RAVING RICHARD RADIO REVIEW, FOR BROADCAST LIVE ON JUNE 25, 2008: KKIM, 1000 A.M., ALBUQUERQUE, AND 94.7 F.M., SANTA FE
AGAIN,GREETINGS FROM THEATRELAND! THIS WEEK, MY COMMENTARY ON LIVE THEATRE FOCUSES ON A PRODUCTION CALLED "AS THOUSANDS CHEER," PRESENTED BY LANDMARK MUSICALS, PLUS A PREVIEW OF THE SHOW AT THE VORTEX THEATRE. INCIDENTALLY, BOTH OF THESE THEATRE COMPANIES ARE MEMBERS OF ALBUQUERQUE THEATRE GUILD,
LANDMARK MUSICALS IS A RELATIVELY NEW GROUP, BUT ARE OFF TO.A SUCCESSFUL START-BOTH WITH A LINEUP OF NOTED ACTORS, AS WELL AS PRODUCTION PERSONNEL-PLUS IT'S A MEMBER OF THE ALBUQUERQUE THEATRE GUILD. "AS THOUSANDS CHEER" WAS A BIG HIT ON BROADWAY BACK IN 1933, AND WAS CREDITED WITH MORE THAN 400 PERFORMANCES. MORE RECENTLY, IT RAN OFF-BROADWAY, WHICH IS THE VERSION DIRECTOR HAL SIMONS CHOSE TO PRESENT HERE, WITH ZANE BARKER HIS LIGHTING DESIGNER.
IT IS A MUSICAL, WITH SONGS BY IRVING BERLIN AND SKETCHES BY MOSS HART. THE CAST IN NEW YORK INCLUDED SUCH FAMOUS STARS AS ETHEL WATERS AND CLIFFTON WEBB, WHICH MEANT BIG SHOES FOR DIRECTOR SIMONS TO FILL. TO MENTION A FEW TO REPRESENT HIS ENTIRE TALENTED CAST, JULLIAN FOSTER AND ERIN WARDEN HAVE THE MOST PROMINENT SINGING AND ACTING ROLES-AND BRIAN CLIFTON HAS RETURNED FROM NEW YORK TO PLAY A NUMBER OF PARTS IN THIS PRODUCTION. BRIAN, WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK.
THIS IS LANDMARK'S FIRST PRODUCTION OF THE SEASON, AND HAS SCHEDULED ANOTHER REVIVAL THIS FALL, "SHOW TUNE" BY JERRY HERMAN WHO WROTE "HELLO DOLLY" AND "MAME," AMONG OTHER GREAT SHOWS. (BY THE WAY, IVE BEEN IN BOTH, BACK IN CALIFORNIA!) LANDMARK STAGES ITS PRODUCTIONS AT THE N4TH THEATRE, AN IDEAL VENUE: COMFORTABLE SEATING, A LARGE STAGE, AND FEATURES STATE-OF-THE-ART SOUND AND LIGHTING.
"AS THOUSANDS CHEER" RUNS WEEKENDS THROUGH JULY 13 (EXCEPT JULY 4, BUT WITH A 6:00 PERFORMANCE ADDED ON JULY 6) AT VSA NORTH FOURTH ARTS CENTER, 4904 4th N.W. FOR TICKETS, CALL 344-4542.
FOR SHAKESPEARE BUFFS, A PARODY ON THE BARD'S GREATEST TRAGEDIES, "OTHELLO" AND "ROMEO AND JULIET," OPENS THIS WEEKEND AT THE VORTEX THEATRE. THIS COMEDY BY ANN-MARIE MacDONALD IS CALLED "GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA," SUBTITLED "GOOD MORNING JULIET." IT'S A COMEDIC STORY ABOUT A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR WHO'S OBSESSED WITH PROVING HER THEORY THAT THESE GREAT SHAKESPEARE TRAGEDIES WERE MEANT TO BE COMEDIES! SOUNDS HILARIOUS, AGREE? I'LL REVIEW IT NEXT WEEK, AND FOR DATES AND TICKETS, CALL THE VORTEX AT 247-8600.
