METEOR SHOWER

BENCHMARK THEATRE:Nov 27–Dec 18

     Benchmark Theatre’s production of Steve Martin’s “Meteor Shower” is excellent. 

     Martin’s play, however, is another story.

            First the good news.

Tina Anderson’s ultra-modern scenic design is the superb work that Denver audiences have come to expect of her.

Likewise, John Hauser’s sound design is most memorable.

    The cast did the best they could with the material.

      Corey Exline(Corky), Colleen Lee(Laura) and Jeffrey Parker(Gerald) were all new to this reviewer. One hopes to see all three of these very fine actors again soon upon the Denver stage. As Norm, Denver favorite Damon Guerrasio delivers his usual brilliant work.

     Although a few members of the audience appeared to be enjoying the play, this reviewer did not find the material anywhere near the excellence of Steve Martin’s writing of Picasso at the Lapin Agile.

      In this reviewer’s not so humble opinion it would have helped had Mr. Martin given his audience a set-up prior to thrusting them into this abstract melee. Certain playwrights can eliminate the set-up and remain unscathed: Albee, Beckett, Ionesco.

    Go and experience this play and see what you think. It’s important to support Benchmark, which is one of the most important production companies in town.

    Nevertheless… this tiresome and unfunny play was not this reviewer’s cup of tea.

 

For tickets call: 303-519-9059 or go online at benchmarktheatre.com

 

 

 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA

VINTAGE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS: 11/26 – 1/9

 

L-R: Rajdulari and Camryn Nailah

With music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, this ‘originally produced-for-television musical,’ is sure to be a Holiday Favorite for the whole family. 

     Douglas Carter Beane’s up-to-date libretto and book for “Cinderella,” transforms this classic into a fairy tale with a social conscience!!! Promoting kindness over ridicule and social justice over greed, it’s a welcome departure from the traditional script.

     Thanks to director Christopher Page Sanders for casting so many wonderful actors. 

      Camryn Nailah is the newest in the  Pantheon of Denver’s musical theatre stars. Sublime in the title role, her acting is enchanting, and her singing intoxicating.

     Hopefully you were able to catch Elton Tanega in his musical theatre debut in Vintage Theatre’s “Tuck Everlasting” two years ago. As outstanding as his performance was then, this performance is even better. His singing of “Do I love you because you’re beautiful or are you beautiful, because I love you?” is unforgettable.

     Sonsharae Tull’s superb performance in the role of Sebastian, ‘the lord protector,’ is her best work to date.

      Rajdulari’s portrayal of the Fairy Godmother, in which she sings “ Impossible” and “There’s Music in You,” is ear-pleasing indeed.

     As Charlotte, Kara Morrissey is hilarious singing "The Stepsister’s Lament.”

     New to this reviewer were, Logan Traver (Jean-Michele, the fire brand), Stephanie Garcia (Gabrielle), Preston Adams (Lord Pinkerton) and Adrienne Asterita (Madame).

     Under the baton of conductor and musical director, Dr. Michael A. Williams, the live backstage orchestra makes the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein score sound spectacular.

     Ryan Walkoviak’s eye-pleasing wrap around set design, with its decorous arches and pillars, amazes us as we enter the Jeffrey Nickelson auditorium.         

     Kevin Taylor has outdone himself with an electrifying lighting design.    

     Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry’s Costume Design is pure Magic!

     Director Christopher Page-Sanders’ direction of the scene in which Cinderella is transformed to go to the ball, is astounding!

     Not to be missed!!!

 

Vintage Theatre presents 

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”

Nov. 26 2021 – Jan. 9, 2022

$20 - $38

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

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010

Running time 2 hours with intermission.

Recommended for all ages.

 

 

 

 

 

 AMERICAN SON

CURIOUS THEATRE:NOV 6 – DEC 11

       L-R: Sean Scrutchins and Jada Suzanne Dixon

Couched in an interracial couple’s struggle to determine the location of their missing son, playwright Christopher Demos-Brown shines a light on the insidious nature of racial bigotry in our country.

     Jada Suzanne Dixon , who also directs the piece, gives a passionate, nuanced portrayal of Kendra Ellis-Connor, the distraught mother.

     Josh Robinson turns in yet another brilliant performance as Kendra’s estranged husband, Scott. Mr. Robinson has done exceptional work onstage for several seasons, including his most recent work portraying two of the characters in Arvada Center’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” which was shuttered due to the onset of the pandemic.

