Paradise Lost

Fellowship for Performing Arts

Theatre Row

February 20, 2019

Photo courtesy of Fellowship for Performing Arts

The Fellowship for Performing Arts production of Paradise Lost is visually stunning and skillfully performed.  Tom Dulack’s writing, inspired by John Milton’s poem, conjures the Garden of Eden and the depths of hell.  Director Michael Parva has given creative space for six outstanding actors to develop captivating characters and bring this biblical story to life.

Lucifer (played by David Andrew Macdonald) loses his battle with God and falls from heaven.   With him are his Lieutenant, Beelzebub (played by Lou Liberatore), and thousands of fallen angels.  Lucifer comes up with a plan to regain his position.  He needs to enter Paradise and corrupt God’s creation.  Lucifer’s daughter/wife, Sin (played by Alison Fraser), holds the key to the gates of hell, and pushes Lucifer to enact his plan.  Lucifer visits Eve (played by Marina Shay) in her dreams.  Archangel Gabriel (played by Mel Johnson Jr.) warns Adam (played by Robbie Simpson) of Lucifer’s presence and power.  Eve is blind sighted by her lust for knowledge.  Adam is overtaken by his love for Eve.  They succumb to Lucifer’s plan.

Lou Liberatore & David Andrew Macdonald
Photo courtesy of Fellowshop for Perfroming Arts

David Andrew Macdonald portrays Lucifer with a menacing presence, while Lou Liberatore and Alison Fraser deliver the laughs that break the tension.  Robbie Simpson and Marina Shay embody the innocence of Adam and Eve.  Their enthusiasm and joy are genuine.  Their bond is sincerely depicted.  Mel Johnson Jr. grounds the scenes in the Garden of Eden, giving balance to the presence of Lucifer.  These six actors masterfully seize the audience’s attention.  Their skillful depiction of these character brings high value to the production.

Scenic design by Harry Feiner is magnificent.  It is brought to life through Phil Monat’s lighting and John Narun’s brilliant projection design.  Paradise Lost is playing at Theatre Row through March 1.

Domenick Danza

A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur

A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur

La Femme Theatre Productions

Theatre at St. Clements

September 22, 2018

Photo courtesy of
La Femme Theatre Productions

A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, presented by La Femme Theatre Productions, poetically captures Tennessee Williams’ rhythms to draw you into the complexity of the characters.  Director Austin Pendleton orchestrates this stellar cast to gradually reveal their characters yearnings, motivations, and inner fears.  The scenic and lighting design by Harry Feiner magnificently creates a single room living space on the poorer side of St. Louis in 1939.  The overcrowded set dressing brilliantly reflects the characters’ deep need for fulfillment.  The four women in the cast gracefully dive beneath the surface to deliver heartfelt, genuine performances.

Dottie (played by Jean Lichty) is waiting for a very important call, while her roommate, Bodey (played by Kristine Nielson) is frying chicken and preparing deviled eggs for a Sunday picnic at Creve Coeur.  Bodey is obsessed with Dottie getting together with her brother, Buddy.  Dottie has her heart set on another man, the principal at the school where she teaches.  Bodey does not believe he is a good match for Dottie.  When Helena (played by Annette O’Toole) arrives and asks to speak to Dorothea, it takes Bodey a few minutes to realize she is asking for Dottie.  Helena is a teacher at the same school as Dottie.  They have been planning on getting an apartment together in a more affluent neighborhood, and Helena is there to collect the down payment.  Bodey thinks Helena is there to break some disturbing gossip to Dottie, and tries to keep them from speaking privately.  The presence of Miss Gluck (played by Polly McKie), the upstairs neighbor who suffers from depression due to the recent death of her mother, triggers specific reactions from each of the three women.  When Helena finally has a private moment with Dottie, she has to face her greatest fear.   

