So-So Camelot Lacks Energy
The classic tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is told in Camelot, which opened Dec 9 at Providence Performing Arts Center and runs through Dec 14. However, the production, which was directed by Michael McFadden, is plagued by a lack of energy and mostly forgettable songs by famed composers Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.
The story begins when King Arthur (Adam Grabau) meets Guinevere (Mary McNulty) in the forest. They soon fall in love. But Arthur is unhappy. Triumphs in war bring him no comfort, and he loses his beloved confidante Merlyn (Mark Poppleton), who he relies on for sage advice. With the encouragement of Guinevere, Arthur creates the knights of the round table as a way to bring honor to his kingdom. Guenevere is soon smitten by the dashing Lancelot (Tim Rogan), who boasts of his physical perfection. What woman could possibly resist that? Before long, they are ensconced in a passionate love affair that serves to torment them both. The second act is enlivened considerably by the arrival of Mordred, who turns out to be Arthur’s illegitimate son. Mordred is an impish troublemaker and as played by Kasidy Devlin, he is quite a charming rogue.
There’s no faulting the performances by the lead actors. Grabau has a dynamic stage presence and looks great in the medieval costumes. Arthur has a lovely duet with Guinevere, “What Do the Simple Folk Do,” but otherwise is a self-obsessed bore. Guenevere, as played by McNulty, fares a bit better. She demonstrates real vulnerability as well as a sense of entitlement. Being a queen is her destiny. McNulty shines when she sings “Before I Gaze at You Again,” her plea to Lancelot at the end of Act One. Rogan is also a fantastic singer, who gives a powerful vocal on “If Ever I Would Leave You.” Poppleton, who also plays King Pellinore, has some genuinely funny line readings. His final appearance as Merlyn was imaginatively staged.
The scenic design by Kevin Depinet is mostly lackluster. A mammoth steel structure is meant to simulate a tree in the forest where Arthur takes refuge. It just looks tacky. Another scene features what resembles oversized rose petals jutting out of the sky.
Camelot debuted in 1960, just as the fabled presidency of John F. Kennedy was beginning. The optimism and sense of honor embodied by King Arthur became intertwined with Kennedy’s vision for America. However, Arthur’s nobility and insecurities don’t make for a compelling story, and Camelot takes itself far too seriously to be much fun.
Camelot runs through Dec 14 at Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St. For tickets, call 401.421.2787. The Trip to Bountiful Asks Whether You Can Go Home Again
2nd Story Theatre’s presentation of The Trip to Bountiful, from playwright Horton Foote, asks the age-old question: Can you go home again?
The time is the 1950s. Carrie Watts (Paula Faber) is an elderly woman who lives in a cramped Houston apartment with her son Ludie (Nathanael Lee) and daughter-in-law Jessie Mae (Lara Hakeem). Carrie is besieged by Jessie Mae, who is driven crazy by Carrie’s singing of hymns and her pouting. Ludie is a devoted son, but is hesitant to disobey Jessie Mae’s wishes. Carrie plans a trip to her hometown of Bountiful and buys a bus ticket before meeting a friendly woman named Thelma (Erin Olson), who misses her husband. Meanwhile, Ludie, aided by a sympathetic sheriff (Joe Henderson), and Jessie Mae are hot on her trail, determined to bring her back to their home. The themes of love, family, and longing for the past are all elegantly intertwined in The Trip to Bountiful.
Director Ed Shea has crafted a deeply moving drama that makes the most of a talented ensemble cast. Faber gives a powerhouse performance and draws our sympathy as Carrie embarks on her quest. She is a strong-willed woman who has experienced tremendous heartbreak during her life. Hakeem is terrific as Jessie Mae, who is a petulant and selfish woman who has no concern for Carrie’s feelings. The songs by Eric Behr enhance the poignancy of the story.
The images projected on giant screens on the stage help us imagine the sentimental journey Carrie takes. We are whisked from a threadbare apartment to a bus station to her childhood home.
The Trip to Bountiful is a perfect capper to what has been a stellar year for 2nd Story Theatre.
The Trip to Bountiful runs through December 21. 2nd Story Theatre, 28 Market St, Warren. For tickets, call 401.247.4200. Barefoot in the Park Explores the Timeless Struggles of Young Love
Barefoot in the Park, which recently opened at Trinity Repertory Company, is a silly, lightweight confection that coasts on the appeal of the stars: real-life engaged couple Rebecca Gibel and Charlie Thurston.
