The SENTINEL and the POST: Back In the Game?

In last week's Mondays are Dark, we complained that the stage section of the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel had become a pathetic joke. Out of the six stories available, four of them were hopelessly out of date, the Wondrettes review was a re-print from the Miami Herald, leaving Rod Hagwood's stiltingly-written account of Flora, the Red Menace as the only topical theatre article from the Sun-Sentinel on their website.

Here's the graphic from the article:

Well, first they purged most of the old articles, but we didn't get around to writing about it. Then, miraculously, new articles and reviews started appearing, and none of them were from Hagwood! In fact, they were written by someone who knows more than a little about theatre, Bill Hirschman.

And this is what today's Culture page looks like:

Still a couple of old articles taking up space - guess they think those stanky stale articles have merit because they feature celebrities - but five of seven articles are reviews for shows that are still playing, and three of those reviews were written in the last week.

So, the good news: the Sun-Sentinel has cleaned up its culture page, and is paying a professional theatre reviewer for well-written reviews. The bad news: weell, those reviews show obvious signs of butchery. Whoever is editing is wielding a cleaver and leaving gaping holes in the reviews. It's heavy-handed, and obvious to the Theatre Scene that the Sun Sentinel still needs to hire a decent editor or two.

But at least it's Bill Hirschman, and we're getting stories at a pace commensurate with production.

We'd move on to the Palm Beach Post, but they, too, have suddenly started producing theatre stories again: for the first time in over a year, Hap Erstein's byline is appearing over theatre reviews and stories at the Post. Five articles in the last week, which is the most theatre coverage seen at the Post in that span since he left.

Be sure to visit the sites, and to leave positive comments about the improvements.

Palm Beach DramaWorks: A Doll's House (4 reviews)

Palm Beach DramaWorks opened its production of A Doll's House on October 16, 2009.

Nora, a delightful spirit, is much less free than she first appears. She valiantly tries to please her husband but gets caught in the web of social expectations and domestic condemnation, and now her self-respect demands further action.

William Hayes directed a cast that included Margery Lowe, Michale St.Pierre, Nanique Gheridian, Gregg Wiener, Colin Lane, Michelle Botindari, and Beverly Blanchette.

Bill Hirschman, in what has been a productive week, reviews for the Sun Sentinel:

Margery Lowe's performance as Nora in Palm Beach Dramaworks' A Doll's House will split audiences.

It's not Lowe's fault; that's the part. She bravely and skillfully inhabits Henrik Ibsen's flawed heroine, who learns that her sheltered life is a sham she cannot live with. When imminent scandal exposes her husband's gentle tyranny, she finally walks out on him and her children to find herself.

...When she walks out, it's not as some newly-minted feminist who has found the strength to declare her independence, but as a frightened human being forced to own her integrity...

William Hayes' direction is smooth, insightful and never lets the lengthy play lag.

Brandon K. Thorp reviewed for the Broward/Palm Beach New Times; and as usual, he's not taking the middle ground:

There is a thick film of half-digested plaster and pressboard coating the streets of downtown West Palm Beach this week. It is all that remains of the once-proud scenery that actress Margery Lowe, in a frenzy of dramatic overachievement, chewed and swallowed and regurgitated and chewed again, as though it were an especially succulent cud, at the opening night of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House.

OK, I think he didn't...oh, wait, he's not done yet:

The actors dutifully act, and I suspect that, in rehearsal, director Bill Hayes at least tried his hand at directing.

Not enough... to keep petite little Margery Lowe from making Henrik Ibsen her bitch...

All-righty then, I think we have quite enough from Brandon on Margery. In fact, Brandon goes off on Margery in more or less the same manner he accuses her of doing with her performance. It's his opinion. Fair enough. Not arguing it. But enough.

Brandon did like the script, the sound design, the scenery, and the costumes. And some of the other performances, as well:

...Gheridian and Weiner turn in the best performances of the night: understated, sincere, and lovely.

Jan Sjostrom reviewed for the Palm Beach Daily News:

Margery Lowe's radiant Nora is like the high sustained vibrato note of a violin rising above the orchestra of a strong supporting cast. But the surprise of the production is Michael St. Pierre's shattering accompaniment as Torvald.

Thanks to producing artistic director William Hayes' insightful direction and St. Pierre's performance we see not only Torvald's hypocrisy and self-centered peevishness but glimpse the possibility of something better in him.

The pacing of the show is a little flawed. Nora's naked fear is evident so early on that it's difficult to believe that even Torvald wouldn't become suspicious. More restraint would make her unraveling more powerful.

The rest of the production rises to the considerable challenge of Ibsen's multilayered masterpiece.

Hap Erstein reviewed for Palm Beach ArtsPaper:

...sometimes there is a very good reason why a classic has fallen into neglect. A Doll’s House may have outlived its purpose -- to illustrate one woman’s no-longer-shocking march towards liberation.

As Nora... (Margery Lowe) comes on impressively strong in the final act, turning on Torvald for treating her like a plaything and trying to suffocate her spirit.

But for the sake of contrast, Lowe miscalculates, making the pre-realization Nora into a child-woman, leaning heavily on the girlish giggles, sing-song cadences and unsubtle wind-up doll movements. One would have to be terminally symbolism-challenged not to get the point within minutes of the play’s start.

Ibsen does not help matters by having Nora’s “Click!” moment -- as Gloria Steinem would put it -- during intermission. It is not that Nora’s character has a huge contrasting arc, but rather it is an on-off switch.

Michael St. Pierre (Torvald) is aptly stolid as the very model of a major male chauvinist. Gregg Weiner comes off as constricted by the role of extortionist Krogstad, though he manages to humanize the character in a second act scene with Nora’s timid childhood chum, Mrs. Linde (Nanique Gheridian).

If, as is likely, you are way out ahead of the story line, you can always spend your time appreciating scenic designer Michael Amico’s austere living room set or Brian O’Keefe’s meticulous costumes, especially Nora’s wardrobe.

The Palm Beach DramaWorks production of A Doll's House runs through November 29, 2009.

The Scene for October 30, 2009

This is the weekend where everyone treats all the world as a stage; Halloween. At least, a lot more people will be wearing costumes and makeup. So go trick or treating; and then go see a show.

---

opening:

Area Stage has a Halloween offering: Weird Tales and Other Amazing Stories. It plays through Saturday, October 31 in Coral Gables. Read what The Drama Queen had to say about it.

