Category Archives: Reviews

October 15, 2015 · 3:42 pm

PIPPIN Review

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

Magic To Do. Photo by Shinobu Ikazaki.

Grabrielle McClinton as Leading Player and the cast in “Magic To Do.” Photo by Shinobu Ikazaki.

PIPPIN presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through Oct. 18. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Full disclosure. I am a huge fan of the musical PIPPIN.  It holds a special place in my heart and I’ve been hoping to see the circus-themed, Tony Award-winning revival for quite some time.  The touring production, currently at the Aronoff Center, did not disappoint.

Brian Flores as Pippin & John Rubinstein as Charles. Photo by Shinobu Ikazaki.

Brian Flores as Pippin & John Rubinstein as Charles. Photo by Shinobu Ikazaki.

The cornerstones of the show: the score, the voices, the harmonies, the dancing, the Fosse, the humor, the costumes and the magic are all there. The circus theme works well for the most part, and the acrobatic ability of the cast adds a unique visually element (and a bit of danger) to the show.

Gabrielle McClinton as the Leading Player & cast. Photo by Shinobu Ikazaki.

Gabrielle McClinton as the Leading Player & cast. Photo by Shinobu Ikazaki.

The cast as a whole is excellent. Both Gabrielle McClinton and Brian Flores are strong performers as the Leading Player and Pippin. Sabrina Harper is an amazing triple-threat as the scheming Fastrada. Bradley Benjamin’s Catherine has a great, quirky charm.

Exciting for me, was being able to see two showbiz legends perform in the cast. Incredibly fun in the role of King Charles is John Rubinstein. Now the father of the titular character, Rubinstein originated the role of Pippin, opposite Ben Vereen, on Broadway. Serving as Berthe, Pippin’s irreverent, high-flying grandmother is Priscilla Lopez. In a little show called, A CHORUS LINE, she originated the role of Diana Morales who felt “Nothing” in acting class.

Priscilla Lopez as Berthe & Brian Flores as Pippin. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Priscilla Lopez as Berthe & Brian Flores as Pippin. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Also fun was having CCM alums returning to Cincinnati with the tour. Erik Altemus (’09) returns as self-loving Lewis, the role he originated in the Broadway revival. Laura Hall is a Player in the ensemble and Kate Wesler (’14) serves as a swing.

Sound-wise, I thought there was a good balance between the vocals and the orchestra. Personally I wouldn’t have minded being rocked-out a bit for a few of the numbers or to have the vocals vibrate the theater at the end of “Morning Glow.”

Overall an exciting, entertaining and visually-stunning production and a must-see for any PIPPIN fan.

My rating: 4.75 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.

2 Comments

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as

October 14, 2015 · 4:13 pm

THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE Review

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

Alice Skok as Espanta. Photo by Daniel R. Winters.

Alice Skok as Espanta. Photo by Daniel R. Winters.

THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE presented by Know Theatre of Cincinnati and UC College-Conservatory of Music through Oct. 24. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

There were many individual elements that I enjoyed about this production. What wasn’t clear to me was the director’s overall concept for the show that unified them.

The ladies of the tower created some fun and zany characters, with Julie Netzer;s Innocenzia as my personal favorite. I snickered every time she closed a door. While the performances are over the top, visually it’s the opposite. All of the female characters are clean and pretty. The deformities, which could be exaggerated for some visual gags, are actually under-played. In the scenes involving 1 and 2, I understood what you were going for with the monotone delivery, but the comic timing wasn’t there to really sell it.

Colleen Ladrick as Maxima Terrible Segunda & Brandon St Clair Saunders as Talib Furozh. Photo by Daniel R. Winters.

Colleen Ladrick as Maxima Terrible Segunda & Brandon St Clair Saunders as Talib Furozh. Photo by Daniel R. Winters.

For the guys, Andrew Iannacci’s Christopher Columbus is almost as over-the-top, but he has a strange “self-awareness” quality that I found off-putting. Derek Snow is solid, but Abdul Haseeb seems to be the only normal person on stage. Brandon St. Clair Saunders as Talib Furozh is stuck in the middle, never quite matching the performance level of the ladies.

Emily Walton as Infanta Juana. Photo by Daniel R. Winters.

Emily Walton as Infanta Juana. Photo by Daniel R. Winters.

I did find the set design rather confusing, particularly stage right. Is that an opening to the outside and a door to another room on the same wall?

This play does boast one of the most memorable endings I’ve seen, and the special effects for that were surprising and worked really well.

Overall a fun, but uneven quasi-historical romp.

My rating: 4 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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as ,

September 30, 2015 · 7:18 am

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE Review

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

Sara Mackie as Frankie.

Sara Mackie as Frankie.

