macbitches

 macbitches
Chain Theatre
August 25, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

Sophie McIntosh’s macbitches is a stark look at the inner world of an undergrad acting program.  Ms. McIntosh uses this microcosm of a societal structure to reveal how people fall into and accept the norms forced upon them in order to fit in.  The balance of power is clearly understood.  When the unraveling begins, the characters lose all sense of themselves.  This Chain Theatre world premiere production is skillfully directed by Ella Jane New.  She breaks the action down into short, clear beats, then allows them to effortlessly build to a dramatic frenzy.

Morgan Lui, Caroline Orlando, Laura Clare Browne, & Marie Dinolan
Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

When Hailey, a freshman (played by Marie Dinolan), is cast as Lady Macbeth in the Drama Department’s fall production of “The Scottish Play,” the upper class students are taken by surprise.  Piper, a sophomore (played by Laura Clare Browne), invites her to a small gathering to celebrate.  Rachel (played by Carline Orlando), who is a senior, is handling her disappointment remarkable well.  Lexi, a junior (played by Natasja Naarendorp), is livid over the casting decision.  Cam (played by Morgan Lui) is also a junior, and slowly falling into a depression over the situation.  As they drink and share their drama school stories with Hailey, each one reveals the darker side of their experiences.  After Hailey tells about her final call back with the director, Rachel and Lexi decide to pull a prank on her.  The prank backfires when Rachel reveals a secret she has been keeping from Lexi for the three years of their friendship.  Blood is spilt and “what is done cannot be undone.”

Caroline Orlando, Morgan Lui, Natasja Naarendorp, 
Laura Clare Browne, & Marie Dinolan
Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

These women are perfectly cast and delicately build their distinctive characters moment by moment.  Laura Claire Brown plays Piper’s optimism with genuine vulnerability.  She reveals her character’s insecurities in an intimate moment with Morgan Lui’s Cam.  These two actors have a strong connection.  They portray opposite characteristics, yet their bond is genuine and captivating.  Marie Dinolan delightfully portrays Hailey as a naïve freshman wanting to fit in.  Her comic timing is excellent.  She has a few bold moments that shift the action of the play.  This keeps the audience on the edge of their seat, waiting for the other shoe to drop.  From the opening moment of the show, Natasja Naarendorp is on fire.  This is juxtaposed by Caroline Orlando’s cool and calm portrayal of Rachel.  At the climax of the story, Rachel loses all control and Lexi cracks under the stress.  It is a powerful scene that takes the audience by surprise.  These two skilled actors successfully deliver an impactful ending that takes the entire story to another level.

Morgan Lui & Laura Clare Browne
Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

Sophie McIntosh creates characters who have learned how to smoothly relate on the outside, while carrying hurt and secrets on the inside.  Her writing is funny and dark.  Chain Theatre delivers the high quality we have come to expect from their productions.  macbitches is playing through September 10.  Get a ticket right away.  Performances are selling out.

Domenick Danza

Gatsby: An American Musical

 Gatsby: An American Musical
Woodstock Playhouse
August 20, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Woodstock Playhouse

The Woodstock Playhouse ended its 2022 Summer Season with a staged reading of Gatsby: An American Musical.  Adapted by Daniel Landon, with music and lyrics by Lawrence Rosen, this new musical has tremendous potential.  Director/Choreographer Randy Conti expanded on the expected stage reading model by including dance, costumes, props, and minimal sets.  Because of this, he delivered a valuable developmental experience for the creative team, as well as for audience members.  The talented cast brought new life to these classic characters.

Photo courtesy of Woodstock Playhouse

It is summer of 1924.  Nick Carraway (played by Ian C. Weber) moves from the Midwest to Manhattan for a new job.  He rents a cottage on Long Island to escape the city heat.  While there, he looks up his cousin, Daisy Buchanan (played by Zoe Maroko).  Nick attends a dinner party at Daisy’s mansion with her husband, Tom (played by JT Atwood) and Jordan Baker (played by Tassy Kirbas).  Nick later receives an invitation to a party from his landlord, Jay Gatsby (played by Caleb Miofsky).  At that party, Gatsby asks Nick to arrange a meeting between him and Daisy.  Nick discovers that Daisy and Gatsby were previously acquainted.  This meeting rekindles a romance that brings disaster for both of them.

