The very first Mesquite Awards appear today. No division for musicals, comedies, or dramas. Goledn, Silver, and Bronze laurel wreaths go out to the top three in each catagory. But, as this is the Southwestern Desert, the wreaths are from Mesquite branches. Here goes:
Best Supporting Actor.
Golden Mesquite: Jordan Bondurant……Streetcar Named Desire
Silver Mesquite: Tony Blosser….…….A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Bronze Mesquite: Talla Ndaiye………Raisin in the Sun
Best Supporting Actress
Golden Mesquite: Amy Seddon. . . .The Man Who Came to Dinner
SIlver Mesquite: Sherida Devine. .. . ....Raisin in the Sun
Bronze Mesquite: Barabra King. . . . Blithe Spirit
Best Set Design
Golden Mesquite: Devin Pierce Scheef. . . .The Seagull
Silver Mesquite: David Sankuer. . . .Great American Trailer Park Musical
Bronze Mesquite: D. P. Scheef. . . A Streetcar Named Desire
Best Actress
Golden Mesquite: Rochaelle Hooks. . . .Raisin in the Sun
Silver Mesquite: Paris McCarthy. . . .A Streetcar Named Desire
Bronze Mesquite: Penni Mendez. . . .The Man Who Came to Dinner
Best Actor
Golden Mesquite: Brian Vaughn. . . . The Seagull
Silver Mesquite: Jamie Torcellini. . . . Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Bronze Mesquite: Rob Kastil. . . .Man Who Came to Dinner
Best Director
Golden Mesquite: Ricka and Tammy Pesagno. . .Funny Thing/Forum
Silver Mesquite: Mario Mendez. . . .Man Who Came to Dinner
Bronze Mesquite: Walter Mason. . . .Raisin in the Sun
Best Production
Golden Mesquite: A Funny Thing happened on the Way to the Forum
Silver Mesquite: The Man Who Came to Dinner
Bronze Mesquite: A Raisin in the Sun
In seven catagories A Funny Thing/Forum achieved 4 awards, including 2 Golds, one of the Golds for Best Production. The Man Who Came to Dinner took 5 awards, with 1 Gold. A Raisin in the Sun also took 5 awards with 1 Gold. The Seagull took 2 Golds. A Streetcar Named Desire took 3 awards with 1 Gold.
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Review
Blithe Spirit
April 22 2012
Las Vegas Little Theatre
Main Stage
Main Cast:
Ruth...........Anne-Marie Somers
Charles.......Daryl Scott Thomas
Madame Arcati...............Barbara King
Elvira......................Ariana Miner
This production should have been titled "Disinterested Spirit", for all the dispassionate sighing and eye-rolling put forth by Ms Miner in the role of the dear departed wife. You would think she was the most put-upon specter in the entire afterlife. Every few minutes the pallid Elvira would respond to Ruth's (the current living wife) stiff-armed, wooden performance with a dreary "Why must she go on and on?" Indeed, why must this play go on and on. Aside from a malaise-infused ghost, Ms Somers--in obviously uncomfortable and awkward high heels--spent the entire time glowering at her husband and whining, "What is SHE saying about me NOW?" Even Emily Champlin as the maid couldn't seem to wait for the play to end. On the other hand, a decent performance by Mr Thomas as Charles only stood out in greater relief next to Ms Somers, although both forgot their accents about 14 minutes into the play. Adding zest was an exhuberant turn by Ms King as the medium Arcati, who almost single-handedly saved the production. The tepid set design was more akin to the Leave it to Beaver household than an Upper-Crust abode.
A few laughs sprinkled here and there, plus the performances of Thomas and King, saved the day from becoming the frightful bore our ghost evidently found it to be.
Grade: C
April 22 2012
Las Vegas Little Theatre
Main Stage
Main Cast:
Ruth...........Anne-Marie Somers
Charles.......Daryl Scott Thomas
Madame Arcati...............Barbara King
Elvira......................Ariana Miner
This production should have been titled "Disinterested Spirit", for all the dispassionate sighing and eye-rolling put forth by Ms Miner in the role of the dear departed wife. You would think she was the most put-upon specter in the entire afterlife. Every few minutes the pallid Elvira would respond to Ruth's (the current living wife) stiff-armed, wooden performance with a dreary "Why must she go on and on?" Indeed, why must this play go on and on. Aside from a malaise-infused ghost, Ms Somers--in obviously uncomfortable and awkward high heels--spent the entire time glowering at her husband and whining, "What is SHE saying about me NOW?" Even Emily Champlin as the maid couldn't seem to wait for the play to end. On the other hand, a decent performance by Mr Thomas as Charles only stood out in greater relief next to Ms Somers, although both forgot their accents about 14 minutes into the play. Adding zest was an exhuberant turn by Ms King as the medium Arcati, who almost single-handedly saved the production. The tepid set design was more akin to the Leave it to Beaver household than an Upper-Crust abode.
