The Santaland Diaries

Can anything get funnier than an elf with a cocktail glass? Didn't think so. Harold M. Leaver is absolutely adorable in Horizon Theatre's "The Santaland Diaries." This delightful elf tells the story of what really goes on behind the Santa area at Macy's Department store. Harold is joined wonderfully by Ms. Marci Millard and Mr. Enoch King, both of whom compliment Harold to such a high extent, one would think that they've been a team for years! Bravo to playwright David Sedaris for this delightful (in a not-for-children-arena) hour and 20 minutes of fun, frolic and well-placed profanity. Not a dry eye in the house for all the laughter this season. Well done to the cast and crew!

Voices Underwater

Synchronicity Performance Group has done it again. "Voices Underwater" was superb and most wonderfully of all was the masculine form of Mr. Theroun Patterson. Most of the women in the theater were pretty sure there was theater going on - action on the stage and all - but once the water hit the beautiful backside and legs of Mr. Patterson, no other thoughts were among the audience. Beautifully sculpted by director Rachel May, this masterpiece disturbed the mind and made the audience think by bringing a little girl into an old building in Alabama. The show was a wonderful mix of 1864 Civil War situations, 1923 Southern story-telling and present day tensions with interracial dating. Disturbing? Maybe - but Synchonicity has always made their audience think, and think for weeks after seeing a show, as good theater should. Bravo to Synchronicity!

Kiss of the Spider Woman

OSA has done it again. And fabulously so with great music, electric dancing and a story to send chills up your spine. A few things, of course:

1. Every male up on stage wasn't the stereotypical dancer-type. This might have been a great choice.

2. High props to Mr. Ricardo Aponte for his masterful choreography! Every person on stage was exact, to the point, and exhausted after every section! Well done, Ricardo!

3. Couldn't hear the woman playing Aurora, the wonderful actress Sims Lamason. The songs, perhaps, were too deep that the audience couldn't hear her, or the band was way too loud for her. She was swallowed up in a lot of words and the audience could only see her mouth moving.

4. Charlie Miller, the Warden, and Royce Garrison, Marcos, were phenominal and creepy as they kept the inmates in check throughout the entire show.

5. Now, really, in theater, you just let the story prompt you to applaude or not to applaude. Unfortunately, the director was in the back row prompting applause...and loudly. Many audience members were wondering what the heck was going on.

6. The actor portraying Molina, Brian James Porter, is an absolute doll! Wonderfully focused, incredibly moving - a true star on stage.

Don't miss "Kiss of the Spider Woman" at OnStage Atlanta. It's well worth the visit!

The Third Howl

Now, Theatre Decatur has definitely produced some excellent stuff in the last year and a half, but "The Third Howl" needs some help.

1. The choreography was awful. It was just so mindless and wandering and the actors looked so uncomfortable with it. They would even correct themselves on stage and actors should be confident in their stuff in order to entertain.

2. The actors have blocking off the stage and in the isles and such - with no lighting. So, lots of dialogue and running around and the audience can't see them. Very confusing.

3. The darling actor named Mark Feldman plays Louie - an older, Jewish -owned mutt that runs with the pack. Mark is very focused, very believeable and such a treat to watch as he goes through the story.

4. The set is incredible - very well done, very good use of the space. Props to set designer Archie Sands.

5. Repetition in the show - every new scene started out the same way and after a bit of time, the audience gets it already. The audience is waiting for something new on every new day. Repetition with the naps was unnecessary too. With light changes and blocking, we get that they're tired and about to nap.

6. Poor Hoover, played by Zach Solomon, and Lamont, played by Jacob Wood - there was a scene in which Lamont asked about the squirrels and Hoover responded with an explanation and then Lamont asked the same question again and Hoover continued on with the show. Poor thing. It's hard when you black-out on stage and another actor has to cover for you.

7. The point of the story was just too late in the show. Grab the audience's attention soon or you lose them later in the act.

