Monthly Archives: June 2015

June 3, 2015 · 1:44 pm

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE! Review

Kevin Remington (Fred Mertz), Thea Brooks (Lucy Ricardo), Lori Hammel (Ethel Mertz) and Euriamis Losada (Ricky Ricardo) in the national tour of I LOVE LUCY®LIVE ON STAGE (Photo by Justin Namon).

Kevin Remington (Fred Mertz), Thea Brooks (Lucy Ricardo), Lori Hammel (Ethel Mertz) and Euriamis Losada (Ricky Ricardo). Photo by Justin Namon.

Links to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE! presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through June 14. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening performance.

(Front Row, from left) Richard Strimer, Cindy Sciacca, Carlos Martin, (Back Row, from left) Sarah Elizabeth Combs, Gregory Franklin and Sara Jayne Blackmore in the national tour of I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE (Photo by Justin Namon).

(Front Row, from left) Richard Strimer, Cindy Sciacca, Carlos Martin, (Back Row, from left) Sarah Elizabeth Combs, Gregory Franklin and Sara Jayne Blackmore. Photo by Justin Namon.

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE! is a fun, nostalgic trip back in time, to the golden age of television. The Procter and Gamble Hall becomes the Desilu Playhouse studio where you are the audience, attending the taping of two classic I LOVE LUCY episodes, “The Benefit” and “Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined.”

This production does a great job of capturing the time period and boasts a strong ensemble. Leads Thea Brooks and Euriamis Losada have great chemistry and hit all the right notes as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. Brooks’ physical comedy is a highlight of the show. Losada inhabits Ricky and has a great singing voice.

Euriamis Losada (Ricky Ricardo) and the company of the national tour of I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE (Photo by Hyra George).

Euriamis Losada (Ricky Ricardo) and the company of the national tour. Photo by Hyra George.

In the ensemble, Mark Christopher Tracy is spot-on as Desilu Playhouse host Maury Jasper. Fellow audience member Mrs. Birdie Mae Figg (played by Denise Moses) is a gem of a character actress. Her look uncannily reminded me of a supporting actress from the period. Together the two ab-lib some great laughs during the trivia contest.

Overall a fun and unique experience for I LOVE LUCY fans of all ages.

My rating: 4.0 out of 5

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.

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June 3, 2015 · 9:33 am

Rush Tickets Available for THE SUNSHINE BOYS at Commonwealth Theatre Company

Dave Roth as Al Lewis & Herb DuVal as Willie Clark.

Dave Roth as Al Lewis & Herb DuVal as Willie Clark.

Commonwealth Theatre Company is excited to offer Rush Tickets for Neil Simon’s THE SUNSHINE BOYS running July 3-21.

Beginning 48 hours before each performance, remaining tickets will be available at a discounted price of $15. Students can purchase rush tickets for just $10. Rush tickets are for the SHOW ONLY and do not include dinner.

Tickets must be purchased from the Box Office in person or by calling 859.572.5464, and are subject to availability.

For more information on the production, click here.

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June 3, 2015 · 9:24 am

AN EVENING OF CULTURE Runs July 3-12

KRT_An Evening of Culture logoAN EVENING OF CULTURE
Presented by Kincaid Regional Theater
July 3-12
Falmouth

The citizens of Mineola County are anything but prepared for their upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet. The cast doesn’t know their lines, the set is “finished”, and any and all distractions keep its leads, Mildred (who doesn’t look fifty) and Bubba Bedford (your local Gomer Pyle) from presenting their very best when the curtain rises. Join this odd assemblage of characters as they “successfully” bring the Bard’s famous tale of star crossed lovers to life.

  • Fri, July 3 at 7:30pm
  • Sat-Sun, July 4-5 at 2pm
  • Wed-Thu, July 8-9 at 2pm
  • Fri, July 10 at 7:30pm
  • Sat-Sun, July 11-12 at 2pm & 7:30pm

Official page |

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June 2, 2015 · 1:56 pm

DOWN AMONG THE VULTURES Review

CFF_Down Among the VulturesLinks to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on myFacebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

DOWN AMONG THE VULTURES presented by as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

To be honest, when I read the word “poetic” in a show description, my experience translates that into “over-written.” Unfortunately, DOWN AMONG THE VULTURES proves my experience correct. I found the characters to be way too verbose and the word choices didn’t feel appropriate to these modestly-educated folks in the rust belt.

The opening rant monologue of Waylon Simms doesn’t offer much in terms of exposition as he staggers around the stage in a hospital gown (in his own home?) sometimes dragging an IV stand, which he’s not connected to. Played by Andrew Hamling, I felt the performance was a bit over the top or perhaps too big for the venue.

The second scene is heavy with exposition and connects the dots from some of Waylon’s ramblings, which is good. But it does make me question the need and purpose of the first scene. Bradley Jennings Evans does solid character work as Oswald Motherwell. As written, Waylon’s unambitious children Lars (Michael Perrie Jr.) and Mindy-Lou (Laura Madden) are thinly-defined and spend most of the show lamenting their circumstances. Ave M. Lindon looks great for the role of ex-wife and mother Tammy-Maye Simms, but aside from the reference to vodka in her water bottle, doesn’t behave like the alcoholic, pill-popper her children describe.

The last scene of the show is a flashback to the characters last “family” dinner that doesn’t build to…anything.

Overall an odd pieces that doesn’t quite reach the heights of dark comedy it was aiming for. Three performances remain through June 6.

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.

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June 2, 2015 · 12:30 pm

METH: A LOVE STORY Review

Carli Rhoades as She, Connor Lawrence as He, Spencer Lackey as Scary Methhead.

Carli Rhoades as She, Connor Lawrence as He & Spencer Lackey as Scary Methhead.

Links to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

METH: A LOVE STORY presented by #theatercompany as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

When I attend a performance, there are elements that pull me in and pull me out of the experience. Ideally it’s more of the former and less of the latter. Things that don’t ring true to me, emotionally and logically, collect in my critical brain over the course of the show. Too many and I do reach a point of saturation where the show just doesn’t work for me.

METH: A LOVE STORY doesn’t work for me.

Most of it is due to the script. I don’t believe the environment of the show. I don’t buy the circumstances of how the college students came to be in this situation. I felt there were times when attempts were being made to manipulate my emotions instead of appealing to them. And I didn’t make a connection with the characters, so the tragedy doesn’t have an impact except for some brief shock value.

Performance wise, I thought Katie McDonald as Mommy Methhead did strong and consistent work. The last scene between her and Laura McCarthy as Spunky Methhead had some solid emotional beats to it.

To be fair, I am in the minority in my opinion with other Fringe-goers. I also acknowledge that these kind of “inconsistencies” bother me more than the average theater-goer.

Regardless of how I responded to it, please know that I appreciate all the hard work that went into it. Two performances remain through June 5.

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below

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