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE presented by New Edgecliff Theatre through Oct. 3. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening Saturday performance.

I’ll give you three reasons why FRANKIE AND JOHNNY is such an excellent production: Jared Doren, Sara Mackie and Dylan Shelton.

Mackie and Shelton are excellent as the titular duo. Their characters are believable and instantly relate-able. The two have a great chemistry together and handle the emotional flow of the show naturally. It’s easy to become emotionally-invested in their story.

Dylan Shelton as Johnny.

Dylan Shelton as Johnny.

For me, Frankie is Mackie’s best performance to date. The emotions and reactions that play across her face, and her body language, speaks volumes for the character. Frankie is likable and charmingly-awkward with an over-guarded heart.

Shelton is also very impressive. He has created this great persona for Johnny. A reformed bad boy with the heart of a poet, which he wears on his sleeve. There is this moment late in the show, where in his pleading with Frankie, and the emotion is just coming off him in waves.

Sara Mackie as Frankie & Dylan Shelton as Johnny.

Sara Mackie as Frankie & Dylan Shelton as Johnny.

Doren’s direction of Terrance McNally’s excellent script appears effortless. The blocking is natural and motivated. The emotional flow of the show is pitch perfect. The scene work is focused and balanced. The entire performance is completely genuine.

Frankie’s apartment looks great. Designed by Rachel Kuhl with Jared Earland serving as master carpenter (which included building, dis-assembling, moving and reassembling the set due to the venue change). Prop master Mary Gascho gave Frankie a believable world to live in. My only quibble about the set would be the width. It seemed a bit over-sized for a New York apartment that Frankie could afford as a waitress.

Dylan Shelton as Johnny & Sara Mackie as Frankie.

Dylan Shelton as Johnny & Sara Mackie as Frankie.

The radio show segments, courtesy of sound designer Jim Watson and performed by Joe Hornbaker, were very well done. Lighting designer Glen Goodwin handling of the “night” scenes worked really well. I also enjoyed the sunrise coming through the window.

Overall, a beautifully realized second-chance-at-love story.

My rating: 5 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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as

September 22, 2015 · 8:26 am

THE FULL MONTY Review

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

Richard E. Waits, Matt Welsh, Christopher deProphetis, Matt Kopec, Peanut Edmonson & Jamie Cordes. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Richard E. Waits, Matt Welsh, Christopher deProphetis, Matt Kopec, Peanut Edmonson & Jamie Cordes. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

THE FULL MONTY presented by Human Race Theatre Company through Oct. 4. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

A strong, six-men ensemble leads this fun and entertaining production, solidly directed by Joe Deer.

Christopher deProphetis nicely handles the role of Jerry Lukowski, the proud and quick-to-anger single father. He is the one who comes up with the crazy get-rich-quick scheme to strip. The scenes with his son Nathan (played by Peanut Edmonson) go a long way in softening the character. “Breeze Off the River” was nicely done and a favorite ballad of the show.

Tracey L. Bonner, Adam Soniak, Scott Stoney, Sonia Perez, Richard Jarrett, Gina Handy, Scott Hunt & Andréa Morales. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Tracey L. Bonner, Adam Soniak, Scott Stoney, Sonia Perez, Richard Jarrett, Gina Handy, Scott Hunt & Andréa Morales. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Matt Welsh is excellent as Jerry’s best friend and partner in crime, Dave Bukatinsky. Welsh gives the everyman character a vulnerability that the audience responds to. Both scenes with wife Georgie (Leslie Goddard) were touching and I found myself rooting for them as a couple.

Jamie Cordes gives high strung, former-manager Harold Nichols alot of heart. Like Dave, Harold’s biggest vulnerability is failing his wife. When his struggle to keep up appearances finally fails, the scene that follows with wife Vicki (played by Sonia Perez) works well.

Richard E. Waits is fun as Noah “Horse” T. Simmons, the oldest member of the dance crew, comically struggling to live up his nickname and dance with his trick hip.

Matt Kopec is very sweet as naive and gawky Malcolm MacGregor. The relationship between Kopec’s Malcolm and Ethan was handled well.

Matt Welsh, Matt Kopec, Josh Kenney, Christopher deProphetis, Jamie Cordes and Richard E. Waits. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Matt Welsh, Matt Kopec, Josh Kenney, Christopher deProphetis, Jamie Cordes and Richard E. Waits. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Josh Kenney is over-the-top fun as Ethan Girard. Kenney has so much energy, that at times he was performing a bit too much over the rest of the ensemble, stealing focus.

Deb Colvin-Tener was fun as Jeanette Burmeister, the feisty piano accompanist. She did come off a little one-note for me. The character voice used seemed to limit her vocal variety.

