Category Archives: Reviews

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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October 24, 2019 · 1:51 pm

THREE SISTERS Quick Review

THREE SISTERS presented Northern Kentucky University SOTA through Oct. 27. I attended the opening Sunday performance. 

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Rachel Kazee as Masha, Chelsea Trammell as Olga & Hannah Beaven as Irina. Photo by Jesse Byerly.

Under the direction of Michael King, strong character work highlights this production of Chekov’s THREE SISTERS.

Chelsea Trammell as Olga, Rachel Kazee as Masha, and Hannah Beaven as Irina impress as the titular trio.

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Gabriela Barbosa-Gonzales as Natasha & Joel Parece as Andrei. Photo by Jesse Byerly.

It was great to see character changes across the ensemble as time jumped between the acts. Joel Parece (as brother Andrei) handled the transition from bookish introvert to haunted husband and father very well. Even with the larger cast, the relationships were well-defined and easy to follow over the course of the performance.

The set element at the end of the play area was visually strong and smartly lit. The set pieces and decor were well-chosen and well-placed. I never had a problem with sightlines or felt they hindered the actors’ movement.

Costume and make-up designs for the characters worked well. Maybe some kind of makeup prosthetic could have been used to keep Irina’s “unattractive” reference to Tuzenbach from generating an unintentional laugh from the audience. 😜

Congratulations on an engaging production. 

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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October 24, 2019 · 1:35 pm

CHICAGO Quick Review

CHICAGO presented Xavier University Theatre through Oct. 26. I attended the opening Saturday Matinee. 

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Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

The show itself looks fantastic thanks to set and lighting designer Joe Beumer, and costumes designed by Jessica Pitcairn. The talented ensemble is backed by a great sounding orchestra (under the direction of Scot Buzza) and handles Dee Anne Bryll’s choreography well.

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Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Dylan Van Camp impresses vocally as Mary Sunshine. Across the board, the leads were strong, but I do think they could be a little bigger in their performances without sacrificing any believably.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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October 18, 2019 · 10:56 am

SEX AND EDUCATION Quick Review

SEX AND EDUCATION presented Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through Oct. 27. I attended the opening night performance. 

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Esther Cunningham as Hannah Winters, R. Graham Rogers as Joe Marks & Dale Hodges as Miss Edwards. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

A smartly-cast production of SEX AND EDUCATION scores on the Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati stage for a limited run through Oct. 27.

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R. Graham Rogers as Joe Marks & Esther Cunningham as Hannah Winters. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Local favorite Dale Hodges is Miss Edwards, a teacher administering her last final exam of a 25-year teaching career. Recent University of Cincinnati CCM Acting graduate R Graham Rogers is the academically-underachieving, high school basketball star already dreaming of his college career. When he is caught passing a sexually explicit note to his girlfriend (local actress Esther Cunningham) it sets off an after-class confrontation between teacher and student.

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R. Graham Rogers as Joe Marks & Dale Hodges as Miss Edwards. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The script is laugh out loud funny with several of the best lines delivered as snarky asides to the audience by the cast, including now-you-see-her-now-you-don’t appearances by “Every Cheerleader” (also Cunningham). Multiple topics such as bureaucratic obstacles to teaching, athletics over academics, and high school stereotypes are touched upon. Several lines elicited vocal responses from suspected teachers in the audience. Ironically, my high school Data Processing (yes, you read that right) teacher was in attendance in the first row.

By opening night the production had not quite gelled, but I expect a few more performances under the belt to take care of any issues I had. Congratulations on an enjoyable night of theater.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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