Gay EasterParade.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • July 20-Aug. 2, 2010 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 41 does not reflect on the talent displayed. The (Please see the review that follows this review.) large cast and dancing ensemble were ener- And now to our intrepid actors, also in trodding the boards getically wonderful. Not a weak link in the chain alphabetical order: of performers as they became the characters of Gamal Abdul Chasten as Actor 2, Chris the fairy tale world of Mame Burnside Dennis. Kaminstien as Actor 1, and Zach Rogers as This Summer Lyric Theater Production of Actor 4 did wonderful work in their various parts Mame was extraordinary! It was magically illu- all of which added considerably to the profes- minated both from within and without. It was sionalism of this production. The boys kept up by Patrick Shannon, III unforgettable. It was what the American musi- with girls at every shocking and scary laugh Email: [email protected] cal theater is all about, or should be. filled turn. Zombie Town: A Documentary Play was Mame bohemian life style through its moments of almost too good to be untrue. Stage Manager glittering parties, fads, and high fashion wealth Zombie Town: A Andrea Watson kept the earnest/ghoulish ac- rom June 17 to June 20, there was of Café Society in New York’s Roaring 1920s. tion on the right horror heart felt healing track. sophisticated magic on the stage of Documentary Play When her orphaned nephew, Patrick Dennis, Sarah Zoghbi’s scenic, properties, and cos- Dixon Hall at Tulane University as n 1968, film director George A. Romero F comes to live with her, she shows unconven- tume design were zombie-licious. As a Harword that old, wonderful, adult fairy tale about Patrick created what has come to be regarded tional parenting skills. Mame and Patrick bond, survivor would enthuse great “Rock’n roll” fun, Dennis’ Auntie Mame enveloped the audience as rather good little black and white and with an extended family of friends and I great acting, great tech work, especially Su in a wispy cloud of shimmering beauty under the horror film about modern zombies created by household staff, that become more than just Gonczy, Le Chat Noir’s Aurora Borealis, on hand of Master Magic Maker, Artistic Director B. that Cold War bugaboo, radioactive nuclear staff, they face the low down moneyless years lights. Michael Howard. This production of playwrights of the Great Depression of the 1930s, personal mutations, Night of the Living Dead. (This Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee with the grief and loss, then more prosperous times of was in contrast with the old fashioned zombies music of Jerry Herman was quite simply a the beginnings of The International Set. With an created by Voodoo in Val Lewton’s classic film Mary of Magdala: A dream come true. understanding of life’s banquet, instilled into - also in atmospheric black and white - I Walked Patrick Dennis (one of the writing pseud- him by his Auntie Mame, the adult Patrick allows With a Zombie.) Mr. Romero completed the Gnostic Fable onyms of Edward Everett Tanner, III, the other his son, Peter, to be swept away by the magical film on a budget of $114,000.00, and though being Virginia Row- dismissed by critics, the film found an audi- A Commentary ans) created the ence. After a decade of cinematic re-releases, ary of Magdala: A Gnostic Fable character Mame it grossed some $12 million domestically and is a work in progress written by Burnside Dennis - a $30 million internationally. It, and its sequels, Mthe contemporary Portuguese wealthy, worldly, and have influenced countless contemporary writ- playwright Armando Nascimente Rosa, from a madcap heiress. ers and directors. It’s always been one of my translation into English by Alex Todd. The script She appears in two favorites in its now much imitated genre. - with a clever use of all forms of theater from novels - Auntie Well I don’t think the very clever topsy farce to drama - was performed as a staged Mame and Around turvy parody Zombie Town: A Documentary reading at the Venusian Gardens Gallery in the the World with Play written by Tom Bauer will make that kind of Marigny, an elegant venue in which a certain Auntie Mame. The money, but it definitely found a New Orleans kind of mystery and mystical ambiance was novel, Auntie audience. It recently played as a Southern Rep added to the enchantment of the play by the Mame, became the and Le Chat Noir co-production at Barbara softly glowing artworks of glass on exhibit such play starring Motley’s Le Chat Noir; and the night I attended as a collection of jelly fish hanging from the high Rosalind Russell. it played to an appreciative full