ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY’S Cabaret

The Buell Theatre: 9/27 – 10/9

     With music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, this renowned musical is based on John Van Druten’s play, “I am a Camera” which is in turn based upon Christopher Isherwood’s book “Goodbye to Berlin.”

     Cliff Bradshaw, an American writer, falls hard for a pretty young cabaret singer named Sally Bowles at the Kit Kat Klub in 1931 Berlin. The Nazis are coming to power.

     The Master of Ceremonies who presides over what transpires during Cliff’s stay in Berlin, is a metaphor for the ugly political atmosphere that led to the Holocaust.

      The show won eight Tonys in 1967 including those for: Musical, Lead Actor, Lead Actress, Featured Actor, Featured Actress, Original Score, Direction, Choreography, Scenic Design and Costume Design.

   

      Andrea Goss (photo credit: Joan Marcus)

     Equal parts adorable gamine and seductive vamp, Andrea Goss is outstanding in the role of Sally Bowles. Ms. Goss is the quintessential Sally. Besides her powerful delivery of the title song, her renditions of “Mein Herr”, “Don’t Tell Mama” and “Maybe This Time” stun. 

Randy Harrison (photo credit: Joan Marcus)

     Randy Harrison is definitely the best looking actor to play the Emcee that this reviewer has seen. He has a great physique and a decidedly Aryan look. What he lacks in smarminess he makes up for with an enticing insidiousness and triple threat talent. Mr. Harrison’s performance of “If You Could See Her,” “Money” and “I Don’t Care Much” allows us as audience to feel the growth of the bigotry, cruelty and empty cynicism of Berlin in 1931.

     Mary Gordon Murray and Scott Robertson are charming as Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz respectively. Ms. Murray’s vocals stun.

     There are two spiral stairways that flank the playing space which lead to the orchestra positioned above the stage.

     Robert Cookman’s music direction together with Michael Gibson’s orchestrations conspire to elicit music from these musicians that’s intoxicating.

    Randy Harrison and the cast of Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET( photo credit: Joan Marcus)

The lighting design is dazzling! At certain points the footlights create garish distortions in the Kit Kat girls’ and boys’ faces reminiscent of those in some of James Ensor’s expressionist paintings.

Roundabout Theatre Company’s CABARET is an electrifying evening that should be seen by anyone who loves theatre.

Run to get tickets!

The Buell Theatre is located at 1031 13^th Street, Denver, Colorado, 80204

For tickets call: 303-893-4000 or go online at denvercenter.orgMarlowe's Musings

EVITA

CANDLELIGHT DINNER PLAYHOUSE: 9/22 – 11/13

                  (Photo Credit: Rachel Graham/RDG Photography)
How did we got so lucky to get to see three of Colorado’s finest actors together in EVITA?

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, EVITA won six Tony Awards in 1980 including one for Patti LuPone for Best Actress in a Musical.  It was the first British musical to have ever captured the American Tony. Before that Evita had already won the Lawrence Olivier Award for Best Musical and Best Performance in a Musical by Elaine Page in London.

      In 1996 Evita became a major Hollywood film starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas.

     The musical is based on the life of Eva Peron, the second wife of the president of Argentina, Juan Peron. It follows her from small town hooker to radio personality to first lady of Argentina while presenting us with her eventual power plays backed by the unions, her charity work, and concluding with her death in 1952.

    We have director Patrick Sawyer to thank for casting the superb triumvirate of Joanie Brosseau, Markus Warren and Matt Lafontaine to play: Evita, Peron and Che respectively.

     Ms. Brosseau has stunned Colorado twice before in this role.  Mr. Lafontaine recently wowed us with his outstanding performance as the Baker in “Into the Woods.” Mr. Warren stunned us with his performance as Cinderella’s Prince in that same Candlelight Playhouse production.

     Markus Warren is at the pinnacle of his career as an actor. His vocals are perfection. Warren's renditions of “The Dice are Rolling”, “The Rainbow Tour” and “The Art of the Possible” are indescribably delicious to the ear.

     Ms. Brosseau and Mr. Lafontaine knock us out with their duets of “High Flying Adored,” “The Money Kept Rolling In” and “A Waltz for Eva and Che.”

      Benjamin Abernathy’s lighting design is a blaze of colorful fireworks that exhilarates.

     Shauna Johnson’s scenic design is functional and descriptive without ever becoming ostentatious. It allows the performances to really pop! 

    The final scene of Act One, in which the unions align with La Peron is one of fiery bravado and triumph that is what one might refer to as "Stupendous!"

   The costumes by Debra Faber are eye-poppers. The gorgeous white gown worn by Ms. Brosseau for her appearance on the balcony of the Casa Rosada singing “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” is dazzling!

     The menu at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse is exceptional as well. Try the Prime Rib!

     The venue is one of the most stunning in the region. If you haven’t been there yet, go discover the magnificence of Candlelight Dinner Playhouse! Marlowe's Musings

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse is located at 47474 Maketplace Drive in Johnstown, CO

For tickets call 1-970-744-3747 or go online at coloradocandlelight.com

CURIOUS THEATRE COMPANY: 9/3 – 10/15

     “Water by the Spoonful,” the second installment of the triptych known as “The Elliot Plays,” is currently on view at Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma Street in Denver.  It’s the Regional Premiere of a work by Quiera Alegria Hudes that received the Pulitzer Prize in 2012.

     In it Odessa runs a virtual support line for drug addicts from her living room computer. In her attempt to help others via cyberspace, she is also aware that her real-life biological family is disintegrating around her.long winded.

 the play is tedious and  for who we really are."me - to s humans. Whether that need is filled by family or by an olong winded.

 the play is tedious and  for who we really are."me - to s humans. Whether that need is filled by family or by an o

     Odessa, the central character, is played by Denver favorite Gabriella Cavallero. William Hahn(Fountainhead), Thony Mena(Elliot) and Jenna Moll Reyes(Oranguatan) are outstanding in the supporting cast. 

      The scenic design by Markas Henry is exceptionally well done.

     In his director’s notes Chip Walton says: “In a world often marked by division rather than unity, “Water by the Spoonful” has been a reminder to me that the search for community is one of the most core needs we have as humans. Whether that need is filled by family or by an online collection of virtual strangers we all want to find a home – to find people that understand and see us for who we really are.” Walton is so correct in this.

     I may be mtallment be m prequel I may be missing something. for addicts to help keep each other clean. the  by family or by an oI may be mtallment be m prequel I may be missing something. for addicts to help keep each other clean. the  by family or by an oThe cyberspace conversations are well directed and acted. Unfortunately the play is long winded and tedious.I may be mtallment be m prequel I may be missing something. for addicts to help keep each other clean. the  by family or by an o

     I may be mtallment be m prequel I may be missing something. for addicts to help keep each other clean. the  by family or by an oSince this reviewer did not see the first installment of The Elliot Plays it is possible that I am missing something of significance from its origin. So take this review with a block of salt and go support Curious Theatre. 

     One hopes that this current fad of having plays done in a serialized fashion will end soon. With the tsunami of theatre onstage in Colorado it’s impossible to see all the shows. To get to three installments of one triptych at a single theatre is even more so. And to only see one or two segments dilutes the essence of a triptych - like water by the spoonful.

Marlowe's Musings

Curious Theatre Company is located at 1080 Acoma Street, Denver, CO

Go online at Curioustheatre.org or call 303-623-0524 for tickets