---

still playing:

Naked Women Fully Clothed at the Women's Theatre Project runs through November 15.

Reasons to be Pretty at GableStage runs through November 22.

Two Jews Walk Into A War... at Florida Stage, through Nov 29.

In Development plays New Theatre through Nov 8.

Flora the Red Menace at Rising Action Theatre runs through Nov 22.

Bubbling Brown Sugar at the Broward Stage Door Theatre runs through Nov 22.

Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House at Palm Beach DramaWorks plays through Nov 29.

Laffing Matterz runs Thursday-Sunday at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, through June.

---

passing through...

The Color Purple at Arsht Center for the Performing Arts plays through Nov 1.

---

last chance to see...

The Marvelous Wonderettes at Actors' Playhouse closes Sunday, Nov 1.

---

for kids

Room on the Broom comes to the Broward Center, Saturday only.

Actors' Playhouse presents a musical version of Alice in Wonderland, starting this Saturday, and running through Nov 13.

Showtime Dance & Performing Arts Theatre presents High School Musical 2, through November 14.

Actors' Playhouse: The Marvelous Wondrettes (2 reviews)

Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theater kicked off its 2009-2010 season with The Marvelous Wondrettes, which opened October 3rd, 2009.

Featuring favorite songs from the ‘50s and ‘60s, The Marvelous Wonderettes takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes – Betty Jen, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts and voices to match!

David Arisco directs a cast that includes Amy Miller Brennan, Tiana Checchia, Julie Kleiner, and Lisa Manuli. Musical direction by Dave Nagy, sets by Sean McClelland, lighting by Patrick Tennant, and costumes by Ellis Tillman.

The Sun-Sentinel has declined to review this production.*

John LaRiviere just slips in his review under the wire; we won't mention them if they don't come out while the play is still playing. He wrote for TalkinBroadway.com:

The production has solid production values with great choreography and set, and wonderful costuming and wigs. From start to finish, The Marvelous Wonderettes is well sung enjoyable entertainment for the whole family.

We waited a month for that? Oh, he does go on about the songs, and the script, but this is all he says about this production. At least he came out and reviewed it, unlike a lot of other reviewers.

Howard Cohen reviewed for the Miami Herald:

The Marvelous Wonderettes couldn't have found a better home than Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theater.

...director David Arisco knows his audience and courts it well with this rendition of writer Roger Bean's Off Broadway New York hit... Actors' Playhouse earns boasting rights as the first independent regional production of the musical.

...the Wonderettes ... are played with considerable charm by Carbonell-nominated Actors' Playhouse vets Amy Miller Brennan (Cindy Lou Huffington), Tiana Checchia (Suzy Simpson), Julie Kleiner (Betty Jean Reynolds) and Lisa Manuli (Missy Miller).

These talented women work overtime to push Wonderettes toward wonderful because, truth be told, the plot is as fizzy as a root beer float and the first act starts out as little more than a '50s revue of rather corny pop tunes.

As the actresses inhabit their characters' personality quirks, the song choices in this jukebox musical suddenly seem ingenious. Seldom has You Don't Own Me felt quite so momentous. These oldies wouldn't be anything more than mem'ries of scratchy old 45s were it not for the skill of the four leads who elevate this bauble skyward

The Marvelous Wonderettes is quaint but so lovingly crafted -- from the direction to the detailed set design to the performances -- only a bully would leave the theater in a bad mood.

The Marvelous Wondrettes plays at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theater through November 1, 2009.

ADMIN: New Daily Record UPDATED

I don't know why it happened, but yesterday our daily readership tripled.

As you can see, the average through the week is about 200. But yesterday, 675 people read the Theatre Scene, and we're projected to have logged 400 daily readers by midnight tonight.*

*UPDATE: We logged 417 readers by Midnight.

I can't link it it to any one particular story, although 200 people have read the November 2008 archive. Huh. Last November, I mention that the scene averaged a 100 readers a day; how things have changed!

I do see that we've been getting a lot of traffic from StumbleUpon.com.

Our numbers have been increasing steadily since inception, but this is the biggest one-day leap since we broke the 26th Street Theatre scandal. Whatever the reason, I hope that you enjoy what you find, and that you find something useful.

Thank you for reading!

Arsht Center: The Color Purple (2 reviews)

The Broadway Across America Tour of The Color Purple opened its very limited run at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on October 27, 2009.

...a soul-stirring musical based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the Oscar-nominated film by Steven Spielberg. It is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who triumphs over tremendous odds to find joy in life, and her true inner beauty.

Gary Griffin directed a cast that includes Kenita R. Miller, LaToya London, Angela Robinson, Rufus Bonds JR., Stu James, Felicia P. Fields, Kimberly Ann Harris, Tiffany Daniels, Virginia Ann Woodruff, Lynette Dupree, Virginia Ann Woodruff, Adam Wade, Yoland Wyns, Kevin Boseman, Shelby Braxton-Brooks, Darius Crenshaw, David Aron Damane, Lesly Terrel Donald, Doug Eskew, Andre Garner, Latrisa A. Harper, Phyre Hawkins, Tim Hunter, Dana Marie Ingraham, Brandi Chavonne Massey, Jeremy McQueen, Reva Rice, Drew j. Shuler, J.D. Aubrey Smith, Kristopher Thompson-Bolden, Dawn Marie Watson, Hollie E. Wright, and Horace V. Rogers.

Christine Dolen reviewed for the Miami Herald:

Its fleeting run will end on Sunday, but as the cheering crowd affirmed at Tuesday's opening, the musical treatment of one woman's harrowing story is abundantly worth the wait.

In transforming Walker's novel into theater, script writer Marsha Norman and composer-lyricists Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray haven't toned down or sanitized Celie's trials.

Under Gary Griffin's direction, the story absolutely works as theater...

...Nettie (the radiant ex-American Idol finalist, La Toya London, who really can act).

Russell, Willis and Bray have crafted a score that ranges from the rousing double-entendre number Push Da Button (delivered with knockout assurance by the irresistible Angela Robinson as sultry singer Shug Avery) to the praise-filled church song Mysterious Ways to Celie's life-affirming final solo, I'm Here. Their collection of musical theater songs serves the story while artfully incorporating the myriad musical styles that inspired them. Choreographer Donald Byrd keeps the cast jumping from moved-by-the-spirit church dancing to down-and-dirty juke joint revelry.