Gibel and Thurston play Corie and Paul, newlyweds who move into a fifth floor apartment in New York City. The place is threadbare: no furniture, no heat and no bathtub, with a leaky closet, and a hole in the skylight. And there is a running gag of characters nearly collapsing from exhaustion after climbing up five flights of stairs.
Corie is a bit ditzy – she packs firewood in her suitcase and wears frilly lingerie. Paul is a straight-laced lawyer who won’t walk “barefoot in the park” to Corie’s disappointment. After a wild night at an Albanian restaurant on Staten Island, Paul and Corie decide to get a divorce.
As in his other shows including The Odd Couple and Laughter on the 23rd Floor, playwright Neil Simon proves he is a master at crafting funny dialogue and wacky, larger-than-life personalities. Gibel and Thurston are both charming and hilarious in their roles, and Thurston proves he can do slapstick when an intoxicated Paul effortlessly slides from the living room coach onto the floor.
There are some terrific supporting performances from Phyllis Kay as Corie’s sex-starved mother who lives in New Jersey, and Stephen Berenson channels Nathan Lane as the oily upstairs neighbor Victor Velasco. Uche Elueze has some fun as a telephone repair man who pays a visit to Corie and Paul.
The set design by Daniel Zimmerman is stunning. Corie and Paul’s apartment is smashing eye candy. It looks like the kind of place a young couple would live in. For this production, there are retractable brick walls that open and close at the beginnings and ends of the three acts, making us believe we are seeing the exterior of an apartment building.
Barefoot in the Park was first produced for the stage in the 1960s. Although the theme of mismatched husbands and wives remains timeless, some of the cultural references could have been updated. For example, how many theatregoers know who Douglas Fairbanks and Arthur Murray are?
Barefoot in the Park doesn’t feature any deep insights into human nature or society. It sets out to be an amusing farce and at that, it succeeds.
Barefoot in the Park runs through Dec 21 at Trinity Rep. Tickets and subscriptions are on sale now at trinityrep.com, by calling 401.351.4242 or at the theater’s box office at 201 Washington St, Providence.
A Christmas Carol Dazzles at Trinity
Trinity Repertory Company’s annual production of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol features a top-notch cast of adults and children and some truly inventive staging.
Fred Sullivan Jr. plays Ebenezer Scrooge, a cranky old miser who treats everyone with disdain, including his long-suffering employee Bob Cratchit (Stephen Thorne). One night, Scrooge is visited by his deceased former business partner Jacob Marley (Tom Gleadow) who warns him of the impending visit of three spirits: the ethereal Ghost of Christmas Past (Elise Hudson) who descends from a moon, the irreverent Ghost of Christmas Present (Joe Wilson, Jr.) who flies over the audience on a wire, and the Ghost of Christmas Future (Ralph Adriel Johnson), an otherworldly figure.
Director Taibi Magar has succeeded at getting vibrant performances from the large ensemble. Sullivan is never less than compelling as the haunted Scrooge, who slowly morphs from a man whose spirit has been broken to one who has achieved redemption. This role seems tailor-made for Sullivan, who delivered a superb comic turn in Laughter on the 23rd Floor earlier this year. He is a master at physical comedy.
The supporting actors are every bit as effective. Gleadow delivers a memorable turn as Marley, who rises out of Scrooge’s bed in an eye-popping moment in the story. Rattling chains and sporting ghostly makeup, he is a terrifying apparition. Wilson, an engaging performer who most recently appeared in Ivanov, is one of the highlights of the show. Anne Scurria, who plays multiple roles, has some funny moments as Mrs. Partlet, who tends to Scrooge. Scurria’s comic timing is impeccable as she reacts to Scrooge’s transformation. The child actors are also impressive, especially Henry Siravo as Cratchit’s son, Tiny Tim.
This incarnation of A Christmas Carol is notable for one clever interlude that features Scrooge in some very familiar locations. I won’t spoil the surprise.
The joy of giving to other people is a timeless message and one which is worth repeating in this cynical age.
One caveat: A Christmas Carol contains some intense scenes and therefore may not be suitable for very young children. It is recommended for mature theatergoers.