AGAIN, THANKS FOR LISTENING TO THESE RAVING RICHARD COMMENTARIES, BROADCAST HERE ON KKIM, 1000 A.M., ALBUQUERQUE, AND SIMULCAST ON 94.7 P.M., SANTA FE; ALSO SEEN ON THE INTERNET, BOTH AT KKIMAM1000.COM AND ALBTHEATRE.ORG. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, AND THANKS FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT LIVE THEATRE.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
REVIEW: I Hate Hamlet at the Vortex
RAVING RICHARD RADIO REVIEW, FOR LIVE BROADCAST ON JUNE 17, 2008: KKIM, 1000 AM., ALBUQUERQUE, AND 94.7 F.M., SANTA FE
GREETINGS AGAIN FROM THEATRELAND! THIS WEEKEND STARTED AN EXTENDED RUN AT THE VORTEX OF A PLAY CALLED "I HATE HAMLET." I SAY EXTENDED, AS IT WILL BE RUNNING ALONG WITH "GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA" ON VARIOUS WEEKENDS THROUGH AUGUST 3, SO YOU NEED TO CHECK WITH THE VORTEX TO CONFIRM PERFORMANCE DATES.
FROM THE TITLE, YOU WOULD THINK "I HATE HAMLET!" HAS MUCH TO DO ABOUT THE CLASSIC SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY "HAMLET," AND TO AN EXTENT IT DOES--AT LEAST THERE IS SOME REFERENCE TO QUOTATIONS SUCH AS "TO BE OR NOT TO BE...." ALSO, JOHN BARRYMORE'S ROLE IS PROMINENTLY STAGED THROUGHOUT THE PLAY IN FORM OF A GHOST WHO CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE REAL-LIFE ACTOR FROM HOLLYWOOD WHO IS RELUCTANT TO PLAY THE PART OF HAMLET IN A PLAY TO BE PERFORMED IN NEW YORK. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE GIST OF THE MAIN PLOT, BUT THERE ARE SUBPLOTS, TOO, ESPECIALLY THE COMEDIC ANTICS OF AN AGENT FROM THE WEST COAST WHO TRIES TO LURE RYAN JASON COOK, THE TV STAR, AWAY TO TAKE A LUCRATIVE FILM CONTRACT.
THERE ARE OTHER CHARACTERS, OF COURSE, AND YOU CAN GET MORE DETAILS FROM LAST FRIDAY'S "VENUE" IN THE JOURNAL, WHICH WILL MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE AFTER YOU SEE THE PLAY RATHER THAN FROM THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION. IT'S A FUNNY PLAY, AND THE ACTING IS FIRST-RATE, BY A VERY TALENTED CAST. MORE FAMILIAR NAMES IN THE CAST ARE DEAN ELDON SQUIBB AND LEIGH-ANN SANTILLANES, TOGETHER WITH LINDA WILLIAMS, LESLEE RICHARDS, AND ROBERT JOHNSON. WHO'S QUITE A COMEDIAN. THE DIRECTOR IS BRIAN HANSEN.
"I HATE HAMLET" IS SCHEDULED TO PLAY WEEKENDS THROUGH JULY 27, BUT THE OTHER PLAY WILL BE INTERSPERSED ON SELECTED DATES. FOR INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS, CALL THE VORTEX AT 247-8600.
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THESE COMMENTARIES BY ME, RAVING RICHARD, HEARD HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE ON KKIM, CHRISTIAN RADIO FOR NEW MEXICO, AND ON 94.7 F.M., SANTA FE; ALSO SEEN ON THE INTERNET AT KKIMAM1000.COM AND ALBTHEATRE.ORG. TIL NEXT WEEK....
GREETINGS AGAIN FROM THEATRELAND! THIS WEEKEND STARTED AN EXTENDED RUN AT THE VORTEX OF A PLAY CALLED "I HATE HAMLET." I SAY EXTENDED, AS IT WILL BE RUNNING ALONG WITH "GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA" ON VARIOUS WEEKENDS THROUGH AUGUST 3, SO YOU NEED TO CHECK WITH THE VORTEX TO CONFIRM PERFORMANCE DATES.
