.

Most memorable performance-show experience?

My most memorable theatrical experience is still my first national tour. It was a year long contract touring 3 shows with a cast of 4 and no set travel plans. As long as we made it to the next venue on time the company wasn’t concerned how we got there. So I saw a lot of the Midwest, including the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, MO. So basically I took a year long vacation across the country while doing some random dinner theatre along the way.

photo credit: www.eric-bailey.com

You are an available bachelor. Do you think being a working actor has anything to do with your being single at the moment?

I am an available bachelor. I think being a working actor can make it difficult to date because my schedule can be kind of wonky- but on the whole I think being an actor actually makes me more fun to hang out with… and on.

Eric C. Bailey as King Kartofflepuffen &
Daniel Luke Strandquist as Grumbelino.
photo credit: Prince Trevor Amongst the Elephants

You are involved right know in Duncan Pflaster’s Prince Trevor Amongst the Elephants-what a title!

Prince Trevor is a satire of Contemporary Politics, as reflected in the magic mirror of Fairy Tales, injected with 42ccs of Shakespearean Poetry, and dissected through the Ridiculous style of Charles Ludlam. At least that’s what the post card says.

Is this your first time collaboration with Duncan?

This is the first time I’ve collaborated with Duncan as director and actor. I did a production of Twelfth Night last year and had the pleasure of playing Sir Toby opposite Duncan’s Andrew Aguecheek.

I hear something about Nudity amongst the Elephants. What will you be wearing?

There is nudity galore in Prince Trevor and though I am never nude on stage, I am often near the nudity- if not the cause of it. So once you’re done looking at a stranger’s genitals please look up and to the left and I’ll probably be there, I’m the not naked one with the beard. I have no idea what my costume is at the moment, perhaps it’s a burka, in which case you should look for the guy with the beard in the burka.

When can I catch Prince Trevor Amongst the Elephants, and where can I get tickets?

Prince Trevor performs: July 16th @ 9pm; July 19th @6:15pm; July 22 @6:30pm; July 25th @9:30pm; July 28th @8:30pm and August 2nd @9:30pm.

All performances are at the June Havoc Theatre (321 West 36th St 1st Floor). Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketcentral.com or by calling 212-279-4200

Quote of the Day.-

“I put in all the things I’d always wanted to see onstage: propulsive freestyle rap scenes outside of bodegas, salsa numbers that also revealed character and story. I tried to write the kind of show I’d want to be in.”

- Lin-Manuel Miranda
*(describing In the Heights in his Broadway.com First Person (1/9/07))

Review- A Perfect Couple (WET)

The Fab Marquee review by David Stallings.

A Perfect Couple, by Brooke Berman, is having its world premier at the beautiful DR2 Theater on Union Square. WET (Women’s Expressive Theater) continues their tradition of tight, well-worked productions presented by female writers and directors with this crisp evening. Berman’s anthropological look at what happens when you finally have everything you ever wanted in a relationship and are still unhappy is the event that brings a fantastic team of artists together.

James Waterson as Issac & Annie McNamara as Emma

Amy (Dana Eskelson) and Isaac (James Waterson) have everything at forty that Amy ever wanted. After fifteen years of dating, Amy has finally convinced Isaac that he wants it too. They are a happy couple that lives in the country—in a home inherited from Isaac’s eccentric stepmother—and gladly gives advice on how the people around them need to fix their lives to be as perfect as they are. Perfection does come at a cost, the fresh-faced forty year olds have learned to compromise on many things in order to get on Amy’s “baby track”, but on the surface they seem like any functional couple at that stage. Perhaps that is what is so frightening. A weekend in their country home with the New York single friend, Emma (Annie McNamara), and the twenty-three year old stoner next door, Josh (Elan Moss-Barach), leaves Amy wondering if these lost souls might have more going for them in the long run. Having everything together soon proves that Amy is left with nothing for herself. Amy’s world seems to be shattered when she finds the diary of Isaac’s deceased stepmother, which claims that Isaac always truly loved Emma (although he never knew it). This revelation—unsubstantiated by any evidence—destroys the relationship Amy has with both Isaac and Emma. The revelation of course is that Amy was always looking for an out. She had grown tired of always looking for the right track, taking care of friendships she may have outgrown, and living up to standards that ultimately are unfulfilling.