A few laughs sprinkled here and there, plus the performances of Thomas and King, saved the day from becoming the frightful bore our ghost evidently found it to be.
Grade: C
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Review
Sylvia
March 25 2012
NCTBlack Box Theatre
Slyvia............Paris McCarthy
Greg.................Alan Dronek
Kate.......................Dhyana Dahl
Phyllis,Tom,Leslie...John Maltese
This is why many animal shelters have euthanasia policies, I suppose. Too late for that to spare us the performance of this "dog". A lightweight yet thought-provoking play about midlife angst and the vacuum that appea...rs when children fly the coop is turned into "A Streetcar Named Sylvia". . . . in more ways than one. Paris McCarthy reprises her star turn as Blanche earlier this year at NCT--and a strong performance THAT was (see review below)--and doesn't miss a beat as a Southern Belle-wannabe trailer-trash vulgar pooch. But what worked so well in "Streetcar" is simply brutal to behold here. Meow. Phfft! Ms Dahl does the best Angry Suzanne Pleshette impression I've ever seen. If only Bob were around to provide some genuine humor than this Alpo forced down our throats. And Mr Dronek's golly-gee-whiz act gets tiresome in about ten minutes, then he seems some kind of Mister Rogers in the Land of Make Believe from hell. Two aspects saved the play from being a total loss. 1) The laugh lines were still hit regularly. Despite the mishmash and colorless acting the strength of the play's writing comes through in the witty dialogue. And 2) The nifty go-for-broke nuttiness by John Maltese, who more than makes up for his poor outing in "The Seagull". Here he breaks up the stolid atmosphere with much needed jocularity. Perhaps he should have had the male lead and saved the day.The uninspired set design only added to the general moroseness that was periodically broken by solid writing and Maltese's limited but welcome role.
Grade: C-
March 25 2012
NCTBlack Box Theatre
Slyvia............Paris McCarthy
Greg.................Alan Dronek
Kate.......................Dhyana Dahl
Phyllis,Tom,Leslie...John Maltese
This is why many animal shelters have euthanasia policies, I suppose. Too late for that to spare us the performance of this "dog". A lightweight yet thought-provoking play about midlife angst and the vacuum that appea...rs when children fly the coop is turned into "A Streetcar Named Sylvia". . . . in more ways than one. Paris McCarthy reprises her star turn as Blanche earlier this year at NCT--and a strong performance THAT was (see review below)--and doesn't miss a beat as a Southern Belle-wannabe trailer-trash vulgar pooch. But what worked so well in "Streetcar" is simply brutal to behold here. Meow. Phfft! Ms Dahl does the best Angry Suzanne Pleshette impression I've ever seen. If only Bob were around to provide some genuine humor than this Alpo forced down our throats. And Mr Dronek's golly-gee-whiz act gets tiresome in about ten minutes, then he seems some kind of Mister Rogers in the Land of Make Believe from hell. Two aspects saved the play from being a total loss. 1) The laugh lines were still hit regularly. Despite the mishmash and colorless acting the strength of the play's writing comes through in the witty dialogue. And 2) The nifty go-for-broke nuttiness by John Maltese, who more than makes up for his poor outing in "The Seagull". Here he breaks up the stolid atmosphere with much needed jocularity. Perhaps he should have had the male lead and saved the day.The uninspired set design only added to the general moroseness that was periodically broken by solid writing and Maltese's limited but welcome role.
Grade: C-
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Comment
Notes for a day: Cross-scheduling.
Why is there no clearing-house for theatre info that would allow local companies to design upcoming seasons without stepping on each others toes? How often has a play been performed by one local theatre only to be performed a year later by another local company or the nearby Utah Shakespeare Theatre in Cedar City? USF does Noises Off!, as does the Nevada Conservatory. This season both NCT and LVLT are doing Sylvia. Wassup? Granted, when a play becomes popular-pro tem!-everybody wants to strike while the iron is hot. Hence the many productions of To Kill a Mockingbird across the nation. And now that USF is doing "Mockingbird" in its upcoming summer season I expect to see a Southern Nevada company to stage it soon. I suppose that's fine, as long as another local company waits a few years (5-7?) before following it with their own version. There are plenty of plays out there waiting to be performed in Las Vegas for the first time. Let's get cracking. But please, local companies. Don't do them at the same time.