Le Chat Noir ceilings of the gallery. Mr. Rosa, the playwright, Ms. Russell contrib- house. The audience thoroughly enjoyed this and his wife were in the audience and seemed uted a good deal to excellent little mock-umentary as demonstrated well pleased by this production by The Arche- the play; and she by their constant laughter, not only of the zany typal Theatre Company. also starred in the script, but elicited by the fine talents of the The play occurs on a winter night in 54 AD in Marseille at The Fisherman’s Inn, a guest film version. Her The Cast of Mame performers who all possessed a sense of excel- name has been for- lent timing. They also had the remarkable house which was given to Mary Magdalen by the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea who paid for the ever linked to the character because of her influence of Auntie Mame who will “open a new ability to switch character roles in an instant with burial place of Christ according the Bible. Mary brilliant work. Mame, the Broadway musical, window, open a new door” on “vistas you never convincing acting abilities. Magdalen has survived after witnessing the starred Angela Landsbury, and borrowed from dreamed existed...” The clever plot, pays homage to modern cruxifiction of Christ; and the playwright de- the play. Lucille Ball played the title character in The beauty and success of this well di- films of brain munching hoards of zombies, and scribes her as the widow of Christ. We come to the film version. Mr. Tanner, III, had more rected musical was greatly enhanced by the also sends up earnest acting companies/en- know that she bore his son two decades ago but “influence” in the creation of the play, and the light, lyrical, airy sets of Rick Paul who can sembles who behave as if the play is the only she believes he is no longer alive. This is a play is the performing version he preferred. He transcribe dream thoughts and ideas with what thing. A group of actors - The Catharsis Collec- familiar idea that has been suggested in several did not care for the musical. He also did not care appears such ease of execution. He creates tive - from San Francisco decides to heal a recent films and in books like The Davinci when women, and some men, of “a certain age,” spaces with elegance and grace, from Mame’s community that has suffered a zombie uprising/ Code. History describes Mary Magdalen as a would try to monopolize him at parties - either New York Beekman Place home to Beauregard infestation. They travel to the tiny Texas town of whore who washed the feet of Christ after being claiming to have had an Auntie Mame in their Jackson Pickett Burnside’s plantation - Harwood to aid the town and encounter evil. saved by Him. She has been vilified for centu- family, or even worse being the Auntie Mame of Peckerwood. The actors in Zombie Town: A Documentary ries by the patriarchal Christians who have ruled their family. Though based a fraction on his own B. Michael Howard gave polish and style to perform scenes taken from The Catharsis Col- the ideas of Christianity since His death. In the eccentric Aunt Marion Tanner, his Auntie Mame a textbook production of this life affirming and lectives interviews. Gory things happen as the early days of the Catholic Church people would was an adventurous, joyous, and unique indi- sentimental old musical with the aid of his struggles of the Harwood residents against the have been burned at the stake and/or excom- vidual. technical staff who I have praised in past re- brain consuming zombies are depicted. Mark municated for suggesting any such blasphe- Mame is written as a conventional book views. The Pied Piper enchantment of the show Routhier directed the play with great comic skill mous ideas. The idea that Christ was ever musical of the late 1960s. The creators capture was seen in the lighting of Daniel Zimmer, the getting pitch perfect performances from his involved with carnality of any women is consid- unconventional Mame Denis’ wild, wacky, and sound balance of Stewart Becnel of Roger actors and actresses. The performers were so ered vile and sinful. Grodsky’s expert conducting. Diane Lala’s cho- good not only did they have the audience laugh- The staged reading was well directed by reography was period appropriate, as were ing at line after line, but they literally “ate it up.” Constance Romero with excellent readings given Charlotte Lang’s costumes. They were able to tickle the funny bones and jive hot tails of red stick by the cast consisting of Morrey McElroy who in A top drawer, in the best sense, perfor- and jiggle the brain cells of a delighted audi- the role of Mary Magdalen as a strong forceful ...from 39 mance was given by the beautiful Elizabeth ence.