Dana Eskelson as Amy & Annie McNamara as Emma

WET’s production of A Perfect Couple is excellent. The cast is formidable, headed by the lovely Dana Ekelson as Amy. Her voice is perfectly matched with the role, finding easily the humor and pathos of her character. James Waterson is lovely as the handsome Isaac, who appears to have everything a woman would want in a partner, yet somehow falls short. A real standout is the whimsical Annie McNamara as Emma. Ms. McNamara is captivating on the stage, with many quirks and witty remarks, yet always maintaining a grounded sensibility. She is easy to watch with a wonderful presence. Elan Moss-Barach is an audience favorite as the comic relief of the evening in the role of Josh. Although his presentation of the stoner garnered many laughs, it came a little too easy and at the loss of some more subtle nuances that I think lurked in the text.

The immaculate set by Neil Patel is stunning. The blue image of a perfect home serves as the backdrop that works perfectly for the many short scenes taking place both inside and out. Matched marvelously by Matthew Richards’ lights, the technical aspects of the show are beautifully effective. Maria Mileaf’s direction is solid and clean. There is not a misstep in her staging and in the many transitions.

Annie McNamara as Emma & Dana Eskelson as Amy

A clean and crisp evening for a sophisticated mind interested in the study of a woman forced to breaking by a seemingly meaningless event, a Perfect Couple is sure to please any avid theatergoer.
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WET presents
Brooke Berman’s
A Perfect Couple
June 9th-July 12, 2008 (Opening Night June 19th); Mon-Sat @8pm
DR2 Theatre

Tickets range from $25 - $35, available at 212-239-6200 or www.wetweb.org.

DR2 Theatre | 103 East 15th Street | Manhattan.

Review- Frequency Hopping (Hourglass Group)

The Fab Marquee review by A.K. Gobble.

If I told you that a famous Hollywood film star and a sought after composer were responsible for the development of unique technology that ultimately gave us cell phones, would you believe me? Actually, why take my word for it? Go see for yourself…

Joseph Urla as George & Erica Newhouse as Heddy
photo credit: Dixie Sheridan

Frequency Hopping is the unbelievable true story of Heddy Lamarr, an Austrian born actress who became famous in the 1940’s and George Antheil, an Avant-Garde composer also known as the “bad boy of music”. After meeting randomly at a party, they developed an unlikely friendship that gave birth to one of the greatest inventions of our time. Between personal conversations and subtle flirtations they schemed to develop a special communication system. A system that would benefit the military forces and be able to control armed torpedoes over long distances without the enemy’s ability to detect or block them. Their invention made history!

This two character, Multi Media play, was presented at the 3D Technical Art Center. As soon as you walked in the room you could feel that something special was going to happen. The stage was set in between two transparent screens that were used for video installations and special effects. Both the left side and the right side of the stage were graced with a beautiful orchestra made out of several gorgeous Yamaha pianos and percussion instruments that were hanging from the ceiling. What’s so special you say? Well, here’s the kicker- they were all programmed to play on their own. A robotic orchestra! What an amazing concept. The visuals were absolutely exhilarating! And when it all came together you really felt like you were transported into another world.

Erica Newhouse as Heddy & Joseph Urla as George
photo credit: Dixie Sheridan

This wonderful play was both written and directed by Elise Singer who obviously did some research. In her development of the relationship between the two stars she made funny leaps between childish games and serious foreplay, all while keeping us on our toes and expecting some big dramatic climax. Unfortunately the climax failed to come and the play felt somewhat repetitive. The lack of dramatic arc gave the feeling of being stuck in one place. At a certain point the sexual flirtations between the two characters developed into a passionate kiss that once was over, was never brought up again leaving me a bit confused. On another note I was slightly overwhelmed by the many technical details that were discussed and though I personally happen to know a thing or two about the subject, I found myself needing to focus hard in order to take it all in. Still I enjoyed myself and even learned something new.

