Mostly Musical Theatre

Remarkable Spring Awakening in Maumee (Review) 3B Productions

Run don’t walk to get the remaining tickets for 3BProductions outstanding production of Spring Awakening at the Maumee Indoor Theatre…heck here’s the link, just buy your tickets…3BProductions.org

Director/Choreographer Stephanie L. Stephan has done some slick professional work, and her ensemble cast are remarkable top to bottom…kudos also to music director/conductor Todd Schreiber for superb work on the difficult Duncan Sheik alt-rock score both vocally and with the excellent 7-piece orchestra.

Teen angst in the late 19th Century (though really timeless in reality) set to Sheik’s brilliant score play out the story of young love but the themes of the musical are much bigger, and darker than that: abuse, ignorance, sexuality, isolation, failure, suicide, death, rebirth. The Broadway production won 8 Tonys including Best Musical, though it was also criticized for its unrelenting view of all adults as evil and ignorant.

Always strong Libby Bruno (Wendla) and Jimmy Sherwood (Melchior) turn in powerful and emotion-filled performances, but the entire supporting cast is superb. Connor Gavin is excellent as tortured failing student Moritz. Joel Logsdon and Courtney Gray show versatility in playing all of the adult roles. But everyone is terrific: Kristin Kukic (Ilse), Jeremy Davis (George), Phil Hughes (Ensemble), Steven Kiss (Ernst), Sarah Rohen (Thea), Esther Swain (Anna), Jordan Benavente (Otto), Matt Zwyer (Ensemble), Tyler Seybold (Ensemble), William Edmondson (Ensemble), Meg Grzeszczak (Ensemble), Kayla Haase (Ensemble), Lauren Kotarski (Martha), and Eric Wolff (Hanschen). Kudos to every single one of these excellent young performers.

Stephan understands the deep emotion inherent in this piece, and she keeps the show zooming along at just over two hours with intermission. She’s equally adept at small intimate moments as well as big expansive stage energy. Witness the work between Bruno and Sherwood where each look and hand motion has meaning…or the sublime scene between Kiss and Wolff where powerful themes of love, submission, dominance, and connection are blocked in subtle but spot on moves that last only moments but convey everything. Then revel in rebellion and pent up teen energy in the explosive “The Bitch of Living” and “Totally Fucked” And I dare anybody, literally dare anybody, to not well up during a particularly brilliantly staged funeral sequence late in the show — and not for the reasons you might think.

Oh, this is a good time to mention that you should absolutely not take your kids along to see this strictly adults-only fare and that’s not a casual warning.

As for the rest, blah blah blah blah blah blah.

Very Highly Recommended.

Spring Awakening continues through October 12th only.

Don’t Miss “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” at The Tipping Point (Review)

There’s a terrific production of the uneven 2013 Tony Winner for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang, on display at The Tipping Point theater in Northville — and it is an actors paradise — though it helps if the audience is in on their theater-gossip and references.

Originally opening at Lincoln Center Theater and transferring to Broadway at the Golden Theater, the show went on to generally win accolades in a not-very-strong 2013 theater season, including the “big” awards for best play. Christopher Durang’s rants and raves about contemporary culture and progress sound like something written by someone in their mid-80’s not their mid-60’s…none-the-less there is more good than bad in the show, and the best is on display in this production, the first (but not last) local presentation of the comedy. It lends itself to community theater and expect every single theater around the area to do it over the coming years as it gets its amateur release following a round of regional professional productions.

To make a long story short despite its lofty Chekhovian namesakes, its a pretty thin story: brother and sister Vanya and Sonia have been living in the house in which they grew up after tending to their aging and now dead parents in a state of inaction, ennui, and depression. Along comes a surprise visit by their successful actress sister Masha (who has been paying the mortgage) and her much younger beau Spike. Throw in a cleaning woman who fancies herself a modern-day Madame Arcati and a naive attractive neighborhood girl and hilarity ensues when Masha desides she needs to sell the house. And that is about it — but theater and actor references get thrown out as quickly as they can be mustered up and nobody is safe from the onslaught — not Lindsay Lohan, not Disney, and not a dozen others.

John Seibert plays David Hyde Pierce, um sorry, Vanya, and he’s terrific, especially in his big scene near the end of Act 2. Janet Maylie absolutely nails Sigourney Weaver, um sorry again, Masha. Terry Heck underplays the part of sister Sonia, and its more moving here than it was on Broadway, though it misses the over-the-top ethereal quality Kristine Nielsen brought to the original production. Sonja Marquis plays a terrific Cassandra, and her voodoo sequence steals the show. Brian Thibault plays mostly underwear-clad Spike, and Tara Tomcsik rounds out the cast in the underwritten role of Nina.