Mr. Landon chooses to end Act I with the meeting of Daisy and Gatsby, leaving the audience to wonder about the history of these two characters.  Act II opens with a scene between Daisy and Jordan, where those questions are quickly answered.  The rest of Act II moves at a brisk pace, due to strong rising action.  The climax scene is impactful and effectively crafted. 

Me & my family at our annual
Woodstock excursion.

The cast builds strong relationships, engaging the attention of the audience and creating an aura of mystery.  They all make the most of every moment, creating characters that are true to the time period.  Outstanding performances were delivered by JT Atwood, Tassy Kirbas,  Allie Hill, McKenzie Tipton, Lex Hummell, and Isabelle Grace.  

Woodstock Playhouse has a long history of presenting quality, fun summer theatre for the whole family.  This developmental reading utilized their skills to give Daniel Landon and Lawrence Rosen a strong opportunity to get their work on its feet and in front of an audience.  With some fine tuning, Gatsby: An American Musical is sure to be a great success when fully produced. 

Domenick Danza

Funny Girl

 Funny Girl
August Wilson Theatre
August 13, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Funny Girl

The Broadway revival of Funny Girl is going through major changes this summer.  Julie Benko is beautifully carrying the show forward.  She embraces the role of Fanny Brice and grows with her throughout the story.  From youthful insecurity to magnetic stardom, Ms. Benko fully captures the heart of the character.  Her voice is strong and expresses the emotional range needed to fully engages the audience.  Under the direction of Michael Mayer, the production is bright and evenly paced.  The tap choreography, by Ayodele Casel, is stylistic and sharp. 

The story starts at the end.  Fanny Brice (played by Julie Benko) is a Ziegfeld star.  She is in her dressing room getting ready to open a new show.  She is anxiously waiting for her husband, Nick Arnstein (played by Jeremiah James, understudy).  Her nervousness brings her thoughts to the start of her career.  She is a young Jewish girl from Brooklyn with big dreams.  Her mother (played by Jane Lynch) believes in her, yet her mother’s two friends (played by Toni DiBueno and Debra Carona) have their doubts.  While appearing in a Vaudeville act, she befriends the choreographer, Eddie Ryan (played by Jared Grimes).  He works overtime with her to prepare for the show.  After the opening night performance, she meets Nick Arnstein, who recognizes her as the star she is.  Fanny falls in love at first sight, but does not meet up with Nick for another year.  By that time she is working for Florenz Ziegfeld (played by Peter Francis James).  Fanny and Nick start a romance that changes both their lives in ways neither of them expected. 

Julie Benko as Fanny Brice
Photo courtesy of Funny Girl

Jeremiah James and Julie Benko work well together as Nick and Fanny.  Sparks fly in the scene when they first meet.  Their hearts open when they sing “People."  Their characters mature as their relationship develops.  The final scene, when Nick returns, is their finest.  It is grounded and sincere.  Fanny is left with a decision to make.  Ms. Benko digs deep to portray the courage Fanny musters to move forward.  It is a powerful moment.  We understand how she become the comic legend she was born to be. 

Toni DiBueno, Debra Cardona, and Jane Lynch make a great trio.  Their comic timing succinctly creates the Jewish Brooklyn community of Fanny’s upbringing,  It has a consistent feeling of home every time the story return to them. 

Jared Grimes & Julie Benko
Photo courtesy of Funny Girl

Jared Grimes shines as Eddie Ryan, Fanny’s friend and choreographer who supports her on her rise to stardom.  His character is bold and enthusiastic.  His tap dancing is phenomenal.

Funny Girl is sure to transform with the casting changes that are coming in the next month.  No matter which cast you see, the story of Fanny Brice is sure to inspire you. 

