Category Archives: Reviews

November 19, 2019 · 3:57 pm

Disney’s FREAKY FRIDAY Quick Review

Disney’s FREAKY FRIDAY presented by Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts  through Nov. 24. I attended the opening Saturday performance. 

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Blair Lamb as Ellie and Company. Photo by Jesse Byerly.

This was my first opportunity to see a production of Disney’s FREAKY FRIDAY and I have a sneaking suspicion that it won’t be my last. The stage adaption tells its own story about a magical mother/daughter body swap with a solid book and enjoyable musical numbers.

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Jake Hunter as Adam & Charlie Lindeman as Fletcher Blake.

Director Jamey Strawn does a great job of emphasizing the emotional beats of the show and keeping the characters as well as their relationships grounded and believable. Tracy Bonner’s choreography was enjoyable to watch and really showcased the abilities of the ensemble. The orchestra, under the direction of Damon Stevens, had a great sound, and the balance between the vocals and the orchestra was spot on.

Anna C. Catton’s set design, comprised mostly trucks and flies smartly set the various locations while allowing the show to maintain its strong pacing. The look of the characters (costumes designed by Ronnie Chamberlain; hair/makeup by Halee Paige Hood) worked well across the cast.

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Sarah Hack as Katherine & Blair Lamb as Ellie. Photo by Jesse Byerly.

Speaking of the cast, the ensemble as a whole did excellent work. Everyone on stage, at any given moment, was completely engaged from start to finish. The two leads (Sarah Hack as mother Katherine and Blair Lamb as daughter Ellie) convincingly portrayed the body swap in the performances and impressed vocally, especially with their second act solo numbers. Jake Hunter’s characterization of Adam (or should I say, ADAM!!) shows his good heart despite his social media-obsessed exterior.

Congratulations on a wonderful production.

My rating: 4.75 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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November 18, 2019 · 2:51 pm

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR Quick Review

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company through Dec. 7. I attended the opening night performance. 

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The cast of THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography

After their dark and bloody Halloween-appropriate production, Cincinnati Shakespeare offers an (over-) over-the-top comedy to close out the year with William Shakespeare’s THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

Now don’t get me wrong: there are plenty of moments that are laugh-out-loud funny. Some of the comic bits work really well. But on opening night, the ones that landed were outnumbered by the ones that did not. And with a run time of almost three hours with intermission, the show could use a bit of “bit” trimming.

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Abby Lee as Mistress Ford, Billy Chace as Falstaff, and Jennifer Joplin as Mistress Page. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography

Visually, the show looks great. The costume designs by Rainy Edwards are colorful and appropriate for the characters. The “found object” fairy costumes near the end of the play were very clever with great attention to detail. Shannon Robert’s set, dominated by two individually rotating towers worked well for the various locations and the need for numerous quick entrances/exits.

Billy Chace is fun as Falstaff, the boozing braggart with an over-inflated sense of sexual prowess. The objects of his unwanted advances are the hyperactive and slightly dingy Mistress Alice Ford, wonderfully played by Abby Lee and the down to earth but mischievous-minded Mistress Margaret Page, wonderfully played by Jennifer Joplin. The two characters balance each other well.

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Abby Lee as Mistress Ford & Billy Chace as Falstaff. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography

It is the second tier of characters that throws off that balance. When you have five or six over-the-top characters on stage together, their antics can overshadow the story. There were times when I longed for the return of Mistress Margaret Page, Mistress Quickly (Miranda McGee) or Anne Page (Kahla Tisdale) to bring a bit of sanity to the stage (in a good way). Also, several of the character voice/accent choices were difficult to understand when the actors had their backs to you. I think for me, as a fairly frequent audience member at CSC, the casting choices and sense of humor of this production does not cross into new territory.

If you are looking for a big and bawdy night of quirky comedy, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR has that in spades.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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November 15, 2019 · 2:47 pm

2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS Quick Review

2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park through Jan. 5. I attended the opening night performance. 

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Matthew McGloin as Richard as & Jefferson McDonald as Ted. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

“How do I get to Carnegie Hall?”
“Practice.”

In 2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS, the story follows two classical pianists from their beginning lessons through their interviews to join prestigious college music programs. Along the way we meet frustrated teachers, domineering parents and exacting college interviewers.

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Matthew McGloin as Richard as & Jefferson McDonald as Ted. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

The two actors (Jefferson McDonald as Ted and Matthew McGloin as Richard) are talented pianists and performers with great comic timing. The duo enjoy a fun rapport and slip into multiple characters as easily as they slide behind the piano. The comedy hits home even more strongly for anyone who has taken music lessons.

