Regional Theatre: June 2008 Archives

IRON CURTAIN at the Village Theatre

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iron_curtain



Damnable Yankees!


Okay, that is the best pun I have heard in a very long time. And "Damn Those Damnable Yankees" is a fabulously funny number in IRON CURTAIN, a hilarious new show with book by Susan DiLallo, music by Stephen Weiner, and lyrics by Peter Mills. I saw IRON CURTAIN (guys, the show deserves a better name!) at First Stage as part of the Village Theatre Originals series -- two weeks of rehearsals and the actors are on book. However, IRON CURTAIN was pretty much blocked and choreographed, so you really got a good feel for the show's potential.



From the Village Theatre website:

"This side-splitting musical comedy takes place during the Cold War era. Meet Yengenyi Onanov and Sergei Schmearnov who work for the Ministry of Musical Persuasion in the Soviet Union. When the Soviets set out to create a great Broadway musical, they decide that they'll need to bring in some real New York writers — by force, if necessary. Enter Howard and Murray, two aspiring musical theatre writers, who have just had another musical rejected and are on the brink of throwing in the towel. Kidnapped, taken to Moscow, and forced to fix what could possibly be the worst musical ever written, these two characters suddenly find themselves working under the gun, literally!"


The book is hilarious with the puns and physical comedy coming fast and furious, and the music and lyrics take full advantage of the brilliant premise. I mean, what is funnier than Russians trying to do musical theatre? And of course, as always, the Village Theatre puts together an A list cast of actors who really deliver the goods. As a writer, it is very satisfying to workshop your material with really good, experienced and talented performers.


Next stop for IRON CURTAIN is the prestigious O'Neill National Musical Theatre Conference in Connecticut in July.



After that? I wouldn't be surprised to see those Reds on the Great White Way!


Note: By Suzy Conn

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By Myrna Conn on June 23, 2008 4:57 PM | | Comments (0)

A MARVELOUS PARTY at ACT

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cowardpiano



"You ask my advice about acting? Speak clearly, don't bump into the furniture and if you must have motivation, think of your pay packet on Friday".

-Noel Coward.


I had the best time on Friday night! I went to see A MARVELOUS PARTY: THE NOEL COWARD CELEBRATION at ACT. And even if there hadn't been a free rare beer tasting and free snacks before the show, I'm sure I would have still enjoyed the show as much as I did! However, it was a really nice touch! I think my favorite was an Italian beer from Turin that had Cassis in it! But I digress…


A MARVELOUS PARTY: THE NOEL COWARD CELEBRATION (words and music by Noel Coward of course) was devised by David Ira Goldstein, Carl Danielsen, Anna Lauris, Mark Anders, and Patricia Wilcox. It was directed by David Ira Goldstein and musical directed by Richard Gray, and the ACT production stars Anna Lauris, Mark Anders, Richard Gray, and David Silverman.


Richard Gray directed the AMT show, Northwest Bookshelf 2 for The 5th Avenue Theatre (I had two pieces in that show, LARRY GETS LOST IN SEATTLE, and DAISY THE FIRECOW). I loved working with Rich as a director, and he wrote a bunch of great pieces for that AMT show, so I knew he was also an awesome writer, but I had no idea what a great performer and piano player he was! Is there anything he can't do? His rendition of "A Bar on the Piccola Marina" was incredible!


The whole cast was marvelous. They had great voices, and could really hoof it, but it was more than that. They were really great performers. I know that sounds "obvious", but it's been a long time since I've felt so completely engrossed in a piece, and so completely relaxed watching performers.


From "ACT Backstage"

"We created this new show as a treasure box of our favorite Noel Coward songs - both familiar and some that you probably have never heard before -- infused with the particular musical genius of a supremely talented cast of performers," said Co-creater and Director David Ira Goldstein. "We chose and arranged the material to highlight the many facets of their talents: Mark Anders facility with language and his abundant musical talents; Anna Lauris' outrageously wonderful comic sensibilities and triple threat acting, singing, and dancing abilities; and the extraordinarily versatile talents of David Silverman and Rich Gray"


I've been a fan of Noel Coward a long time, since my mother introduced me to "Mad Dogs and Englishmen Go Out in the Mid Day Sun" when I was little. So I loved Mark Anders brilliant version of that number. Other highlights for me included "A Bar on the Piccola Marina", "The Coconut Girl" medley and "There are Bad Times Just Around the Corner". There are so many extraordinary numbers in the show, all I can say is go out and buy tickets before it closes (July 13)!


Note: By Suzy Conn

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By Myrna Conn on June 23, 2008 4:37 PM | | Comments (0)

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