Miller anchors the cast as Celie... Felicia P. Fields... has burnished the role to a brilliant amalgam of comedy, big-gal sexiness and heartbreak. Though the show's men -- Bonds' Mister, Rogers' Pa, Adam Wade's Ol' Mister, even Stu James' generally sweet Harpo -- too often spell trouble in the woman-centric world of The Color Purple, all are persuasively played.

The Color Purple is doing a booming business at the Arsht, so much so that the run is nearly sold out. But the good news is that the show is coming back to South Florida in April for a two-week run at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. See it now or see it then, but know that this fine production is worth seeing.

Beau Higgins reviewed for BroadwayWorld.com:

That was not a late in the season hurricane that hit the Arsht Center last night. It was the opening of the musical version of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. I need not tell you that the show is a roof raiser. About two minutes into the show the audience started raising the roof and they never let go, drive by and you will likely notice the structural difference.

This show is filled with a delightful chorus of townspeople, who are grand with their voices and the exciting choreography provided by Donald Byrd. We must take a moment to mention the splendid church ladies who weave in and out of musical numbers and are welcome any time they appear on stage. Reminiscent of the Mayor's Wife and her friends in The Music Man, hats off to Kimberly Ann Harris, Virginia Ann Woodruff, and Lynette DuPree for their lovely performances.

Kenita R. Miller is a grand Celie. She hasn't a false moment in her performance and her singing is divine.

The show is stolen by Felicia P. Fields, who's Sofia, once seen, will never be forgotten.

The Color Purple runs through Sunday at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. But if you miss it, the good news is that it returns to South Florida to play at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts April 6 through April 18, 2010.

The Color Purple In The News

The musical of The Color Purple opened at the Arsht Center on Tuesday - we haven't seen reviews yet, but a lot of promotional stories are out.

We included this Miami Herald story in Mondays are Dark. It tells the story of how the book that became a huge success as a movie made the transition to stage musical. It also features video and audio clips.

MiamiArtzine.com published an interview with LaToya London, who plays Nettlie.

The Lead interviews Rufus Bonds, Jr., who plays "Mister" Albert.

The Color Purple runs this week only at the Arsht Center, closing November 1st.

Two-For-One Theater Tickets - UPDATED

Rising Action Theatre in Oakland Park is offering two-for-one on ticket prices for specific performances of Flora The Red Menace.

UPDATE:


Actors' Playhouse is also offering two-for-one tickets to select performance of The Marvelous Wondrettes.

But that's not all: you can win two free tickets to the national tour of Legally Blonde, opening at the Broward Center next month.

A "Marvelous" Visit

BroadwayWorld.com reports that the Actors' Playhouse production of The Marvellous Wondrettes were visited by one of the show's creators, Roger Bean.

It's a landmark visit: the production recently celebrated a year of performances Off-Broadway in New York, and this South Florida production of Wondrettes is the first one Bean didn't direct himself.

No word on what he thought of it, but there are pictures of him with the cast, director, and producers, and he's smiling.

The show runs for one more week at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables.

Mondays are Dark

Tonight is the closing party for this year's South Florida Theatre Festival. Join the fun at Revolution Live in downtown Fort Lauderdale, from 7:30pm to 11:30pm. Free to SouthFloridaTheatre.com (Theatre League) members, it's $20 at the door for everyone else. And don't forget AisleSay on wrpb iRadio at 2pm.

A Masterful Alternative
The Palm Beach Daily News discusses an alternative to the party in Fort Lauderdale: the Master Playwright Series at Palm Beach DramaWorks. Monday and Tuesday start with an overview of Tennessee Williams. It's a lot more than a play reading.

Purple Reign
The Miami Herald has a story about The Color Purple, holding court at the Arsht Center, but only for a week. Don't miss it!

The Hubbub on the Bubblin'
It wasn't a simple matter to bring back Bubbling Brown Sugar, the 1976 Broadway hit, according to BroadwayWorld.com:

"Most of the material had been lost. The only piece of music still in existence was an incomplete piano conductor score." - Dan Kelley

Ground Up for Halloween
The Drama Queen tells us that Ground Up and Rising has a treat for Halloween; it's presenting The Pillowman at ArtSouth. A week later, the bring it up to Miami Beach.

She wasn't Babs.
BroadwayWorld.com reports that the Maltz Jupiter Theatre will be presenting Fanny Brice: The Real Funny Girl. But this isn't the fluff piece that made Streisand a star.

New Faces in the Neighborhood
I was all set to do a piece on all the new theatre companies opening in South Florida, only to discover that Conundrum Stages has just done exactly that.

We though the Post was "post-Hap"
Hap Erstein has a slew of articles up on the Palm Beach Post in the last week. Not sure what's going on with that. Did the Post suddenly realize how empty their paper has been? Did someone get sick (or fired?) Enquiring minds want to know. Besides the review of Love is Love, there's an outlook piece that mentions Two Jews and the DramaWorks playreadings and the South Florida Theatre Fetival closing party, a review of A Doll's House (his second- he also reviewed for the ArtsPaper), and an article summarizing his Post reviews of A Doll's House and Love is Love. It's a welcome change for the Post. We hope it sticks.

Oh, so NOW they have an Opinion
The Sun Sentinel's coverage of theatre has become virtually non-existent; lacking the interest to even send out a qualified theatre critic, their Stage section consists mostly of stale, out-of-date-stories. Who still wants to read a review from a show that closed over a month ago?

So it seems to the Theatre Scene that it takes no small amount of gall for Sun Sentinel columnist Stephen Goldstein to complain that the Broward Center for the Performing Arts is run like a 21st Century performing arts center instead of a 19th Century opera house.

...imagine my shock and disbelief when I saw people bringing food and drinks into its main theatre. I couldn't believe my eyes.

And it's not just concessions that annoy this proper Victorian:

I won't get into a dress code at The Broward Center. That would take a whole column by itself and would really be pushing it. Again, I couldn't believe how people went out in public, let alone to a night at the theatre.

Perhaps this old codger saw - GASP! - a lady's ankle! Horrors!

Of course, this column is about more than a glass of wine here, a hot dog there: It's really about the gradual loss of standards of conduct when people go into public places — and about organizations that don't have the backbone to enforce proper behavior.