A Christmas Carol runs until December 31. Trinity Repertory Company, 201 Washington St, Providence, trinityrep.com, [email protected], 401-351-4242
The Busy World Is Hushed The Busy World Is Hushed, being performed by Epic Theatre Company, is a thought-provoking and at times heartbreaking examination of faith and religion. The most remarkable quality of Keith Bunin’s play is its deft balance of comedy and drama in telling a story about tortured characters.
Hannah (Mary Paolino) is an Episcopalian minister who discovers an ancient gospel that she believes contains the “true words of Jesus.” When the play begins, Hannah hires a young writer named Brandt (Kevin Broccoli) to write a book chronicling the teachings of the gospel. Brandt tells Hannah his father is dying from a brain tumor and explains to Hannah that he isn’t sure if there really is a god. “Religion is a desperate attempt to make death more bearable,” he says.
One day, Hannah’s son Thomas (Stephen Peterson) shows up at the church, bloodied and bruised after hiking. Thomas is a troubled man who never healed after the traumatic death of his father. He travels the country like a vagabond and returns home occasionally to rifle through his father’s journals.
Brandt and Thomas soon discover a mutual attraction and fall in love, a situation Hannah encourages for her own selfish reasons. Meanwhile, Hannah and Thomas are at odds over her faith in God and his complete lack of faith in any type of religion, and the story takes many dramatic turns. The power of The Busy World Is Hushed comes from the conflict the characters have in trying to understand why a loving God could cause so much pain in their lives.
Paolino is convincing and deeply sympathetic as Hannah tries desperately to turn her son around. Broccoli displays a masterful sense of comic timing, and also excels in the dramatic moments. He is particularly effective when Brandt expresses his heartbreak late in the play. Peterson, making his debut on the Epic stage, more than holds his own working with Paolino and Broccoli. His character drives much of the conflict in the story.
The Busy World Is Hushed is a compelling entertainment and does what all great theater does: it stirs the heart, the mind and the soul.
The Busy World Is Hushed, performed by Epic Theatre Company. Through Nov 23 at The Artists’ Exchange, 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston. For tickets, go to artists-exchange.org/epictheatrecompany.html or call 401.490.9475. Ellemosynary: Love Isn’t Easy
Ellemosynary, now playing downstage at 2nd Story Theatre, is a one-act play about the relationships between the Westbrook women. Echo (Valerie Westgate) is a champion speller who adores her grandmother Dorothea (Isabel O’Donnell). Artemis (Sharon Carpentier) is Echo’s mother and Dorothea’s daughter.
Ellemosynary, which means charitable, is about women who try to be loving toward each other but sometimes come up short. The story is told in flashbacks, as Echo relates how she grew up under Dorothea’s influence. Dorothea was a “notable eccentric” who was interested in communicating with the dead and astral projection. When Echo was 12, she wanted to be “the greatest speller in history.” Meanwhile, Artemis tells of how she chafed under Dorothea’s control, which was so unbearable she fled the country after suffering a tragedy. Artemis is neurotic but highly intelligent. She loves Echo but doesn’t know how to be a real mother to her. The interactions between the women are alternately sad and humorous.
Playwright Lee Blessing knows how to write sharp, witty dialogue as well as how to create deeply textured characters. Echo experiences a lot of confusion and pain after being abandoned by Artemis. This is expressed in an overwhelming desire to win the National Spelling Bee. Echo berates a fellow contestant and spells out a series of words in a fury.
The performances are uniformly excellent. Westgate, who previously starred as Joan of Arc in Saint Joan, brings the right amount of charm and vulnerability to Echo. Carpentier makes the audience understand Artemis’ character flaws and gains our sympathy. O’Donnell gets a lot of laughs as Dorothea imagines seeing historical figures and quips about her views of life.
The set design is spare. The word ‘ellemosynary’ is spelled out in block letters on a wall. There is no furniture on the stage. The characters are on a multi-level platform where they share their memories.
Relationships are a lot like life, the play says: sometimes awkward, sometimes joyful, and sometimes unforgiving. Love isn’t easy, but it’s worth reaching for.
Ellemosynary runs through November 23. 2nd Story Theatre, 28 Market Street, Warren. 401-247-4200
American Idol Vets Star in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo are starring in the touring company of the smash musical Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which will be performed at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) from November 4 through 9.