Why is there no clearing-house for theatre info that would allow local companies to design upcoming seasons without stepping on each others toes? How often has a play been performed by one local theatre only to be performed a year later by another local company or the nearby Utah Shakespeare Theatre in Cedar City? USF does Noises Off!, as does the Nevada Conservatory. This season both NCT and LVLT are doing Sylvia. Wassup? Granted, when a play becomes popular-pro tem!-everybody wants to strike while the iron is hot. Hence the many productions of To Kill a Mockingbird across the nation. And now that USF is doing "Mockingbird" in its upcoming summer season I expect to see a Southern Nevada company to stage it soon. I suppose that's fine, as long as another local company waits a few years (5-7?) before following it with their own version. There are plenty of plays out there waiting to be performed in Las Vegas for the first time. Let's get cracking. But please, local companies. Don't do them at the same time.
Review
Yankee Tavern
March 11 2012
Las Vegas Little Theatre
Fischer Black Box
Adam.....Jason Nino
Janet.....Dana Wing Lau
Ray.....Ralph Weprinksy
Palmer.......Ryan Balint
Director....T.J. Larson
Set Design......Rob Dahl, TJ Larson
This was a very pleasant peek into the wacky psyche of the ubiquitous conspiracy theorist and his/her tainted view of life. Or is it wacky? May there actually be something hidden from us? Hidden in plain sight perhaps? Can Kevin Trudeau be correct when he speaks of all the things "They" don't want you to know? Nah. And yet. Mr Weprinsky as Ray does an admirable job in his portrayal of the conspiracy-laden kook who seems genuinely surprised when a conpiracy lays itself at his very feet in his favorite bar. A puzzle for psychologists and sociologists is why men in particular, especially as they near their senior years, become susceptible to wacky theories moreso than women. Oh,well. Men have JFK junk to keep them occupied, and women have a couple of dozen cats. It all balances out.Aside from Weprinsky Jason Nino turns in a quality performance as Adam, the Man With a Secret. Or does he have a secret? And who else is in on it? Is he the patsy that wacky people believe Oswald was? A couple of weaker performances bring the overall grade down a notch. Lau as Janet tries extremely hard to nail the scared and increasingly confused girlfriend, but falls short, seeming to spend a great deal of time deciding on whether to remember her lines or her facial expressions. And Balint as the mysterious stranger Palmer plays his role with too much twinkle in his eye to be truly ominous.A reasonable set design gives us a broken down tavern, the kind found in any seedy downtown in America. Grade: C+
March 11 2012
Las Vegas Little Theatre
Fischer Black Box
Adam.....Jason Nino
Janet.....Dana Wing Lau
Ray.....Ralph Weprinksy
Palmer.......Ryan Balint
Director....T.J. Larson
Set Design......Rob Dahl, TJ Larson
This was a very pleasant peek into the wacky psyche of the ubiquitous conspiracy theorist and his/her tainted view of life. Or is it wacky? May there actually be something hidden from us? Hidden in plain sight perhaps? Can Kevin Trudeau be correct when he speaks of all the things "They" don't want you to know? Nah. And yet. Mr Weprinsky as Ray does an admirable job in his portrayal of the conspiracy-laden kook who seems genuinely surprised when a conpiracy lays itself at his very feet in his favorite bar. A puzzle for psychologists and sociologists is why men in particular, especially as they near their senior years, become susceptible to wacky theories moreso than women. Oh,well. Men have JFK junk to keep them occupied, and women have a couple of dozen cats. It all balances out.Aside from Weprinsky Jason Nino turns in a quality performance as Adam, the Man With a Secret. Or does he have a secret? And who else is in on it? Is he the patsy that wacky people believe Oswald was? A couple of weaker performances bring the overall grade down a notch. Lau as Janet tries extremely hard to nail the scared and increasingly confused girlfriend, but falls short, seeming to spend a great deal of time deciding on whether to remember her lines or her facial expressions. And Balint as the mysterious stranger Palmer plays his role with too much twinkle in his eye to be truly ominous.A reasonable set design gives us a broken down tavern, the kind found in any seedy downtown in America. Grade: C+
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Review
A Raisin in the Sun
Feb 26 2012
CSN Performing Arts Center
Nicholas Horn Theatre
Walter Younger......Hasani Palacio
Ruth Younger.....Sherida Devine
Lena Younger.......Rochelle Hooks
Beneatha Younger......Nicki Foster/Zeresh Howard
Joseph Asagi........Talla Ndiaye
Travis Younger.....Ilias Cole
Director.......Walter Mason
Set Design.......Gary Carton
I really like Sidney Poitier. Who doesn't? Not having been eyewitness to the orginal stage production of this play I have only Mr Poitier's pitch-perfect performance in the film version to establish the bar--perhaps an unfair advantage to give any production. Still, to compare is human. This production of "Raisin" actually holds up well against the classic film, all the more reason to lament that only two performances were given. Ah, the ephemeral nature of theatre: both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. Would that more people had had access to this show, although the lackluster attendance--about a third full--for the Sunday matinee gives one pause when contemplating the future of community theatre in Southern Nevada.The standout performer this day was Lena Younger--the Elder Younger, if you will--played by Ms Hooks. Aside from a few line miscues early on, a plague suffered by most of the cast, she hit her stride and grew in power as the play progressed. Sherida Devine likewise turned in a solid effort as the haggard wife/mother/daughter-in-law. Mr Palacio was doing yeoman work as the male lead until the key moment at the end when he allows his lines to merely fall on the floor. Similar to the weak ending by Blanche in NCTs Streetcar Named Desire earlier this year, directors seem to miss the fact that actors on stage do not have the luxury and aid of camera close-ups and swelling music to enhance the moment. On stage, sometimes the actors have to become larger than life, and directing a stage production as one would a film only leaves the dialogue listless, if not lifeless. That doesn't completely happen here, but it happens enough that it kept the final grade from being higher. Overall, a decent job.