Joseph Urla as George & Erica Newhouse as Heddy
photo credit: Dixie Sheridan

Erica Newhouse who played Lamarr was just as beautiful as the real girl, bringing out her sexy and feminine side. She was needy, lonely and manipulative all at the same time. George Antheil who was played by Joseph Urla was sweet, honest, sad and playful, making him very relatable.

I would definitely recommend checking it out, if not for the interesting history then at least for the fantastic technology.
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Hourgalss Group presents
Elise Singer’s
Frequency Hopping
directed by Elise Singer; Original Score by Joshua Fried
May 29th-June 29th; Wed.-Sat. at 8pm & Sun. at 3pm
3LD Art & Technology Center

Tickets are $20. To buy tickets, call 212-352-3101 or visit www.frequencyhopping.net.

3LD Art & Technology Center | 80 Greenwich Street | Manhattan.

The Fab Event- Here Arts Center Re-Opening Gala (TONIGHT)

On Monday, June 16th HERE’s brand new space will be enlivened by performances in every nook and cranny! Join us for:

• A snazzy cocktail reception with the benefit committee
• Sexy selections from the new collaboration between Dream Music Puppetry Program director Basil Twist and legendary chanteuse Joey Arias, Arias With A Twist
• A live auction of fantabulous items conducted by longtime Christie’s auctioneer Stephanie Landess
• Star-studded highlights from work by HERE’s Obie Award-winning Artist Residency Program including: Eve Ensler, Taylor Mac, Corey Dargel, and Young Jean Lee
• A swank party with DJ Johnny Dynell, open bar, fancy finger food, and environmental performances throughout the building

$1000 & $500 tickets:
6:30 VIP Cocktails
7:30 Arias With A Twist
8:30 Auction
8:45 Resident Artist Highlights 9:00 DJ Party
($1000 ticket buyers take home a special gift!)

$250 tickets:
7:30 Cocktails
8:30 Auction
8:45 Resident Artist Highlights
9:00 DJ Party

$100 tickets:
8:30 Cocktails
9:00 DJ Party

HERE wishes to thank the following Gala Sponsors:
4over4.com, The Bubble Lounge, Bulldog Gin, Clement Rhum, Dewar’s, Dogfish Head Ale, Korhogo 126, Le Tourment Vert Absinthe, Sexy Beast, SKYY Vodka, The Village Voice, Yamaha

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Visit www.here.org for more information

The 2008 TONY Award Winners are:

The 2008 TONY Award Winners are:

Play (and playwrights): “August: Osage County” (Tracy Letts).

Musical: “In the Heights.”

Book-Musical: “Passing Strange” (Stew).

Original Score (music and/or lyrics): “In the Heights” (Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda).

Revival-Play: “Boeing-Boeing.”

Revival-Musical: “South Pacific.”

Actor-Play: Mark Rylance, “Boeing-Boeing.”

Actress-Play: Deanna Dunagan, “August: Osage County.”

Actor-Musical: Paulo Szot, “South Pacific.”

Actress-Musical: Patti LuPone, “Gypsy.”

Featured Actor-Play: Jim Norton, “The Seafarer.”

Featured Actress-Play: Rondi Reed, “August: Osage County.”

Featured Actor-Musical: Boyd Gaines, “Gypsy.”

Featured Actress-Musical: Laura Benanti, “Gypsy.”

Direction-Play: Anna D. Shapiro, “August: Osage County.”

Direction-Musical: Bartlett Sher, “South Pacific.”

Choreography: Andy Blankenbuehler, “In the Heights.”

Orchestrations: Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman, “In the Heights.”

Scenic Design-Play: Todd Rosenthal, “August: Osage County.”

Scenic Design-Musical: Michael Yeargen, “South Pacific.”

Costume Design-Play: Katrina Lindsay, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses.”