8. The actors were shining stars every time they were center stage. Especially Sally Cat played by Jennifer Hendrickson. What a doll and what a voice!

All in all please support Theatre Decatur as better shows are coming in 2007.

Bald Grace

Marki Shalloe has done it again! This was a masterpiece of writing, fun, frolic, and of course, talented men and women. Theatre Gael and 14th Street Playhouse have housed a wonderful new edition to the Shalloe collection of performing art. The story of a Irish female pirate narrated by the pirate's niece, was just absolute fun! The lighting changes, subtle as they were in spots, were distracting. The meaning behind them wasn't too clear. The acting was supurb with no holes left. The stakes were high for every actor and they played their objectives wonderfully. Tastefully done! Can't wait to see what Marki has up her "pen" next - or "keyboard."

An Infinite Ache

Great job to Jack-in-the-Black-Box-Theatre Company for a wonderful 90 minute show. The night-time bedroom lighting was awesome! The suitcase that was a bottomless pit was great! And a fish! A stage Beta! What an excellent idea! And why aren't there more fish on stage? Well, this might be the beginning. :)

The story was about a couple...a first date, and then, their lives, their joys, their sorrows, their jobs, and their aging....and then back to their first date. Wow. A two-person show going through years of their lives. Great stuff.

Wanted more from the woman, Lotus. She was good, but more ..stronger choices could have been made with all of her actions.

Matt Myers, as always, was fantastic! Bravo for his emotion, his concentration and his commitment to character. Well done!

An excellent night of theater, as usual...

The Pillowman

Actor's Express can't do anything wrong - really. "The Pillowman" was outstanding! The revolving set to cover the different points in the story was just brilliant. The tale was a bit for some audience members to handle, as it dealt with a man killing children because the fictional stories his brother wrote were of children being killed... wow. Major props to Jeff Feldman as the "bad cop" and to the absolutely marvelous John Benzinger. Benzinger's an absolute talent in this, making his character both fun and "bothered" and child-like, all at once.

Here's hoping Actor's Express brings this one back for another run.

The Importance of Being Ernest

Theatre Decatur did a fantastic job last night with their production of "The Importance of Being Ernest." Props to Bill, the Stage Manager, for running everything smoothly with that cast.

1. The Scene Changes could have been quicker
2. Wondering how men hold their wine glasses back then - because, Algernon held his wine glass like it was a mug of beer.
3. Miss Prism got up from the table in Act I.2 and, just wondering, couldn't she go around the chair and upstage instead of between the chair and desk? It looked like an uncomfortable move.
4. Someone was brushing past the curtains stage-right during a very serious moment in the show.
5. The fabulous actor playing Mrs. Bracknell - the nape of the neck showed a lot of regular hair under the wig.
6. It was interesting that the MARTA train went by and caused vibrations during a very appropriate scene. Nice touch.
7. The umbrella ...was just wondering what was going on with the umbrella and if it needed to be fixed. It was very loose.
8. The priest's jacket was ripped under the right arm. Wasn't sure if that was on purpose.

Other than that, the show was fantastic! Very good intellectual humor and facial expressions were divine. Well done, Theater Decatur!

The Thing About Men

Unfortunately, Heather was not able to make it to this one, but she's gotta see it.

1. Horizon Theater does an absolutely excellent job with relationships! The Married man, the Married woman, and the lover of the wife who is the best friend of the husband - what a triangle!
2. David Howard is totally hot - even down to his underwear, ladies! His character is very artistic, whose vocal style is deep, pure and emotional - and did I mention he's gorgeous?
3. Brandon O'Dell - way funny. His seven characters were just hysterical! Totally, totally hysterical!
4. The audience was very responsive to the actors and the story.
5. The set was brilliant - props to Neil for the lights and John for the design!

Never a dull moment at the Horizon! This show is a must-see!