This is an all around exceptional cast of versatile actors, and they do very good work here in Tipping Point’s production. Well directed and beautifully paced by director James R. Kuhl the production moves swiftly from vignette to vignette, and the show comes in at 2:15 including the intermission. Monika Essen’s beautiful Bucks County house works well in the small space, and there is good costume work by Shelby Newport, and lighting by Alex Gay.

My personal thoughts about the show itself aside, this is a production you should not miss. It runs through October 19th at The Tipping Point Theatre, 361 East Cady Street, Northville, MI 248-347-0003 tippingpointtheatre.com

Hilarious “Spamalot” at The Encore (review)

When Spamalot opened on Broadway in 2005, it ushered in a new type of audience — Monty Python fans who were looking for a ready-made evening of laughs, and not so much musical theater. Based on the movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” they got their money’s worth, crowds kept coming, and the show ran for years, playing especially well to male audiences, a rarity in musical theater. Its now a favorite of the local theater circuits where its raking in the same kinds of bucks, from high school, college, community, and regional theaters. It was no surprise that, seen at the final preview last night, the audience was the largest I’ve seen at an Encore preview night — and while all seemed delighted, a few seemed befuddled as well…what had they just seen?…and that goes hand in hand with one’s enjoyment-level of farce, slapstick, and broad British humor. I loved the show. Granted, it is more enjoyable if you have seen the movie. Even more so if you have seen the movie 25 times and know every line. Get tickets, then watch the movie before you go.

In the capable hands of director Thalia Schramm, the show barrels along in just over two hours of non-stop hilarity. Not every joke lands, and some are of the head-slapper-groaner variety — but its all there for Monty Python fans: the killer rabbit, the cow, the “bring out ‘yer dead” sequence, the Knights who say Ni, fish-slapping, and other assorted oddities. And for those who have never seen the musical before (cleverly billed in NYC as “the musical for non-musical lovers” a take-off on the 42nd Street ads) you will find that it is far more musical than you might imagine

The 14-member Encore cast is tight and talented — Keith Kalinowski plays a fine King Arthur with Sebastian Gerstner a superb sidekick Patsy (and many other roles — his French Taunter is side-splitting hilarious). Joey DeBenedetto plays many roles with a sly wink and funny (in)ability to look different in every scene (that’s one of the things that made Monty Python’s sketches so clever — you always knew who was playing who)…and of course he gets the evening’s funniest line “its only a flesh wound”. Ryan Dooley likewise turns in a hysterical Sir Robin (among other roles), Brian Charles a very funny Lancelot and Ni Knight, and Jeffry Ogden makes for a outrageously (and intentionally unfeminine) Herbert — his performance channels Monty Python so well that you instantly realize why this show won Best Musical in 2005. Liz Jaffe has the evening’s most difficult vocal role as the Lady of the Lake, and she sings through her half-dozen songs with a strong voice and wide-variety of inflection, along with some great mugging and slapstick — at one point actually pounding the wall to get her point across. The entire ensemble (playing numerous parts each in this scaled-down version) is terrific: also including Michael Barbour, Piper Friend, Elizabeth Fritsch, Bryana Hall, Erika Jost, Josh Krivan, and Dave Roy. There is also a pre-recorded “Voice of God” by Dan Cooney’s friend from 9 to 5 the musical, Allison Janney.

Sets and lighting are by Dan Walker. The superb costumes are designed and coordinated by Sharon Urick. Matthew Brennan keeps everything moving appropriately with his choreography. R. Mackenzie Lewis does his usual fine job of musical direction, as well as pianist in the orchestra of 5, and they sound terrific — the blend is good between what you hear coming from the orchestra off-stage left, and the singers on stage. The men, in particular, sound great when the vocals are finally allowed to open up and provide some harmonizing.

Thalia Schramm knows that you can’t leave the audience thinking too much during this one — so its full-steam ahead from one groaner to another — the pace keeps everything moving along and will leave you either elated, or befuddled, but nothing less than completely entertained. Great job everyone!

Highly Recommended.

Spamalot opens officially tonight and continues through October 12th at the Encore Musical Theatre Company, 3126 Broad Street, Dexter, MI 734-268-6200 theencoretheatre.org

It Takes a Village…”Shrek” at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre

So — by now, you’ve probably heard about the musical Shrek…or you saw it on Broadway, or on tour…or on endless loop on your tv of the filmed Broadway production…and you know its a huge undertaking.

