Page 20 Thursday, October 13, 2016 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION Killing Them with Laughter in CDC’s Production of Assassins

By MICHAEL BONACCORSO few of the assassinations. However, comedic wit is used to ground the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times the dialogue through passionate char- audience to the senseless violence Paper Mill Playhouse Takes a acter development is the genius be- on stage. Reinforcing the violence is CRANFORD – Cranford Dramatic hind Assassins. not glorified or a sensible solution. Clubs latest production, Assassins; a The characters interact through a Samuel Byck, Matt Burns, has grip- Gamble on a Remake multiple Tony Award-winning theat- unique plot all unraveling to a com- ping lines and character expressions rical spectacular, music and lyrics mon denominator. The plays most leaving the audience entranced in by Stephen Sondheim, based on a powerful message is the allusion to despair, anger, and reckless aban- By SUSAN MYRILL DOUGHERTY tee another flop, and thus, entitle Stephenson and choreography by book by John Weidman, based on an modern gun violence. Each scene don. Leon Czologosz, played by Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times both of them to keep excess money Don Stephenson and Bill Burns are idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr. Director, delves the audience deeper into the Zachary Love, was spewing the dis- from the investors. Max has a spe- spot on. Spectacular scenery by Alan Van Antwerp, warns of loud psyche of the assassin. Political satisfaction of the working man, hint- MILLBURN – It almost seems cial way with gullible, gray-haired, Robin Wagner and fun costumes by noises, gunfire, and tells the audi- dogma aside the viewer repulsed by ing odes of classism, and a corrod- effortless for the Tony-award win- sex-starved little old ladies and gladly William Ivey Long replicate origi- ence to enjoy. each characters hostility/confusion ing American Dream. Lauren Grof- ning Paper Mill Playhouse to pro- takes their “checkies”, made out to nals. Intricate scene changes are Assassins produces a dialogue slowly starts to understand the Tisza’s portrayal of Sara Jane Moore duce new shows that are jetted to his supposed new musical “Cash.” flawlessly executed. through nine individuals who at- shooter and see their motives. Each was impeccable and delightfully Broadway: Newsies, Honeymoon in Backfiring, the play becomes a James Moore’s musical direction tempted to assassinate Presidents of character shows vulnerability humorous. Chris Cantalupo, as the Vegas and most recently, The Bronx hit and the duo winds up in trouble is an energy-driven engine that bar- the United States. Set to a timeless through song or soliloquy, humaniz- Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald as- Tale come to mind. So how gutsy is with the law. Along the way, they rels down the tracks at bullet train backdrop with minimalist detail the ing them. The disturbing upside to sisted by support from fellow cast it for them to offer a remake of the acquire a blonde bombshell of an speed and the audience hangs on for production allows the cast to grab the shooter becomes comprehend- members developed an Oswald not famous Mel Brooks’ musical, The actress, Ulla (the gorgeous Ashley a delightful ride. It’s a hot ticket, the attention of the audience. His- ible. seen in popular film. Most impor- Producers, that was a 12 Tony Spencer) who agrees to be their see if you can get one. tory buffs can appreciate the histori- Beautifully, the power found in tantly, the Oswald portrayed was per- award-winner and a blockbuster secretary until there is a role for her The show runs through Sunday, cal nods and uninformed millennia’s the weapon by each shooter controls formed with precision and a stark film with a remake to boot? Paper in their upcoming show. Sexual ten- October 23. may take to their phones to Google a the audience. Gun-fire is manipu- realism for concluding significance. Mill took a gamble on comparison sion between Ulla and Leo blooms. lated to move audience attention and The production crew and cast all did and hit the jackpot. In finding the failsafe bomb of a energy, from one character to an- an excellent job, exuding a confi- They make it look so easy. Pro- play, they visit Franz Liebkind (the Historical Society Presents other throughout the production. dence into a show worth watching. ducing Artistic Director Mark hilarious John Treacy Eagan) to se- With each shot transitioned with the Some foul language for very young Hoebee and Managing Director cure the rights to his totally offen- bullet is the power and control it children should be noted, while reso- Todd Schmidt assemble a near-per- sive musical, “Springtime for AppleFest and the 1950’s signifies. Looking down the barrel nating with all age groups and back- fect cast, execute flawless singing Hitler.” Add to that one narcissistic of the gun, the audience cannot help grounds. and dancing and supply a visual director, Roger DeBris (marvel- WESTFIELD – Do you remember High school graduates Maya Johnson but feel as frightened and helpless as The show will continue the next two blockbuster. It might have been seen ously flamboyant Kevin Pariseau) any 1950’s TV shows? The 50’s de- and Fiona Rosenthal did extensive re- each character. weekends on October 14, 15, 21 and as impossible to surpass the energy who, in a silver sequined gown that cade is hailed as the golden age of search and put together a compilation The music never distracts from 22 at 8 p.m. there will also be at 2 p.m. and comic combo of the 1968 film resembles the Chrysler Building, is television, with beloved titles such as I of clips from famous 1950’s TV shows, the drama. The musical lyrics and showing on Saturday, October 15. starring Zero Mostel and Gene over-the-top outrageous. Debris’ Love Lucy, The Ed Sullivan Show and along with historic descriptions and Wilder. It also could be called hu- entourage gives side-splitting cam- The Twilight Zone. As part of a project other fun facts. bris to try to recreate the classic eos for his “common law assistant” for their history class, recent Westfield These TV show clips can be viewed team of Nathan Lane and Matthew Carmen Ghia (zany Mark Price) and during this year’s AppleFest, pre- Broderick’s Broadway version in a host of others. Musical Club of to sented by the Westfield Historical 2001. Paper Mill offers a reincarna- Hats off to Michael Kostroff as Society on the lawn of the Reeve tion blending of the two satiric com- Max Bialystock. Every bug-eyed Hold Free Concert House, on Saturday October 22, from edy versions to make the sometimes look, throwaway line and dance move WESTFIELD – To celebrate the 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. politically incorrect show applauded proves he knows this show inside beginning of it second one hundred An exhibit of 50’s toys and other wildly night after night. out. He should. He’s played it a num- years as a performing arts organization, memorabilia will be on display. Visi- Among the Tony Awards, the ber of times in different venues. Yet, the Musical Club of Westfield invites tors can listen to 50’s music by the original won Best Musical, Best just like this overall production, “ev- the public to the first free concert of the Fineline, learn to do the Twist and the Book of a Musical, Best Musical erything old is new again” in watch- clubs 101st season. Jitterbug with the Westfield Fred Astaire Score and Best Performance of a ing him deliver the silly, clever, corny The concert is planned for Wednes- dance studio crew, sample 50’s-style Leading Actor in a Musical (Nathan or conniving lines. day, October 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the First food at the Apple-Diner and enjoy old- Lane). This version could sweep His partner in crime, David Baptist Church of Westfield, 170 Elm fashioned games. The commemorative those categories and more, Josefsberg as Leo, isn’t as fragile a Street, Westfield. The program will poster is once again produced by The short version of the storyline figure as Gene Wilder or Matthew begin with a performance of a Sonatine Westfield’s own Danny Schwartz. A is this: the one-time “King of Broad- Broderick. But boy can he sell his composed by Henri Dutilleux by Susan special exhibit this year will be pre- way,” Max Bialystock (Michael songs. Despite torrential flop sweat, Graham, flute and Carolle-Ann sented by the College Woman’s Club of Kostroff), produces a flop and when he, like Mr. Kostroff, has a superior Mochernuk, piano. Westfield, celebrating their centennial his timid, new accountant, Leo voice to his predecessors in the role. Soprano Ellen Goff Entriken will and a very special 1950’s Trivia game is Bloom (David Josefsberg), looks at And speaking of superior voices, continue the concert with a varied col- sponsored by The Westfield Leader. Max’s books, he sees that too much Ms. Spencer proves that she wasn’t lection of songs of faith. The entrance fee is $5 per person or money was raised to produce what type cast into the role just for her The concert will close with the first $15 for a family of four. The Reeve became the Broadway failure. Leo incredible body or professional movement of Horn Concerto No. 4 in House is located at 314 Mountain Av- inadvertently gives Max the idea to dance moves. She can boom out E-flat Major by Wolfgang Amadeus enue. There is a rain date of Sunday, sign the worst play, the worst play- those vocals like no one before her. Mozart, Theodore K. Schlosberg, play- October 23. For more information call READY TO KILL...The cast of Assassins poses during rehearsals at the CDC in wright, the worst director, and the The re-creation of Susan ing the French horn and Beverly Shea, (908) 654-1794 or visit Cranford. The show runs through Saturday, October 22. For tickets visit worst actor to collaborate to guaran- Stroman’s original direction by Don piano. www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org. www.cdctheatre.org.

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