Joseph Harrison - Page 8

"Every revolution starts with a story, of who we are and who we can become." These words from Sarah Hartmann, the director of Playhouse on Park's current production of THE REVOLUTIONISTS perfectly illustrate the heart of Lauren Gunderson's play. By telling the stories of four iconic women who were brave enough to stand up during the Reign of Terror, one of the darkest moments in history, and fight for freedom and equality, THE REVOLUTIONISTS informs, excites, entertains, and most importantly, inspires.

It is always exciting when a beloved story from one's childhood receives new life on the stage. It is especially thrilling when it's a piece with such sweet potential as Roald Dahl's classic tale, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. With the original book, the classic Gene Wilder film (and other film adaptations) and recent London and Broadway musical productions setting the stage, this fun new musical will take the Bushnell stage in Hartford, CT from February 19 - 24.  Playing Augustus Gloop, one of the nasty children who finds a golden ticket to tour Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, will be Matt Wood, who sat down with me to talk about this entertaining, family-friendly show.

As the opening number 'Comedy Tonight' states, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, the classic musical from Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, aims to have 'something familiar, something peculiar, and something for everyone.' And while, in 2019, this remains mostly true, the bawdy farce, written almost 57 years ago, does raise some eyebrows in today's #metoo world. That said, the production of FORUM currently being produced by the Opera House Players at the Enfield Annex (their temporary home in Enfield, CT) is fun, energetic and high-spirited.

What do you get when you mix together lively music, hilarious characters, stylized storytelling and murder? In A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, which is currently playing at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, what you get is pure theatrical magic.

Sequels are an interesting lot. For every one that turns out to be better than the original (e.g., Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan, Godfather, Part II) there are many more that just don't cut it. But that doesn't stop people from wanting to tell the next part of a familiar or popular tale. In theatre, we haven't seen the same volume of sequels as in popular film, and those that have been made have usually been met with lukewarm reaction. But sometimes there is just something about an unfinished story that causes writers to pick up the pen and put their own twist on a tale. Such is the case with A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2, Lucas Hnath's sequel to the groundbreaking classic 1879 play by Henrik Ibsen which is currently onstage at TheaterWorks in Hartford.

When a couple decides to wed, it is typically a joyous occasion. It's a moment in their lives worth celebrating with friends and family. Oftentimes, soon after comes an engagement party where gifts are presented, toasts are made, and everyone present celebrates the happy couple. At least that is what is supposed to happen. In Hartford Stage's presentation of the world premiere of Samuel Baum's play THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY, things begin in this typical fashion, but with one unexpected event, quickly devolve into a dramatic, captivating, and revealing evening that will change the lives of those present forever.

As the magic of the holidays drifts away, the lights are taken down and people settle in to the muted grays of January, having something fun, distracting, and entertaining to keep your mind off the cold weather and the dreary days can be a real find. Good news - MURDER FOR TWO, Playhouse on Park's current production, is just what the doctor ordered to fight the winter blahs. It is a funny, fast-paced, murder mystery with a few twists, and it starts 2019 off with a (literal) bang.

Christmas is a season of traditions. From the decorations that have their certain place on the mantel, to the cookies like grandma used to make, people thrive on the familiar during the holidays. This goes for films and TV specials as well. Who doesn't pause to see if George Bailey will save the savings and loan, if Ralphie will actually get his Red Ryder BB Gun, or if Rudolph will finally prove his red nose can do great things. No matter how many viewings, there is something about the characters of these beloved Christmas programs that feels familiar and right. But have you ever wondered what happened to these larger than life characters after their time in the red and green spotlight? These are the questions that TheaterWorks in Hartford hilariously tackles in CHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS.

Every so often the musical theatre landscape experiences a swell of enthusiasm and excitement for a fresh, new and engaging play. Theatre fans (and casual viewers) alike can recall the hype when THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA or LES MISERABLES first opened (and went on tour). More recently the WICKED phenomenon brought young and old alike out to experience the magic and electricity that only a live performance can elicit. Today, the show that everyone is talking about (and obsessing over) is Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony winning musical HAMILTON. Like its popular predecessors, it has recently begun touring around the country - riding the wave of enthusiasm and further cementing its place as a true pop-culture phenomenon. But unlike its flashy, big budget predecessors, HAMILTON, in many ways, lives in its own category. It is a show that is modern, fresh, and that pushes boundaries and delivers in two and a half hours an experience unlike anything this reviewer has experienced before. I am thrilled to say, in the production that has now arrived at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, CT - HAMILTON shines brilliantly, delivering in every way (and beyond) on the hype that precedes it.

There are some stories that no matter the venue or format, find a way to touch your soul, brighten your day, and ignite a fire within you. One such story, is Louisa May Alcott's masterpiece LITTLE WOMEN, which has been adapted from the original 1868 novel into many forms including several movies and television series and even a Broadway musical. This musical version is currently being produced by the Connecticut Theatre Company in New Britain and it couldn't be a more thrilling, fresh, or heartwarming experience.