FROM THE TITLE, YOU WOULD THINK "I HATE HAMLET!" HAS MUCH TO DO ABOUT THE CLASSIC SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY "HAMLET," AND TO AN EXTENT IT DOES--AT LEAST THERE IS SOME REFERENCE TO QUOTATIONS SUCH AS "TO BE OR NOT TO BE...." ALSO, JOHN BARRYMORE'S ROLE IS PROMINENTLY STAGED THROUGHOUT THE PLAY IN FORM OF A GHOST WHO CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE REAL-LIFE ACTOR FROM HOLLYWOOD WHO IS RELUCTANT TO PLAY THE PART OF HAMLET IN A PLAY TO BE PERFORMED IN NEW YORK. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE GIST OF THE MAIN PLOT, BUT THERE ARE SUBPLOTS, TOO, ESPECIALLY THE COMEDIC ANTICS OF AN AGENT FROM THE WEST COAST WHO TRIES TO LURE RYAN JASON COOK, THE TV STAR, AWAY TO TAKE A LUCRATIVE FILM CONTRACT.
THERE ARE OTHER CHARACTERS, OF COURSE, AND YOU CAN GET MORE DETAILS FROM LAST FRIDAY'S "VENUE" IN THE JOURNAL, WHICH WILL MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE AFTER YOU SEE THE PLAY RATHER THAN FROM THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION. IT'S A FUNNY PLAY, AND THE ACTING IS FIRST-RATE, BY A VERY TALENTED CAST. MORE FAMILIAR NAMES IN THE CAST ARE DEAN ELDON SQUIBB AND LEIGH-ANN SANTILLANES, TOGETHER WITH LINDA WILLIAMS, LESLEE RICHARDS, AND ROBERT JOHNSON. WHO'S QUITE A COMEDIAN. THE DIRECTOR IS BRIAN HANSEN.
"I HATE HAMLET" IS SCHEDULED TO PLAY WEEKENDS THROUGH JULY 27, BUT THE OTHER PLAY WILL BE INTERSPERSED ON SELECTED DATES. FOR INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS, CALL THE VORTEX AT 247-8600.
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THESE COMMENTARIES BY ME, RAVING RICHARD, HEARD HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE ON KKIM, CHRISTIAN RADIO FOR NEW MEXICO, AND ON 94.7 F.M., SANTA FE; ALSO SEEN ON THE INTERNET AT KKIMAM1000.COM AND ALBTHEATRE.ORG. TIL NEXT WEEK....
Monday, June 16, 2008
REVIEW: Love Letters at Aux Dog and You Can't Take it With You at Desert Rose
RAVING RICHARD RADIO REVIEW, TO BROADCAST LIVE ON JUNE 10, 2008 KKIM, 1000 A.M., ALBUQUERQUE, AND 94.7 F.M., SANTA FE. GREETINGS AGAIN FROM THEATRELAND, AND WHAT A BUSY WEEKEND THIS HAS BEEN FOR THEATRES HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE--MEANING I'VE REALLY BEEN ON THE GO TO SEE THE TWO SHOWS I'M REVIEWING TODAY: "LOVE LETTERS" AT THE AUXILIARY DOG THEATRE, DIRECTED BY LOU CLARK, AND "YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU," A COMEDY BY MOSS HART AND GEORGE S. KAUFMAN AT THE DESERT ROSE PLAYHOUSE, DIRECTED BY LESLIE JOY COLEMAN.
FIRST, RE "LOVE LETTERS." TO ME, OTHER THAN SHAKESPEAREAN EPICS, THIS EPITOMIZES THE CLASSIC FORM OF THEATRICAL DRAMA. IT DOESN'T FEATURE A LARGE CAST--IN FACT, THERE ARE ONLY TWO ACTORS, RAY ORLEY AND NINETTE MORDAUNT; THERE'S NO BACKDROP OR ELABORATE SET, JUST TWO CHAIRS; THERE AREN'T THE CUSTOMARY DOORS FOR ACTORS TO ENTER AND EXIT THE STAGE; AND THERE ARE NO ELEGANT COSTUMES NOR ANY DRAMATIC EFFECTS IN SOUND, LIGHTING, AND SO ON, AS IN YOUR TYPICAL PLAY.
