News & Reviews from New York |
February 26th, 2014
As a long time reviewer, every once in a while I come across a spectacular performer who has the range and versatility of a Lily Tomlin, or Whoopee Goldberg, who can snap from character to character, with contrasting voices, physicality, age, and emotions. In her show NAKED IN ALASKA, which chronicles her personal journey as a stripper, pole dancer, and person, with passion and full commitment, Valerie Hager gives a powerful, entrancing performance as she displays a range of physicality and emotion during the ups, downs and sideway tangents in her life, including drugs, that will knock your socks off. She radiates a personal beauty of body and persona, and a Mime flavor, that is rare. Her pole dance has gymnastic strength and flexibility, and yet sends out a sensuality that can ensnare. Its well directed and timed by Scott Wesley Slavin. With the diversity of character that Valerie can play, she should be on Saturday Night Live.
Richmond Shepard Performing Arts INSIDER and lively-arts.com. |
February 24th, 2014
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, book by Marsha Norman based on the novel by Robert James Waller, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, is Musical Theatre at its best- innovative in staging by Bartlett Sher and beautiful, magical, dynamic scenic design by Michael Yeargan, this story of a love affair between a housewife (Kelli OHara) in Iowa and a wandering photographer (the very strong, handsome Steven Pasquale) catches you from the first note OHara sings in her clear lovely voice. Sher uses the chorus as atmosphere, stationed in recesses on the stage, as a towns characters, costumed nicely by Catherine Zuber, and all is well-lighted by Donald Holder. Browns music is quite lovely- there is perfect integration of words and music, and the romantic and nostalgic songs are quite moving. Cass Morgan and Mighael X. Martin are delightful as nosey neighbors, Whitney Bashor does a fine singing turn and so does Katie Klaus. The show has a killer ending as OHara and Pasquale shake the house with voice and emotion, stirring us with a universal message about past possibilities that struck a cord in this old reviewer. It is a privilege to be in the audience for a show this good. I see at least six Tony nominations for next Spring. Richmond Shepard Performing Arts INSIDER and lively-arts.com. |
January 31st, 2014
What a theatrical
treat! Harold Pinters NO MANS LAND is full of intellectual
games with meaning within meaning, and the authors strange tangents
and angles are fully fulfilled, expressed with verve by a cast that is
merely superb: the vivid Ian Mckellen, a handsome, strong, sexy Billy
Crudup, a formidable Shuler Hensley and Patrick Stewart playing a man
much older than himself-- he actually dodders ( which enables him to take
some great falls with the grace of a mime). Whats it about? Stewart
brings a man (McKellen) whom he just met home from a pub for a drink.
He is served in various ways by Crudup and Hensley.
Richmond Shepard Performing Arts INSIDER and lively-arts.com. |
January 07th, 2014
What a marvelous production of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE by Albert Bergeret's, NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players at Symphony Space. The overture alone, by the precise, zippy orchestra, nimbly conducted by Bergeret, was worth the price of admission. With a splendid cast, all fine singers, including James Mills as the Major General, Daniel Greenwood as Frederic, and Sarah Caldwell Smith as Mabel, all elements, including imaginative costumes by Gail J. Wofford and an agile set by Lou Anne Gilleland for the agile cast of singer/dancers, Bergeret and his co-director/ David Auxier and choreographer Bill Fabris have found the visual humor in the work as well as the lyrical in the rhymed verses (which are the best integration of words and music ever written). The physical expressions through gesture give a dimension to the work I've not seen before. It's a totally delightful show, and it could do well on Broadway. If only I had four million dollars.
Richmond ShepardPerforming Arts INSIDER and lively-arts.com.
Richmond Shepard Performing Arts INSIDER and lively-arts.com. |
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