A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO PINES. er, FORUM

                                                                 By Jeannie Lieberman

Watch out Broadway – Glen Weilgus and his zany bunch of thespians should/could be on their way. This production is as good and funny as anything I’ve seen lately on the White Way. Of course, Broadway audiences would not have the privilege of knowing the “inside” touches, like just who the Lichtenstein family is, but they would soon be won over.

The Pines Arts Project couldn’t have chosen a better play with which to end their season. Both smart and hilariously funny, Burt Shevelove, was inspired to write a musical based on the farcical plays of Titus Maccius Plautus (254-184 BC) since the success he had with the idea in Yale. He called in Larry Gelbart and Stephen Sondheim and they extracted ideas that made the shows crowd pleasers then from a compilation of 21 plays assuming (correctly) they would still work.:  the conniving slave, the doddering old man, the callow hero (named Hero), the seductive courtesan, the lustful  husband and his shrewish wife, and the macho warrior (one play with a haunted house was named Mostellaria which was prophetic as Zero Mostel opened the play in 1962 in the role of  Pseudolus, the slave who would do anything for his freedom.) Despite the fame of director George Abbott, he had to call in Jerome Robbins (uncredited) who decided to open the show with “Comedy tonight” which set the tone and resulted in a 964 performance run. The show was the first as solo producer for Harold Prince and the first for music and lyrics by Sondheim. Indeed it is rare to experience the earlier, more melodic Sondheim, and his lyrics are just as sparkling.

Phil Silvers succeeded Mostel in the 1972 revival and was in the 1966 film version as Lycus along with Mostel and Jack Guilford from the original cast.

Director/set designer, Pines’ own Glen Weilgus has put his unique stamp on the production (the sets alone are funny), combining talented professionals with local icons that inspire the laughter of recognition from the receptive crowd.

The show jump started with none other than Rita Lichtenstein as Medea sacrificing her real life grandchildren, Molly & Sammy, driving the locals to clap so loud you couldn’t hear her speak. And that tone remained throughout the play.

Then we meet the talented Tom Gamblin as Pseudolus, with his two multi-talented  sidekick Proteans (Tim Burke and Daniel Charles McDonald) and the opening number, by now a show biz anthem, “Comedy Tonight” sets the frenetic pace. When the company comes out in full force and joins in it proves irresistible.

It centers around Hero (charmingly played by sweet voiced Rory Hughes) who is infatuated with a beautiful virgin courtesan next door in Lycus’ house, and Pseudolus who just wants to be free. Leo Bullock is perfectly cast as Hero’s easily befuddled dad, Senex.  Mary T, Farrell, as Domina, Hero’s mom, ‘though appropriately nasty, is much too pretty to play a shrew (let’s hear it for the older women). They are off to the country to visit her mother which opens the window of opportunity. “Love, I hear” the  young man sings as Pseudolus, capitalizing on his innocence and youthful lust, makes a deal for his freedom if he delivers the girl, singing the first of many show stoppers,   “Free”. In one of the show’s best scenes (among many) we meet the easily duped Lycus (the amusing James Duus plucked from the Grove theater community) and his parade of courtesans as Psuedolus goes “shopping” for the girl. Of course, in this Pines production the twins Geminae, Jon Bond and Matthew Rich, are male (haven’t we seen them before as pirates, and…….) Other succulent offerngs are Tintinabula (voluptuous Kathryn Lumpkin), Gymnasio (a supple Jason Kittelberger), Vibrata (Karine Plantadit a ferocious tigress) and Panacea (Nancy Wierzbpwski).When the stunning Philia , Mary Catherine McDonald (as ever a proper Irish name for a courtesan)  finally comes out, its love at first sight – they both love her.  “I have but one talent” she boasts innocently, “I’m ‘Lovely’” She’s as vacuous as any modern day icon (do Britney, or Jessica, or Lindsay or Paris ring a bell?)

They trick Lycus into letting the girl stay in Hero’s house and the plot thickens when Hysterium, the major domo with a secret stash of porn, played hilariously by Steven Alan Black – who just gets better and better every year – joins Pseudolus & Lycus (who is convinced she has the plague, don’t ask!) in pretending Philia is just a maid to the unexpectedly returned Senex and Domina, providing the cue for the funny “Everybody Ought T9 Have A Maid” with Sondheim’s cleverest lyrics.

