Laguna Playhouse: Warm Theater Near Hills & The Pacific With a One Grand Star on Stage(Mr Felder), Brings Star Irving Berlin!

Patch Entertainment: This Superb Just Opened Outstanding / One-of-A-Kind Musical Show...Truly Worth It

Laguna Playhouse: Warm Theater Near Hills & The Pacific With a One Grand Star on Stage(Mr Felder), Brings Star Irving Berlin!

Reviewer: Joseph Sirota

Hershey Felder is a one-man Live-Theatrical/Musical GURU. The magic he brings us all who are lucky enough audiences of such multi aspects as in a Felder show are in for a wondrous ability experience. They won’t forget it & NEVER feel less than having gotten their money & time’s worth. Indeed, they will also get their Heart-&-Soul’s worth! Why? Because Felder via his own inner genius views that allows him to “Bring-to-Life” Past-Musical-Kings, like Irving Berlin opens windows & doors to not only hear/see the music of a great composer, but also peek deeply into the real Loves, Gifts & Pains, to open us to understanding the world of other past FINE Musical Giants. Come View their “Musical Works” & their “Life Paths”. This Shows Irving Berlin’s 100+ years evolve each decade. Starting from a dangerous Russia center world of Czars in babyhood, and despite poor early days in lower Manhattan, Irving Berlin carved out time to live 100+ years in his beloved USA. In explaining the shows of hard-days did come to even such a beloved Irving Berlin in sad times. Before closing Hershey’s sad strengths I vow his comic touch is A+ too!

It’s important to say clearly, that Hershey is not only a fine music historian, but also a heck of a strong pianist, singer, actor, raconteur ... and a man of many faces. After 2-hrs on stage looking/speaking/playing ... Greats of the Music World, minutes after performing, Hershey’s chats with audiences & presto! seems far more young, & “looking” like a fellow about to be voted into the Rock-&-Roll Hall of Fame .. like a “Cool” clothed & even “Cooler” own hairdo is as if about to sing “Come On Baby Light My Fire” Pals both dig his100 & Rock sides. As for his magnetic/warm/stage ability, Hershey did a terrific draw-of getting a large number of the audience soon happily singing along with selected Berlin delightful Gold-Songs of the immense Superb List of Berlin greatness” spanning a world of changing Music...Many great outstanding American gems turn out to be Berlin’s making time after time. Berlin on stage here captivates us & even moreso thanks to Felder’s Deeply Inner Touch... absolutely stunning biographically paths along 100 years of key sagas of Berlin’s life, spanning poor, boyhood family days & a crushing Depression. We salute Berlin’s goal to give back via Music & vocal poetry, his Loving Feel for America’s Opportunities. He also used his songs in love for family, wife, children & friends. From Losses/Deaths/World Wars/Global Poverty--Berlin survived, via grand music’, and dear-words plus always an inner ability to keep “creative hopes” that he ALWAYS reached for (Amen).

Here’s just a few, but memorable in highly thoughts of USA songs written by Irving Berlin, & American singers loving his top fine works.

Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Always, Blue Skies, Puttin’ on the Ritz, Easter Parade, White Christmas, God Bless America, There’s No Business Like Show Business, I Love a Piano, What’ll I Do -- You’ll be brought & discussed many on stage by Hershey!

Irv’s top-Singers on the way: Al Jolson, Ethel Merman, Fred Astaire, Kate Smith, Bing Crosby, Danny Kate, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ethel Waters, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, Rosemary Clooney, Cher, Diana Ross, Frankie Laine, Johnnie Ray, Billie Holiday, Billie Ecstaine, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Doris Day, Jerry Garcia & Ella Fitzgerald

Early in the opening, we’re told that Irving Berlin, made it clear that from Young penny-newspaper boy to reaching 100 years old grand star of music writers, Irving, does not write his songs just for giving it another spin. No! Sir! He made clear & PROUD for us if we, or any audenance or just any hearer of his creative work on radio, movies, vaudeville or Broadway, they may “like” him, but they shouldn’t think they know him, if they just think it’s another nice Berlin song. Our Hershey, star is again, wise & worthy to open with this opening, as it unfolds the show like a beautiful flower, combined with the deep wisdom of a quite good psychologist. Director, Trevor Hay makes a perfect team with Felder in how the story takes just the right times & turns in the words, and the best when’s & best’s, to make audiences just ready to catch. Come & see How & Why!

I must clarify that Felder’s downright splendid Playwriting, Acting & Pianist is the core of the unique live show. Yes, Hershey’s central initial creating of the one-man show midst the touching musical plays that have stirred roars for JOY over his past amazing historical classical Lives. But, look close & you will find there is actually a fine supporting little Theater ARMY of hard-working, very talented smart , hard working keys to what makes the Touching, charming being correct sets, key photographs, lighting, sound, clothes, hair, makeup, piano(s) & oh so more. Sadly the space to print and time to match all the wonderful works makes editors often go into a dither as there’s no lines/words room at the inn. At least, I salute the backstage ARMY who are flawless in making this audience as pleased & applauding (standing) for their great tasty play time.

Christopher Rynne, Andrew Wilder, Erik Carstensen, Rebecca Peters, Meghan Maiya, Jordan Hay, Emma Hay, Karen Wood, Ann E Wareham.

Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA. Sparkles As Unique Hershey Felder: Musician, Pianist & Great Actor/Writer, Portrays And Brings Us the Life Story & Path of USA’s Champion Song-Writer...Irving Berlin. Sched: Tues thru Fridays @ 7:30PM;, Sat @ 2:PM, & 7:30PM; Sun @.1:PM & @ 5:30PM. Closes: FEB 8, 2015.. Price $41-$66(Senior, Student, group discounts). Call (949) 497-2787, or (949) 497-ARTS Online: lagunaplayhouse.com Don’t Miss This fine Musical trip.