Grade: B
Feb 26 2012
CSN Performing Arts Center
Nicholas Horn Theatre
Walter Younger......Hasani Palacio
Ruth Younger.....Sherida Devine
Lena Younger.......Rochelle Hooks
Beneatha Younger......Nicki Foster/Zeresh Howard
Joseph Asagi........Talla Ndiaye
Travis Younger.....Ilias Cole
Director.......Walter Mason
Set Design.......Gary Carton
I really like Sidney Poitier. Who doesn't? Not having been eyewitness to the orginal stage production of this play I have only Mr Poitier's pitch-perfect performance in the film version to establish the bar--perhaps an unfair advantage to give any production. Still, to compare is human. This production of "Raisin" actually holds up well against the classic film, all the more reason to lament that only two performances were given. Ah, the ephemeral nature of theatre: both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. Would that more people had had access to this show, although the lackluster attendance--about a third full--for the Sunday matinee gives one pause when contemplating the future of community theatre in Southern Nevada.The standout performer this day was Lena Younger--the Elder Younger, if you will--played by Ms Hooks. Aside from a few line miscues early on, a plague suffered by most of the cast, she hit her stride and grew in power as the play progressed. Sherida Devine likewise turned in a solid effort as the haggard wife/mother/daughter-in-law. Mr Palacio was doing yeoman work as the male lead until the key moment at the end when he allows his lines to merely fall on the floor. Similar to the weak ending by Blanche in NCTs Streetcar Named Desire earlier this year, directors seem to miss the fact that actors on stage do not have the luxury and aid of camera close-ups and swelling music to enhance the moment. On stage, sometimes the actors have to become larger than life, and directing a stage production as one would a film only leaves the dialogue listless, if not lifeless. That doesn't completely happen here, but it happens enough that it kept the final grade from being higher. Overall, a decent job.
Grade: B
Review
The Seagull
Jan 29 2012
Nevada Conservatory Theatre
Judy Bayley Theatre
MAIN CAST:
Boris Trigorin.......Brian Vaughn
Irina Arkadina.......Rayme Cornell
Konstantin Treplev......John Maltese
Nina Zarechnaya.......Analisa Kimball
Pyotr Sorin.........Taylor Hanes
Yevgeny Dorn........Phil Hubbard
Director..........Michael Lugering
Set Design.......Devin Pierce Scheef
It should be said at the outset that trouble is in view when the best part of a production is the set, yet that is the case here. Scheef's stage and set design manages to both boldly frame the action whilst maintaining a charming minimalist quality. Top grade for Scheef who continues to do great work at NCT.For the rest, however. . . . . Among the cast, only Brian Vaughn seems vested in his character, allowing the anguish of choices made and lived to come through in Trigorin. We see the pain of what-might-have-been, and it's bastard twin Reality, as Trigorin cannot summon the strength to break from the latter as he spirals into the role of gigolo and kept man. The unbridled opportunity of youth is here poorly represented by both Mr Maltese and Ms Kimball, who compete in a shriek-for-all for who should host the larger Pity-Me party on Dr Phil. Also, the thematic heart of the play, the choice of acceptance or regret of lives already lived, is also under-served by both Hanes and Hubbard, who seem to be phoning it in. All this mash must be laid at the feet of the director, who makes us ask if he's ever read the play closely, or seen a quality performance of it.
