Category Archives: Reviews

November 5, 2019 · 4:23 pm

PROOF Quick Review

PROOF presented by The Carnegie through Nov. 17. I attended the opening night performance. 

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Katie Mitchell as Catherine & Allen R. Middleton as Robert. Mikki Schaffner Photography.

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Kate Mock Elliott as Clair & Katie Mitchell as Catherine. Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Director Torie Wiggins deftly leads her small but strong cast through this enjoyable production. The relationships between the four characters are honest and well-defined. The cast: Katie Mitchell as Catherine, Kate Mock Elliott as Catherine’s older sister Clair, Allen R. Middleton as their father Robert and Jared Earland as Robert’s former student Hal are definitely up to the demands of David Auburn’s engaging script.

Designer Doug Stock’s set depicting the rear of the family home is visually impressive and completely believable from the audience. I did feel that an additional element to sit on or lean against could have given the director more options in the blocking. The solid, supporting work of the production team creates a near-perfect environment for this story to be told.

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Jared Earland as Hal & Katie Mitchell as Catherine. Mikki Schaffner Photography.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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November 5, 2019 · 11:41 am

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW Quick Review

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW presented by UC College-Conservatory of Music through Nov. 10. I attended the Saturday matinee performance. 

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Mikayla Renfrow as Janet, Ethan Zeph as Frank ‘N’ Furter & Jake Waford as Brad. Photo by Mark Lyons.

Director & choreographer Vincent DeGeorge breathes new life into the cult-classic musical, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.

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Sofie Flores as Magenta. Photo by Mark Lyons.

The show is uniquely staged on a play area that is reminiscent of a runway, with the audience seated along the length on opposing sides. Except for the movie theater marquee hanging over one end of the play area, the set is comprised of smartly designed rolling pieces, courtesy of scenic designer Joshua E. Gallagher.

The iconic characters receive updated looks thanks to Costume Designer Maddie Kevelson and Wig & Make-Up Designer Kelly Yurko. The ensemble (Phantoms) are dressed in all black and presented as genderqueer. The named characters have more modernized looks, but are still easily identifiable.

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Delaney Guyer as Columbia & Joseph (Hank) Von Kolnitz as Eddie. Photo by Mark Lyons.

The cast is very strong across the board in their performances and vocals. Ethan Zeph impresses with his command of the stage as Frank ‘N’ Furter. Music director Stephen Goers rocks out the score, doing double duty as keyboardist and conductor of the other five instrumentalists.

Overall a very enjoyable update to a show crossing into its fifties. Sadly this already extended run has pretty much SOLD OUT. Never hurts to contact the box office though.

My rating: 4.75 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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November 1, 2019 · 3:55 pm

THE WIZARD OF OZ Quick Review

THE WIZARD OF OZ presented the Cincinnati Ballet runs through Nov. 3. I attended the Halloween evening performance. 

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Melissa Gelfin as Dorothy and the Munchkins.

In her curtain speech, Artistic Director Victoria Morgan described this production of THE WIZARD OF OZ as ballet meets Broadway. While the production values are easily equal to current touring Broadway productions, the dance artistry if always forefront in this wonderfully entertaining production for all ages.

The main characters are enchanting to watch as they perform choreographer Septime Webre’s amazing work: Melissa Gelfin as Dorothy, Sirui Liu as Aunt Em/Glinda, Maizyalet Velazquez as Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West, Cervilio Miguel Amador as Hunk/Scarecrow, Taylor Carrasco as Hickory/Tin Man, Michael Mengden as Zeke/Lion and Luca De-Poli as Professor Marvel/Wizard of Oz. They are supported by an incredibly strong ensemble who make the bigger numbers a joy to watch. Toto is brought to amusing and scene-stealing (in a good way) life by puppeteer Sterling Manka.

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Cervilio Miguel Amador as the Scarecrow and the Yellow Brick Roadies.

Visually the show is stunning; from the limited pallet at the beginning of the show to the explosion of color when Dorothy opens the door to catch her first glimpse of the Land of Oz. The looks of the leading characters, while not traditional, are stunningly unique and readily identifiable. Liz Vandal’s imaginative costume designs make every scene memorable: the children’s grasshoppers in Munchkinland, the Yellow Brick Roadies, the citizens of the Emerald city, and the Winkies guard are just a few highlights.