Leave it to director Wendy Sielaff to pull off the biggest set and costume show that AACT has seen in, well, probably two decades. Quite frankly, as a director at Civic myself, I know the budgets there for musicals are woefully lower than necessary to do a decent job with sets. Its why I choose shows that have minimal set requirements — make them look great, but be careful of that minuscule budget — Not so with Shrek.

First, the show has some great actors in Jeff Steinhauer as the ogre himself; Katrina Linden as love interest Fiona; Arjun Nagpal as Donkey; Nick Rapson as Lord Farquaad; and Linzi Joy Bokor as the voice and embodiment of Dragon…There are also some terrific supporting players (though the cast as a whole skews a bit too far to the very young). There is also a terrific 9-piece orchestra under the direction of Brian Rose who also served as Musical Director for the show — its great.

And there is your first challenge — Shrek is a show that skews toward younger actors…what do you do when most of the people that audition are in their teens?…Wendy has chosen to overcome this casting challenge by casting actors of similar ages into similar parts — which makes for lots of fun things that they get to do, while allowing the show to barrel ahead…so its okay if your guards are all in their teens — its consistent and its funny and it works — and those actors get to do some funny things! Next, she casts intact families, making this a family friendly community theater piece not only from the audience but also on stage — witness the Bachman family — all 6 of them in the show…but there are also the Ziegler’s and the Clarks, etc…

Second, the set; in this case, it would have been impossible to build and create this massive set by Civic alone — trust me, I’ve been there…here, the set was originally used in a high school production that Wendy directed last winter — and it works here at AACT. Mike and Wendy Sielaff designed a easily movable set, and it fills (sometimes over-fills) the Lydia Mendelssohn stage well.

Third, the costumes; borrowed, built, blended; sewn; re-sewn — creative and fun, coordinated by Nan Wirth who even got her husband in on the action. Nikki Skrobot designed the clever makeup, Hanna Mauch the hair, Bob Brite and Abbie Gentry the often hilarious properties.

Fourth — to make it all run you need dozens of people behind the scenes — in this case, make that family and friends of cast members, as well as students from Lincoln High School — quite frankly, the show wouldn’t have been possible without this invisible army. Sound Designer Bob Skon does an admirable job keeping mic cues going — Stage Manager Keshia Daisy Oliver has her work cut out for her. Choreographer Kelsey Rose keeps everyone moving nicely on stage. Brad Pritts designed the lighting. Alen Fyfe assistant directed.

Does it all work perfectly — well, in a word no. But I’m not sure it matters — its a fun community theater show, with an emphasis on the village of creative folks necessary to make this type of thing work — and in the end, its a happy affair — the audience clearly loved it, warts and all, and you will have fun time yourself. I was thoroughly entertained, and what’s more, took tremendous pleasure in seeing all these energetic folks work together to create a fun show to entertain you and I…and are clearly having fun themselves. I’m proud of everyone involved, and its clear the show has sparked a love of theater for many of the wee-ones involved in the show (as well as their brothers and sisters in the audience) and what could be better than that?

Shrek runs at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre through Sept 14th — tickets at a2ct.org or 734-971-0605, or at the door.

Why the iPhone 6 will be a game changer

So, this week Apple will announce their new iPhone 6 and iOS 8 software. They’ll also announce an iWatch, and maybe some other odds and ends — but the world’s focus is on the new iPhone 6 — and anticipation is so great that Apple has ordered over 70 million units for shipment this fall (the biggest ever) and FedEx has cancelled other deliveries from China to focus on Apple for the next couple of months (the biggest launch in history).

Its the perfect storm for Apple, and will be a Samsung killer in the United States. There will always be Android fan boys, and Apple fan boys, and very rarely do the two meet. But the statistics don’t lie:

-The large majority of iPhone owners are due an upgrade, and they will…

-The vast majority of iPhone users who switched to Android phones did so for the larger screen, and in poll after poll indicate they will come back to Apple and abandon their Androids once they have larger screens available…

-Apple finally has found a way to capture the over-40 market — with its vision friendly larger screens, you can bet those Android phones will stagnate on the shelf at phone stores…just anecdotally, I haven’t heard a single college kid in Ann Arbor complain that the iPhone 5 is too small…while almost every single one of my over-40 (and many of us over-50) folks have complained about the small size for years. Internationally, 51% of the asian market is anticipating buying the larger 5.5″ screen, while abut 37% of the US market is leaning toward the larger of the two screens.

