StageBuzz.com: May 2015

Friday, May 8, 2015

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Gilbert de moccos

Name: Gilbert de moccos

Hometown: Tokyo, JAPAN

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

I've performed for seven years (burlesque: as a member of MURASAKIBABYDOLL); five years (boylesque: soloist); two years (LIVE MC: soloist).

How would describe your burlesque style?

My burlesque style has a story. It's overflowing with happiness and impulse.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

I've performed at the New York Boylesque Festival since 2013 as the first performer for a Japanese person.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

All boylesque stars from all over the world.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

I wanna see, hug, kiss and talk with YOU. Thank you! Glittering LOVE!

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Rify Royalty

Name: Rify Royalty

Hometown: Jersey City, NJ

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

About a year and a half

How would describe your burlesque style?

Weird, sexy, conceptual

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

No, this is my first time. Very excited!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

World Famous *Bob* for sure!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Don’t expect anything from me, I like to keep you on your toes, so sit back and enjoy the show.

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Johnny Panic

Name: Johnny Panic

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Three years. I started out with Chris Harder's Boyleque 101 and haven't stopped since!

How would describe your burlesque style?

Gypsy Rose Lee with a beard.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Yes! I've had the honor of participating every year!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Luminous Pariah, the festival wasn't the same without him last year!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

I do it all for the sex.

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Ben Franklin

Name: Ben Franklin

Hometown: New York, NY

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Officially, 2-3 years.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Circus and variety act comedy

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Yes. 3 years.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

I’ve never seen Ray Gunn live.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Thank you for coming out and supporting our special brand of entertainment. We can’t do it without you.

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - El Toro

By Byrne Harrison
Photo by Drasko Bogdanovic

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: El Toro

Hometown: Toronto

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Four.

How would describe your burlesque style?

High energy, theatrical, acrobatical nonsense with a whole lotta spunk.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Every year.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Ray Gunn, I keep just missing him.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Te quiero, mi amores ;)

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Christopher J. Anderson of Rhythm Knights Dance Troupe

Names: Rhythm Knights Dance Troupe - Christopher J. Anderson, Sam Benedict, Nick Deyo, Syville Padayo, Bill Siegfried

Hometowns: Detroit, MI, Wilsonville, OR, Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and Sugar Land, TX

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Dancing in particular, for over 25 years and burlesque has been intertwined all throughout since starting in Reno in 1992. I enjoy being able to introduce and give the opportunity to newer members of my troupe.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Sexy Street Jazz Dance with a little bit of underground funk!

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

We are virgins!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

I am very looking forward to seeing all of the out of town (and out of country) performers and learn what types of things are happening around the world.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

A big hello and thanks to our brothers-in-song of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus.

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Dew Lily

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Seven years

How would describe your burlesque style?

Slow and sexy, with the heart of a clown

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

It's my 4th year!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Gilbert de Moccos! and always Waxie Moon.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Love yourself first, then spread it around.

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Mike Monaco

By Byrne Harrison
Photo by Bill Wright

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Mike Monaco

Home town: Pittsfield, MA

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Five years. I’m a member of Gypsy Layne Cabaret & Co. (www.gypsylayne.com)

How would describe your burlesque style?

Cheeky, mischievous, and fun-loving; I’m a bearded boy with a glamour girl twist.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

I performed last year with my troupe, Gypsy Layne. This year I’m performing solo!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

There are so many incredible performers that it’s hard to it narrow down, but I’m really excited to see Waxie Moon again—I was blown away by him at the 2013 festival, when I was in the audience, that he inspired be to apply for 2014…and here I am again!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Mike Monaco is going to woo you and wow you so hard, you’ll be seeing stars when I’m done.

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Waxie Moon

By Byrne Harrison

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Waxie Moon
Home town: Seattle, Washington

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Since the fall of 2006.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Waxie Moon is a gender-blending queer lady boylesque performance-art stripping sensation. That pretty much covers it.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Yes, 2 years ago. Can't wait for another full weekend of man meat magic!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Manchego always cracks me the fuck up. Brewster makes me weak in the knees. And I live for the gender complexity of Lou Henry Hoover.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Thanks for supporting this exciting and evolving art-form!