THIS IS A HEART-WARMING PLAY WITH ROMANTIC OVERTONES, AND DEPICTS EVENTS IN THEIR SEPARATE LIVES FROM GRADE SCHOOL THROUGH ELDER YEARS--ALL THE WHILE THEY REMAIN SEATED! ALL THEY HAVE ARE COPIES OF FORMER LETTERS THEY'VE WRITTEN TO EACH OTHER, WHICH THEY "READ" ALOUD AS THEIR SOLE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION, WHICH THEY EXPRESS WITH GREAT EMOTION, BOTH IN SPEAKING AND REACTING, REVEALING DEEP FEELINGS IN A MOST NATURAL MANNER. THOUGH IT'S ACTING, OF COURSE, BUT IT ISN'T ACTING-ITS RAY AND NINETTE ACTUALLY BEING THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. WHAT FABULOUS PERFORMANCES!!!
A SURE INDICATION OF AUDIENCE APPEAL IS THAT THIS PLAY WAS EXTENDED TWO WEEKENDS, SO IT STILL HAS PERFORMANCES THIS COMING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 8, AND A MATINEE ON SUNDAY AT 2. THE AUX DOG IS LOCATED AT 3011 MONTE VISTA, AND FOR DIRECTIONS AND RESERVATIONS, CALL 254-7716.
THE DESERT ROSE IS STAGING A COMEDY CALLED "YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU," WRITTEN BY MOSS HART AND GEORGE S. KAUFMAN. IT'S HILARIOUSLY FUNNY, THANKS BOTH TO THE SCRIPTS CRAZINESS AND TO LESLIE JOY COLEMAN, DIRECTOR, WHO'S ALSO A WONDERFUL ACTRESS. SHE HAS ASSEMBLED A SUPERB CAST, AND TOGETHER, THEY KEEP THE ACTION FAST-PACED ALL THE WAY. THE BLOCKING IS EXCELLENT, AND FURTHER VALIDATES HER WELL-ROUNDED SKILLS AS DIRECTOR.
IN A DELIGHTFUL WAY, THE STORY TELLS OF A FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO DROP BY. EACH ONE IN THIS SUPERB CAST IS WELL-SUITED FOR THE ROLE-THOUGH THE CAST IS TOO LARGE TO CREDIT EACH ACTOR INDIVIDUALLY. HOWEVER, BEING A GRANDFATHER MYSELF, I CERTAINLY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE MY FRIEND CLIFF CATO, WHO PLAYS THE SAGE GRANDPA. HE PORTRAYS HIS MAJOR ROLE VERY CONVINCINGLY, AS DO ALL THE OTHERS, FOR THAT MATTER.
THE PRODUCTION STAFF DESERVES THEIR OWN SHARE OF PRAISE, I.E., FOR SUCH A REALISTIC SET; FOR THE ATTRACTIVE COSTUMING; AND ALL THE WORK WITH THE PROPS AND OVERALL STAGE MANAGEMENT-THERE'S A LOT TO MANAGE! THIS COMEDY RUNS TWO MORE WEEKENDS, CONCLUDING ON JUNE 29. FOR EASY DIRECTIONS AND RESERVATIONS, CALL THE DESERT ROSE PLAYHOUSE AT 881-0503.
IN BRIEF, THOSE ARE MY HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT LIVE THEATRE PLAYING IN THIS AREA--WITH THESE COMMENTARIES BY ME, RAVING RICHARD, HEARD EVERY TUESDAY AT 3:30 ON THIS STATION, KKIM, CHRISTIAN RADIO FOR NEW MEXICO, AND SIMULCAST ON 94.7 P.M., SANTA FE; ALSO SEEN ON THE INTERNET AT KKIMAM1000.COM AND ALBTHEATRE.ORG. THANKS FOR LISTENING.
