LOST CREATURES

AND TOTO TOO THEATRE COMPANY: NOV 3 – NOV 19

L-R: Billie McBride, Mark Collins and Annabel Reader
Melissa Lucero McCarl’s “Lost Creatures” is a fascinating and touching play that imagines the meeting of theatre critic Kenneth Tynan and the reclusive silent film star Louise Brooks in her dingy apartment in 1978 Rochester, New York. Tynan had been Brooks’ biggest fan ever since he saw her in the 1929 film, “Pandora’s Box.”

Brooks is played by Denver favorite Billie McBride with a fiery indignation that softens as the critic intruding upon her solitary life gradually endears himself to her with his candid revelations about his own artistic and hedonistic life. The exchanges include lots of interesting points of view about Art, Life and Sex, and are peppered with quotes from such authors as Proust and Goethe. As Tynan, Mark Collins delivers a self-absorbed, boozy portrayal of the critic/producer/ essayist that engages and amuses us.

     Lulu, the character Brooks played in “Pandora’s Box,” is played by Annabel Reader. Silently present throughout, her seductive reactions, pouting and revelation of subtext is delivered flawlessly. Haunting Brooks and acting as muse for Tynan, Ms. Reader’s Lulu is indelible. As ‘the girl in the black helmet’ she is the most glamourous thing onstage this season. You won’t be able to take your eyes off her.

     There is a beautiful sadness about this play that will remain with you long after you exit the theatre.

Lost Creatures will premiere at The Commons on Champa in The Studio at 1245 Champa Street. Lost Creatures runs November 3- 19, 2016, at 7:30 pm.  Thursday-Saturday. Tickets are $25.00 for general public, $22.00 for students and seniors, and Thursday, November 10 is cheap date night when all tickets are $15.00. Call 720-583-3975 or go to www.andtototoo.org  for tickets.Marlowe's Musings

     “Stella and Lou” is a poignant piece of theatre about the desire for companionship and romance in later life. It’s also about the resilience of the human spirit after having loved and lost.

   L-R: Chris Kendall as Lou and Emma Messenger as Stella

  Emma Messenger invests her character with a charming vulnerability.  Chris Kendall gives a believable warmth to his.

     Peter Marullo provides exaggerated contrast as a harried young man vacillating between his love of freedom and that of his girl friend as his wedding day approaches.

     Lorraine Scott directs the show with caring sensitivity.

     Last season you may have seen playwright Graham’s “Any Given Monday” at Vintage Theatre. Other plays written by Graham are: “The Outgoing Tide,” “Coyote on a Fence” and “White Guy on the Bus.”

Vintage Theatre presents

"Stella and Lou"

Oct. 28 - Nov. 27

A second chance at love is still possible, even for two people with a lot of miles on them.

Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2:30 p.m

$22 - $30

303-856-7830 or www.vintagetheatre.org

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010

Approximate run time is 75 minutes with no intermission

AN ACT OF GOD

THE GARNER GALLERIA THEATRE: 10/20 – 3/12

L-R: Steven Cole Hughes, Wesley Taylor and Erik Sandvold
An Act of God is brimming with humor of the ‘divinely’ satiric variety.

     Television idol, Wesley Taylor is currently personifying and embodying the anthropomorphic version of God through March 12.  His delivery of some hilarious, if sometimes quite controversial material, is extremely smooth and deliciously funny.  

      On Broadway Mr. Taylor appeared in the musicals, “Rock of Ages” and “The Addams

Family.” He was also seen in the television series “SMASH.”

     Critically acclaimed and direct from Broadway, “An Act of God” was written by thirteen - time Emmy award winner David Javerbaum.

     The pacing by director Geoffrey Kent makes the evening fly by. Kent has directed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Tempest” for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival as well as “Metamorphoses” for Aurora Fox Arts.

     In this production God is ably assisted by two of Denver’s finest. Erik Sandvold as Gabriel, reads passages in the two previous Testaments with blithe good will. Steven Cole Hughes serves God as the microphone-fumbling, crowd-working Michael.

     The celestial scenic design by Lisa M. Orzolek is one of the most eye-pleasin’ this season. It’s flanked by screens on which the commandments morph to suit the Deity’s whim. 
     Charles R. Macleod’s lighting design is bright and sunny. Anson Nicholson’s sound design is crisp and clear.