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Geegee Louise

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

This past month is a mark of 5 years in the industry! I started the moment I turned 18 and I always get that same nervous feeling every time I am about to walk on stage.

How would describe your burlesque style?

I used to study with Alvin Ailey dance company, so I incorporate a lot of ballet and African inspired movement. I like to pull from Caribbean and African movements and combine that with American jazz. It's an interesting combination! But it keeps me on my toes.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

This is going to be my first boylesque festival. I am excited! I don't usually describe my pieces as boylesque. Being a female impersonator, I don't like to lie to my audience, so my character is almost gender neutral. I let the audience develop my gender as the piece goes on.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Ray Gunn and Bazuka Joe!! My family, by that I mean my sisters, mother, sister in law, grandmother, were drooling over Ray when we danced together in the New York Burlesque Festival in 2011. Since then it's been a tradition to catch them when we can.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Honestly. Thank you. This journey hasn't been easy and the support that I have been given is incredible. Thank you for helping me do what I love!!!

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Jack n' Thacox

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Two and a half years now and I'm just getting the hang of it.

How would describe your burlesque style?

A high-school theater production gone horribly awry

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

This is my first time ever performing in the big city! I am exhilarated.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

I can't wait to see all the boys backstage!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

If you're my boyfriend once, you're my boyfriend forever ;]

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Bobby Barnaby

By Byrne Harrison

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Bobby Barnaby
Home town: San Francisco

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Seven years.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Classic Americana Striptease meets Vaudeville.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

In 2013, I performed my award winning fan dance.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Who am I not looking forward to seeing! But seriously, Brewster McCall.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

See more live theater, on every scale and medium!

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - The Luminous Pariah

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Six and a half years.

How would describe your burlesque style?

I'd describe my style as an interdisciplinary blend of performance art, theatre, and dance - leaning heavily on the gender-bending side.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

I participated in the very first NY Boylesque Festival and had a blast. I performed in the second, but am just now returning to the most distracting dressing room in the world.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

I'm looking forward to seeing my friends perform, obviously. However, I'm super excited to see some boys who I've not seen before! I love this festival because it's the one place in the US that male identified performers and personas can come together to inspire one another.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

If I had a chance to speak to my New York viewers and fans en mass; I'd want them to know that I'd like to meet them! Also, that I appreciate the support. They're welcome to interact with me on any of the many social media outlets: @LuminousPariah

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Serge Violland

Home town: Anneçy, France

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Twelve years in cabaret, one year in burlesque.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Cabaret New Burlesque.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Never.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

They seems all very interesting, and I am curious by nature!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Forget everything you've seen so far.

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Lou Henry Hoover

Name: Lou Henry Hoover
Home town: NYC/Seattle

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

It must be seven years now!

How would describe your burlesque style?

I'm a boylesqueing drag king. I came into burlesque out of a professional dance career, so I approach burlesque with a choreographer's perspective combined with a deep love of camp theater and a tendency to play the clown.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

This is my second year.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

There's so many great performers at the festival! I am particularly excited to see Waxie Moon this year - he had a big hand in getting me started both as a drag king and in boylesque, and he and I have worked together in a lot of different capacities over the years. He's a brilliant weirdo and seeing him onstage is always a treat. This June we will both be competing for King of Burlesque at The Burlesque Hall of Fame so I'm hoping to get a sneak peak at his act! I'm honored to be the first drag king to compete in this category. Of course I'm also excited to see the reigning King of Burlesque and fellow Atomic Bombshell, Mr. Gorgeous!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Get ready for a full weekend of tit…er…cockillation!

Saturday, May 2, 2015

"Hamlet" - Sometimes Experimentation Doesn’t Quite Work

By Judd Hollander

Director Austin Pendleton tries a novel approach with William Shakespeare’s Hamlet starring Peter Sarsgaard in the title role, now being performed at Classic Stage Company. Sadly his idea runs out of steam soon after intermission, with the rest of the play turning into a long, unforgiving slog through the classic work.

Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark, a place where all is not well. His father the King dying less than two months earlier, with his mother Queen Gertrude (Penelope Allen) having since married Claudius (Harris Yulin), his father's brother. Claudius subsequently ascending to the throne. But the dead king does not rest easy, his spirit returning with an ominous warning for his son. One which sets the Prince on vengeful course against those he believes sent his father to an early grave.

A common query about the storyline is whether Hamlet truly becomes mad after his ghostly encounter or if his sudden change in attitude, from one of brooding uneasiness to wild obsession is actually part of a scheme to uncover the truth about his father’s passing. Those people who get in the way of his mission simply becoming collateral damage.

However here Pendleton has chosen to excise the entire speech of the ghost, something which is certainly a key plot point; so instead of seeing a possible reason for Hamlet’s change of mind, one only sees the change itself, without any meaning behind it. The audience thereby forced to examine Hamlet’s alteration of attitude from the outside looking in. Indeed, it's not until one hour and fifteen minutes into the show that the issue of murder is first invoked and sometime after that until one gets an idea of Hamlet’s actual purpose.

While this forced change of perspective is an intriguing idea, it really doesn’t work, the result being that Hamlet becomes more of a curiosity rather than a tragic or somewhat sympathetic figure. Pendleton seeming to take great pains in making sure Hamlet is reduced to almost a cypher for a good part of the piece. It’s also worth noting that a speech showing Hamlet’s early self-doubts has also been edited, with the line about him feeling melancholy removed from the play.

Added to this issue is the fact that the pacing of the show is uneven to say the least, the production feeling more and more leaden as it moves forward. The latter part of act two is especially weak, due to the fact that once Hamlet’s motivations have finally been made clear, most of his later speeches to that purpose now seem tired and overdone. Among the scenes that don’t work nearly as well as they should is the early part of the graveyard scene (i.e. the Yorick speech) and a lengthy bit regarding the fate of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, (Scott Parkinson, Daniel Morgan Shelly), two of Hamlet’s friends who, while trying to do the right thing, find themselves caught up in a situation they do not understand and ultimately have no control.

Another problem here is how the character of Ophelia (Lisa Joyce) is presented. The daughter of Polonius (Stephen Spinella), counsel for the King and brother of Laertes (Glenn Fitzgerald), there’s always the question if Hamlet actually loves this somewhat fragile girl who is driven to the brink of madness by his actions, or if she’s simply a means to an end his plan of vengeance. However neither Joyce nor Pendleton allow the character to become defined enough to really care about, with the result being that her final and most pivotal scenes don’t generate all that much interest or sympathy.

All of the above aside, there are still some strong acting performances to enjoy throughout. Sarsgaard does well in showing the passion and anger in Hamlet, especially in a sequence where he takes his mother to task for marrying Claudius. Interestingly, Sarsgarrd’s characterization comes off as pretty one-dimensional until he meets the ghost, and only then do his passions begin to erupt. Allen is wonderful as Gertrude, imbuing her role with a distinct air of regalness and often playing the part on a higher level than the rest of the cast. This method causing a problem in her scenes with Yulin. While Yulin turns in a nicely low key performance, thus making the one time he gets visibly angry all the more powerful, his and Allen’s styles do not mesh well, it often feeling the two are performing in separate plays. Fortunately, Allen does work wonderfully well in her scenes with Sarsgaard, making their moments together one of the true highlights of the show.

Comically stealing every scene he’s in is Stephen Spinella as Polonius, a man who never used one word when 1,000 or more will do. When he promises to be brief while explaining to the royal couple what he is sure is the cause of Hamlet’s problems, he instead goes hilariously on and on. One can almost see the frustration in the King and Queen’s faces, along with the steam rising from their ears as they vainly urge him to get to the point. Elsewhere, Fitzgerald is strong as Laertes, a man who wants his own vengeance against Hamlet for what the latter has done to his family, while Austin Jones is good as Hamlet’s stalwart friend Hornito.

Walt Spangler’s set is an interesting choice, with a wedding cake ever present, along with a festive dining room table. The tableau offering an ironic comment on what should be a happy time and which instead turns out to be anything but. Constance Hoffman’s costumes, the entire play being done in modern dress, work well; as does the lighting by Justin Townsend.