FIRST, RE "LOVE LETTERS." TO ME, OTHER THAN SHAKESPEAREAN EPICS, THIS EPITOMIZES THE CLASSIC FORM OF THEATRICAL DRAMA. IT DOESN'T FEATURE A LARGE CAST--IN FACT, THERE ARE ONLY TWO ACTORS, RAY ORLEY AND NINETTE MORDAUNT; THERE'S NO BACKDROP OR ELABORATE SET, JUST TWO CHAIRS; THERE AREN'T THE CUSTOMARY DOORS FOR ACTORS TO ENTER AND EXIT THE STAGE; AND THERE ARE NO ELEGANT COSTUMES NOR ANY DRAMATIC EFFECTS IN SOUND, LIGHTING, AND SO ON, AS IN YOUR TYPICAL PLAY.
THIS IS A HEART-WARMING PLAY WITH ROMANTIC OVERTONES, AND DEPICTS EVENTS IN THEIR SEPARATE LIVES FROM GRADE SCHOOL THROUGH ELDER YEARS--ALL THE WHILE THEY REMAIN SEATED! ALL THEY HAVE ARE COPIES OF FORMER LETTERS THEY'VE WRITTEN TO EACH OTHER, WHICH THEY "READ" ALOUD AS THEIR SOLE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION, WHICH THEY EXPRESS WITH GREAT EMOTION, BOTH IN SPEAKING AND REACTING, REVEALING DEEP FEELINGS IN A MOST NATURAL MANNER. THOUGH IT'S ACTING, OF COURSE, BUT IT ISN'T ACTING-ITS RAY AND NINETTE ACTUALLY BEING THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. WHAT FABULOUS PERFORMANCES!!!
A SURE INDICATION OF AUDIENCE APPEAL IS THAT THIS PLAY WAS EXTENDED TWO WEEKENDS, SO IT STILL HAS PERFORMANCES THIS COMING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 8, AND A MATINEE ON SUNDAY AT 2. THE AUX DOG IS LOCATED AT 3011 MONTE VISTA, AND FOR DIRECTIONS AND RESERVATIONS, CALL 254-7716.
THE DESERT ROSE IS STAGING A COMEDY CALLED "YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU," WRITTEN BY MOSS HART AND GEORGE S. KAUFMAN. IT'S HILARIOUSLY FUNNY, THANKS BOTH TO THE SCRIPTS CRAZINESS AND TO LESLIE JOY COLEMAN, DIRECTOR, WHO'S ALSO A WONDERFUL ACTRESS. SHE HAS ASSEMBLED A SUPERB CAST, AND TOGETHER, THEY KEEP THE ACTION FAST-PACED ALL THE WAY. THE BLOCKING IS EXCELLENT, AND FURTHER VALIDATES HER WELL-ROUNDED SKILLS AS DIRECTOR.
IN A DELIGHTFUL WAY, THE STORY TELLS OF A FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO DROP BY. EACH ONE IN THIS SUPERB CAST IS WELL-SUITED FOR THE ROLE-THOUGH THE CAST IS TOO LARGE TO CREDIT EACH ACTOR INDIVIDUALLY. HOWEVER, BEING A GRANDFATHER MYSELF, I CERTAINLY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE MY FRIEND CLIFF CATO, WHO PLAYS THE SAGE GRANDPA. HE PORTRAYS HIS MAJOR ROLE VERY CONVINCINGLY, AS DO ALL THE OTHERS, FOR THAT MATTER.
THE PRODUCTION STAFF DESERVES THEIR OWN SHARE OF PRAISE, I.E., FOR SUCH A REALISTIC SET; FOR THE ATTRACTIVE COSTUMING; AND ALL THE WORK WITH THE PROPS AND OVERALL STAGE MANAGEMENT-THERE'S A LOT TO MANAGE! THIS COMEDY RUNS TWO MORE WEEKENDS, CONCLUDING ON JUNE 29. FOR EASY DIRECTIONS AND RESERVATIONS, CALL THE DESERT ROSE PLAYHOUSE AT 881-0503.