Young, who plays the lead role of Joseph, and DeGarmo, who plays the narrator, got their big break on the smash television singing competition, “American Idol.” DeGarmo was the runner-up on the show’s third season. Young was on the fifth season, where he finished seventh.
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice teamed up to bring Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to life. The story is based on the “coat of many colors” story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis. The show is directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler.
The chance to work on a stage production together had tremendous appeal to DeGarmo and Young, who are married.
“It’s such a rare opportunity in this industry to work on a show that’s family friendly,” DeGarmo told Motif. “It’s a beloved story, a beloved show. I truly believe it’s one of the classics.”
“This is definitely a dream come true (for DeGarmo),” Young said, noting DeGarmo always wanted to play the narrator in the show.
Young is proud to be part of a show that appeals to the “American Idol” fan base, which ranges from young children to senior citizens. “It’s a really great show about second chances and family and the true meaning of friendship,” Young said, noting the show’s high spirits are infectious: “Everyone’s on their feet having a blast with us.”
DeGarmo and Young have been very busy since their days on American Idol. DeGarmo appeared in HAIR (where she met Young), 9 to 5, Brooklyn: The Musical, Hairspray and The Toxic Avenger. DeGarmo also played the role of “Angelina,” a fan favorite on the number one daytime soap “The Young and the Restless.” In 2008, she released an acoustic EP “Unplugged in Nashville,” and recently released a Country EP “Live To Love,” composed of songs co-written with Young.
Young has worked with musical stars ranging from Brian McKnight to Desmond Child. He is a Grammy- nominated songwriter with number one hits in the U.S. and Sweden. Young also pursued a Broadway career, starring first in Grease and then in HAIR.
“I continually enjoy Diana’s first number in the second act (Pharoah’s Story),” Young said. “She just takes it and knocks the roof off.” “I particularly love ‘Close Every Door,’” DeGarmo said. “We did a new song for this production, the ‘Prologue Reprise.’ We now have it as a duet between Ace and I. It’s an extra special treat and very unique.”
DeGarmo and Young have had a great time performing for audiences all over the country. Sometimes, things don’t always go as planned. “Our first performance the other night, one of the wigs for one of the brothers accidentally got put on sideways and nobody could look at him for the rest of the show. He looked kind of crazy.” DeGarmo recalled.
“People will like you for you,” DeGarmo said. “It’s hard in this entertainment industry to remember that. Especially with what we do now. We’re constantly putting on other characters and sometimes you feel you have to second guess yourself.”
“It’s your true moment to show exactly who you are,” Young adds. “And the world will think you are what they see so make sure that you truly are yourself on that show.”
Tickets are available for purchase online, by phone at 401-421-2787 , or at the PPAC Box Office located at 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence.
The Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm; Saturday, 10am to 2pm; and at least two hours prior to all curtain times.
Fun at the Putnam County Spelling Bee
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, being presented by the Community Players, is a silly and upbeat musical that’s a lot of fun.
The six contestants in the Putnam County Spelling Bee – Olive Ostrovsky (Aubrie Bagdasarian), William Barfee (Michael Campbell), Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Nicole Cayer), Marcy Park (Courtney Contente), Chip Tolentino (Ryan Leverone), and Leaf Coneybear (Joe Spirito) – are a batch of quirky oddballs with their hopes and dreams of winning the spelling bee expressed in song. Highlights include “Magic Foot,” “Pandemonium,” “The I Love You Song,” and “I Speak Six Languages.”
Director Christopher Margadonna assembled a talented cast, especially Campbell, who has an endearing gawky charm as Barfee, and Lisa Ziniti Palmer as former spelling bee champion Rona Lisa Peretti. Palmer, who previously starred in Sweet Charity, is a dynamic performer with a magnificent voice. Comedian Frank O’Donnell earned some laughs as Douglas Panch, the lead pronouncer at the spelling bee.
What makes the show unique is the participation of the guest spellers. Four audience members are selected at each show to sit on stage along with the actors. Alison Bologna from WJAR was a celebrity guest speller on the night I attended. Bologna handled the high-spirited antics with grace and seemed to have a good time.