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Taylor Carrasco as Tin Man, Cervilio Miguel Amador as Scarecrow, Sterling Manka as “Toto,” Melissa Gelfin as Dorothy & Michael Mengden as Lion in the Emerald City.

There is a great balance to the various elements of the show. The visual special effects, the flying of the multiple characters, the children’s ensemble, and even the humor are perfectly integrated into the production. None of these elements feel over-used or out of place.

Everything good thing you have heard about this production is true. As my guests remarked, this could easily have a return engagement in a couple of years and be just as successful.

Thank you for an unforgettable experience.

P.S. Where can I get a Toto puppet for Christmas? Asking for a friend… 

My rating: 5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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October 31, 2019 · 4:56 pm

42ND STREET Quick Review

42ND STREET presented UC College-Conservatory of Music ran Oct. 24-27. I attended the Saturday matinee performance. 

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“Forty-Second Street.” Photo by Mark Lyons.

I do enjoy a good tap show. And University of Cincinnati’s 42ND STREET was not a good tap show. It was a great tap show.

One advantage CCM has over a touring Broadway show is the ability to go big. In this case, with an ensemble comprised of more than two dozen performers. The production numbers nearly filled the stage from wing to wing with rows of dancers. The choreography was top notch and well-handled by all.

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Bailee Endebrock as Peggy Sawyer. Photo by Mark Lyons.

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the wonderful work by costume designer Reba Senseke and crew. Also well-done were the wigs designed by Samantha Kittle.

The show flowed well from scene to scene and the pacing was strong throughout. I’m not sure if the downplaying of the May-December romance between Peggy Sawyer and Julian Marsh was a director’s decision or a script change from the revival, but I thought that as presented it made for a great dynamic between the two.

Bailee Endebrock was very enjoyable as Peggy Sawyer. Both Camila Paquet (as Maggie Jones) and Nick Berninger (Julian Marsh) were strong in their aged-up roles. Solid performances across the cast.

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“We’re in the Money.” Photo by Mark Lyons.

Thank you for a very enjoyable afternoon meeting those dancing feet.

My rating: 4.75 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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October 25, 2019 · 3:46 pm

THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT Quick Review

THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT presented Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park through Nov. 16. I attended the opening night performance. 

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JuCoby Johnson as Jim Fingal, Kate Rigg as Emily Penrose & David Whalen as John D’Agata. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

At what point does literary license become libel?

This argument is central to the plot of the thought-provoking play THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT running through Nov. 16 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

LIFESPAN follows the extreme and laugh out loud funny pursuit of the truth by young and over-achieving fact-checker Jim Fingal (JuCoby Johnson). Actor David Whalen (author Paul Sheldon in last season’s MISERY) returns as John D’Agata, a talented and respected old school wordsmith who argues the truth of his writing is not beholden to fact. Literally caught between the two is magazine editor Emily Penrose (Kate Rigg) who’s love for the written word is tempered by the realities of the struggling print industry in our online, click-obsessed, social media dominated world.

Director Wendy C. Goldberg displays a deft hand with her talented cast in tackling a show that is essentially three people talking…a lot. The humor of the script and the humanity of the three characters is brought to the forefront. It is not three people arguing to be right, but three individuals trying to do the best work they can.

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David Whalen as John D’Agata. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Todd Rosenthal’s clever, two-sided set believable takes us from a New York skyscraper to suburban Las Vegas. It was also a wise move to not utilize the entire play area available.

There are some now-expected generational jokes and the fact-checking debate does briefly stall the forward momentum of the play, but on the other side is one of the most profound moments I’ve experienced in a theater. A perfect example of the power of the written word from the “pen” of a talented writer.

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Kate Rigg as Emily Penrose & JuCoby Johnson as Jim Fingal. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Nowadays any yahoo can start a blog and become a media influencer. The internet is full of people eager to nitpick and point out minuscule failings (like how did D’Agata’s elderly mother, who needed a walker to get around, manage to get herself up and down the stairs without a bedroom or bathroom on the first floor?).

But none can duplicate the investment of the opening night audience in those closing minutes of this play or the thoughtful discussion that follows after the stage goes dark.

My rating: 4.75 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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