Stevie, the proper conduct of a major metropolitan newspaper is to send out a qualified reviewer to critique all the big shows coming through, not to send some hopelessly ancient fogie to whine because everyone around him is having a great time. When you can get your own house in order, then we'll give a damn about your opinions on how local theatres run theirs. And in the meantime, please be quiet while I enjoy my fresh-baked cookie and glass of merlot in my orchestra seat for Legally Blonde. Why? Because they won't let me do that during the Opera or Ballet, that's why.

Rebirth

The space formerly known as Sol Theatre Company is the new home of David R. Gordon's Empire Stage. Their first production will be Ronnie Larsen's Making Porn, scheduled to open January 13, 2010.

.

We'll keep you updated on the company's progress. They don't have a website up yet, but when they do, it will be added to the list of theatres in our sidebar.

.

Welcome to the South Florida Theatre Scene!

Tanguera "After-Party"

Broward Center has started keeping the bars open in the Peck Courtyard following weekend evening performances, and adding live entertainement

This week, it's a small tango combo, to tie into Tanguera: the Tango Musical.

A nice crowd packed the Courtyard on Friday night:

And while it looks crowded in this shot - and it was - couples still found room to dance some Tango of their own:

No, really, more than one couple:

You still have two more nights of after-party. And tickets are still available at BrowardCenter.org

.

Have photos of your theatre's after-party? Send us a link: admin AT southfloridatheatrescene DOT com.

No, they are not Trolls.

Ken Kay of the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre announces a new theatre company:

Announcing the formation of The Burt Reynolds' Under-the-Bridge Players!

Season and details to follow.

No directions needed because -- Everyone yell! -- "We're under the bridge!"

The Scene for October 23, 2009

This is the final week for the South Florida Theatre Festival; and it shows no signs of slowing down. It winds up with a party on Monday the 26th, with the presentation of the Silver Palm Awards at Club Revolution in Fort Lauderdale.

---

opening:

Naked Women Fully Clothed opens at the Women's Theatre Project on October 22, and runs through November 15.

Reasons to be Pretty opens Saturday at GableStage, and runs through November 22. Read about it in the Miami Herald.

Two Jews Walk Into A War... at Florida Stage, through Nov 29. Read about it in the Shiny Sheet.

---

still playing:

In Development plays New Theatre through Nov 8.

The Marvelous Wonderettes opens Friday night at Actors' Playhouse, and plays through Nov 1.

Flora the Red Menace at Rising Action Theatre runs through Nov 22.

Bubbling Brown Sugar at the Broward Stage Door Theatre runs through Nov 22.

Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House at Palm Beach DramaWorks plays through Nov 29.

Laffing Matterz is back with an all new show, in an all new location. It runs Thursday-Sunday at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, through June.

---

passing through...

Tanguera, the Tango Musical plays through Sunday, October 25, 2009 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

The Color Purple actually opens next Tuesday at Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, so we're telling you about it now. It plays through Nov 1.

---

last chance to see...

Love is Love at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre runs through Oct 25.

Así es (si así os parece) -- So It Is (If You Think So) at Teatro en Miami Studio. (In Spanish with English supertitles). It plays through October 23.

---

for kids

Actors' Playhouse presents a musical version of Alice in Wonderland, starting this Saturday, and running through Nov 13.

Showtime Dance & Performing Arts Theatre presents High School Musical 2, through November 14.

Tanguera, the Tango Musical Direct from NYC

The Drama Queen mentions that Tanguera - The Tango Musical is opening at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts after playing to "mixed reviews" in New York.

But the Theatre Scene brings you links to those reviews - and while it looks like those poster quotes, we really are just quoting the actual first line of each review. Honestly. Click the hyperlink to read the entire review.

TheatreMania:

Anyone who loves dance must get themselves immediately over to City Center to see Tanguera, which features the most sensational dancing you'll likely see this year on or off Broadway.

The New York Post:

There are far worse ways to spend 90 minutes than watching good-looking, well-dressed couples slink around a stage.

Backstage:

Billed as a tango musical, "Tanguera" is clearly a show for Broadway audiences. Unlike most of the tango revues and ballroom-dance spectaculars that have played the Great White Way recently, "Tanguera" feels more like a Broadway musical than a dance concert or plotless extravaganza.

Variety:

Although nominally a musical, "Tanguera," the dance spectacle briefly on display (through Oct. 18) at City Center, is more a showcase of all that thrills and excites about expert tango dancing -- leggy women in fringed dresses, muscled men with hawk faces, the intoxicating rhythms, the seductive music, the rough sex, and oh, yes, the percussive dance steps that flash by your dazzled eyes like bullets.

Philly Metro:

If you’re a tango aficionado or a fan of knife fights, you might love Mora Godoy’s “Tanguera.”

Yeah, some mixed bag.

Something you should be aware of - this is the same production that played New York. They didn't do the show, and then decide to put together the tour.

Tanguera, the Tango Musical plays through Sunday, October 25, 2009 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

"Holy Sh*t!"

As readers may recall, South Floridian Alex Weisman got cast in History Boys while attending Northwestern. The play got rave reviews, and Alex was well-recieved.

Then The Timeline Theatre Company extended the run.

His mother started hinting that "wouldn't it be funny if he got nominated for a Jeff?"  She was told that "kids" hardly ever got nominated, that this was saved almost always for actors who'd been working for awhile.

Then Weisman got nominated for a Jeff Award.  He cautioned his mother not to get too excited.  Nominations are rare, but not unheard of.  But a more established actor will probably win.

Guess what?

He won.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY
Alex Weisman - “The History Boys” - TimeLine Theatre Company

Congratulations, Alex. You've come a long way since The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

Kudos!

Behind The Scenes of Two Jews

Peak behind the scenes of Florida Stage's next production:


Is that Rob Goodrich's voice as the interviewer? Rob's been doing documentary work around Florida Stage for years. I loved his Looking for Louis.

Jovial in Jupiter

BroadwayWorld.com reports that The Jove has a new show opening - a month ago. Oops. Anywho, The Jove follows the trail pioneered by the late Comedy Squad, the improv and sketch comedy troup that ruled West Palm Beach in the 90s. But where The Squad played clubs and bars and constantly re-invented their shows, Jove crafts revues that they run for set blocks of times. Their current show is Quarterback of the Future: an NFL Comedy NIGHT OF THE SHINING TEXAS CHAINSAW ON ELM STREET - Part 6 and it's playing at The Atlantic Theatre.