The musical accompaniment by Joseph Carvalho, Brenda Young Runner, and Ken Dibiasio, nicely accentuated the action.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee contains no deep messages or insights about the human condition. However, it is a cheerful and lighthearted entertainment for all ages to enjoy.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs through November 2 at Jenks Auditorium, Division St., Pawtucket. For reservations, call 401-726-6860.
ArtBeat Held to Help AIDS Care Ocean State
ArtBeat, one of the major fundraising events for AIDS Care Ocean State, features the contributions of several local artists and businesses.
On Friday, October 24, the live and silent auction will be held at 5pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Providence. Items up for bid include art and antiques, vacations and travel packages, jewelry, home goods and gift certificates for various restaurants.
Kim Zandy of Pro FM and popular drag queen Miss Kitty Litter will serve as celebrity auctioneers for the live auction.
This year’s featured artists are Rhode Island-based designer Kent Stetson and the internationally renowned Havi Schanz. “Marilyn Providence,” by Schanz, is valued at $6,500. “Providence I-Way Bridge” trio of designs, by Stetson, is valued at $1,000.
Stetson is best known for his sleek and ultra-modern handbags, which are high in demand. After studying at Brown University, Stetson took an interest in new media and hybrid digital/traditional fine art. In 2003, as a framing experiment, he presented one of his digital paintings as a handbag, and has since made bags for collectors throughout the world. As of summer 2013, his work has been sold in 75 stores and was featured in many of the nation’s top juried fine craft shows. Stetson also has been featured in RI Monthly, Providence Journal, Providence Phoenix and Providence Monthly.
Argentina native Schanz now lives in Miami Beach, and has almost 30 years of combined experience as an artist, architect and interior and graphic designer. His art has been widely exhibited in several solo and group exhibitions in Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, Check Republic, Germany, Greece, Australia, Mexico and the United States. His background in architecture is evident in his celebrity portraits, which feature Impressionistic, Romantic, and Baroque influences. Schanz has donated his art to benefit such noteworthy charitable organizations as Children’s Autism Foundation, Human Rights Campaign, Lions Club, Make a Wish Foundation, and Unicorn Children’s Foundation.
Tickets to the live and silent auction are available for purchase at aidscareos.org.
Stop Kiss: Deadly Dull
Epic Theatre Company has been on a roll lately, with superior productions of Angels in America and Compleat Female Stage Beauty. Unfortunately, Stop Kiss, which examines the close friendship between two women, aims for high drama but ends up being deadly dull.
Callie (Lauren Odenwalder) meets Sara (Kerry Giorgi), a St. Louis native who moved to New York City. Callie is a traffic reporter for a radio station. Sara is a teacher who works in the Bronx. Callie hates her job but is afraid to seek something more fulfilling. Sara has dreams of teaching at a more prestigious institution. While on a date, the women are savagely attacked in a park. Sara is left comatose as a result. The story alternates between the present and the past, as we see what led up to the fateful night.
The problem with Stop Kiss is the relationship between Callie and Sara. It is never compelling to watch. A further failure of the show lies in the flat writing as well as the lackluster direction by Blanche Case. Diana Son’s script is meant to present a touching look at a romance between Callie and Sara, but never quite connects.
Callie and Sara engage in banal conversation, including swerving to avoid potholes in the road, how to put toilet paper on a roll, and how to eat corn on the cob. There are also numerous scenes where Callie visits Sara in the hospital. It quickly becomes tedious. Giorgi and Odenwalder are capable performers, but are hamstrung by the mundane dialogue. The best moments in the play are courtesy of Geoff White, who plays a gruff detective who interrogates Sara about the attack. Unfortunately, he appears very briefly.
Callie is initially vague with the details about what happened to her and Sara, but eventually breaks down under his questioning. When Callie describes the assault, it is truly chilling.
Jonathan Fisher plays George, Callie’s close friend and sexual partner. CT Larsen also shows up as Peter, Sara’s former boyfriend, who has his own questions about the assault. Mary Paolino plays an eyewitness to the assault. These performances are all fine, but they only make up a portion of Stop Kiss‘ 95-minute running time.
Is Stop Kiss trying to make a statement about the horror of violence committed against the LGBT community? Or about the complications of finding romance in the big city? It is hard to tell. There are many potential themes in Stop Kiss, but they aren’t told in a particularly interesting way.
Stop Kiss will be performed at Theatre 82 Located at 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston, October 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 8pm. For ticket information, visit epictheatreri.com