Arts & Entertainment
Weekend Review Roundup Sept. 9, 2018
Check out the latest in theatrical reviews from theatre writer Nancy Sasso Janis
Pictured: The cast of URINETOWN: The Musical at The Ridgefield Theater Barn
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Debra Lee Failla is the director/choreographer of this incarnation of URINETOWN and the only word to describe her work is "brilliant." From her most creative dance moves to the pinpoint accuracy of the delightfully comic touches (as in the literal nose-to-nose delivery of lines) that enhance the satire, Ms. Failla's direction in her RTB directing debut did not miss a chance to made this cast shine despite the darker tone of the material.
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Set in nearby Providence, RI, the action focuses on eight sisters of Irish descent who meet on alternate Friday evenings to play bridge and mostly gossip. At the beginning of the first act, the women pose for a photograph for the Sunday rotogravure section of the local newspaper taken by the lone male actor in the cast.
Costumes are always a strength with Curtain Call Kids productions and this was certainly no exception. "The Jitterbug" featured light-up ensembles and was pretty impressive; I also liked the very long line of Winkie Guards "oh-ay-oh-ing."
NEW and EXCITING
This is a Patch exclusive, as I was the only member of the press to attend.
Phoenix Stage Company Takes Top Honor in CCTA CTFest 2018
Congratulations to all three local community theatre companies that participated in this year's theatre festival; the competition was fierce
St. Michael's Church Village Fair in Naugatuck was this weekend
I needed to go see if some of the numerous items from my Aunt Ruth's estate that my family had donated were still left. I also tried the homemade donuts for the first time and wow!
PHANTOM will be presented at Westchester Broadway Theatre
PHANTOM is not to be confused with Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera", which is currently running on Broadway.
COMING UP NEXT WEEKEND and beyond
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at Playhouse on Park
I have high expectations for the show PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, so I looked forward to seeing the production that has opened at Playhouse on Park. I was not disappointed in any way with this magical and imaginative production.
MAKE BELIEVE at Hartford Stage
The mostly serious play that has some touches of humor was directed by Jackson Gay; both the director and playwright earned an MFA from Yale School of Drama. It runs for an intense 90 minutes without intermission and is wisely recommended for adults. There are four children in the cast, but this is not a play for children.
Given the title of the show and the question asked in the promotional material, I probably should share my pick for the performer who stopped the show. That honor would probably have to go to the wonderfully talented Justin Henry; even Chuck Stango acknowledged onstage how difficult it was to try to follow Mr. Henry's COLOR PURPLE piece and the crowd loved it. To my mind, the SEUSSICAL duet was a brilliant addition to the second act.
WE WILL ROCK YOU by Landmark Community Theatre