     Sean Scrutchins’ character, Officer Paul Larkin, is the voice of white apathy. At one point he declares, “She went from zero to ghetto in ten seconds flat!” Later, Kendra describes him as having given the frantic mother “a tour of the Jim Crow police department,” complete with “side by side water fountains.”

      Mr. Scrutchins is one of Denver’s finest actors. His outstanding performance in “The Whipping Man” several seasons ago still resonates in memory. 

     It is perhaps unheard of to speak of a supporting actor as having given a tour-de-force. 

     Nevertheless…Abner Genece’s performance in the role of Lieutenant John Stokes is an example crying out for it.

     Genece, who co-wrote the scalding social commentary, “Elephant,” for Benchmark Theatre, rivets with his powerful, visceral performance.

     American Son is an important play regarding real issues that need addressing now! It’s heartening to see such a play produced by Curious Theatre with such responsibility and guts!!!

     Emotionally moving, and truly cathartic, this play is a multi-faceted gem. Go and support this very fine theatre company. 

 

For tickets go online at curioustheatre.org or call 303-623-0524.

 

 

                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                      

JEST A SECOND!

CHERRY CREEK THEATRE: OCT 29 – NOV 21

 

                     L-R: Andy Dus, Chris Kendall and Pamela Clifton

“Jest a Second!” is playwright James Sherman’s sequel to his hugely popular “Beau Jest.”

      You may remember that “Beau Jest,” produced here in 2017, and which was an off-Broadway hit for two years, involved the conflict of a traditionally minded family and their daughter, who enjoyed dating “out of the box.”  To keep peace in the family, she hired an actor to portray the man who she believed would most please her parents.

   In “Jest a Second” it’s the son, who, fearing to upset the family with his dating choice, allows for some mayhem and merriment as he tries to achieve a similar goal. 

     Director M. Curtis Grittner has assembled a very fine cast for the show. Actors such as Chris Kendall, who won the Henry Award for his performance in Cherry Creek Theatre’s ‘Tuesdays With Morrie,” and Pamela Clifton, who has won numerous awards in her years as actor and director, have wonderful chemistry portraying Abe and Miriam Goldman. Rachel Turner,Marlowe Award winner for Cinderella in Candlelight Dinner Theatre’s “Into the Woods”, is hilarious as the Goldman’s pregnant daughter, Sarah.

     There is a very fine set design by director Grittner and some spot-on costumes by Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry.

      Sequels are never quite as engrossing as the original, but there are plenty of surprises in this lively evening of theatre.

      One hopes that you will go and support this very fine theatre company. 

 

 

 For tickets go online at cherrycreektheatre.org or call 303-800-6578

 

 

 ELEPHANT

BENCHMARK THEATRE: 10/8-10/30

A world premiere Devised Work, Developed by Abner Genece, Candace Joice and Neil Truglio

         L-R: Dan O'Neill and Nnamdi K. Nwankwo

Let me just say at the get-go that Benchmark Theatre’s ELEPHANT is the most important new work to have been seen by this reviewer in memory. 

     Using a timely truism, Benchmark builds a metaphor for racial bigotry upon the current expression: “elephant in the room.”      

     Hanging loosely upon the armature of your memories of the play/movie, “The Elephant Man,” the contrasts in this production outweigh the comparisons by far.

       The Merrick of this play is not misshapen or disfigured in any way. Indeed, he is a tall, handsome, muscular black man. Articulate and dignified in his speech and demeanor, he is seen to have more knowledge of Shakespeare and the Bible than either the self-aggrandizing Frederick Treves or the publicity-seeking Madge Kendal. 

     Nnamdi K. Nwankwo’s performance as John Merrick is utterly and brilliantly natural. 

     New to this reviewer, Courtney Esser is luminous as the hypocritical socialite Madge Kendal. 

     Dan O’Neill exhibits the onstage excellence we have come to expect of him as know-it-all Frederick Treves, doctor and intellectual a la side show hawker.

     Both Mr. O’Neill and Ms. Esser perform their characters in such a way as to hold up the mirror to the appalling, nightmarish nature of white supremacy regarding the abuse, negligence and exploitation of black people. Their performances illuminate the ignorant ‘unnaturalness’ of those who have sometimes been referred to as “the deplorables.”