      All done with tongue-in-cheek, it’s stand-up comedy by way of Theology 101.

Marlowe's Musings     

The Garner Galleria is located at 1101 13^th Street in Denver. For tickets call 303-893-4100.

WILLY WONKA

VINTAGE THEATRE: THROUGH OCTOBER 30

   Eddy Schumacher as Willy Wonka (Photo credit: Mel Aman of DenverMind Media)

     “Willy Wonka” is based upon the 1971 movie, starring Gene Wilder. The film was in turn based upon Roald Dahl’s novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald, the show has music and lyrics by Anthony Newly and Leslie Bricusse. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score and another for Best Actor for Gene Wilder.

     Two of the songs everyone will know in the show are: “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination.”

     The plot revolves around Charlie Bucket, a poor child  played by Ashlynne Bogema, an eighth grader from Thunder Ridge Middle School, who wins a gold ticket to visit the Willy Wonka chocolate factory with four other children. Eddy Schumacher is charming in the iconic role of Willy Wonka.

     Some of the faces theatregoers will recognize in the cast are those of: David Ballew (Grandpa George), Brian Walker Smith (Grandpa Joe) and John White (Phineas Trout.)

     Directed by Deb Flomberg, the show has music direction by Trent Hines.

      It’s a show that families will enjoy!

Vintage Theatre presents

"Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka"

Willy Wonka stages a contest where in one golden ticket holder wins a lifetime supply of candy.

Sept. 16 - Oct. 30

Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun. at 2:30 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $17 to $31

www.vintagetheatre.org or 303-856-7830Marlowe's Musings

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010

MID-LIFE 2

#What Did I Come In Here For?

BDT Stage: 9/9 - 11/12

 

Foreground:Scott Beyette

L-R above are: Barb Reeves, Wayne Kennedy, Brian Burron and Tracy Warren. Getting upstaged between Barb and Wayne is Bren Eyestone Burron being a good sport(photo credit: BDT Stage)

 “Mid-Life 2” is the sequel to “Mid-Life: The Crisis Musical,” which BDT Stage produced nine years ago.

     The book, music and lyrics for the show were created by Bob Walton and Jim Walton, who are also credited with the direction and choreography.

     The intimacy afforded by BDT Stage is perfect for this type of material and one imagines that this is the primary reason the Waltons decided to showcase its premiere at this venue.

     All the usual suspects are on board for the technical aspects. The scenic design is by Amy Campion and the lighting by Brett Maughan. The audio design is Wayne Kennedy’s work and Linda Morken did the costume design. Maestro Neal Dunfee conducts the fantastic live orchestra.

     Co-directors Bob and Jim Walton have cast some of the most beloved and seasoned actors of the BDT Stage family as well: Wayne Kennedy, Scott Beyette, Tracy Warren, Bren Burron, Brian Burron and Barb Reeves.

     A few of the crises you will encounter on this mid-life journey are those of senior discounts, forgetfulness, and low testosterone (“Classical Low T.”) The song in which we meet ourselves in the mirror the most is “Bucket List.”

     Barb Reeves has a touching moment in which we get a vision of the joy of being a new grandparent: “She called me Nana.”

     The last song before intermission is a frisky
 number entitled, “The Last Song Before Intermission.”

     Act Two opens with the intentionally  awkward humor of “Senior Moments.”   

     If this were “A Chorus Line” the cast line-up would be holding head shots and not the latest issue of the AARP magazine. Nevertheless … you’ll have fun nervously laughing at a number of hilarious vignettes about being over the hill.

     It’s a musical that will appeal to theatregoers who are middle aged and older. Kids? Not so much!

     In fact, if those new-fangled musicals in which today’s whipper-snappers are rapping make you cranky, let me just say this about that: “You can’t be too long in the tooth or short in the gum to like this one!”

     Reminiscing about the past and bracing for the future, theatregoers of a certain age will not fail to identify.  Light hearted and tuneful, the evening provides lots of laughter. You may be laughing so hard that you’re glad you dragged that oxygen tank … and ear trumpets are advised for anyone who says "EH?" really loud after every line!Marlowe's Musings

Boulder’s Dinner Theatre is located at 5501 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder, Colorado

For tickets call 303-449-6000 or go online at bdtstage.com