Mondays are Dark

Well, the Theatre Festival makes a lie of this column's title one more time. This particular Monday you have a choice between the anniversary party for MiamiArtzine or a play reading by MadCat Theatre - they'll be reading Sheperd's Pie at The Light Box at 7pm.

It's Their Party
..and they can give away tickets if they want to. The Miami Theatre Examiner reports that Actors' Playhouse is offering two-for-one tickets to see The Marvelous Wondrettes on Wednesday and Thursday performances during the month of October.

Drama Queen on DramaWorks
Christine Dolen of the Herald's Drama Queen blog fills us in on the Palm Beach DramaWorks new season, discusses Ibsen's A Doll's House, as well as outlining some of their upcoming projects.

Sexual Perversity in Miami Lakes
Broadway World reports that The Alliance Theatre Lab will be opening David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago in just a few weeks.
Laughing Matterz and their New Home
J.W. Arnold of MiamiArtzine.com talks with Mark and Rita Wells about the return of Laffing Matterz, which opened on Thursday night at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

“(Audiences) are really going to enjoy the experience at the Broward Center. Also, in this incarnation, we’ve found two writers from New York who’ve contributed five songs between them. Of the 23 songs in the show, 18 are new,” Mark promises. “We needed to rework the show because we’ve been dark for several months and we want to come back with a bang.”

And it seems to be paying off.

Speaking of Laughing
The Palm Beach Daily News talks to Louis Tyrell about Florida Stage's upcoming production of Two Jews Walk Into A War... It's a very dark comedy; the last two Jews in Kabul move into what's left of the synagogue, and they hate each others' guts. Director Tyrell describes it as "The Sunshine Boys meets Waiting for Godot."

MiamiArtZine.com Turns Four
Speaking of which, Mary Damiano of MiamiArztine.com talks about the growth of the online arts magazine, and also recaps recent goings on in the theatre community, including The 24 Hour Theatre Project, Caldwell Theatre's Sunday in the Park with George, as well as some of the shows that opened over the weekend.

Welcome Back, Ron
Hannah Sampson of The Miami Herald talks with school teacher Ron Palillo.

"They haven't done this yet,'' Palillo said, ``but I'm waiting for the `Ooh ooh ooooooh!'''

Trivia point: Mr. Palillo appeared in the final production at the old Jupiter Theatre, Breaking Legs.

Cuillo Center to Re-open.
Jan Sjostrom of the Palm Beach Daily News talks with Bob Cuillo, who plans to resume operations in the near future.

He shuttered the theater because the economy was in the doldrums, he said. “I had five-six people working there,” he said. “I couldn’t afford that. I told everyone to take a vacation and shut the place up for the summer.”

Is it a vacation if you don't come back from it? Apparently he's bringing in a new manager to replace "former" executive director Zacariah Phillips.

Maltz Jupiter Theatre: Love is Love (1 review)

Maltz Jupiter Theatre opened the world premier of Martin Charnin's and Richard Gray's Love is Love on October 15, 2009.

...a new musical conceived and directed by Martin Charnin (co-creator: Annie) that follows five extraordinary actresses portraying 12 unique women each grappling with the mysteries and complications of love. The musical numbers and monologues highlight a multitude of aspects of that indefinable emotion, from love at first sight with its butterfly beginnings, to keeping love alive, to the dying embers of a love gone wrong.

Martin Charnin directs a cast that includes Andrea McArdle, Avery Sommers, Patti Elyer, Laura Hodos, and Shelly Burch.

Hap Erstein reviewed for the Palm Beach Post. Yes, you read that correctly; the POST.

...a terrific cast of five women, both Broadway veterans and Florida mainstays, who do everything they can to elevate the material they have been dealt. While the show is well produced and performed, it is hard to shake the feeling of déjà vu, even if you had never encountered I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change or Menopause: The Musical.

Many of the songs work well enough, for Seattle-based composer Gray has a pleasant facility for a variety of genres and Charnin — Tony-winning lyricist/director of Annie — remains a nimble wordsmith with a wry, unforced way with a rhyme.

...they could hardly have a better quintet of performers. Both Andrea McArdle and Shelly Burch enjoyed early Broadway successes — 1977’s Annie and 1982’s Nine, respectively — which remain their most prominent stage credits. Now older, sleeker and with matured performance presence, they still have vocal power to spare

...Avery Sommers may not have the national reputation that originating a role on Broadway brings, but she is a veteran of the New York stage and she knows her way around a dramatic number like Not Every Child. Orlando-based Laura Hodos and Patti Eyler may not have material as showy as the others do, but they are nevertheless assets to the production.

Love is Love plays at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre through October 25.

SILVER PALM WINNERS ANNOUNCED

From the Theatre League of South Florida:

The Sunshine State’s Silver Palm tree may be an endangered species but, to South Florida’s theatre community, it also epitomizes recognition for outstanding contributions to the South Florida Theatre Season. Fifteen individuals and companies will soon get bragging rights to this symbol of theatrical excellence when the 2008-09 Silver Palm Awards are given out on October 26th..

These awards, originally created for the South Florida Theatre Festival, will be presented this year at the Fesitval's closing night party on Monday, October 26th, at 7:30 PM, to be held at Revolution Live! in Fort Lauderdale.

The South Florida Theatre Festival runs from October 12th through the 26th, and highlights include the 24-Hour Theatre Project (at Actors' Playhouse, Oct. 12th), Free Night of Theatre (Oct. 15th), and the Silver Palm Award presentations (Oct. 26th.)

Two Remy Awards, given each year by the Theatre League of South Florida (SouthFloridaTheatre.Com), will also be presented the evening of October 26th. The party is free to Theatre League members and open to the public for a $20 donation to the non-profit organization. Closing night party reservations can be made by emailing andie@southfloridatheatre.com.

The Theatre League's Silver Palm Executive Committee considered 79 productions presented between September 1st, 2008 through August 31st, 2009, aided by an Advisory Council comprised of Christine Dolen (Miami Herald), Bill Hirschman (Sun-Sentinel), Jan Sjostrom (Palm Beach Daily News), Mary Damiano (Miami ArtZine.Com), Hap Erstein (Palm Beach ArtsPaper), John Lariviere (TalkinBroadway.Com), J.W. Arnold (South Florida Blade), and Skip Sheffield (Boca Raton News).