Domenick Danza

The Kite Runner

 The Kite Runner
The Hayes Theater
July 30, 2022 

Photo courtesy of The Kite Runner

Matthew Spangler’s adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner is superbly written.  Most of the story is told through narration, as the main character tell his story.  He weaves facts together with the innocence of a young boy, then unravels the truths of buried emotions in order to heal and find happiness in his adult life.  Director Giles Croft magnifies each small moment so their significance is clearly felt when secrets are revealed.

Amir (played by Amir Arison) tells of his growing up in Kabul in the 1970s.  He lived a wealthy, privileged  life.  Amir’s father, Babar (played by Faran Tahir),  had very high expectations for him that he could never live up to them.  Amir’s best friend was his servant, Hassan (played by Eric Sirakian).  He was Amir’s kite runner.  He played with Amir, and protected him.  They grew up together, and shared everything.  On the day of the kite festival, Hassan was brutally assaulted.  Amir witnessed the attack, yet did nothing to stop it.  He could not face the truth of his betrayal of his closest companion.  When the Russians invaded Afghanistan, Amir and his father fled to America, with nothing but two suitcases of clothing.  They began to build their lives back.  After Amir gets married and Baba passes away, Amir receives a message from his father’s old business partner, Rahim Khan (played by Dariush Kashani).  Amir knows he must return to Afghanistan to make good on the harm he caused Hassan in his youth.  What he does not know is the secret that Rahim Khan is ready to reveal. 

Amir Arison & Eric Sirakian
Photo courtesy of The Kite Runner

Amir Arison rarely leaves the stage.  He steals your attention at the top of the show.  You gladly join him on his heartfelt and painful journey.  He skillfully shifts his physicality as his character jumps in age throughout the story.  He and Eric Sirakian create a genuine bond that fills the audience with joy whenever they share the stage.  The story relies on the sincerity of this bond, and these two actors successfully transport the audience into their world.

Faran Tahir comes on strong as Baba in the first act.  He is a father, the head of the household, a successful businessman, and a solid leader.  His character undergoes a huge transformation as they flee Afghanistan and become refugees.  He takes a job as a gas station attendant in America, doing whatever it takes to survive.  Mr. Tahir seamlessly delivers this transformation.  We watch him change.  It is beautifully done. 

Photo courtesy of The Kite Runner

This adaptation is brilliantly conceived and masterfully executed.  The entire cast works as a tight ensemble, keeping the action moving.  They create an authentic atmosphere, while maintaining consistency in the storytelling style.  

The Kite Runner is playing at The Hayes Theater through October 30.  You MUST experience this work.  It will touch your heart. 

Domenick Danza

Notre Dame de Paris

 Notre Dame de Paris
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
July 23, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame de Paris, a musical spectacle by Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante, is a bold and passionate telling of the Victor Hugo classic.  This visually stunning production has toured all over the world.  The set design by Christian Rätz magnificently fills the stage at Lincoln Center’s David Koch Theater, while leaving opens space for the brilliant choreography and aerial routines of Matino Müller.  The cast and ensemble are skillful, energetic, and mesmerizing. 

Photo courtesy of Notre Dame de Paris

The story revolves around Esmeralda (played by Hiba Tawaji), a young bohemian woman who sings and dances in the square in front of the Cathedral of Notre Dame.  She is noticed by Frollo (played by Daniel Lavoie), the archdeacon of Notre Dame.  His attraction quickly becomes an obsession.  Phoebus (played by Yvan Pedneault) is a captain in the King’s cavalry.  He captures Esmeralda’s heart, but is engaged to Fleur-de-Lys (played by Emma Lépine).  There is much conflict in the emotional ties between these characters, yet the one who loves Esmeralda with a pure heart is Quasimodo (played by Angelo Del Vecchio), the hunchback and partially blind bell ringer of Notre Dame.  When Esmeralda rendezvous with Phoebus, Frodo follows her.  He stabs Phoebus out of jealousy.  Quasimodo saves Esmeralda from Frodo’s advances, yet she cannot escape his wrath.  She is sentenced to hang for fighting for the rights of the undocumented immigrants after her friend, Chopin (played by Jay) is killed.  Quasimodo throws Frodo down the stairs of the bell tower out of anger over Esmeralda’s death.  He goes to Esmeralda’s body to profess his love. 