Grade: D
Jan 29 2012
Nevada Conservatory Theatre
Judy Bayley Theatre
MAIN CAST:
Boris Trigorin.......Brian Vaughn
Irina Arkadina.......Rayme Cornell
Konstantin Treplev......John Maltese
Nina Zarechnaya.......Analisa Kimball
Pyotr Sorin.........Taylor Hanes
Yevgeny Dorn........Phil Hubbard
Director..........Michael Lugering
Set Design.......Devin Pierce Scheef
It should be said at the outset that trouble is in view when the best part of a production is the set, yet that is the case here. Scheef's stage and set design manages to both boldly frame the action whilst maintaining a charming minimalist quality. Top grade for Scheef who continues to do great work at NCT.For the rest, however. . . . . Among the cast, only Brian Vaughn seems vested in his character, allowing the anguish of choices made and lived to come through in Trigorin. We see the pain of what-might-have-been, and it's bastard twin Reality, as Trigorin cannot summon the strength to break from the latter as he spirals into the role of gigolo and kept man. The unbridled opportunity of youth is here poorly represented by both Mr Maltese and Ms Kimball, who compete in a shriek-for-all for who should host the larger Pity-Me party on Dr Phil. Also, the thematic heart of the play, the choice of acceptance or regret of lives already lived, is also under-served by both Hanes and Hubbard, who seem to be phoning it in. All this mash must be laid at the feet of the director, who makes us ask if he's ever read the play closely, or seen a quality performance of it.
Grade: D
Monday, April 02, 2012
Review
The Man Who Came to Dinner
Nov 20 2011
Las Vegas Little Theatre
Main Stage
MAIN CAST:
Sheridan Whiteside......Rob Kastil
Maggie Cutler.......Penni Mendez
Lorraine Sheldon......Amy Seddon
Director: Mario Mendez
Set Design: Ron Lindblom
Very serviceable adaptation of Hart and Kaufman's 1939 hit. All of the main characters hit their marks in this fast moving comedy of a human tornado--Whiteside--inflicting mayhem into the staid home of Mr and Mrs Stanley. A few of the minor characters seem weak in this maelstrom, but in a cast of over 20 actors not every note will be in tune. A notable exception is the superb job turned in by Andee Gibbs as the beleaguered nurse Miss Preen. Grade: B+
Nov 20 2011
Las Vegas Little Theatre
Main Stage
MAIN CAST:
Sheridan Whiteside......Rob Kastil
Maggie Cutler.......Penni Mendez
Lorraine Sheldon......Amy Seddon
Director: Mario Mendez
Set Design: Ron Lindblom
Very serviceable adaptation of Hart and Kaufman's 1939 hit. All of the main characters hit their marks in this fast moving comedy of a human tornado--Whiteside--inflicting mayhem into the staid home of Mr and Mrs Stanley. A few of the minor characters seem weak in this maelstrom, but in a cast of over 20 actors not every note will be in tune. A notable exception is the superb job turned in by Andee Gibbs as the beleaguered nurse Miss Preen. Grade: B+
Review
A Streetcar Named Desire
Oct 9 2011Nevada Conservatory Theatre
Judy Bayley Theatre
MAIN CAST:
Stanley Kowalski.........Gerrad Alex Taylor
Stella Kowalski.........Ann-Marie Pereth
Blanche DuBois.......Paris McCarthy
Mitch......Jordan Bondurant
Eunice......Cynthia Vodovoz
Director : Jeffrey Koep
Set Design: Devin Pierce Scheef
Bold choice with Taylor, an African-American in the lead role, made iconic by Brando. Somehow it works, testifying to the elasticity and adaptability of Tennessee Williams' script. Especially strong performance from Bondurant as Blanche's ill-fated suitor, complimented by a solid effort by McCarthy as Blanche, although she seems to lose the thread of her character at a key point near the end of the play.Grade: B-
Oct 9 2011Nevada Conservatory Theatre
Judy Bayley Theatre
MAIN CAST:
Stanley Kowalski.........Gerrad Alex Taylor
Stella Kowalski.........Ann-Marie Pereth
Blanche DuBois.......Paris McCarthy
Mitch......Jordan Bondurant
Eunice......Cynthia Vodovoz
Director : Jeffrey Koep
Set Design: Devin Pierce Scheef
Bold choice with Taylor, an African-American in the lead role, made iconic by Brando. Somehow it works, testifying to the elasticity and adaptability of Tennessee Williams' script. Especially strong performance from Bondurant as Blanche's ill-fated suitor, complimented by a solid effort by McCarthy as Blanche, although she seems to lose the thread of her character at a key point near the end of the play.Grade: B-
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