The ultimate problem with this production of Hamlet is that it’s built on a single premise - that of putting the audience in the same boat as the rest of the cast in trying to determine whether Hamlet is or is not mad. Once that determination is made, much of what follows becomes extraneous as one waits for the rest of the story to play out. While the show boasts some very good performances, ultimately you can mark this down as a failed experiment.

Featuring: Scott Parkinson (Francisco/Rosencrantz/Player Queen/Gravedigger), Jim Broaddus (Barnardo/First Player/Player King/Captain), Austin Jones (Horatio), Daniel Morgan Shelly (Marcellus/Reynaldo/Guildenstern/Lucianus/Priest/Fortinbras), Harris Yulin (Claudius), Jim Broaddus (Voltemand), Glenn Fitzgerald (Laertes), Stephen Spinella (Polonius), Penelope Allen (Gertrude), Peter Sarsgaard (Hamlet), Lisa Joyce (Ophelia).

Hamlet
by William Shakespeare
Scenic Design: Walt Spangler
Costume Design: Constance Hoffman
Lighting Design: Justin Townsend
Original Music & Sound Design: Ryan Rumery/Scapesound
Wig & Hair Design: Dave Bova
Production Stage Manager: Timothy R. Semon
Assistant Sage Manager: Kristin M. Herrick
Fight Captain: Daniel Morgan Shelley
Production Supervisor: Production Core
Production Manager: Amber Mathis
General Manager: John C. Hume
Casting: Calleri Casting
Press Representative: The Publicity Office
Directed by Austin Pendleton

Classic Stage Company
136 East 13^th Street
Tickets: (212) 352-3101/866-811-4111 or www.classicstage.org.
Running Time: 3 Hours, 20 Minutes, one intermission

Closes: May 10, 2015

"New York Spring Spectacular" - A Very Enjoyable, if Sometimes Over The Top Experience

Reviewed by Judd Hollander

This is not your parent's Radio City Musical Hall Easter Show, or even your older brother's or sister’s. Filled with 21st century technology and brilliantly staged by Warren Carlyle, the New York Spring Spectacular is an unabashed love letter to The Big Apple, offering a boatload of fun while still managing to be a very human and intimate experience.

Somewhere beyond time and space, an angel-in-waiting named Jack (Derek Hough), who has been stuck in limbo for a long, long, long time, finally gets a chance to earn his wings. His assignment: travel to present day New York and help Bernie (Lenny Wolpe), a jovial but aging fellow who gives guided tours of the city, to keep his job. Bernie's company having just been bought by Jenna (Laura Benanti), who plans to take the entire company virtual. Smart, tech savvy, and very, very rich, Jenna is big on the whole virtual reality concept and has even prepared a presentation of what Bernie's tour will look like once she gets through with it - complete with a virtual reality Bernie. While Jenna and her right-hand man Marshall (Jared Grimes) are ready to put Bernie on the unemployment line, Jack convinces her, with a little help from the folks in the audience, to take one of Bernie's tours in order to prove that actual reality is far more enjoyable than the virtual version.

With Bernie in the driver's seat and with a little help from Jack, the audience is treated to multiple New York sites: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Broadway - where Jenna waxes lyrical about the idea of making all of Broadway virtual - the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, among others. Each segment filled with guest appearances via video or voice ranging from Donald Trump and Michael Strahan to Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler - the latter two lending their voices to Patience and Fortitude, the lions who guard the entrance to the New York Public Library on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. Also seen are various sport figures, including Walt Frazier and Mariano Rivera, and of course there are the famous Radio City Rockettes, who take part in multiple song and dance numbers. There's even an aerial ballet of sorts.

As the show works on letting the magic of New York City shine through, and the outcome of Jack's mission never really in doubt, the issue becomes the journey itself and whether getting there is far more than half the fun. Thanks to the excellent recreations of the various locales, the Metropolitan Museum and Central Park being especially well-done, the answer is a resounding "yes"! The show being a wonderful chance for tourists to get an idea of what the city has to offer, while actual New Yorkers can compare their memories of these places to what's on stage and also perhaps consider checking out any of the ones they might not have been to in a while, if ever.

