Mrs. Mannerly

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities: 1/26 – 2/21

  Leslie O'Carroll and Graham Ward (photo credit: P. Switzer)

     Jeffrey Hatcher’s “Mrs. Mannerly” is a memory play about a time in 1967 America when there were such things as “manners.”

      In total avoidance of a season of Little League baseball, the ten-year-old Jeffrey has agreed to enroll in a class taught by Mrs. Mannerly that meets on the second floor of the Third Street YMCA in Steubenville, Ohio.

 The teacher is an amiable, no nonsense champion of etiquette and social manners based in the Emily Post tradition. Most of the respected and respectful citizens of Steubenville have been raised under her watchful gaze and strict tutelage. She has even instructed Jeffrey’s mother in the traditions of Ms. Post’s book.

     Leslie O’Carroll is superb in the role of Mrs. Mannerly. One of Denver’s most beloved actors, it’s always a treat to get to see this artist command the stage. And command she does! Imperious for the most part, O’Carroll portrays her character’s sudden and short-lived attacks of vulnerability in a startlingly hilarious er, “manner.”

     Graham Ward is a brilliantly funny whirlwind of boyish mischief as he performs the roles of Hatcher and all the other members of the class. This is the first time this reviewer has had the chance to see Mr. Ward’s acting and one hopes to see him soon again upon the Denver stage.

     Director Edith Weiss elicits performances from her cast that capitalize on the great good humor in Hatcher’s play, as well as the poignancy of the friendship that grows between student and teacher.

      Samantha Saucedo’s costume design and Jon Olson’s lighting add immeasurably to the evening.

     If you, like this reviewer, need a respite from the barbaric lack of manners in the political news this election year, “Mrs. Mannerly” could be just the ticket!

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities is located at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, Colorado

Tickets are available on line at arvadacenter.org     or by phoning the Box Office at 720-898-7200

Marlowe's Musings

Tell Me On a Sunday

Avenue Theater: 1/22 – 2/27

“Tell Me On a Sunday” is a one-woman musical featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black, starring Megan Van De Hey and directed by Robert Michael Sanders. It’s a one-act song cycle about an English woman whose search for romance moves from New York City to Hollywood and back to Manhattan.

     In 1985 Bernadette Peters won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as ‘Girl.’ 

     Perhaps the least self indulgent of Lloyd Webber’s works, “Tell Me on a Sunday” is an intimate and realistic look at a young woman who’s lonely and looking for love.

     Excelling in her solo performance, Megan Van De Hey dazzles us with her virtuosic singing and acting.  Van De Hey is accompanied by esteemed music director Trent Hines.

     “Take That Look Off Your Face,” "Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad” and “Tell Me” are just three of the memorable songs.

     The look of the production is sensational. With expert scenic design by Richard H. Pegg, lighting design by Steven Tangedal and projection and sound designs by Tom Quinn, “Tell Me on a Sunday” is stunning. 

     Classy and sophisticated, this is theatre that’s a cut above! Thanks to executive directors John Ashton and Abby Boes The Avenue Theater has returned to its original glory. Brava! Marlowe's Musings

Avenue Theater presents

“Tell Me on a Sunday”

Jan. 21 - Feb 27

Previews Thur. Jan 21 @ 7:30 p.m.

Fri./Sat. at 7:30 p.m./Sun. (beginning Jan. 31) at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets $14 on Thurs., Jan. 21; $29.50 all other performances

Online at www.avenuetheater.com or 303-321-5925

Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave, CO, 80203

THE NORMAL HEART

VINTAGE THEATRE: 1/15 – 2/21 

                  L-R: Charlie Wingerter and Craig A. Bond     

Vintage Theatre’s production of Larry Kramer’s play about the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s is heartbreaking.

     Playwright Kramer writes himself into this harrowing and mostly autobiographical play in the character of Ned Weeks, a Jewish American writer who attempted to create an organization to communicate awareness of an unidentified disease that was killing gay men.