When the holiday season comes around it often brings with it staples of holiday theater - from Ebenezer Scrooge learning how to care for something other than money, Charlie Brown hearing from his friend Linus the true meaning of Christmas, or the Grinch increasing the size of his heart, theatergoers often are limited to old favorites for the season. That is why it is refreshing that the Connecticut Repertory Theater at UConn chose this year to offer a lesser known, yet equally poignant holiday tale with its current production of Paula Vogel's A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL CELEBRATION. The production offers a set of stories that many may not have heard before with familiar (and not so familiar) music by Daryl Waters.  

It's a funny thing when a piece transcends its given medium and becomes ingrained in pop culture. People who have never seen a certain play/read the book/watched the movie find themselves familiar enough with the plot or the characters without ever really experiencing the piece in its entirety. For me, this has been the case for ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST a story that was first told via the acclaimed novel by Ken Kesey, then the adaptation for the stage by Dale Wasserman, then the Academy Award winning film by Milos Forman. I had some familiarity with the plot and characters, but somehow, I was never exposed to it completely, and so it was with a fairly blank slate (those pop culture staples notwithstanding) that I approached Playhouse on Park's latest production.

In Shakespeare's day his plays served multiple purposes. In some cases, they created an escape for the people to forget their troubles and laugh or revel with and through the characters on stage. In others, the stories served as cautionary tales that made audiences think about their own lives through the lens of the troubles portrayed. Yet it was Shakespeare's history plays that aimed to take a pivotal moment in history and not only bring it to life for the audience to witness (and hopefully understand better), but to ground those stories in the present and allow those in attendance (and possibly those in power) to learn from the mistakes of the past. Thus, is the case with HENRY V, the current production being mounted at Hartford Stage.

It will come as no surprise to theater fans in Connecticut that we have an embarrassment of riches in our state when it comes to our favorite past-time. From multiple touring houses to some of the finest professional theaters in the country to top-notch community theater companies - Connecticut has it all. But what often gets overlooked in the sea of theatrical choices are the top-rated college and university theater programs right in our own back yard. After years of ignorance (or simple lack of awareness), I witnessed, first hand, the amazing work being produced by the students at one of these schools, The Hartt School of the University of Hartford. This dedication to not only learning the craft, but delivering a powerful and thrilling performance was front and center in the school's most recent production of Neil Simon, Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields' classic musical SWEET CHARITY, which ran for just four (too) short days October 18 - 21st.

When does a passion for something become an obsession? And does the desire to share that passion with another person create a unique opportunity to build a bond or an opportunity to push the other person away? 'When we find each other, are we trying to recapture someone that was once lost?' These are some of the questions answered in Jez Butterworth's (JERUSALEM, THE FERRYMAN) THE RIVER, the opening play of TheaterWorks' current season in Hartford.

As a fan of musical theatre, there is nothing like sitting down with a favorite cast album and being transported (possibly for the umpteenth time) to fantastic worlds, bygone eras, or dramatic locales. These musical journeys help one forget the worries of day to day life and instead spend a couple hours with a smile on the face and a song in the heart. Imagine if the essence of that experience could be captured and put on stage, and you have the hilarious musical THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the final show in Goodspeed Musicals' 2018 season. THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is one of those shows with something for everyone. For the die-hard theatre geeks (such as this writer) it is an exciting and thrilling, non-stop nod to the experience that only a musical can provide. But for everyone else, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is just a hands-down great piece of musical theater. With rousing dance numbers, powerhouse ballads, beautiful costumes, magical scenery, and hilarious situations, this is a show that everyone can fall in love with

There is something thrilling about discovering the backstory behind a treasured book, film or play. Learning about the origins of a favorite character or the life lessons gained long before they were introduced to you is a special thrill. This unique type of discovery, telling the tale of Peter Pan before he became the boy who would not grow up, is being brought to boisterous life in Playhouse on Park's inaugural production of their 10th season, Rick Elice's PETER AND THE STARCATCHER.

Do you remember when you were a child and the best of days were made up of adventures in the woods, tea parties with your stuffed animals, and fantastic sword fights between friends? These exciting, but entirely made up worlds entertained our young minds for hours on end and, for some, kept us from focusing on the harsh realities of life. For the characters at the center of Bess Wohl's world premiere play, MAKE BELIEVE, the opening production of Hartford Stage's 2018 - 2019 season, childhood fantasy fills a void and serves as a protective shield. Imagination shelters the children at the center of the play (and even their grown-up selves) from their real-life problems and provides a shared bond that carries on throughout their lives.  

A CHORUS LINE, the hit musical about dancers auditioning for a Broadway show played for 6,137 performances in its original run and, depending on who you ask, there are numerous reasons for that. First, and foremost, audiences connected with the people on stage and their experiences. They saw their own wishes and dreams played out through the diverse and talented group of people assembled. The second reason is because it offers a unique variety of energetic musical numbers (with some amazing dancing, naturally) interspersed with dramatic monologues that get at the heart of the human condition. And third, and probably most importantly - it is simply a wildly entertaining musical. I am pleased to say that all of these elements (and more!) are present in the current production of A CHORUS LINE at the Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, CT.