Roy Berko - Page 15

Lynn Nottage, who has been called 'as fine a playwright as America has,' started to craft 'Sweat,' which is now getting a production at Cleveland Play House, in 2011, just before the height of the national malaise, but not before Reading, Pennsylvania and similar areas were hit by layoffs, plant closings, and general angst. The playwright honed in on the national problem and succeeded in writing a raw, disturbing and illuminating script that won the 2017 Pulitzer for Drama.

Annie Baker is the author of 'The Flick,' which had an award-winning production at Dobama last March (e.g., Cleveland Critics Circle and Broadwayworld.com recognitions). That script was clever, thought-provoking and generally mesmerizing.

Edward Albee, author of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf,' now in production at Beck Center for the Arts, is one of the best known Theatre of the Absurd American writers. This form of theatre, which was at its apex shortly following World War II, is based, in part on philosophical existentialism, which asks 'what is the purpose of existence?'

As Blank Canvas's program notes states, 'Before 'South Park.' Before 'The Book of Mormon. There was 'Cannibal! The Musical!'

Great Lakes Theater has found a perfect combination of scripts to start its 57th season. The fun, escapist juke box musical, 'Mamma Mia!,' had the audience excitedly on its feet for the extended curtain call. 'Pride and Prejudice,' the epic story of class-stratification and misunderstanding feelings in 19th century England, also had the audience on its feet at the end. This time, instead of dancing and singing, it was applause for a well-directed and performed staging.

August Wilson is considered one of the most prolific sources for documenting the twentieth century African-American experience. His ten-play cycle, basically set in Pittsburgh's Hill district, started with 'Gem of the Ocean,' representing the 1900s and ended with 'Radio Golf,' shining the spotlight on the 1990s. 'Fences,' which is now on stage at the newly renovated Jelliffe Theatre at Karamu, was the 1950s representative.

'Mamma Mia!,' now on stage at Great Lakes Theatre, as has been the case on Broadway and in its many local tour stops, is a thoroughly entertaining theatrical experience. The audience was on its feet for the extended curtain call, dancing, clapping, and singing.

Cesar's Forum, which might be thought of as the little theater company 'that could and can,' is at it again. The organization, which is a financial and one-man adventurehas won both Cleveland Critics Circle and Broadway World Theatre Tribute recognitions for past performances.

Like much of the works of Stephen Sondheim, from the start, 'Little Night Music' proves to be a different type of musical. Rather than a traditional overture, one-by-one, a quintet of singers, who will act like a Greek chorus throughout the production commenting on varying situations, introducing the audience to characters and clarify the plot's goings on, enter, tuning up their voices. Eventually, they blend into an overture composed of different songs from the score.

Charlotte Bronte's book, 'Jane Eyre,' is a gothic melodrama which centers on strong-minded Jane's cruel treatment by her sadistic cousin and aunt, being shipped off to jail-like boarding school, departing to become a nanny for the ward of the wealthy but psychologically tortured Edward Fairfax with whom she falls in love, and the resulting angst of secrets revealed.

CTE is a 'neurodegenerative disease found in people with multiple head injuries.' It often occurs in athletes involved in boxing, football, wrestling, ice hockey, rugby and soccer, all activities that include the participants being hit in the head, often resulting in concussions.

What does Steven Dietz, the author of 'Bloomsday,' which is now on stage at none-too-fragile, have in common with Tennessee Williams and Edward Albee? Yes, they are all American playwrights, but, believe it or not, they are all tied for number eight on the list of the Top Ten Most Produced Playwrights in America.

This past season, NBC aired 'Rise.' The television show spotlighted a high school in a conservative working class neighborhood. The school's new drama teacher, portrayed by Josh Rado, decided rather than staging a traditional, escapist musical, that the students and community would grow from doing 'Spring Awakening,' an exploration of 'young people navigating a world full of pain, frustration, growing up and peopled with not only teens, but adults who often don't have the best intentions.'