These awards are based on excellent contributions made during the theatre season in South Florida, and are representative of the large theatre community stretching over Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Among the honorees this year are six actors, two producers, three directors, a musical director and a stage crew who worked in productions at Broward Stage Door Theatre, the Mosaic Theatre, The Promethean Theatre and the Women's Theatre Project in Broward County; Palm Beach Dramaworks, the Caldwell Theatre Company and Florida Stage in Palm Beach County; the New Theatre, GableStage and Actors' Playhouse in Miami-Dade County.

In addition to the 15 Silver Palm Awards, two other trophies will also be presented at the Festival's closing night party; the Theatre League's Remy Awards, given annually for Service to the Theatre League and for Pioneering in South Florida Theatre.

This year's Remy Awards go to:

Barry Steinman (Pioneer Award), a co-founder of the Theatre league, and

Antonio Amadeo (Service), an actor and former League Board member.

The 15 Silver Palm Awards honoring excellent work during the South Florida 2008-09 Theatre Season go to, in no particular order:

1) -- ANGIE RADOSH -- for her Outstanding Performances in SPEAKING ELEPHANT (Women's Theatre Project), and THE GLASS MENAGERIE (New Theatre.)

2) -- ISRAEL GARCIA -- for his Outstanding Performances in MAURITIUS (New Theatre), and THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (New Theatre)

3) -- BARBARA BRADSHAW -- for her Outstanding Performances in THE CHAIRS (Palm Beach Dramaworks), and DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE (Mosaic Theatre.)

4) -- JOHN ARCHIE -- for his Outstanding Performances in RADIO GOLF (Mosaic Theatre), and THE WHIPPING MAN (Caldwell Theatre Company.)

5) -- GREGG WEINER -- for his Outstanding Performances in SPEED-THE-PLOW (GableStage), THE SEAFARER (Mosaic Theatre), and THE DUMB SHOW (The Promethean Theatre.)

6) -- MATTHEW WILLIAM CHIZEVER -- Outstanding New Talent, for his performances in CANNIBAL THE MUSICAL (The Promethean Theatre), and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (Broward Stage Door Theatre.)

7) -- BARBARA STEIN -- Outstanding Producer, for 1776 and LES MISERABLES (both at Actors' Playhouse.)

8) -- CLIVE CHOLERTON -- Outstanding Direction, for VICES: A LOVE STORY and THE WHIPPING MAN (both at the Caldwell Theatre Company.)

9) -- MARGARET LEDFORD -- Outstanding Direction, for CANNIBAL THE MUSICAL, STILL THE RIVER RUNS, THE DUMB SHOW and THE BANALITY OF LOVE (all at The Promethean Theatre.)

10) -- BILL CASTELINO -- Outstanding Direction, for CAGNEY and SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (both at Florida Stage.)

11) -- CHRISTOPHER MCGOVERN -- Outstanding Musical Direction, for CAGNEY and SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (both at Florida Stage.)

12) -- STAGE MANAGER LARA KINZEL AND THE STAGE CREW at Palm Beach Dramaworks -- for their Outstanding Work changing the set of PRIVATE LIVES.

13) -- JOSEPH ADLER -- for his Outstanding Support of the South Florida Theatre Community; his Outstanding Support of the Theatre League and the Theatre Festival; his Consistent Outstanding Work at GableStage; and his Outstanding Commitment to an Educational Outreach Program in Miami-Dade County.

14) -- BECON TELEVISION -- for their Outstanding and On-going Support of Theatre in South Florida.

15) -- FLORIDA MEDIA NEWS -- for their Outstanding Support of the Theatre League and Local Theatre, as well as their Outstanding Dissemination of Local Theatre News state-wide.

The Scene for October 16, 2009

The South Florida Theatre Festival officially kicked off on Monday, but the opening night party happens on Thursday, October 15, at America's Backyard, in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The event is free, and starts at 5pm, and runs through 7:30. That gives you plenty of time to walk up the hill to catch the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof, or the opening night of Laffing Matterz at the Broward Center.

---

opening:

Flora the Red Menace opens at Rising Action Theatre on Thursday, and runs through Nov 22.

The long anticipated opening of Love is Love at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre is on Thursday; the play runs through Oct 25.

Bubbling Brown Sugar, opens Friday at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, and runs through Nov 22.

Palm Beach DramaWorks kicks off its season with Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House on Friday. It plays through Nov 29.

Laffing Matterz is back with an all new show, in an all new location. It runs Thursday-Sunday at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, through June.

---

still playing:

In Development plays New Theatre through Nov 8.

The Marvelous Wonderettes opens Friday night at Actors' Playhouse, and plays through Nov 1.

Así es (si así os parece) -- So It Is (If You Think So) at Teatro en Miami Studio. (In Spanish with English supertitles). It plays through October 23.

---

passing through...

The National tour of Fiddler on the Roof makes a stop at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and plays through Oct 18.

---

last chance to see...

The Glass Menagerie at Broward Stage Door Theatre closes early, on October 17th; it's a shame, as all the feed back I've seen has been exceptionally positive.

---

for kids

Actors' Playhouse presents a musical version of Alice in Wonderland, starting this Saturday, and running through Nov 13.

Showtime Dance & Performing Arts Theatre presents High School Musical 2, through November 14.

24 hours (and then some) after the 24 Hour Theatre Project (Updated)

UPDATE: Added Christine Dolen's review below the original article.

Well, The 24 Hour Theatre Project has come and gone, and the first followup to see print is Alexis Scheer, of The Playground.

For me, there were really two plays that came out on top.

The first was Lucas Leyva's The Purloined Sweater, directed by Todd Allen Durkin. It featured Barbara Bradshaw, Ken Clement, Sandy Ives, and Laura Turnbull. The writing was seamless, hilarious, and beautiful; a story about a woman repressed by her mother finally in confrontation. Oh... and then an Oviraptor enters.... and he eats the mother. Clement's very cool dinosaur wore a suit and drank martini's... like I'm sure all the dinosaurs that live in Leyva's head do.