Nicely coupled with the different New York scenes are the various dance numbers, once which include ballroom, tap and an absolutely wonderful homage to "Singin' in the Rain". The Rockettes, clad in everything from elegant evening gowns to rain gear and doing a wonderful job performing in these different styles, as well as letting loose with their trademark high kick line. The Rockettes' costumes designed by fashion icons Diane von Furstenberg, Isaac Mizrahi and Zac Posen, all of whom make video appearances during the course of the show.

If there is one problem with the production, it's that it keeps hitting you over the head with how much there is to see and do in New York City. I'm not one to disagree about that, being a life-long New Yorker and still finding new and different places to check out every day. However all that aside, there is still more than a bit of overkill here and after the third or fourth splashy musical number, one starts to wish for something a bit more quiet to come along and change the tempo of things a bit.

Hough has a great time as Jack, trying to convince Jenna to see the error of her ways while dancing up a storm when circumstances warrant. Though it might have been nice if some back story was provided on his character. Benanti does a great turn as Jenna. No female version of Ebenezer Scrooge or Mr. Potter here, Benanti shows Jenna to be an intelligent and humorous woman. Though one who forgets the importance of human contract and the magic of love in her life. At least she did, until now. Grimes is fun as Marshall, though the character has no real depth, and he's perfectly paired with Hough at points - such as the dance sequence that takes place in Central Park. Wolpe is nicely affable as Bernie, who comes across as one of those "best kept secrets". An unassuming character who's part and parcel to the tapestry that is New York. He also has a fountain of trivia available where the city is concerned and gives one of the longest walking tours in memory, if the actual distance covered between the various stops depicted in the show is any indication.

A great deal of fun and certain to attract folks of all ages, the New York Spring Spectacular certainly has a lot to recommend it and one hopes it will be around for many years to come.

New York Spring Spectacular

Featuring: Andrew “Dr. Ew” Carter (Easter Bunny), Whoopi Goldberg (Voice), Derek Hough (Jack), Lenny Wolpe (Bernie), Laura Benanti (Jenna), Jared Grimes (Marshall), Chelsea Packard (Julie) Emily Rosenfeld/Paige Brady (Emily), Colin Critchley, Grayson Taylor (Steve), Bella Thorne (Voice of Alice), Tina Fey, Amy Poehler (Voice of the Lions), Crista Moore (Isabella), Mathieu Leopold, Sarah Romanowsky (Aerialists), LaVon Fisher-Wilson (Featured Soloists)

Special Appearances by: 50 Cent, Carmelo Anthony, Odell Beckham Jr., Christie Brinkley, Bob Costas, Victor Cruz, Walt Frazier, Johnny Gilbert, Joe Girardi, Heidi Klum, Spike Lee, John Leguizamo, Henrik Lundqvist, Al Michaels, Isaac Mizrahi, Zac Posen, Kelly Ripa, Mariano Rivera, Al Roker, Sam Rosen, Martha Stewart, Ben Stiller, Michael Strahan, Donald Trump, Diane von Furstenburg

The Rockettes: Nicole Baker, Ashli Bear, Samantha Berger, Danielle Betscher, Christina Cichra, Jessie Crouch, KT Wilson Curry, Gabrielle De Re, Tara Dunleavy, Alyssa Epstein, Melinda Farrell, Katelyn Gaffney, Tiffany Griffin, Sarah Grooms, Katie Hamrah, Melissa Hillmer, Lindsay Howe, Candace Jablonski, Kristen Jantzie, Lisa Jantzie, Rebekah Joy Mitchell, Ashley Kasunich, Allyson Kelly, Alissa LaVergne, Mindy Moeller, Danielle Morgan, Kimberly Petros Nassif, Alexis Olson, Amy Love Osgood, Natalie Madison Reid, Traci Reszetylo, Sierra Ring, Karen Ritchie, Taylor Shimko, Hannah Sides, Christine Sienicki, Brittany Paige Snyder, Sarah Staker, Audrey Thelemann, Katie Elizabeth Walker, Brittany Werthmann, Raley Zofko