-iOS 8 will finally incorporate all those things that Samsung has had bragging rights to — widgets, etc — and will do them better, faster, and more reliably…

Current scuttlebutt has it that the iPhone 6 4.7 inch will be released on or about the 19th of September, while the iPhone 6 5.5 inch (plus) model will release a while down the road (though there is some indication it might also release on the 19th in limited quanitites). Expect the vast majority of under-40’s to upgrade to the iPhone 4.7 while the vast majority of over-40’s change to the iPhone 5.5. Its a sheer vision thing.

Speaking of the Vision Thing…there is another game changer afoot — expect iPad sales to stagnate, especially for the iPad Mini, as the 5.5″ iPhone screen arrives — finally a size comfortable enough to read a book, watch a video comfortably, look at photos at almost real-size (for those of us who grew up with 4×6 photos as “real size”), and enough real estate to take notes reasonably — I expect iPad sales will decrease exponentially as users realize that they no longer need them. But if you are going to cut into the market, you might as well make it your own.

Finally — the other complaint I’ve heard about the larger size is that “they don’t fit in a pocket” — well they sure do — at least for the vast majority of users who don’t wear skinny jeans. The iPhone 5.5 will be small enough to fit easily into a purse or men’s pants pocket. For all intents and purposes, I’ve been carrying around all my phones since the old mid-naughts HTC Tilts and Blackberries in my cargo pants pocket, and its never been an issue. In fact, Blackberries were always larger than their iPhone equivalents.

Apple knows that it currently holds all the cards in its hands. This weeks remarkably clumsy Samsung announcement for a variety of new phones and circumspect tech gear proved that much. How many people actually remember what they announced last week, and when its being released?…(the Note 4, a new watch, and some odd virtual reality helmet)…but there won’t be a single person in America, and most of the world for that matter, who won’t know what Apple announces this Tuesday afternoon — and much of that will covert to real sales a week later.

Personally, having become acclimated to the Samsung Galaxy 4 and now the Galaxy 5 with its 5.1 inch screen, (and falling firmly into that target market of Apple’s who switched to Android to get the larger screen for our aging eyes), I will be up at the crack of 2 or 3 am whatever morning they announce online sales will begin for the iPhone 5.5″ — and I know many others will be doing the same thing — I can’t imagine switching back to a tinier screen, but I can’t wait to get rid of my quirky and unreliable Samsung phone.

For the record, plenty of websites have already shown size comparisons…the iPhone 4.7″ is marginally larger than the current 4″ iPhone 5/5S, but only marginally so…including its larger bezel and frame it will be about the size of the current Galaxy S5 but with a smaller screen…the iPhone 5.5″ model will be about the size of the current Galaxy Note 3 (though thinner and taller).

No matter what people’s personal thoughts are on the affair, Apple will have the happiest Christmas of any corporation in America, and Samsung will find that despite some of its advances over the past couple years, they are again looking up at Apple as its sales set records internationally.

Sweet Charity at Croswell is a solid end to a great season (review)

Sweet Charity, long absent from the local boards, marks a solid end to a really great season at the Croswell Opera House this summer. Anchored by Libby Bruno’s superb Charity Valentine in the lead, its an entertaining (if long) musical comedy, with an emphasis on the comedy.

The musical is somewhat unusual in form as it gives as much weight to book scenes in between songs as it does to the music itself. Its a strongly character-driven piece, and those characters are broadly drawn and fun — though it does lead to a long show: the three hour length is the same as that for Les Miserables in the modern theater canon — though it was par for the course in the mid-60’s.

Bruno is a true triple-threat…singing and dancing through the fun and tuneful numbers, but also bringing warmth and heart to her acting scenes (of which there are many) in the Neil Simon script. “If They Could See Me Now” and “I’m a Brass Band” are particular standouts.

The cast is very strong from top to bottom, with strong direction from Erica Wyman and terrific choreography by Stephanie Stephan. “The Rhythm of Life” number is a strong example of that — combining dance steps with character work, its a delight to the eyes and the ears. Brian Rose has done a very good job with musical direction, and conducts the full orchestra — and how fun it is to hear these old 60’s Broadway standards come to life in live performance of this rarely produced musical.