Kristine Nielsen, Jean Lichty, & Annette O'Toole
Photo courtesy of La Femme Theatre Productions

Tennessee Williams creates three highly complex characters in Dorothea (Dottie), Bodey, and Helena.  Dorothea is the fragile, idealistic, and aging Southern Belle who puts tremendous effort into maintaining her superficial and calm façade.  Jean Lichty reveals Dottie’s true heart in the opening scene with Bodey.  Their friendship is genuine.  Kristine Nielsen portrays Bodey as highly protective of Dottie.  Bodey’s personal need for Dottie to marry her brother is never spoken, but viscerally communicated by Ms. Nielsen.  When Dottie faces her fears in the climax of the play, Ms. Lichty relies on the genuine connection she created in the opening scene to build her character’s courage and fortitude.

Annette O’Toole’s Helena is highbrow and uptight.  Her entrance immediately creates a problem for Bodey.  Ms. O’Toole and Ms. Nielsen explore many levels of this conflict.  They build and vary their tone and physicality.  Even when they find a moment of agreement, they never drop the tension of competition.  After all her aggressive behavior, Ms. O’Toole is still able to elicit empathy when Helena’s deep sense of isolation is uncovered.

Annette O'Toole, Jean Lichty, Kristine Nielsen, & Pollu McKie
Photo courtesy of La Femme Theatre Productions

Miss Gluck represents the lonely end that each of the three women fear.  Polly McKie creates a dark and imposing presence that none of the other actors on stage can avoid.  She is what unites these characters in their struggle to survive.

This lesser produced Tennessee Williams play is a gem of complexity.  As he does in his other works, Williams sets up the fragile, artistic soul of the main character.  In this play, however, he surprises us by revealing the tender and vulnerable side of the characters who push their expectations on her.  Austin Pendleton and this marvelous cast take the audience on a truthful and intimate journey.  A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur is playing at the Theatre at St. Clements through October 21.   

Domenick Danza

The Traveling Lady

The Traveling Lady

La Femme Theatre Productions

Cherry Lane Theatre

June 17, 2017

Photo courtesy of
La Femme Theatre Productions

La Femme Theatre Productions is currently presenting Horton Foote’s The Traveling Lady at Cherry Lane Theatre.  Director Austin Pendleton successfully captures the pace and tone of Mr. Foote’s “small Texas town” in 1950.  The cast authentically portrays heartfelt camaraderie, Bible belt values, and compassion that is appropriate for the characters and time period.  The scenic and lighting design by Harry Feiner create an atmosphere that is warm, comfortable, and inviting.

Georgette Thomas (played by Jean Lichty) arrives at a new town with her six year old daughter, Margaret Rose (played by Korine Tetlow).  They are there to meet her husband Henry (played by PJ Sosko), who is being released from the penitentiary.  Slim Murray (played by Larry Bull) and his sister Clara Breedlove (played by Angelina Fiordellisi) take them in while Henry tries to secure a house for them.  When Henry reverts to his troublesome behavior, the journey for Georgette and Margaret Rose takes an unexpected detour.

Lynn Cohen, Karen Ziemba, & Angelina Fiordellisi
Photo courtesy of La Femme Theatre Productions

The women of this small Texas town have long time solidarity.  Except for the aging Mrs. Mavis (played by Lynn Cohen), who holds a few secrets, they know everything about one another and the comings and goings of all their neighbors.  Lynn Cohen, Angelina Fiordellisi, Karen Ziemba, and Jill Tanner create true believable relationships between these women, which sets the tone for the whole play.  Jean Lichty genuinely portrays the stranger coming into this group with warmth and sincerity.  The chemistry between her character (Georgette) and Larry Bull’s character (Slim) is subtle and clear.  Their connection keeps the action of the play flowing forward.  PS Sosko is energetic and honest as Henry Thomas.  His character is fallible and empathetic.

  

Photo courtesy of Cherry Lane Theatre

If you are a fan of Horton Foote, you will definitely enjoy this production.  It will capture your heart and take you back to simpler times.  The Traveling Lady is playing at Cherry Lane Theatre through July 16.

Domenick Danza