Somewhere early in the play Jack Lichtenstein  plays Erroneous, a doddering old man instructed by a soothsayer to march around the 7 hills of Rome 7 times to find his long lost children who turn out to be……….. Jack must have finally found the best part of his career as he never played it better. Spot On!

When the general Miles Gloriousus, a great name, (Tom Vaughn) comes to collect his pre-paid bride things get even more chaotic.

It would be too exhausting to further describe the plot but let me just ay the laughs keep coming, the performances are terrific, the  band , under Brian Allan Hobbs is bold and brassy n the true Broadway tradition and producers Michael Savino and Steven Alan Black are to be commended

The opening number brought the house down

Let’s take a trip to mother’s house...and bring her head

Yup. It’s me. Beautiful and dumb

Don’t shoot, er, stab!

We’ll do anything you say, master

I just wanna be free…

Uh Oh – the wife is feeling frisky

True love – they both love her

A Kodak moment………

I’m lovely, absolutely lovely……..

A reluctant virgin

So sad, so dead……….

Wait…don’t kill him!

Strut your stuff

They could stand like this or……..

Break into a chorus kick line – guaranteed to bring the house down

Great show! Great time! Can’t wait for next year!

OUR  FAVORITE THINGS

By Jeannie Lieberman

James Belzer, in his Cherry Grove debut as director, created a saucy confection spiced with spoofs of Broadway’s “favorite things”: selected morsels from Sound of Music, Cabaret, West Side Story, South Pacific, Hello Dolly, Funny Girl, Sweet Charity, Oliver, Hedwig & the Angry Inch, some tin pan alley references and some, like Bella’s ode to menopause,  ”A Woman of a Certain Age”, which defy categorization. All with a Grove spin which borders on bawdy.

The lighter than air soufflé of a plot involves the Von Trapp family as the Captain comes out of the closet (George McGarvey in a tour de force performance…and we thought he was just a pretty face) and son Friedrich goes in (Bob Verbrugge jump starting his C.G. career). Under the questionable tutelage of “Nana” Rose

Levine,  singing “I am Sixty Going on Seventy” (an understatement), Maria (lovely import Sarah Downs, who has actually played her in the touring companies) goes on her own journey  encouraged by Mother Abbess, Sherri Rase (who, between the high notes, managed, in her assumed accent, to turn “can’t” into something unprintable which brought the house down – such a comedienne!), then sends Sarah off to Bali Hai, and she eventually falls in love with Bruce Michael Gelbert, whose robust baritone never sounded better or more relaxed in “Some Enchanted Evening” and “Maria” but especially creative in his revised rendition of “I Love A Piano” to “I Love a Soprano….Christine or Gretyl, she’ll show her mettle, whether in opera or Broadway, So you can keep your Merman or JLo, Give me an s-o-p-r-a-n-o, Give me a diva and I’ll shout viva, ‘cause her high tones are so grand,,,” bravo divo!

Then it becomes a potpourri of tasty and tasteless tidbits showcasing everyone’s “talents”: Bravo to James for coaxing Porsche (who treated the crowd to her signature Joplin-esque classic “Summertime” with the help of Denise’s hot trumpet), Margo and Coco onto the stage. Stars are born! And importing, besides the versatile silver voiced Sarah, long & lithe Kristi Ambrosetti, the sexiest eye candy to grace a Grove stage, who can actually sing as well as dance! Welcome  Anna Raykhtsaum  and Carla Russo to the Grove stage.

