THEATRE REVIEW OF RICHARD III

A different take on Richard III

 

Richard III by William Shakespeare is presented by the Southern California Shakespeare Festival (SCSF).  The classic play stars and is directed by Lisa Wolpe.  The SCSF is known for its non-traditional casting with women playing men and men playing women.  But during Shakespeare’s time, didn’t men play women all the time?

These cast members worked very hard in portraying many often-changing roles in this vast play.  Plus, they had limited time and financial resources which you wouldn’t know by watching the performance.  Richard III was a collaboration that includes four guest artists and thirteen student actors from the Cal Poly Pomona Theatre Department plus student designers, student management teams and crews.

The layout of the stage is setup so the players interact with you and each other.  The time is set in England in between the World Wars.  What you notice about Lisa’s performance is not that a woman is playing a man, but that you delve into the psychotic soul of this tyrant through such piercing eyes!  Lisa has quite the resume and experience to pull off such an endeavor.  Other standout performances are the heartbroken Queen Elizabeth (Linda Bisesti, SCSF’s Artistic Director and Cal Poly’s Associate Professor) and the sad widow Lady Anne (Katrinka Wolfson).  The dialogue that goes on between Richard III and the Queen or Lady are so full of passion, bitterness and loathness, you cannot help but get entangled.  Mention must also go to Daniella Tarankow’s performance as Duchess of York.  I couldn’t help but think she reminds me of a young Meryl Streep.  Plus, the cast did a great job talking with British accents!

Bravo to all that was involved.

Richard III runs until October 2^nd.   Saturdays 8pm and Sundays 2pm at The Studio Theatre, Cal Poly Pomona 3801 W. Temple Avenue Building 25 Pomona, CA 91768.  Run time is 120 minutes plus 1-15 minute intermission.  Admission is $15, students/seniors/Cal Poly faculty and staff $12.  Parking is $3 and available at the yellow boxes in the parking lot.  Call (909) 869-3900 for Reservations or visit online at http://www.class.csupomona.edu/th/oldsite/scsf/

THEATRE REVIEW OF EUGENE O'NEILL ONE-MAN PLAY

Eugene O’Neill had more to say

 

The Unauthorized Afterlife of Eugene O’Neill is a one-man show written and performed by James Cady.  The play is directed by Brian Hansen and produced by Donna Marie Barra.

The play begins at Eugene O’Neill’s end with “born in a hotel room… died in a hotel room.”  James Cady explores the life of this complex playwright as he tries to find meaning and answers.  We hear of his contentious upbringing by actor James O’Neill and Mary Ellen Quinlan.  However, his father's illness was a grievous blow to him.  James’ last wish was for Eugene to ‘have courage in being true to yourself and not a sellout’.  One surprise was to find out Eugene’s daughter Oona is the same Oona that became Charlie Chaplin’s last wife!

Once we get past the ominous beginning, the play is quite witty, insightful and humorous… not morose and morbid.  James Cady’s performance gives us a glimpse into the mind of this legendary poet/playwright/Nobel laureate/multi Pulitzer-Prize winner.  Questions are raised… who would win in a dual, Eugene or the hideous wallpaper?  Was O’Neill a huntsman or did he see himself getting into the lion’s den of life?   Will he ever find the toc to his tic?  Do we get to see him enjoy his favorite song, Minnie the Mermaid?  You will just have to see for yourself before it ends.

The Unauthorized Afterlife of Eugene O’Neill runs September 23^rd 8pm, 24^th 2pm & 8pm, and 25^th 8pm at Carrie Hamilton Theatre (upstairs) at The Pasadena Playhouse 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101.  General Admission: $30 / $15 for Students.  For more information, please call (626) 356-7529 or visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

THEATRE REVIEW OF D3LINQUENTZ ONE-WOMAN PLAY

Give these D3LINQUENTZ another chance

 

D3LINQUENTZ is a one-woman show written, performed and co-produced by Stefany Northcutt.  The play is directed and co-produced by George C. Stiehl and located at the Write Act Repertory Company.

D3LINQUENTZ centers on four juvenile delinquents at a Group Home to “straighten up.  There is Stefany, the damaged girl, whose Mom doesn’t know her daughter is high on the way to the Group Home.  Laprell, the vigilant realist, who cares for his ailing elder.  Irma, the fearless Chola, who can’t wait to get out of the place.  And Trinity, the fragile psychotic, who is lost in her own little world.  Not only does Stefany perform as these four characters, she also imitates the staff at the Group Home.  She slides in and out of each character with such ease and grace that you cannot help but like them.  This dramedy is quite engaging and poignant as you delve into the core of each troubled youth.  The venue is one of the best places to see great theatre here in Southern California.  The people both on the stage and behind the scenes are quite welcoming and pleasant to be around.

D3LINQUENTZ runs September 22^nd, 23^rd, 24^th, 29^th, 30^th, October 1^st (7:45pm) and 2^nd (closing matinee, 4pm) at Write Act Repertory Company 6128 Yucca Avenue Hollywood, CA 90028.  General Admission: $18 at the door / $12 (Seniors, Students, Groups 4+).  For more information, please call (310) 461-5125 or visit http://writeactrep.org/homepage.htm or http://d3linquentz.com/.

THE LEOPARD REVIEW IN TOLUCAN TIMES

The Leopard by Yabo Yablonsky is a one-man show about Nobel Prize laureate Ernest Hemingway as he reflects back on his life. The play is directed by T.J. Castronovo and presented by CRC Entertainment in association with Working Stage Theater. It is performed by John F. Goff, who took about a year to prepare.


Ernest Hemingway was a complex and fascinating man with many interests, missions, experiences, loves, etc. He was a man with many lives and had been through so much. Actor John F. Goff channels Hemingway in such a way that is instantly likeable… so charming and funny. Immediately, you are transported to Ernest’s den/office in 1961, Ketchum, Idaho. Edith Piaf is heard singing overhead and sets the mood. There may be talk of death, drinking, hunting, screwing, traveling and especially writing. However, there are many moments you simply laugh out loud. One such gem… “Dying is bad when it takes too long.” On the subject of war, he says, “Write war with heart,” and, “War is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” He also brings up stories with a few famous friends: Ava Gardner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ford Madox Ford, James Joyce, Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein.


I was pleased to see a full house on opening night. Even though I was in a room full of people, I felt such an intimacy between myself and “Ernest.” Do yourself a favor and see this play—I highly recommend it.


The Leopard runs Fridays/ Saturdays at 8 p.m. plus Sundays at 2 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 9, at The Working Stage Theater located at 1516 N. Gardner St. (near Sunset Boulevard). Run time is 90 minutes plus one intermission. Admission is $15; students and seniors $10 (use promo code 007). For reservations, please call (323) 960-7784 or visit www.Plays411.net/theleopard.