Ensemble: David Armstrong, Barton Bieber, Nathaniel Braga, Camille Branton, Elyssa Jo Brown, Angela Buccinni, Elizabeth Burton, Marshall Kennedy Carolan, Andrew “Dr. Ew” Carter, Emily Ferranti, Daniela Filippone, LaVon Fisher-Wilson, Taylor Frey, Jessie Green, J’Loni Jones, Nathan Keen, Jonathan M. Kim, Ryan Koss, Mathieu Leopold, Andy Mills, Chelsea Packard, Dylan Pearce, Sarah Romanowsky, JC Schuster, David Scotchford, Monique Smith, Ashley Talluto, Addie Tomlinson, Kamille L. Upshaw, Jessie Walker, Thom Wall, John Walton West, Bruce Winant, Jessica Wu

Scenic Design: Patrick Fahey, Costume Design, ESOSA, Lighting Design: David Agress, Sound Design, Keith Caggiano, Video & Projection Design: Batwin + Robin Productions, Wig Design: Charles G. LaPointe, Puppet Designers/Directors: Matt Acheson, Eric Novak, 3-D Film Animation: Reel FX, Music Supervisor & Lead Conductor: Patrick Vaccariello, Orchestrators: Larry Blank, Brad Dechter, Ned Ginsburg, Simon Hale, Larry Hochman, Michael Starobin, Daniel Troob, Dance Arrangements: John O’Neill, Jim Laev, Daniel Troob; Casting: Testley & Company, Technical Director: Larry Morley, Production Stage Manager: Nancy Pittelman, Executive Producers: Victoria Parker Julie Oh, Original Songs by: Gary Barlow & Eliot Kennedy, Opening Number Choreographed by: Mia Michaels, “Bring It Home” written by March Shaiman and Scott Wittman, Executive Producer: James L. Dolan, Written by Joshua Harmon,

Produced by Harvey Weinstein, Creative Directors: Diane Paulus & Randy Weiner, Directed and Choreographed by Warren Carlyle

Radio City Music Hall
50th Street and Avenue of the Americas
Tickets: 866-858-0007 or www.rockettes.com/spring
Information: www.newyorkspringspectacular.com
Closes May 7

Running time: 90 minutes no intermission

"Ghosts" - Sheer Brilliance

By Judd Hollander

Photos by Stephanie Berger

A woman trying desperately to exorcise the specters of her past finds instead they've returned full force in Richard Eyre's absolutely riveting adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts. This production, originally presented at the Almeida Theatre in London is now at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Helene Alving (Lesley Manville), a widow who lives on a vast estate in a remote area, is getting ready for the dedication of an orphanage she had built to honor the memory of her late husband. Said ceremony to take place on the 10th anniversary of his passing. As Helene goes over the final preparations for the event, she’s also enjoying the company of her son Oswald (Billy Howle), a painter who's just returned after several years of living abroad.

Helene sees in the orphanage a chance to finally walk away from the task that has occupied most of her adult life; that of keeping her husband's legacy as pure as possible. For while Mr. Alving was a much loved and respected member of the community, he was also an acoholic lecher who engaged in all manners of debuarchery, all while making Helene's life a living hell. Helene even tried to leave him at one point, but was ultimately convinced to return by Pastor Manders (Will Keen), who firmly believes that a wife's duty is to stand by her husband and help to make him a better man. Since that time, Helene has worked to keep her husband’s various predilictions secret, while sending her young son away so he would not be exposed to his father's influence.

However a new life may not yet be in the cards for Helene; with the effects of past decisions seemingly reappearing everywhere she turns. From her interactions with Manders, who is now her business advisor on the orphanage, to Oswald's flirtations with her maid Regina (Charlene McKenna), actions which eerily remind Helene of an assignation her husband had with their former maid in this very house, prior events and conversations continue to cast their ominous shadows. Especially since her son is carrying his own secret and may now need the mother he does not know very well more than ever for what is to follow.