Kudos also to director Belzer for coaxing the best performance of his career out of Bill Perez’ rendition of “Reviewing the Situation”. Spot on! The always adorable couple, Barbara Hirsch and Linda Dickerman,  offered their numbers,  a zany “Dites Moi” and “I Got You Babe”, once again proving their versatility. Petite Jackie Presti is adorable and sexy and holds her own sandwiched between the long legged lovelies of both genders – the girl not only has charm but spunk

Saving the best for last I am assuming (by process if elimination) that the chaste sounding name of  Robert Brook Allen belongs to the anything but Ann Phetermine, who made her debut a few years ago and has been unstoppable (uncontrollable) ever since.  I believe there is nothing he won’t do onstage. or off. Dale Lally (who just two years ago was a new face in the chorus) also unleashed his abundant over the top persona just two years ago and has emerged from a new face in the chorus to this show’s Emcee – opening it with a raunchy “WIlkommen” with the Kit Kat “Girls” sequing into a version of “Two Ladies” that defies the censors. …Director James made the most of their abilities, inserting them into the show whenever possible. But t was George McGarvey who, after designing the sets, explored is abilities both comedic and vocal. I recall two years ago in his debut he mentioned that he was not interested in doing drag. Well! Look at the old girl now! However, by far the most touching moment for me (and .no. not Bella’s menopause number!) of the show was when he went into the audience and sang in the dark, which made it possible to concentrate on his voce, a poignant number from Hedwig, “how many poor defenseless creatures had to die for us” and then from “Midnight Radio” he inserted many local queen’s names.

I feel sorry for the ever capable Matt Baney in the control booth who never gets the attention he deserves or the friendly catcalls that Arthur & Martha get a final curtain! And don’t dare forget the formidable Hoffa’s who rule the floor!

With almost 30 numbers and almost twenty performers I am sure I inadvertently left someone/thing out – but what can you do when your senses are happily overloaded…….

GETTING READY

                                     Photos by Jeannie

The Music Man – Music Director Buster Freeze

And don’t forget the band: the Paul Johnson Jazz Combo

It starts like this

Margo is flirting with me while I take the picture

This is how it’s done

Oy! Another show

I blush to tell you what they are doing off camera

The  hotsy totsy RG’s

I feel pretty, Oh, so pretty

Do I have to pierce my ears NOW?

I am so cute

THE SHOW

These pictures and many others from the show are available from Just Lorraine : PhotoCGFD@aol.com

Not a RG but also hot

OK there’s no substitute for this

Do you see what I see?

Pay attention – lessons from the pro

This looks confusing – but, no, we’re in the Grove

I think he/she’s got it

Oh Yes!   definitely

Now I can hang with the girls!

Now that’s a performance

Don’t believe a word of it!

What’s wrong with this picture?? (Check the shoes)

Better when you don’t see the feet! Wait a minute! Who brought the boys in???

The APCG President (who just added title: Miss Fire Island) and the HCQueen

Who wears the pants in this house? Anyone?

THAT’s who wears the pants!

Oh, Bruce Michael! I’d follow you anywhere…….

Yes, we know, men are such cads – we must comfort each other

This gal needs a lot of comforting – good thing Sherri’s there

Ooops. BMG spotted something across that crowded room

If this is love why do they look so serious

Where is that other hand?

Not the Rockettes – look at Jackie trying to keep up

Hold everything! Its Porsche out of drag and Denise in – this picture is valuable!

Where are the censors???

What’s goin’ on here? What kind of show is this!

All in together, girls (not quite “Some Like It Hot”)

Yes, Mommy Dearest

What cute little twins

No! They can’t be the same duo!!! Sonny & Cher on steroids

I just love my leather, so macho!

WoW! A guy guy………

But not for long…..

She’s my Daddy!!!

Remember that from La Cage???

It curtains for everyone!

AFTERWARD photos by jeannie

I love my dress and I am not taking it off

Hey, whatchu lookin’ at? You got a problem?

How do I look as a brunette

It’s another look for me – do you think it’s sexy?

Too bad – she’s got a girlfriend and she’s a pro athlete!

Can’t stop posing,,,,,

Likewise...amazing what a little black dress will get you

ON THE WAY HOME…

How’s this? Did anyone say “ham”?

They’ll pick up anyone – this one is still wet!

Look at what I found…and he’s straight!

Note from the Director:

I had my Off-Broadway debut as a Producer & Director on April 7, 2008.  The show I Produced & Directed was called:  "It Takes The Village" at the The Lucille Lortel Theater.

 

I'll direct my next Off-Broadway show at The Lucille Lortel on Monday, April 20th, 2009.  More details to come on that shortly.  Please be sure to mark your calendar as I'll want you to be there to see my next show!!  -- xoxo James