Costume Design-Musical: Catherine Zuber, “South Pacific.”

Lighting Design-Play: Kevin Adams, “The 39 Steps.”

Lighting Design-Musical: Donald Holder, “South Pacific.”

Sound Design-Play: Mic Pool, “The 39 Steps.”

Sound Design-Musical: Scott Lehrer, “South Pacific.”

___

Previously announced:

Regional Theater Tony Award: Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Special Tony Award: Robert Russell Bennett.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Stephen Sondheim.

THE WAIT IS OVER!!!!!!!!!

TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT
2008 AMERICAN THEATRE WING’S TONY AWARDS

8/7 c on CBS

Review- Crother Spyglass & The Resistible Rise of Fatlinda Paloka (Serenitas Media and Extrabold Productions)

The Fab Marquee review by David Stallings.

The one act is a very difficult medium of theater, much different from a full-length play. A one act is generally half an hour to forty-five minutes. The writer has to get in and out fast and must enter the piece knowing exactly what needs to be accomplished. There is no room to fill with subplots—similar to a short story, the piece must be single minded.

This week, I attended Serenitas Media and Extrabold Productions presentation of two one acts: Crother Spyglass by Timothy Dowd and The Resistible Rise of Fatlinda Paloka by Marcy Wallabout. In general, I prefer to go in order when describing productions and lead the reader on my journey from beginning to end. In this case, I would prefer to talk about the second half of the evening first.

Erin Leigh Schmoyer as Fatlinda
photo credit: Juan Cardenas

Marcy Wallabout has something very special on her hands with The Resistible Rise of Fatlinda Paloka. The piece is about seventy minutes and resembles a full-length one act more than a short one act. Ms. Wallabout would greatly benefit from developing this play further. The piece follows an Albanian woman—Fatlinda Paloka (Erin Leigh Schmoyer) as she encounters prejudice in her move to Georgia. What at first seems to be an angry Greek chorus of stuck up Georgians is developed into a more realistic couple in the characters of Jolene Earp (Siobhan Doherty) and Jimmy Earp (Nick Palladino). The twist is that Fatlinda has opened a pizza parlor in the small Georgian town and has addicted the citizens to her food. She slowly brings in cousins from her homeland and only when she has established herself firmly, does she decide to leave for another US town to infiltrate their community with her pizza. Of course she will leave the cousins behind with the pizza joint to forever plague the red neck town. She can only hope that her cousins are not affected by the laziness of the American culture as has already begun. The piece is told with fun and imagination in a Dr. Seuss style with rhyming couplets and fantastic imagery.

The first twenty-five minutes soar—pummeling the audience with high comedy that definitely garners a lot of laughter. The struggle of Fatlinda with the Earp couple is fantastic. The pizza DT’s, the county fair, the Hallmark scene, and the Jack Daniels porch scene between the Earps are all brilliant. But after a while, Ms. Wallabout leaves the story and goes on a tangent that only focuses on Jimmy Earp in an Irish bar. While Fatlinda’s endearing cousin Benny (Timothy McDonough) is present, the sidetrack into a possible Chinese prostitution rink at a laundromat and the effects of drought on Jack Daniels seem to be irrelevant to the marvelous bricks laid earlier. In the end, Fatlinda mentions the effects of Georgian culture on her family, and the audience wishes that the heart of the play had been more focused on the struggle she alludes to rather than the strange tangent that robbed the audience of a much anticipated climax. Truly, if Ms. Wallabout continues to work on the piece’s structure, presenting the story telling in a clearer “event-consequence” manner, she will have a gem on her hands.

Nick Palladino as Jimmy & Siobhan Doherty as Jolene
photo credit: Juan Cardenas

The acting is marvelous across the board in this play. In the role of Fatlinda, Erin Leigh Schmoyer shines with flawless comic timing and a hysterical accent that definitely mark her as a talent. But the true marvel is the connection between Siobhan Doherty and Nick Palladino as the Earps. They somehow manage to create real emotions and forge the definitions of a true couple while speaking in Seussian rhyme. They glowed together and seemed to truly bounce off each other in their scenes. Timothy McDonough is charming as sweet cousin Benny. And a head nod must be given to Nedra Gellegos as the cousin who is addicted to scratch off tickets. It would have been more interesting to see her become addicted rather than start with it already in progress. The same note goes for the town’s pizza addiction. But the acting of the circumstance was pitch perfect.