IN BRIEF, THOSE ARE MY HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT LIVE THEATRE PLAYING IN THIS AREA--WITH THESE COMMENTARIES BY ME, RAVING RICHARD, HEARD EVERY TUESDAY AT 3:30 ON THIS STATION, KKIM, CHRISTIAN RADIO FOR NEW MEXICO, AND SIMULCAST ON 94.7 P.M., SANTA FE; ALSO SEEN ON THE INTERNET AT KKIMAM1000.COM AND ALBTHEATRE.ORG. THANKS FOR LISTENING.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
AIDA at ALT - Review
RAVING RICHARD - REVIEW, FOR BROADCAST LIVE ON 6/3/8:
KKIM, 1000 A.M., ALBUQUERQUE, AND 94.7 F.M., SANTA FE
GREETINGS AGAIN FROM THEATRELAND! THIS WEEK, THERE'S NOT ONLY ONE SHOW TO REVIEW, BUT THREE TO PREVIEW-ALL IN MY NEW TUESDAY DATE FOR THESE COMMENTARIES ON GRANT KUCK'S PROGRAM. JUST BY CHANCE, GRANT ALSO SAW THE SHOW I'M REVIEWING--AN ADAPTATION OF VERDI'S OPERA "AIDA" AT ALBUQUERQUE LITTLE THEATRE--AND WE BOTH ARE GIVING IT THUMBS UP, AS IT'S A GREAT PRODUCTION. IN FACT, TO QUOTE WORDS ED SULLIVAN MIGHT USE, IT'S REALLY GREAT!
HOW SO? WELL, IN A WORD, THIS PRODUCTION HAS ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT YOU WOULD EXPECT IN THIS FORM OF MUSICAL. IT’S NOT VERDI'S MUSIC, BUT THE PLOT DOES HAVE SOME RESEMBLANCE TO THE SCRIPT OF THE OPERA- I.E., A PRINCESS FROM TWO WARRING COUNTRIES VYING FOR THE HAND OF THE SAME ARMY CAPTAIN, WITH A CAPTURED FATHER AND A NASTY RULER, ETC., ETC., AS IN THE OPERA. THIS BEING A MUSICAL, IT'S A PLAY, BASICALLY, WITH MUCH OF THE STORY TOLD THROUGH SONG--OVER 20, BY ELTON JOHN.
MOST EVERY MEMBER OF THIS TALENTED CAST HAS A SINGING ROLE, AND EACH HAS A WELL-TRAINED THEATRICAL VOICE. AS GRANT POINTED OUT, IN SOME NON-PROFESSIONAL MUSICALS, YOU MAY FIND ONE OR TWO WHO CAN ACT BUT REALLY AREN'T ACCOMPLISHED SINGERS. BUT NOT SO IN THIS PRODUCTION--ALL THE SINGING AND ACTING IS EXCELLENT, WITH CREDIT EXTENDED TO DIRECTOR BILL POTENZIANI AND MUSIC DIRECTOR MATTHEW NAEGELI (WHO DID SUCH A SUPERB JOB LAST SUMMER IN "MY FAIR LADY).
WITHOUT SLIGHTING OTHERS, AS MY ACCOLADES ARE MEANT FOR ALL, FOUR ACTORS WHO HAVE THE MORE PROMINENT ROLES ARE THE TWO PRINCESSES, APRIL BALL AND EMILY MELVILLE; KIT TURPEN THE CHIEF MINISTER; AND SUITOR JULIAN SINGER-CORBIN. BUT IT’S NOT JUST THE CASTING. ON ALL COUNTS, THIS CONTEMPORARY ADAPTATION OF "AIDA" IS TERRIFIC, FROM THE CLEVER OPENING SCENE TO THE SURPRISING FINALE: THE SET, STAGING, COSTUMING, ORCHESTRAL ACCOMPANIMENT, CHOREOGRAPHY BY STEPHANIE BURCH, AND ALL OTHER ELEMENTS OF PRODUCTION MAKE THIS SHOW A HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON. NO WONDER EVERY AUDIENCE GIVES IT A STANDING OVATION, PLUS THE JOURNAL'S REVIEW OF JUNE 25 WAS ALSO VERY FAVORABLE.
"AIDA" CONTINUES WEEKENDS THROUGH JUNE 15. ALT'S NUMBER FOR TICKETS IS 243-4750, AND YOU'LL THANK ME FOR HIGHLY RECOMMENDING THIS SHOW.