A Nervous Smile

Man! Talk about theater that grabs your heart-strings! Synchronicity did a spectacular job bringing John Belluso's play to life. Comments:

1. Heather really needs to see this show. Really, really needs to see this show.
2. Excellent use of the space at 7 Stages.
3. The set by Rochelle Barker was devine: slightly gothic to the eye and definitely forboding of the tale.
4. The actors were beautiful: just beautiful people in a very disturbing tale. Well done!
5. The Curtain Speech was, in a word, perfect. Miss Hope Mirlis commanded the stage and the audience and with all the professionalism that is natural to her, she gave a concise and pointed speech and introduced the play very, very well.
6. Heather's opinion: black body-hugging dress, the audience can see the outline of the g-string underwear. Is this done? Is this kosher? It was kind weird.

Over-all, excellent show! And yes, Heather must see this.

Shirley Valentine

Tonight was the preview for OffoffPeachtree Theatre's "Shirley Valentine."

For all theater-goers on this list who love a good story, this is a must-see! Major props to Lynne Jenson for being one the best story-tellers around: animated, focused, delightful and absolutely radiant! Major, major props to Set Designer Jeroy Hannah who has most effectively used the space at Academy Theater to a surprising potential!

"Shirley Valentine" is playing at the Academy Theatre, 12 N. Clarendon Ave in Avondale Estates. This wonderful production opens September 8th and runs through September 23rd.

Now, some other things noticed:

1. Gina should never see theater again without Heather. It wasn't as fun.
2. There's that warm, fuzzy feeling when you walk into a theater that you've worked in before, but you walk in as a patron, and the ASM has to come and find you to turn off the lights in the dressing room. Love that.
3. House opened 15 to places. But that's ok.
4. The set was outstanding!! I mean, we are talking, impeccible!!! Jealousy abounds the practicals on that set!!! The sink actually worked! The stove actually worked! The deep fryer actually worked!!!
5. 2nd act - wanted more light on the stage, especially downstage left.
6. Pre-show music was excellent.
7. Wasn't sure if the lead was supposed to be Irish or British - accent sounded more Irish than British.
8. Shirley Valentine was adorable!
9. Costumes: earth-tones, khaki skirt with a burnt sienna top and matching button-down sweater.
10. Weird light-shifts. The set would brighten then lower then normal.
11. Shirley was an excellent story-teller!
12. Love that this woman talks to a wall in Act I and talks to a rock in Act II.
13. Noticed a lumber marking on the set in Act II

Over-all - the best show. Absolutely fabulous!

Father of the Bride at Kudzu Playhouse

It was an enjoyable evening and we laughed a lot and became teary-eyed at the end with the wedding. Here are our notes:

1. Once the house opens, no tech no stage, please - A technician came out onto the stage to straighten something on the set and then left. Once the audience enters the theater, the set should be in place and the mood is set for the audience to enjoy another place and time. If something needs to be straightened, there are experts called "actors" that come onto stage during a show and will gladly smooth out whatever it was on the set while they are performing something called a Character.

2. Microphones up against the lighting instruments - now, here, I'm not sure if this is a problem or not, but it was very noticeable.

3. Apples on the table still had stickers on them - There was a bowl of fruit on the table provided by props. They still had the stickers on them from Publix.

4. The curtains needed to be steamed - Go Heather for noticing set dressing that was wrinkled.

5. Kids turned up the floor rug - now, here's what happened: The set is literally at the audience's feet and there is an area rug on the set. The corner was turned up by children who entered the theater to see the show. And we sat there watching and watching and watching. Finally some goodly patron straightened it.

6. Backstage noise prior to starting the show - ok, please, no noise from backstage. The audience should not know that actors don't know their lines or what they're eating for dinner or what clothing pieces they're missing. We don't need to know anything but the world of the show, presently.

7. Unnecessary light change - Ok, the curtain speech light came on, house lights dimmed - and the audience waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And after what seemed like 10 minutes the artistic director finally came on stage to do the curtain speech. And was in the dark, not standing in the spotlight provided for him.