David Blackburn is hilariously entertaining as Oscar, Charity’s maybe boyfriend. Paul Manger turns in three funny performances as three separate characters. The entire ensemble is strong, and they keep the energy flowing through the many ensemble dance numbers. There is unique use of theater space, including a rail that moves up and down as needed from the front of the apron. Michael Lackey’s many many many set pieces move about with a calm pace that never slows the show, while making you ask where all that stuff fits in the tiny wings of the Croswell.

But most of all, this is a showcase for Bruno — and you should see her now.

Sweet Charity continues at the Croswell Opera House through August 24th.

10 Reasons you need to get to the Michigan Shakespeare Festival this summer

With only a couple weekends left, it has come to my attention that some of you have yet to get out to the Michigan Shakespeare Festival this summer…so what are you waiting for? Here are the top 10 reasons you should get out there now, before its over for another season….

1. Shawn Pfautsch in Hamlet

2. Shawn Pfautsch in Hamlet

3. Shawn Pfautsch in Hamlet

4. The superb sparring partners in The Importance of Being Earnest — Joe Lehman and David Blixt are both hilarious, as are Lydia Hiller and Rachel Hull who exude their own merry camaraderie

5. Cymbeline — the rarely produced dramedy is like finding a twenty dollar bill in your pants pocket — you’ve probably never seen it before, and you might not see it again anytime soon…so see it now because it is a magical colorful production.

6. The strong direction of Janice Blixt and Robert Kauzlaric. These folks know what they are doing, and you’ll appreciate the very well edited and clearly focused productions.

7. Its inside!! I can’t believe people still think the Michigan Shakespeare Festival is outside — its not. And its been indoors at Jackson College (nee Jackson Community College) for the past decade…in sumptuous air conditioned bug-free splendor…and next summer it adds three weeks in Canton! So if you are thinking that an evening at the MSF means sitting in a bug-filled Ella Sharp park, then you have waited far too long to go see a show there.

8. MSF is LOA/LORT professional theater — and the quality is superb…and they have Wednesday matinees!!!

9. To count the number of cucumber sandwiches, muffins, and breads that David Blixt consumes over the course of Earnest…and to watch Joe Lehman laugh at him because he doesn’t have to.

10. Because it rivals the Stratford Festival in quality and variety and every season gets stronger and stronger — and its right here in your backyard. I’ve been attending shows at MSF for almost twenty years, and they get better and better each season — they’ve long surpassed my minimal expectations and quite frequently surpass my most stringent expectations.

Presented in Repertoire, you still have the chance to catch:

Saturday Aug 9 – 2:00 Hamlet — 7:30 The Importance of Being Earnest

Sunday Aug 10 – 2:00 Hamlet

Wednesday Aug 13 – 2:00 Hamlet

Thursday Aug 14 – 7:30 Cymbeline

Friday Aug 15 – 7:30 The Importance of Being Earnest (closing)

Saturday Aug 16 – 2:00 Cymbeline (closing) and 7:30 Hamlet

Sunday Aug 17 – 2:00 Hamlet (closing)

Get tickets at http://www.michiganshakespearefestival.com

Better Not Say You are Bored (SE Michigan August edition 2014)

So — I don’t want to hear anyone say they are bored this august, what with all the entertainment available — one of the richest months of August I can remember…

First, at the movies, get out and go see GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY…its the best thing since, well, ever…I can not recall the last time I saw a movie four times in one weekend — it creates one of the most complete worlds in recent filmdom, with the best developed characters since Star Wars. Go see it, and splurge, see it on the biggest, loudest 3-D screen you can find, preferably in IMAX.

Second, either at the handful of theaters still showing it, or Video on Demand, or iTunes or Google Play, watch SNOWPIERCER. You will either love it, or hate it, but you cant walk away from it without thinking about the world it creates on its caste-system train screaming through the frozen wasteland carrying the earth’s last precious cargo of humans. Don’t think too much about it, its not really about the science, but a scathing indictment of the Korean caste system, tree-huggers, and the green-movement alike. Its the most political movie of the year, and its a doozy.

Then there is the bountiful musical theater currently available to you….CAROUSEL is running at the Encore Musical Theatre Company, and FOREVER PLAID at the Dio. SWEET CHARITY runs for two weeks at the Croswell Opera House, and THE BIG BANG has just opened at the Williamston Theatre.

The big draw for the next two weeks continues to be the Michigan Shakespeare Festival in Jackson — presenting three superb productions in repertoire, don’t miss the exceptional Shawn Plautsch in the excellent HAMLET…or the comedy and witt of Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST…or the magical and hilarious comedy/drama of the very rarely produced CYMBELINE. You can’t go wrong with any of the three (but if you can only see one, don’t miss this Hamlet). There’s also a different production of it at Starr Jaycee Park in Royal Oak.