The other was Abacus Jones Boy Detective by Andie Arthur. Irene Adjan, Stephen G. Anthony, David Perez-Ribada, and Tom Wahl bring this play to life with director, Stuart Meltzer. Arthur artfully arranges astounding alliterations to tell the story of Abacus Jones- the boy detective (played perfectly by wonderful Wahl): a super sleuthy story where Abacus must solve the case of the dalmation dog-napping. Helping him handle hard things that come his way is his friend [Catastrophe] Calliope (spelling?) (Ka-Lie-Uh-Pee)... acted amazingly by Adjan. Perez performs powerfully as the maniacal mustache man, and leaves us fighting for air in fits of long lasting laughter when his mustache won't stay on (and ultimately falls off). Anthony awesomely and accurately narrates this stupendous sleuth story with the help of some cute convenient cue cards.

She reviews the entire line-up, and as usual, gives us concise, well-written reviews. Whatever her plans for the future may be, we'd certainly applaud any effort towards theatre criticism. Heck, write a book, I'll buy it.

Oh, and lest you think that a night of really wild theatre was all you missed:

...the chocolate fountain was a good idea, so whoever thought of that is awesome!

See? It really is a theatre FESTIVAL.

UPDATE********************************
October 15 - Christine's review in the Miami Herald:

...the miracle of the 24-Hour Project, as event producer Antonio Amadeo points out, is that the art a few hundred audience members enjoyed Monday evening didn't exist before eight playwrights gathered at Actors' Playhouse just after 7 p.m. Sunday to pull the names of directors and cast members from a hat, pick titles and start writing.

We'll contrast Christine's take with Alexis', but you'll have to click through to read the entire review:

Leyva, a funny young playwright with a wild imagination, took Sanchez's dismemberment idea farther in The Purloined Sweater, a play about a mousy woman (Laura Turnbull), her self-adoring mom (Barbara Bradshaw), mom's over-the-top agent (Sandy Ives) and a suave dinosaur (Ken Clement) with an appetite for grandiose women of a certain age.

Arthur's Abacus Jones: Boy Detective was a sweet romp with whimsical performances by Tom Wahl, Irene Adjan, Stephen G. Anthony and David Perez-Ribada. Rosendorf's mysterious Haunted lived up to its title and led to another luminous performance by Lela Elam.

I'll add more reviews as they are published.

New Theatre: In Development (2 reviews)

New Theatre's world premiere production of David Caudle's In Development opened on October 9, 2009.

In this new dark comedy, sex, death and dramaturgy take the stage when renowned, aging playwright Gideon Flynn mentors a fresh crop of young hopefuls at a summer conference. The previous year, his feedback had dire consequences for a troubled student, and now lightning seems poised to strike twice.

Ricky J. Martinez directed a cast that included Bill Schwartz, Ricardo Rodriguez, Aubrey Shavonn, Mark Della Venture, and Skye Whitcomb.

Brandon K. Thorp reviewed for the Miami New Times:

David Caudle's In Development is a slight play wrestling with big issues.

Wild-haired, half-drunk, noticeably seedy, spitting vitriol at his pupils' efforts before their plays are half-heard, he is completely undone; he could be channeling Johnny Depp in the last hour of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Deliciously overacted by Schwartz — a well-known former Miami Police spokesman — he is full of energy but curiously devoid of vitality.

In Development hemorrhages mojo because of an oft-indifferent performance by Ricardo Rodriguez as the hunky young wordsmith with daddy issues, and from a ridiculous turn by Aubrey Shavonn as the temptress-turned-blackmailer, Donna.

In Development is a brand-new play, and I have high hopes for that first act. It can be salvaged if In Development remains in development just a little longer, and if Caudle can take to heart Gideon Flynn's best, and most frequently repeated, bit of advice: Stop with the gimmickry. Tell the audience the truth.

Christin Dolen reviewed for the Miami Herald:

One of the great dramaturgical cheats is explaining away a piece's illogic -- or incoherence -- by revealing that everything an audience has just seen was actually a dream or some other flight of fancy.

...if the play, which is getting its world premiere at Coral Gables' New Theatre, were fascinating, funny, intriguing or enlightening up to that point, we might forgive the oh-never-mind cop-out. But it is none of those things.

Director Ricky J. Martinez and a game cast try to serve Caudle's crazy tale, which comes complete with a ``theater ghost'' named Patrick (Skye Whitcomb), a former Flynn student who apparently committed suicide (or not) after being outed by his plastered teacher. Aubrey Shavonn is the tough Donna, who tries to beat Gideon at his own game, and Mark Della Ventura gives a grounded, funny performance as a student whose name is apparently not important enough for the self-involved Gideon to remember.

...though Schwartz commits with gusto to every word and deed that Caudle has given Gideon, not even a reincarnated Laurence Olivier could make sense of the ill-conceived In Development.

The world premier of David Caudle's In Development plays at New Theatre through November 8, 2009.

Following up on the Sequel

Hap Erstein talks about Florida Stage's reading of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, this event still deserves discussion in the press;

While reviews of the play were specifically discouraged, and the script does have an unfinished, unshaped feel to it, the evening as an event had a sense of global community and an unsubtle call to action that argued efforts to eradicate hate crimes are still in their infancy.

The 18-member Florida Stage cast included producing director Louis Tyrrell, managing director Nancy Barnett and public relations director Michael Gepner. Among the other cast members were such frequently seen area actors as Dan Leonard, Bruce Linser, Lourelene Snedeker and Karen Stephens.

Florida Stage drew a packed house for the event at $30 a seat, with the proceeds going to The Shepard Foundation and to Compass, Palm Beach County’s gay and lesbian services organization.

The entire article can be found on Palm Beach ArtsPaper.

The All New SouthFloridaTheatre.Com

The Theatre League of South Florida has been re-inventing itself, becoming "South Florida Theatre Dot Com." I gather that's to make finding their website easier to remember. They actually moved everything from the old Theatre League website a few years ago.

But the old SouthFloridaTheatre.com was a little stodgy, and it was hard to navigate.

Well, that was then. Today, the all new and improved SouthFloridaTheatre.com went live:

It's clean and slick. And EVERY PAGE now has navigation to find shows:

One minor nitpick; if you want to see ALL plays, the interface should let you know that you can simply click "go" to see the complete list of what's playing. It DOES it, but if you don't know that, well, it could be frustrating. But that's a minor fix; overall, the website is gorgeous. The designers did a magnificent job.

As always, you can find it in the upper left hand corner of the Theatre Scene.

5 Minutes...

The 24 Hour Theatre Project is slated to start five minutes from now.  The Drama Queen gave us an update a few hours ago.