In some ways, Ghosts is the antitheses of Ibsen's A Doll's House. There, a woman had to choose between living with her husband on his terms or being on her own. Here, we are shown the consequences of a woman who decided to stay where she was because, as Helene continually explains to Manders, she was and is "a coward". Afraid to leave her husband, afraid to let people know the truth about him even after his death and afraid to tell her son what kind of a man his father truly was, thus destroying the idolization Oswald has for him.

Hugely controversial when it first came out, with its talk of sexually transmitted disease, as well as how woman are treated far more differently than men for what is basically the same moral offense - as shown through the reactions of Manders - Ghosts has lost none of its power. Thanks to Richard Eyre's superlative adaptation of the original text, as well as his excellent directorial work, the piece pulls no punches with more than enough blame, suffering and victims, innocent and otherwise, to go around until it is almost unbearable to watch. It also helps that these characters, many of whom seem more than a bit stereotypical when they first appear, are actually all nicely well rounded and all with a core of resolve and moral certainty that is tested, compromised and in some cases all but destroyed.

Manville works wonderfully as Helene. Saddled with the task of giving numerous expository speeches, she imbues them all with great passion, while showing Helene to be a woman of deep inner strength, managing to keep herself together despite suffering years of personal torment. She is also a woman who will do whatever she must in order to spare her son from the ultimate effects of her husband's legacy. Including adding to her own burden in order to relieve Oswald of his.

Keen is positively brilliant as Manders, a person to tries to find the moral high ground in everything he does, with a habit of hedging his bets so in case something does go wrong, he can convince himself he's not to blame. He's also someone ultimately brought down to earth by his own personal moral code - one which stresses the importance of honor and appearance above all else - as well as perhaps through a bit of divine intervention. Keen doing a great job in taking what could easily be a one-dimensional character and making him appear all too human.

Howle is very good as Oswald, the character at first seeming almost a bit of a throwaway plot device for both Helene and Regina to pin their hopes. Yet while pretty much in the background for the first two-thirds of the play, Oswald has his own understanding concerning what his future will be, he eventually exploding with a sort of angry yet resigned desperation over a situation in which he has only so much control.

Brian McCardie is very good as Jacob, a rough sort of fellow employed by Helene for some construction work at the orphanage. He's also a drunk, scoundrel and, in a bit of an ironic twist, a man who once made a somewhat honorable, if perhaps not morally correct decision and who refuses to be condemned for it now. He's also not afraid to use a little psychological blackmail to get what he wants. McKenna is fine as Regina, a woman who, like everyone else, wants the best for their own future, but also like most everyone else in this tale is destined to reap the benefits of a past she never quite understood.

Excellently presented and performed, Ghosts offers a searing look at human frailties and hypocrisy, along with a warning that no matter how hard one tries to conceal past events, they cannot stop their effects from finally and completely being felt.

Featuring Charlene McKenna (Regina Engstrand), Brian McCardie (Jacob Engstrand), Will Keen (Pastor Manders), Lesley Manville (Helene Alving), Billy Howle (Oswald Alving).

Ghosts
by Henrik Ibsen
Adapted and Directed by Richard Eyre
Design: Tim Hartley
Lighting: Peter Mumford
Sound: John Leonard
Casting: Cara Beckinsale CDG
Associate Director: Elena Araoz

Presented by Almeida Theatre and Sonia Friedman Productions

Brooklyn Academy of Music
Harvey Theatre
651 Fulton Street
Tickets: 718-636-4100 or www.bam.org
Running Time: 1 Hour, 45 Minutes, no intermission

Closes: May 3, 2015

StageBuzz.com

Friday, May 8, 2015

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Gilbert de moccos

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Rify Royalty

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Johnny Panic

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Ben Franklin

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - El Toro

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Christopher J. Anderson of Rhythm Knights Dance Troupe

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NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Geegee Louise

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NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Bobby Barnaby

NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - The Luminous Pariah

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NY Boylesque Festival Performer Profile - Lou Henry Hoover

Saturday, May 2, 2015

"Hamlet" - Sometimes Experimentation Doesn’t Quite Work

"New York Spring Spectacular" - A Very Enjoyable, if Sometimes Over The Top Experience

"Ghosts" - Sheer Brilliance

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