Also on local stages, there are the well-reviewed ERNIE in downtown Detroit, and THE LAST ROMANCE at the Purple Rose.

A bit further afield, the musical [TITLE OF SHOW] is running at Farmers Alley in Kalamazoo, and HAIR and HELLO DOLLY are playing at the Barn Theatre in Augusta.

In the non-professional realm, you can pick up Brass Tack’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, Southfield Community Players THE CEMETERY CLUB, Peppermint Creek’s COCK, Over The Ledge’s MARRIED ALIVE.

On TV, we’re having one of the best summers in recent memory — AMERICA’S GOT TALENT presents its finals live from Radio City Music Hall…the excellent THE STRAIN is running over on FX…despite the dumb name, AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR features some of the best athletes your going to see this summer…and WELCOME TO SWEDEN is a charming sitcom (already renewed for next season) for a warm summer night. In other good news, the NBC series UNDATEABLE was burned off during July — and it got renewed! Catch it now on demand, or iTunes and/or other streaming media and catch up on the funniest comedy seen in a sitcom in a very long time. If all else fails, there are the reruns of THE MIDDLE on ABC Wednesday nights.

And last but not least, not sure how anyone could not be entertained by a night out at Comerica Park watching our DETROIT TIGERS make their pennant run — see them now for a fraction of the cost those playoff tickets will cost starting in late September…

It’s baa-aack…Forever Plaid at the Dio (Review 2014)…and its delicious

Last summer, The Dio made a big opening splash with its production of Forever Plaid…well, its back this summer in a spiffed-up production featuring those lovable dead guys, The Plaids…and its as delicious as ever.

Returning from last summer are Steve DeBruyne (Frankie a.k.a. Francis) and Thomas Mate (Smudge a.k.a. Smudge). Joining them are Cody Musteffe (Sparky) and Jared Schneider (Jinx). Since most of the production is intact from last summer, you can read that review here:

https://a2view.com/2013/07/13/forever-plaid-gets-dio-theater-off-to-a-terrific-start-in-new-home-

This year’s version features a particularly tight harmony quartet, and their balance is superb. DeBruyne returns to top form, and Mate repeats his pitch-perfect performance from last summer. Musteffe is a strong performer, and Schneider has a nice surprise in store for you a bit down the road in the show.

Costumes are spiced-up since last summer (Norma Polk) and there is some new lighting – including a nice touch at the finale that will leave you smiling (Matthew Tomich). Director Steve Debruyne and Choreographer Cara Manor have added a few additional humorous touches since we last saw these Plaids, and some had me outright howling with laughter.

But rest assured — the oversized toilet plungers are still there, as are Topo Gigio and those straw hats.

Oh, and Chef Jarod’s chicken and Waldorf Salad are to die for — as are his sugar-butter cookies for dessert. Don’t forget to tip your waiter.

FOREVER PLAID continues at the Dio, 135 E Min St, Pinckney, MI through September 7th. Tickets at 517-672-6009 or online at http://www.diotheatre.com

Very Highly Recommended.

Hamlet – Michigan Shakespeare Festival – Shawn Pfautsch

I just got home from this afternoon’s performance of Hamlet, in repertoire at the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. While I don’t usually review non-musicals, I have to give two shout outs…

First, this is an excellent production under the guidance and direction of MSF Artistic Director Janice Blixt. Set in modern era clothing, it resounds as powerfully as it most likely did 420 years ago. Her direction is swift, perfectly focused, and edits are judicial and appropriate. Its a tight, gorgeous production, with beautiful lighting and scenic design, and a small, expertly crafted acting ensemble.

Second, Chicago-area actor Shawn Pfautsch turns in an amazing performance as the Dane…at first reserved and almost lifeless, he quickly takes on the role with an energy and performance force that you have to see. By Act two, he’s barefoot and galavanting around the stage faking his mental deterioration; while instantly being able to transform to composed, plotting, and revengeful. By Act V, he’s a force to behold. Combine his natural abilities with Blixt’s sure directorial hand, and this is a fine, fine Hamlet indeed.

I’m looking forward to the Festival’s other two offerings this summer — The Importance of Being Earnest, and the little-performed Cymbeline — but Hamlet is clearly this season’s centerpiece — and its a remarkable work of art.