Break a leg, guys!

Laffing Matterz - They're BA-ACK.

As we reported back at the end of July, Laffing Matterz will be re-opening at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts this week. The big day is October 15th. It was in this Sunday's Miami Herald, although it was buried for some reason in a Community section of paper.

Laffing Matterz was initially booked there for a 13-week engagement but the theater recently announced the troupe will perform through June 27. The show is open to ages 13 and older.

At the new Laffing Matterz show, patrons will choose seating at tables that seat four, six, eight and 10 people. The first part of the evening will be dinner prepared by their previous chef John Eustace, cooking up dishes like summer rolls with peanut dipping sauce, tenderloin of beef, jumbo shrimp stuffed with crabmeat and Butterfinger cup sundaes.

The fun runs Thursdays through Sundays - tickets available through the Broward Center website.

24 Hour Theatre Project Update

The Drama Queen (Miami Herald's Christine Dolen) brings us a mid-day update:

The playwrights finished, exhilarated and bleary-eyed, sometime in the wee hours this morning. Just a little over an hour ago, 31 actors, eight directors and 10 stage managers gathered for a first read-through of the hot-from-the-laptop plays that will occupy their efforts and imaginations during an intense 13-hour rehearsal period.  And at 8 tonight, the Naked Stage's third annual 24-Hour Theatre Project gets its one and only performance at Actors' Playhouse in Coral Gables.

The update includes the titles of the plays (and who wrote them) and a cast list for each. I won't be there; we're working on getting Laffing Matterz ready for its grand-reopening at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday.

Mondays are Dark

Well, not this Monday- this is the opening day of the South Florida Theatre Festival. You can check out The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later in Palm Beach County, and the 24 Hour Theatre Project in Miami-Dade County. So there are things to do.

But we still have a reading list for you, never fear!

A Real Doll
Jan Sjostrom of the Palm Beach Daily News sits down with actress Marjory Lowe, to talk about her latest role: Nora Helmer in the Palm Beach DramaWorks production of Ibsen's A Doll's House.

Rising Action takes on Kander & Ebb.
Beau Higgins at BroadwayWorld tells us about Flora the Red Menace, opening this week at Rising Action Theatre.

Underdeveloped
Christine gives us barely a paragraph about the new show at the New Theatre; In Development. To be fair, it is just the little "Critic's Pick" blurb. But we do get a chest shot of Bill Schwartz; at least that's well-developed.

Pick a Short
The Miami Theatre Examiner tells us how you can help City Theatre select plays for next summer's program.

Remember that Casting Article?
It was only last week, and it was in response to comments made the week before that. In an example of synchronicity, AnswersForActors also tells you to go and audition.

Photo Op; Marvellous Wonderettes
BroadwayWorld has pictures from the opening night after-party at Actors' Playhouse.

A Sequel for Human Rights.

Leslie Gray Streeter tells us about The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, and the significance of Florida Stage's participation.

A decade after Shepard’s death, members of the (New York's Tectonic Theatre) returned to Laramie to gauge the impact of what happened there, and turned their findings into a new play that, on Monday, will be read simultaneously at theaters around the country...

“It’s very easy to feel disconnected from other theaters in the world, and lose sight of the impact that theater can have. This is one of those moments where you get to feel connected to people all over the world who want to have some positive impact on these issues,” says Florida Stage spokesman Michael Gepner. “This is global. We’re thrilled to have been asked to participate in it.”

It's one of two kick-off events for the South Florida Theatre Festival, which runs through October 26th. See the Florida Stage website for tickets and other details.

24 Hours of Magic

Christine Dolen writes about Naked Stage's 24 Hour Theatre Project at Actors' Playhouse tomorrow.

Modeled on similar pressure-cooker theater benefits around the country, the 24-Hour Theatre Project brings together actors, directors, stage managers, a few designers and those playwrights, united in their determination to prove that you really can write decent short plays, rehearse them, stage them, memorize them and perform them in just over a day.

It's one of two kick-off events for the South Florida Theatre Festival, which runs through October 26th. See the Actors' Playhouse website for tickets.

Caldwell Theatre: Sunday in the Park With George Concert Version (reviews)

Sure, it's not a full-blown production, but it's being produced over a weekend, at a major company, with a lot of serious players in the cast. Why shouldn't it be reviewed?

Caldwell Theater opened its "concert version" of Sunday in the Park with George on October 8, 2009. Clive Choleron directed a cast that included Wayne LeGette, Kim Cozort, Jim Ballard, Brian Minyard, Melissa Minyard, Elzabeth Dimon, Laura Turnbull, and Bruce Linser. Jon Rose accompanied on keyboards.


Jan Engoren reviewed for the Palm Beach ArtsPaper:

This is the first time this show, which won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1985, has been produced in any form in South Florida. And while the unstaged version does leave one wishing for more visuals, this Caldwell Sondheim has to be counted a success. It has a standout performance from Wayne LeGette as the single-minded, work-obsessed Seurat, and the rest of the 14-person cast ably handles Sondheim’s tricky melodies and lyrics (without once getting tongue-tied).

...more interesting, perhaps, would be if the actors interacted more while on stage. Mostly, they were aligned in a long row of chairs, stepping forward only when interacting with Seurat.

LeGette effortlessly inhabits the character of a driven artist. His comedic ability and talent are evident in the musical number, The Day Off, where he takes on the personalities of the dogs in the painting, barking, ruffing, sniffing and snorting. His voice and presence carry the show and cast.

Other performances of note include Elizabeth Dimon in the dual role of Old Lady/Blair Daniels, who possesses an extraordinary voice, and Laura Turnbull, another Carbonell winner who shines as Yvonne in the first act. Bruce Linser puts in a good effort and passable German accent as the coachman Franz. And a good word needs to be put in for Jon Rose, who proved to be a very adept keyboardist.

One of the most haunting numbers of the evening was the song, Beautiful, the duet sung by Dimon, whose rich voice lent clarity and resonance, and LeGette, whose deep baritone provided a counterpoint of emotional depth.

To paraphrase a lyric from the show -- “It’s certainly fine for Sunday” – it’s certainly fine for me.

The concert version of Stephen Sondhiem's Sunday in the Park with George plays through this Sunday, October 11, 2009 at the Caldwell Theatre Company in Boca Raton.