8. Artistic Director's cell phone went off - and it played "Seasons of Love" from "Rent" while he was giving his curtain speech. Not sure if that was intended, but by the look on his face, it didn't seem to be.

9. The theater will be moving to a new location but they're not sure where - and that's interesting news. Not good, not bad, just interesting. After seeing the show I hope they get a bigger space and a lot more audience attendence.

10. Bride had heavy make-up on at the breakfast table, diamond earrings and a wrist watch. Plus, she kept that make-up the entire show. It was...weird.

11. White socks on Buckley - which, in the course of anything a costume designer thinks about, is bad. Buckley was wearing khaki pants, blue shirt, brown shoes, and bright white socks. Heather rates this a "no."

12. Mom's robe - she is uncomfortable - it's pinned! - The actress who played the mother was wearing a very sheer purple robe and she kept clutching the top of it closed. And when she sat down it popped open at the knees.

13. Air Supply - "Two Less Lonely People in the world" - this was one of the scene change songs. We sang and adored it!

14. Brown shoes on Kaye - Gina loved them. They were heels and they were very pretty. Heather thought they were inappropriate and very loud. You could hear the actress walking more than the dialogue.

15. The father of the bride was esquisite! He appeared in Act I in a black and maroon and it was to die for! Very, very well done!

16. Tech in black, please - during the black-outs for scene changes, the pitch black came up to a blue light. Audience saw mid-drifts of pure white, white shirts, red shirts, different colored pants - could tech please be in black? If they are actors, what about a black button-up so they can throw it on and throw it off?

17. Book needs ink writing - Kudzu is a very intimate space. On the desk in Act I was a book that was supposed to have the list of presents and who they were from. Audience can clearly see all the pages in the book - and it was blank.

18. Boxes to the basement - In Act I, the door rang and two new boxes showed up. Two new presents. Near the end of the scene, the father wanted all empty boxes to the basement to be destroyed. The son took the two new un-opened boxes of presents as well. Nothing was ever said about it.

19. Reaction to Ben mentioning getting married - ok, the show is about the bride. Then, somewhere in the story, the son mentions when he gets married. Shouldn't there be a reaction? I mean, the man's son just told him he's getting married.

20. Did costume and set talk at all? - The bride and the mother came in from shopping and they sat on the sofa and the chair - and blended. When they stood up they matched the walls. I mean, really - can they not disappear into the set?

21. Heather didn't find the mom very maternal - she didn't have stockings and pumps on.

22. At the breakfast table, everyone was in PJ's except for the middle daughter: she was already fully dressed and just got out of bed.

23. Costume question: who shops in dresses now? Not real sure on that.

24. Plus - the shoes didn't match the dress. The dress of the bride was blue when she went shopping and her shoes were green.

25. Question: would parents like this let their kids plop their feet on the coffee table? In Act I.1 the middle daughter put her feet on the sofa to read a magazine and the mother told her to put her feet on the floor. Act I.2, mom, son and middle daughter all had their feet on the coffee table.

26. Thought the girlfriend of the son was a little old. Older than him, rather. And she walked in wearing a blinding white dress. Very pretty, but white on stage? Ever?

27. Mother needed a better bra - it was a bit ..well...we'd have to go into detail on this one.

28. One scene where the middle girl and her best friend came in from soccer and had dialogue at the presents' table. All the conversation was upstage to a wall.

29. Tech concern: in the black-outs -there was no glowtape. None. And furniture was being moved. Excuse me?

30. There was a light out on the chandelier - no biggie, but it was out.

31. One actor broke the 4th wall and stared at Heather. That was pretty funny.

32. One scene had the father telling the mother to get off the landline because they were waiting on a call - but the father had a cell phone attached to his hip.

And that, as they say, is that.

Until next time, enjoy theater and support theater!