Photo courtesy of Notre Dame de Paris

The story is fully told through song, and performed in French.  The score is lush, melodic, and romantic.  The dramatic action builds as the songs are juxtaposed to one another, revealing the motivations and inner thoughts of each character.  The voices of this cast are astounding.  They each have a different quality, from pop to rock to classic, that defines their character and brings dimension and conflict to the story.

Norte Dame de Paris closes on July 24.  Hopefully it will tour through New York again in the near future.  If you did not get a chance to see it this time, be ready the next. 

Domenick Danza

Oresteia

 Oresteia
Park Avenue Armory
Almeida Theatre Production
July 16, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Park Avenue Armory

Robert Icke’s adaptation of  Oresteia is a brilliant retelling of the Aeschylus trilogy.  The production is four hours of riveting action.  The audience is part of the story.  We are drawn into the human emotions of this family, who sacrifices for the greater good, then gets trapped in a vicious cycle of murder.  Once this brilliant cast presents the full story, Mr. Icke includes the audience in the final conclusion.  How can this family break free from the endless cycle of bloody retribution?  How does our final thought reflect on our own sense of justice?

Mr. Icke brings the action into present day, and tells the tale in four Acts.

·       Act I:  The sacrifice of Iphigenia (played by Elyana Faith Randolph & Alexis Rae Forlenza) by Agamemnon (played by Angus Wright) to save his country from the destruction of war.

·       Act II:  The murder of Agamemnon by Klytemnestra (played by Anastasia Hille) for taking the life of their daughter.

·       Act II:  The murder of Klytemnestra by Orestes (played by Luke Treadaway) in retribution for the murder of his father.

·       Act IV:  The final judgment of Orestes.

Angus Wright as Agamemnon
Photo courtesy of Park Avenue Armory

 Act IV is a unique ending to this classic tale.  After three gripping acts of suspenseful and emotional
immersion, the final moments of the play engage you intellectually. The audience is asked to judge Orestes in the act of killing his mother for the murder of his father.  The cycle of vengeful murder needs to end with Orestes.  We witnessed the story and have the power to release him of the consequences of his fate, the expectation of his heritage, the burden of his lineage.  Mr. Icke takes us to a stunning conclusion as we face the truth of our own conviction.  How is justice served?  Is it through Oreste’s murder for his crime or through his absolution, which will overwhelm him with the guilt of his actions for the rest of his life.  A life that looks nothing like the privilege he was born into.  This is the question asked of Agamemnon in Act I when he is faced with the need to sacrifice Iphigenia.  What will her life be like if she is saved and they lose the war?  Their present life will no longer exist.  The tale goes full circle.  Justice is served.  The cycle might be ended, but what kind of life is ahead? 

The original cast of Oresteia
Photo courtesy of Park Avenue Armory

Aeschylus wrote Oresteia centuries before the practice of psychology was developed.  As in his production of Hamlet (running in rep with this production – see the post on this blog dated July 3), Mr. Icke analyzes these classic characters so we see our behavior in them.  As we face present day crises, both personal and on a world wide level, we need to see that our actions reflect who we are.  They have repercussions on our immediate circles.  As the crises of the world invade our homes, we have choice.  Our choices create a cycle in our behavior that can become inescapable.  Mr. Icke’s adaptation and direction of this centuries old story give us pause to realize that history never stops repeating.  We are not alone in the consequences of our decisions, but we do have the power to prevent the start of a cycle in our behavior, or break it before it is too late.

Oresteia is playing at the Park Avenue Armory in rep with Hamlet through August 13.  Both productions are in association with the Almeida Theatre in London.  They are both brilliantly conceived and masterfully directed by Robert Icke, with an exceptionally skilled cast and ensemble.  Don’t miss them! 