     You don’t have to be a student of neuro linguistic programming to recall what a shock to the nervous system it is to see the swirl of red and blue lights in the rear-view mirror accompanied by a wailing siren. The nervous system goes on high alert accompanied by a clenched stomach. Why? No one likes to get a speeding ticket. And what if you had a glass of wine with dinner? Additional stress.

     Now imagine the exponentialized stress a black man or woman experiences with the lights and siren, when the possibility of death hangs in the balance.

     It is this degree of awareness that ELEPHANT drives home in multiple ways; not the least of which is the excellence of its sound (Marc Stith) and lighting designs.

      Elephant asks us not only to observe these atrocities, but to feel them, and to engage in creating change.

    This is a rich work that makes a reviewer hold back from unleashing spoilers and describing this new work in too great of detail. You deserve the freedom to experience it for yourself.

   ELEPHANT is powerful social commentary and what this reviewer regards as Great Art. It was an honor to see it.

 

Benchmark Theatre is located at 1560 Teller Street in Lakewood. For tickets call 303-519-9059 or go online at www.benchmarktheatre.com

 

     

 GISELLE

COLORADO BALLET: OCTOBER 8 – 17

 

L-R: Dana Benton and Yosvani Ramos (photo credit: Mike Watson)

Colorado Ballet’s production of Giselle brings world class ballet back to the stage at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. 

      The electricity on opening night was palpable. The audience was ecstatic simply to be back at the Ellie for the first time in eighteen months.

      In short order we were treated to the exquisite dancing of this beloved company as well as to Adolphe Adam’s melodious score, brought to glorious life by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra under the baton of conductor Adam Flatt.

     First night principal roles played by Dana Benton, Yosvani Ramos and Christopher Moulton were all superb. A tip of the hat to Gregory Gonzales, who plays the Duke of Courtland. 

          Ms. Benton’s dancing of the title character showed her to be a ballerina of grace and beauty as well as an artist of meticulous technique. Mr. Ramos exhibited a vital and elegant athleticism in the role of Count Albrecht. Christopher Moulton brought a strong, bold passion to his performance as Hilarion.

     As Myrta, Queen of the Willis, Jennifer Grace
stunned with her virtuosic elegance and expressiveness.

     The corps de ballet danced with a synchronous precision which was mesmerizing.  

      The eye-popping costumes and scenic design by Peter Farmer and lighting design by Todd Elmer, greatly enhanced the evening.

     The choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, as revised by Marius Petipa is wondrous, complex, and some of the most demanding in the repertoire.

    Go and support this outstanding world class ballet company!

 

For tickets call: 303-8378888 or go online at Coloradoballet.org

 

 

 

 

 

 CROSS WORDS

Vintage Theatre: 10/1 – 11/7

L-R: Jan Cleveland, Luke Rahmsdorff-Terry and Molly Turner (Photo Credit: RDG PHOTOGRAPHY)

 

 The winner of the 2019 Mystery Suspense Thriller New Play Showcase, Scott Gibson’s CROSS WORDS, is currently on view at Vintage Theatre in Aurora.

      The set-up is that married couple Tim and Flora have agreed to take on certain domestic duties for their aging Aunt Rosamunde. In return, the couple stands to inherit not only the house, but a huge sum of money that the old girl has squirreled away in savings.   

       Beyond that there will be no spoilers.

       Gibson’s play is tightly plotted and exceptionally well written.  Filled with dark secrets and unexpected revelations, the playwright has included more twists and turns than you can possibly imagine.  

     The show features the excellent sound design by Luke Rahmsdorff-Terry and the very fine lighting design by Emily Maddox. Bernie Cardell’s set design is outstanding.

      Director Andy Anderson has cast the show impeccably.

     The cast includes the likes of: Molly Turner (Flora) and Luke Rahmsdorff-Terry (Tim), who portray the couple at the center of this maze.  Jan Cleveland plays Clarissa, Aunt Roseamunde’s legal advisor.  Elton Tanega is Emory, a delivery boy.

     Go and treat yourself to an evening filled with suspense and great good humor.

 

Vintage Theatre presents 

“Cross Words”

The World Premiere of a suspenseful new thriller.

Oct 1 – Nov 7

$20 - $38

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

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010