Tracey L. Bonner, Gina Handy, Leslie Goddard & Andréa Morales. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Tracey L. Bonner, Gina Handy, Leslie Goddard & Andréa Morales. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

I also enjoyed how the character of Jerry’s ex-wife was handled. As played by Jillian Jarret, she keeps Pam from becoming bitter or nagging. It easy to believe the Pam and Jerry once had feelings for each other, and that Pam’s main goal is keeping their son happy.

The ladies of the ensemble, Tracey L. Bonner, Handy, Leslie Goddard and Andréa Morales, strut their stuff early in the first act with the women-power number, “It’s a Woman’s World.”

The band sounded great under the direction of Sean Michael Flowers.

Christopher deProphetis, Jamie Cordes, Matt Welsh, Josh Kenney, Richard E. Waits, Matt Kopec and Deb Colvin-Tener. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Christopher deProphetis, Jamie Cordes, Matt Welsh, Josh Kenney, Richard E. Waits, Matt Kopec and Deb Colvin-Tener. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

The choreography by Dionysia Williams fit the show and was well-managed by the cast, but it didn’t hold any surprises. There were a few times, particularly with Keno’s (Richard Jarrett) strip tease, where the choreography felt confined to the counts of the music. The spontaneity of the numbers was missing.

The set design by Dick Block worked well and I enjoyed the versatility of it, with the rotating platform and the storybook walls. The only scene that didn’t work for me was the Nichols’ home. The set pieces used didn’t read as affluent.

Richard E. Waits, Matt Welsh, Josh Kenney, Christopher deProphetis, Matt Kopec & Jamie Cordes. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Richard E. Waits, Matt Welsh, Josh Kenney, Christopher deProphetis, Matt Kopec & Jamie Cordes. Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

Early in the show, when Jerry & Dave are stuck hiding in the bathroom stall, it might have been fun to see their feet react to the less than complimentary things being said about them. I was surprised to hear “You Walk with Me” sung so powerfully at the graveside. Don’t get tme wrong, the number was handled well by Kopec and Kenney, I was just surprised by the belting.

Overall a solid, heartfelt musical featuring a entertaining and charismatic cast.

My rating: 4.25 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.

1 Comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as

September 18, 2015 · 7:53 am

CYRANO DE BERGERAC Review

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

Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC presented by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company through Oct. 3. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Jeremy Dubin gives his strongest performance to date in the demanding title role. Confident and insightful, Dubin is captivating to watch. I enjoyed how De Bergerac’s bravado is played more as a statement of fact than bragging. His devotion to Roxane is complete and selfless.

Caitlin McWethy as Roxane, Grant Niezgodski as Christian, and Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Caitlin McWethy as Roxane, Grant Niezgodski as Christian, and Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Caitlin McWethy’s Roxane is genuine as the women touched to her core by Cyrano’s words. The scenes where she shares her mis-directed love for Christian (Grant Niezgodski), with her distant cousin and confidant, are heartbreaking. Jared Joplin creates a great villain as Comte de Guiche. It is his desire for Roxane’s affection that sets the tragedy in motion. Billy Chance is extremely fun as the baker-patron of poets, Ragueneau.

Caitlin McWethy as Roxane and Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Caitlin McWethy as Roxane and Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Director Brian Isaac Phillips uses every inch of space available to him. The staging is well-focused and dynamic. Designer Andrew J. Hungerford provides a versatile set. It transforms into a theater, a battlefield and a covent, just to name a few of the settings. The platform stage left worked well, but it read more pier than balcony to me.

Kyle Brumley as Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and Caitlin McWethy as Roxane. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Kyle Brumley as Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and Caitlin McWethy as Roxane. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

The costumes and wigs are impressive and added to the richness of the production. My favorite was the bold fashion choices of the ill-fated Carbon de Castel-Jaloux (Kyle Brumley).

The nose prosthetic for Cyrano looks very good. From my seat, it appeared natural in its design and application. I did notice that in some of the night scenes, the lighting reflected differently off his face than off the appliance.

Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano and Cadets. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Jeremy Dubin as Cyrano and Cadets. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

Opening night, the show did break the three-hour mark, but it didn’t seem overly long. The script is strong, and I had not realized that I didn’t know how Cyrano’s story ended. I felt that the pacing was steady, but it struggled to gain some energy, some bounce. This steady pace worked against the final scene, delaying the emotional payoff the audience has been waiting for the entire show.

Dubin’s captivating performance leads a strong cast in this romantic-tragedy of unrequited love.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Cincy Shakes continues their season with another classic, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play DEATH OF A SALESMAN with Bruce Cromer as Willy Loman. I fully expect sell-out run so purchase your tickets early.

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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as