Domenick Danza

Reverse Transcription

 Reverse Transcription
PTP/NYC (Potomac Theatre Project)
Atlantic Theater – Stage 2
July 6, 2022 

Photo courtesy of PTP/NYC

The Potomac Theatre Project (PTP/NYC) production of Reverse Transcription is a moving pair of one-act plays.  The Dog Plays written by Robert Chesley during the AIDS epidemic is responded to by A Variant Strain, written by Jonathan Adler and Jim Petosa about the Covid pandemic.  The juxtaposition of these two works invites comparison of both the response to these two crises and the lessons learned.  Director Jim Petosa masterfully empowers his talented cast of skilled actors to take the audience on a journey into deep introspection, giving them a new perspective, and building their courage to move forward.

In The Dog Plays, Dog (played by James Patrick Nelson) notices Buck (played by Joshua Mallin) in a San Francisco bar.  Dog thinks Buck is a ghost, or at least someone who should be dead.  Dog shows his lesions and reveals he has AIDS.  When Buck approaches Dog, he forces him to look at him and admit their connection.  We next meet Fido (played by Jonathan Tindle).  When he goes for a walk, he notices his friend Rover’s name on a headstone.  He is hit with the truth that his friend has passed.  Dog visits the grave, and reminisces with Fido, who consoles him over his loss.  Later, we meet Lad (played by Trey Atkins), who tells Dog of his trip up north.  Dog repeats a more realistic version of the story back to him.  Lad is dying of AIDS.  He tells Dog to look up at the stars and feel the connection. 

In A Variant Strain, we meet New Dog (played by Francis Price).  He is struggling with the need to feel connected during the Covid pandemic.  He arranges a hook up online, and meets Dog, who challenges him to take a close look at himself.  We then meet Fido (played by Ryan Kirby), a nurse on his break at a hospital.  As he walks by a memorial honoring deceased Covid patients, he meets New Dog, also a nurse on his break.  They notice a picture of Dog among the photos on the memorial.  They are mesmerized by his eyes.  They both knew him as a survivor of AIDS, and now learn he has passed due to Covid.  They wonder about his story.  In the next scene, Dog visits New Dog to teach him to look at the stars and feel connected. 

James Patrick Nelson & Trey Atkins
Photo courtesy of PTP/NYC

Playwright Jonathan Adler and Jim Petosa crafted A Variant Strain to bring the character of Dog into the present day.  The style and structure of this work runs parallel to that of Robert Chesley’s The Dog Plays, so they flow with ease.  James Patrick Nelson brilliantly bridges these two works by extending the arc of Dog’s character through three decades.  He brings a sense of reality to the “ghosts” in both pieces, so the audience engages in seamless action.  Mr. Nelson’s bond and chemistry with Trey Atkins (Lad in The Dog Plays) and Francis Price (New Dog in A Variant Strain) are potent and equally significant.  These three actors succinctly deliver the vital message of finding healing through connection. 

Ryan Kirby delivers a light-hearted character with Fido in A Variant Strain.  This is a much needed relief, a chance to smile.  He then pulls the audience right back into the dark reality of the moment, as his character returns to work.  This same effect is realized by Jonathan Tindle, who plays Fido in The Dog Plays.  These two actors are genuine and effective.  Their characters offer a respite to the audience, calming us, then delivering us back to the truths of the time with a different viewpoint.   

The scene between Joshua Mallin (Buck) and James Patrick Nelson (Dog) in The Dog Plays is controlling and intense.  Both actors push to achieve their character’s selfish objectives.  It is a visceral portrayal with a powerful impact.

The pairing of these two one-act plays in ReverseTranscription is relevant, stimulating, and vital in our understanding of how we need to connect to survive.  This PTP/NYC production is playing in rep with Sex, Grift, and Death at Atlantic Theater – Stage 2 (on W. 16 St.) through July 31.  

Domenick Danza