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."