Tom Frey does double duty as director and music director for the show, keeping the pacing strong between the short scenes and the musical performances. With seating on four sides, the set is simply two angled Steinway pianos. James Sale’s colorful lighting design sets the mood and defines the transitions between the multiple vignettes.

Thank you Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park for an enjoyable evening of laughter and classical music.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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November 8, 2019 · 3:00 pm

MEAN GIRLS Quick Review

MEAN GIRLS presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through Nov. 17. I attended the opening night performance. 

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Danielle Wade as Cady Heron, Megan Masako Haley as Gretchen Wieners, Mariah Rose Faith as Regina George, Jonalyn Saxer as Karen Smith, Mary Kate Morrissey as Janis Sarkisian, and the National Touring Company. Credit: © 2019 Joan Marcus.

Interested in a more immersive experience? You can join cast members from MEAN GIRLS in a Broadway Weekends theater camp for adults.

The stage adaption of the movie MEAN GIRLS arrived Tuesday at the Aronoff Center for a two week stay.

The vocals of the leads are strong across the board and the ladies have some great belting solos. Danielle Wade is easily likable as fish out of water Cady. The titular “Mean Girls” play off of each other well: Mariah Rose Faith as queen bee Regina, Megan Masako Haley as desperate people-pleasing Gretchen, and Jonalyn Saxer as the extremely dim-witted Karen. Mary Kate Morrissey is solid as angst-ridden artist Janis.

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Eric Huffman as Damian Hubbard and the National Touring Company. Credit: © 2019 Joan Marcus

It is CCM-alum Eric Huffman though who steals the show as Damian. Serving as co-narrator, he establishes a great rapport with the audience and his enjoyment leading the production numbers is contagious.

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Gaelen Gilliland as Mrs. George and Danielle Wade as Cady Heron. © 2019 Joan Marcus

Special shout out to Gaelen Gilliland who displays great versatility and comic timing tackling three roles: both Cady’s and Regina’s mom as well as math teacher Ms. Norbury.

The choreography is high-energy and fun to watch with clever use of set pieces and props throughout. The support of talented ensemble is instrumental in setting the scene and keeping the pacing tight.

The LED walls of the set work very well and are used to great effect. They allow the location of the scene to change instantaneously when needed. At times they even trick the eye, making the exits disappear entirely. The brief delay to address a flooring issue for the safety of the cast was handled quickly and professionally.

While the show is very enjoyable, I never connected to the characters emotionally. The consequences of Cady’s actions are few and short lived. Forgiveness from those she wronged is nearly immediately and makes the final scenes of the show seemed rushed.

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The National Touring Company. Credit: © 2019 Joan Marcus

Overall a fun, colorful, and very enjoyable production.

My rating: 4.75 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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November 7, 2019 · 9:28 am

THE CAKE Quick Review

THE CAKE presented by Human Race Theatre Company through Nov. 17. I attended the opening Sunday matinee. 

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Laurie Carter Rose as Della.

Ripped from the headlines, “Bakery owner refuses to make wedding cake for same sex couple.”

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Laurie Carter Rose as Della and Tim Lile as Tim.

That in a nut shell is the plot behind THE CAKE running at Human Race Theatre Company. While Bekah Brunstetter’s script does not take sides or bring any new arguments to the table, it does humanize the situation by making one of the brides-to-be a returning hometown girl and the daughter of a lifetime friend to the shop owner.

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Claire Kennedy as Jen and Candice Handy as Macy.

Laurie Carter Rose plays North Carolina bakery owner Della. Avoiding the pitfall of making her a caricature, Rose’s Della has a wise mind, a loving heart, and a great sense of humor. Jen, played solidly by Claire Kennedy, is the hometown girl pursuing the wedding of her dreams, which includes a cake baked by her late mother’s friend. Macy is Jen’s partner, an intelligent and opinionated writer from NYC. Actress Candice Handy gives Macy an external, semi-sweet calmness that belies, and at times fails, to contain her true thoughts. Two take make for a cute and believable couple. Rounding out the cast is Tim Lile in a fun turn as Della’s put-upon blue-collar husband Tim.

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Candice Handy as Macy and Claire Kennedy as Jen.

Director Greg Hellems brings the characters’ humanity to the forefront, allowing their beliefs to be part of who they are, but not their defining trait. The show is well-paced and emphasizes the humor which allows the audience to connect to each person as an individual.

Scenic designer Dan Gray’s excellent two-sided rotating set is dominated on one side by Della’s bakery with the opposing side split between Della and Tim’s flower-infused bedroom and Macy and Jen’s generically appointed hotel room. Jessica Pitcairn’s costume designs are spot on for each character and neither bride’s wedding gown could be any more perfect.

A charming and entertaining intermission-less production which reminds us that not all disagreements need to be settled in the court room.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

 

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