I'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH GOOD NEWS REGARDING THE UPCOMING MELODRAMA SEASON IN MADRID. THANKS FOR LISTENING!
KKIM, 1000 A.M., ALBUQUERQUE, AND 94.7 F.M., SANTA FE
GREETINGS AGAIN FROM THEATRELAND! THIS WEEK, THERE'S NOT ONLY ONE SHOW TO REVIEW, BUT THREE TO PREVIEW-ALL IN MY NEW TUESDAY DATE FOR THESE COMMENTARIES ON GRANT KUCK'S PROGRAM. JUST BY CHANCE, GRANT ALSO SAW THE SHOW I'M REVIEWING--AN ADAPTATION OF VERDI'S OPERA "AIDA" AT ALBUQUERQUE LITTLE THEATRE--AND WE BOTH ARE GIVING IT THUMBS UP, AS IT'S A GREAT PRODUCTION. IN FACT, TO QUOTE WORDS ED SULLIVAN MIGHT USE, IT'S REALLY GREAT!
HOW SO? WELL, IN A WORD, THIS PRODUCTION HAS ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT YOU WOULD EXPECT IN THIS FORM OF MUSICAL. IT’S NOT VERDI'S MUSIC, BUT THE PLOT DOES HAVE SOME RESEMBLANCE TO THE SCRIPT OF THE OPERA- I.E., A PRINCESS FROM TWO WARRING COUNTRIES VYING FOR THE HAND OF THE SAME ARMY CAPTAIN, WITH A CAPTURED FATHER AND A NASTY RULER, ETC., ETC., AS IN THE OPERA. THIS BEING A MUSICAL, IT'S A PLAY, BASICALLY, WITH MUCH OF THE STORY TOLD THROUGH SONG--OVER 20, BY ELTON JOHN.
MOST EVERY MEMBER OF THIS TALENTED CAST HAS A SINGING ROLE, AND EACH HAS A WELL-TRAINED THEATRICAL VOICE. AS GRANT POINTED OUT, IN SOME NON-PROFESSIONAL MUSICALS, YOU MAY FIND ONE OR TWO WHO CAN ACT BUT REALLY AREN'T ACCOMPLISHED SINGERS. BUT NOT SO IN THIS PRODUCTION--ALL THE SINGING AND ACTING IS EXCELLENT, WITH CREDIT EXTENDED TO DIRECTOR BILL POTENZIANI AND MUSIC DIRECTOR MATTHEW NAEGELI (WHO DID SUCH A SUPERB JOB LAST SUMMER IN "MY FAIR LADY).
WITHOUT SLIGHTING OTHERS, AS MY ACCOLADES ARE MEANT FOR ALL, FOUR ACTORS WHO HAVE THE MORE PROMINENT ROLES ARE THE TWO PRINCESSES, APRIL BALL AND EMILY MELVILLE; KIT TURPEN THE CHIEF MINISTER; AND SUITOR JULIAN SINGER-CORBIN. BUT IT’S NOT JUST THE CASTING. ON ALL COUNTS, THIS CONTEMPORARY ADAPTATION OF "AIDA" IS TERRIFIC, FROM THE CLEVER OPENING SCENE TO THE SURPRISING FINALE: THE SET, STAGING, COSTUMING, ORCHESTRAL ACCOMPANIMENT, CHOREOGRAPHY BY STEPHANIE BURCH, AND ALL OTHER ELEMENTS OF PRODUCTION MAKE THIS SHOW A HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON. NO WONDER EVERY AUDIENCE GIVES IT A STANDING OVATION, PLUS THE JOURNAL'S REVIEW OF JUNE 25 WAS ALSO VERY FAVORABLE.
"AIDA" CONTINUES WEEKENDS THROUGH JUNE 15. ALT'S NUMBER FOR TICKETS IS 243-4750, AND YOU'LL THANK ME FOR HIGHLY RECOMMENDING THIS SHOW.
I'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH GOOD NEWS REGARDING THE UPCOMING MELODRAMA SEASON IN MADRID. THANKS FOR LISTENING!
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