The first play of the evening, Crother Spyglass by Timothy Dowd follows an Ad man as he manipulates young people with dreams of artistry into doing reception work at an Ad firm. The man is Ray Crother (Brendan Wahlers), a Gulf War veteran who has been stuck in the same rat race for over ten years. His first victim is Adam (Timothy McDonough) a sweet kid with dreams of being a photographer who is not completely willing to play the game. Ray’s second victim is Christine (Erin Leigh Schmoyer), a brassy mailroom girl not willing to use her feminine charms as weapons.

Brendan Wahlers as Ray & Timothy McDonough as Adam
photo credit: Juan Cardenas

Dowd’s play, while somewhat reminiscent of Glengarry Glen Ross, does not seem fully developed. There is no true arch although the male characters are well defined. In the role of Ray Crother, Brendan Wahlers seems typecast. He fits the role so well with natural characterization, yet seems not to have the stagecraft to carry a leading role. Timothy McDonough is a breath of fresh air as the young Adam. He is easy to watch and actively makes choices. Erin Leigh Schmoyer who is so dazzling as Fatlinda seemed less comfortable in the role of Christine. The female in the piece did seem more of a stock character and assuredly is difficult to make unique.

Director Leah Bonvissuto used crisp lines and imaginative lighting to tell both stories. She is well aware of tone, comic timing, and other directing tricks to manipulate a moment or text. Her directing seemed like that of someone used to working on already established plays and lending her own voice to them. With new text however, she fell short in focusing her playwrights and making sure the stories were consistent and fluid. In her defense, a dramaturge on both pieces would have helped greatly.

Cat Fishers costumes were lovely—especially her conceptualization of the Albanian tribe. Elisa Giordano’s set must be given kudos for the photographed park from Crother Spyglass, which perfectly captured both the park and the passion for photography from the characters.

All in all, the evening was enjoyable as it was exciting to witness work with much possibility in its early stages.

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Serenitas Media & Extrabold Production’s
Crother Spyglass & The Resistible Rise of Fatlinda Paloka
June 11-15, 2008
Theater for the New City

Tickets are $18 and are now available online at www.smarttix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444

Theater for the New City | 155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets) | Manhattan.

The Fab Clip- Cynthia Nixon shows you how to do it! (Xanadu TONY marketing campaign, episode 7-part 2)

TONY Predictions

Check out today’s New York Times article by Campbell Robertson. We have to say, we agree with him on most of it.

Sunday in the Dark With Tony?

The Fab Bachelorette- JANE MONTOSI

Jane Montosi was born and raised in Pembroke, Massachusetts where she made her debut at age 8 as “Ophelia” in Hamlet in the elementary school cafeteria. She found it such a fulfilling experience that she has been acting ever since. She has a BA in Theater from Connecticut College, trained at The Moscow Art Theater, The Eugene O’Neil Center and The Michael Howard Studios Conservatory Program.

What show are you a part of right now?
-Zebra Crossing (Wikipedia Brown & The Accidental Occidental), which is helmed by Drayton Hiers and Chloe Bass, who have written, produced and directed the show.

I understand Zebra Crossing is not just a play, but a collective of work, and you are part of Wikipedia Brown & The Accidental Occidental.
-This is episode #7 of a 10 part series, only two of which are plays. Some are/will be comic books, cartoons, live action movies, and perhaps short stories or music videos. They are all in a pulp meets Scooby-Doo style however, and inspired by the kids books “Encyclopedia Brown”. The characters have grown up, and now instead of worrying about ethics in the classroom, they are fighting crime on a global level.