     Charlie Wingerter’s fiery portrayal of Ned is a tour de force. Ned’s fierce, confrontational activism is given a raging reality that reaches its zenith in his fight against city hall. He struggled to reach people in authority who could assist in battling the disease when nobody even knew what caused it. His one-man war designed to create awareness and engender allies within the administrations of Ronald Reagan and Mayor Koch was met with resistance on every front.

     Craig A. Bond portrays Felix Turner, a writer for the New York Times who falls for Ned even as he is unwilling to promote his article about the epidemic.

    Bond invests his character with a breezy, flirtatious warmth in the early scenes that turns to wrenching anguish by final curtain. The scene in which Felix visits Ben, Ned’s estranged lawyer brother in an attempt to complete his will, is indelible.

     Christian Munck plays Bruce Niles, the cautious, polite and closeted ‘good cop’ in this world of gay activism. The exaggerated contrast of Bruce’s self-absorbed narcissism with Ned’s fierce outspoken indictment of the governmental and scientific silence is startling. Munck’s monologue about the dehumanizing treatment of a dying lover is delivered with power.

     Emma Messenger gives a convincing portrayal of Dr. Emma Brookner, the first known medical doctor to become aware of the burgeoning epidemic.

     Director Paul Jaquith’s clear-eyed direction is unflinching in its insistence on realism in treating the material.

     The Normal Heart was produced off Broadway in 1985 and garnered three Tony awards including one for best revival of a play in 2011. It was produced as a film made for televison that starred Mark Ruffalo in 2014.

     In the Intimacy of the Bond/Trimble theatre, "The Normal Heart" will take your breath away.

Vintage Theatre presents

"The Normal Heart"

Jan. 15 - Feb. 21

A searing drama about public and private indifference to the AIDS epidemic.

Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2:30 p.m.; Monday, January 25 and (closing) Sunday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m

$20 - $30

303-856-7830 or online at www.vintagetheatre.org

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010Marlowe's Musing

The Big Bang

Spotlight Theatre: 1/2 – 2/6

Left to Right: Joe Von Bokern and Ben Hilzer

“The Big Bang” is a deliriously funny musical about the History of the World that's a blast from the past – all of it!

     It’s the tale of two young theatre writer/composers who have a new musical and no money.

     We as audience are the prospective investors who have come to the writers’ friend’s home where these two guys are going to put on the play in the hopes of monetary contributions at final curtain.

     It’s the history of the world from the Garden of Eden to the present.

     Oh My God! Joe Von Bokern and Ben Hilzer are gods of the comic romp! They are aided in no small part by Blake Nawa’a, whose musical direction and accompaniment on the piano allow the songs to really pop!

Thanks to director Katie Mangett’s superb casting as well as her having paced the show as if it were a theatrical stampede, you can be assured that you will be busting a gut laughing from curtain to curtain.

     And speaking of curtains, which both men wear as if they were about to be arrested by the fashion police, the creative costuming by Susan Rahmsdorff is utterly delicious. This artist’s costume design allows for everything in the room from clocks to fruit bowls to become hilariously appropriate historical and hysterical accoutrements.

     Christian Munck’s choreography adds immeasurably to the silliness as well.

     Having seen two previous productions of this script, which were 'watch watchers,' I was hesitant to go at first. However ... I have never been so happy to have listened to the still small voice - yes all theatre critics listen to the voices - that said "put your butt in a theatre seat and give this show one more chance."

    
     It's the perfect antidote for the insanity currently being aired as the evening news.

     GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!

Spotlight Theatre Company presents

“The Big Bang”

In a manic and pun-ny musical "sales pitch" two actors will do anything to fund their new show.

Jan. 2 - Feb. 6

Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2:00 p.m.; Monday, Jan. 18 @ 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $22 - $25; $11 on Mon., Jan. 18

Group rates available for 6 or more.
720-530-4596 or online at www.thisisspotlight.com

The John Hand Theater, 7653 E. 1st Place, Denver, CO 80230

Free parking.

Marlowe's Musings