Steel Magnolias

Spotlight Theatre: 4/2 – 4/30

L-R: Nicole Campbell, Suzanne Nepi, Chloe McLeod and Deborah Curtis(Photo credit Soular Radiant Photography)

The current production of “Steel Magnolias” now on view at the John Hand Theater on Lowry resurrects an old chestnut to glorious effect.

     Touted as the directorial debut of Emma Messenger, the evening unfolds more like that of the studied work of a veteran director. Messenger, who has taken the highest awards for acting twice in the last two years, is obviously well steeped in the awareness of what needs to go on from the director’s chair.

     She’s cast the show with a bevy of beauties, all of whom are age and look appropriate for the roles and who have more than the requisite talent to rise to the challenge of this old warhorse.

     There are stellar performances by: Suzanne Nepi, Nicole Campbell, Libby Rife, Chloe McLeod, Abby Apple Boes and Deborah Curtis.

     One must add that getting a chance to see Libby Rife

L-R: Nicole Campbell and Libby Rife(Photo credit: Solar Radiant Photography)

(Clairee) return to the stage slinging zingers to such great comic effect was worth the trip over to Lowry all on its own.

     Suzanne Nepi’s a joy to watch throughout. Abby Apple Boes turns in a stunning performance as M’Lynn. Deborah Curtis is a hoot as Ouiser.

     Bernie Cardell’s set design, Susan Rahmsdorff’s costumes and Megan O’Connor’s wig design add immeasurably to our enjoyment of this show.

     It’s a wonderful evening of theatre that comes with high recommendations from this reviewer’s desk. So if you, like this reviewer, happen to need to wash a few less than satisfactory past productions of this show out of your hair, you can’t go wrong getting a ticket for this one.

Spotlight Theatre Company presents

“Steel Magnolias”

Apr. 2 - Apr. 30*

Fri/Sat and Monday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $12 - $22

Group rates available.

720-530-4596 or online at www.thisisspotlight.com

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

Free parking.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE

  GERMINAL STAGE: 4/1 – 5/1

Heartbreaking and crushing, Ed Baierlein’s glorious production of “The Glass Menagerie” is a spellbinder!

In 1944 Tennessee Williams rose to fame with a production of his four-person memory play, “The Glass Menagerie.” It’s more than a little bit autobiographical and Williams cast himself as the character, Tom, who reminisces as he narrates the proceedings.

     In the first scene Tom introduces us to his mother, Amanda and his sister, Laura. We hear how at a young age he moved with his family from the genteel culture of Mississippi to the tenements of St. Louis.

      Director Ed Baierlein not only knows how to cast this show, but he’s able to evoke the milieu in which these characters are rooted.

     Baierlein’s 1996 production of “The Glass Menagerie” won Jenny MacDonald the Best Supporting Actress nod at the Denver Drama Critics Circle Awards Ceremony.  And even though the memory of that production still burns brightly in this theatre reviewer’s memory, Germinal Stage's current production surpasses it.

     Anne Smith Myers’ Amanda is a studied realization of a faded suhthuhn belle that’s revelatory. Her acting choices in tandem with Baierlein’s directorial concept create an indelible vision of Williams’ mother.  Myers’ portrayal of Amanda exudes suhthuhn charm that’s accented by a lilting smile in her voice that sometimes threatens to break into a half-suppressed laugh. Her attempt to appear to be a paragon of suhthuhn gentility is at its height as she interacts socially with the gentleman caller in Act Three.

     Michael Gunst gives us a compassionate Tom tortured by his memories. His piercing eyes with their penetrating gaze seem to look far out beyond the spatial confines of the theatre. In his escape from the constricting, repressive home of his deluded mother he was unable to save his increasingly demented sister, Laura.  His few moments interacting with Laura onstage are filled with a profound tenderness.

     As Laura, Bethany Goodell-Faber is all luminous, shy vulnerability at first and then dissolves into excruciating soul- crushing terror in her scene with the gentleman caller.  

      Trevor Lyons is all well meaning narcissism as that gentleman caller as he imagines that he can communicate his path to success with the wilting Laura.

     We as audience get to look at all of this through the delicate glass menagerie mobile, which is also reflected in the mirror at the rear of the Wingfield living room.

     One must add that Sallie Diamond’s costume design enhances this gorgeous production beyond measure.

For spring/summer 2016, we are in residence 
at the newly renovated 73rd Avenue Playhouse
at 73rd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard 
in Westminster. 

For tickets call: 303.455.7108 or go online at

germinalstage@gmail.com

SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ

TOWN HALL ARTS CENTER: 4/1 – 5/1

  Colby Dunn (photo credit: Gary Duff)

The fifth production to grace the stage at Town Hall Arts Center this season is Leiber and Stoller’s “Smokey Joe’s Café.” This show is the longest running musical revue in Broadway history. It’s directed and choreographed by Matthew D. Peters, who won the Marlowe Award for both his direction and choreography of “SWING!” for this venue in 2014.

      This song and dance revue features wall-to-wall rock and roll, R&B and blues songs. 

     Thirty-nine songs in all, some of the hits you will remember are: “Love Potion #9,” “Yakety Yak” and “On Broadway.”

     The cast is full of the names of the brightest and best of Colorado vocalists.

     Anna High, who stunned Denver audiences with her high voltage performance as Effie in Ignite Theatre’s production of “Dream Girls,” knocks it out of the park once more singing “Hound Dog,” “Kansas City” and “Saved.”

     Olivia James, recently onstage in “Uncle Jed’s Barbershop,” produced by Cleo Parker Robinson, is a natural in both singing and acting. In her renditions of “Some Cats Know” and “You’re the Boss,” she shows us she can shift from comic to sultry and back again on a dime.

L-R: Jacob Villareal, Alejandro Roldan, Evan Sauvage, Matt LaFontaine and Ethan Knowles (Photo credit: Gary Duff)

     Alejandro Roldan, who amazed audiences as Ritchie Valens in BDT Stage’s production of “Buddy,The Buddy Holly Story,” stuns with his performance of “Stand By Me”.

     You will remember Jacob Villareal from his performances in “Young Frankenstein” and “Anything Goes.” His "Spanish Harlem” with Ms. James  as well as his singing of “Loving You” are  knock-outs.

     Colby Dunn is a blonde beauty with a voice that must be heard to be believed. She nearly blew the roof off with her Town Hall Arts debut.

      Matt LaFontaine’s singing-and acting- of “I, Who Have Nothing” is of the raw, passionate, explosive variety one seldom gets to experience on the stage anywhere. Outstanding!

     Evan Sauvage gives us a very smooth “You’re the Boss” in his duet with Ms. James.

     Jenna Moll Reyes delivers the goods with “Trouble” and “Falling.”

     As for the dancing of Mr. Peters’ awesome choreography, Eric Pung,Chelley Canales,Will Treat and Rachelle King show us what it means to really move to the beat!

     And as if all this were not enough… The Divine Donna Debreceni heightens the excitement with her incredible onstage band, featuring:  Tag Worley, Scott Alan Smith, Jason Tyler Vaughn, Bob Rebholz and Harry Grainger.

Smokey Joe’s Café opens Friday, April 1, 2016 and runs through Sunday, May 21, 2016. Show times are Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. (2:00 p.m. on 4/16) and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Ticket Information:

Reserved seat tickets are currently on sale, priced $23.00-$42.00 at the Town Hall Arts Center box office, 303-794-2787 ext. 5 (Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1 Hour prior to Shows) or on-line at townhallartscenter.org/smokey-joes-cafe/. Marlowe's Musings