What can we expect in this episode?
-At the start of this episode, Wikipedia Brown and his Girl Sidekick (”SK”) have suffered a rift and are each heading out on their own. They each get their own “assistants”, Wiki gets a craigslist intern “Matt”, and SK chooses two “Angels”. That’s where I come in! We are brilliantly incapable in the beginning, but as all our circumstances get dire, things change. The villain? A 600 year old Chinese Eunuch most believe to be only legend with an evil plan to save the world.

What else am I taking with me?
-Its a great show with a fun style, and lots of action. It also asks a lot of important questions about the state of the world to day and what’s to be done. Good is as strong and inspiring as ever, and Evil has rarely looked so complicated!

I’m sold! When & where can I see you?
-June 18th & 19th and July 2nd & 3rd at 9:30pm, at The Tank at Collective:Unconscious (279 Church Street, Tribeca). Tickets are only $10.00; For more information you can visit http://www.thetanknyc.org/theater

Quote of the Day.-

Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett

‘Usually I’m frustrated when I look at my films and I don’t believe that I’ve made a real transformation beyond my usual sets of gestures and expressions. I still have this nagging feeling that it’s me, that I didn’t create a unique character.’

-Helena Bonham Carter

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Helena Bonham Carter starred with Johnny Depp in the movie version of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, now available on DVD, for more information visit www.sweeneytoddmovie.com

The Fab Clip- Rose wants a piece of the pie! (Xanadu marketing campaign-episode 7)

The Fab Clip- XANADU too gay for a TONY? (marketing campaign-episode 6)

Quote of the Day.-

photo credit: broadway.com

“My heritage is a long line of Southern Baptist and Methodist preachers—who were all just frustrated actors”

-Deanna Dunagan

You can catch Deanna Dunagan’s amazing performance as Violet Weston in August: Osage County at The Music Box Theatre. For more information visit www.augustosagecounty.com

Review- The Actor’s Nightmare & The Real Inspector Hound (T. Schreiber Studios)

The Fab Marquee Review by Peyton Wise.

For its final show of the 2008 Season, T. Schreiber Studio is presenting a double bill of famous one-acts. Christopher Durang’s The Actor’s Nightmare portrays an understudy/actor/accountant pulled on-stage to perform a part he never rehearsed in a performance that shifts between famous plays. Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound portrays two critics whose personal problems are drawn into the play they’re reviewing. The plays suit each other well. Both are surreal farces about the blurred lines between stage and reality. They have fundamental philosophical questions underpinning the premise and the humor. They are both structured to build laughter, even as they twist the knife.

The plays are given equal treatment. Both are lavishly designed, with a rich palette and an incredible set that builds an ornate proscenium with boxes into a black box theatre. Both plays are well-cast and meticulously staged. And both are so restrained they fail to reach the mania the lines suggest. It’s like hearing individual solos in place of the Hallelujah chorus. The moments may be lovely, but they don’t add to their intended sum.

That said, there are truly funny moments in both shows. Anyone with a smattering of theatrical history will enjoy Durang’s upending of beloved plays. Sara Goff’s incisive send-up of Beckett is a must-see. (In fact, she has several wicked caricatures throughout the nightmare.) Michael Black, as the unwitting performer, is charmingly bumbling as he tries to keep his head. The critics of Inspector Hound (Julian Elfer and Rick Forstmann) have a patter that is as hilarious as it is painful to anyone who’s ever been at the mercy of men like them.

With so many of the elements in place, one can’t help but wonder what the evening would be if the plays reached their suggested pitch. Both are given a lovely structure, but the shadow of what they could have been steals the scenes.

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T. Schreiber Studios presents
The Actor’s Nightmare &
The Real Inspector Hound
May 8-June 15th, 2008 (Thu-Sat @8pm, Sun @3pm)
Gloria Maddox Theatre

A suggested donation of $20.00 (Senior $15; General Student $17) is requested, and advance tickets can be purchased online at www.tschreiber.org or by calling 212-352-3101.

Gloria Maddox Theatre | 151 West 26th Street, 7th Floor | Manhattan.