CT Theater Review: The Age of Innocence -- Hartford stage

Sierra Boggess (front), Sara Norton, Deirdre Madigan. Photo: T Charles Erickson

The Age of Innocence

By Edith Wharton
Adapted for the stage by Douglas McGrath
Directed by Doug Hughes
Harttford Stage

Through May 6

By Lauren Yarger
What's It All About?
Boyd Gaines and Sierra Bogess head an excellent production of Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, adapted for the stage by Douglas McGrath (this is a co-production with the McCarter Theatre Center).  It's a disturbing love story set in the Victorian era, where the rules of upper-class society can be as stifling as the corsets worn by the women (lovely period costumes are designed by Linda Cho).

Gaines is an older version of himself -- Newland Archer (Andrew Veenstra), a young attorney who marries innocent May Welland (Helen Cespedes) despite his growing attraction and feelings for the exciting Countess Ellen Olenska (Boggess), who has returned to New York following a scandal with her husband, whom she has left in Europe. Society won't tolerate another scandal, but the dream about how they might be together. The story won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1921 and remains relevant in 2018 because it is more about human nature and relationships than it is about the time period. People don't live in a bubble, Newland says. Actions affect others. How do you choose between love and honor? That applies today very well.

What Are the Highlights?
A sumptuous production, meticulously directed by Doug Hughes -- even better than the 1993 film that starred Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder. A simple turn by a character can change the scene from the street to an apartment setting (as beautifully designed by John Lee Beatty, who manages to create a simple design that invokes the elegant and extravagant look of the time period. A pianist (Yan Li) blends into the scenery to provide accompaniment for an impromptu duet.

Cespedes mesmerizes as a dichotomy of May which is at once an innocent and naive, helpless female while at the same an intelligent woman fully capable of protecting herself. the chemistry between Bogess and Veenstra is intense and we feel their frustration and pain. Best yet is Gaines, who reflecting back on the events of his life, rounds out the character with wisdom and humor. Also making us laugh is Darrie Lawrence who plays May's grandmother and family matriarch Mrs. Manson Mingott. Quite delightful.

What Are the Lowlights?
None. Go see it.

More information:

McGrath is a personal favorite. He received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, one of the best books for a "jukebox" style musical on Broadway. His first film as a writer and director was his adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow -- another favorite, which I think is better than the novel.

Hughes, former artistic director at Long Wharf, also is a favorite director. He won the 2005 Tony Award for Doubt and received a Tony Award nomination for the play Frozen, which is one of the most riveting productions I ever have seen. He also directed Ayad Akhtar’s Junk on Broadway this season -- look for more nominations there.

Performances of The Age of Innocence continue through May 6 at Hartford Stage, 50 Church st., Hartford, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday at 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday at 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets: www.hartfordstage.org; 860-527-5151.

Audio Described Performance— 2 pm Saturday, April 28 for patrons who are blind or have low vision — free service with admission.

Additional casting:
Deirdre Madigan, Haviland Morris, Josh Salt, Tony Ward, Nick Wyman. Haviland Morris

Sara Norton, Dan Owens, Sara Schwab, Alessandro Gian Viviano, students from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, are cast in the Ensemble.

Additional credits:
Lighting Designer Ben Stanton; Sound Design and Original Music by Mark Bennett

CT Theater Review: The Revisionist -- Playhouse on Park

Cecelia Riddett and Carl Howell . Photo:Curt Henderson

The Revisionist
By Jesse Eisenberg

Directed by Sasha Bratt

Playhouse on Park

Through April 29

What's It All About?
The New England premiere of Jesse Eisenberg's play about family ties. David (Carl Howell) is a young book writer way past his deadline, so he shows up in Poland at the home of his 75-year-old second cousin, Maria (Cecelia Riddett), where he hopes to find some peace and quiet to revise his manuscript. Maria, who is so excited to have a visit from a family member, doesn't want to leave David alone, however. She wants to take him site seeing, to prepare big meas for him and to share family history. The old widow doesn't get many visitors, except for Zenon (Sebastian Buczyk), a friend who takes her in cab to run errands. Family is everything to Maria. Portraits cover the walls of her small flat (designed by Emily Nichols), especially since she lost most of hers in the Holocaust. But David shows little interest until one night, the two loosen up over some Vodka and some unsettling secrets find their way out of the family closet.

What Are the Highlights?
Tight direction by Sasha Bratt allows strong performances by Howel and Riddett to find their legs. The relationship between the two is dynamic and interesting to watch in its development.

What Are The Lowlights?
Eisenberg's play loses direction in the second act and we're not exactly sure where it is taking us.

More Information:
Each Sunday matinee includes a talkback with the cast and director. A special Tuesday matinee has been planned for April 24 at 2 pm. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm;

Friday and Saturday at 8 pm; Sunday at 2 pm through April 29 at Playhouse on Park,  244 Park Road, West Hartford. Tickets are $30-$40: www.playhouseonpark.org; 860-523-5900 x10.

CT Review: An Evening with James Mapes

An Evening With James Mapes

Fairfield Theatre Company

By Lauren Yarger

In the midst of the crazy end-of-theater-season schedule, I took a break to see a show I have been wanting to see for years: Master of the Imagination, featuring James Mapes, an actor, entertainer and showman, who recently performed a one-night-only performance of the show at Fairfield Theater Company's Stage One.

A Connecticut resident, Mapes delights with an evening of applied imagination -- what you might think of as mind reading -- rounded out with hypnosis, storytelling, humor and just a dash of magic. The show recently was performed as a fundraiser on hurricane-ravaged St. Thomas where he and his wife have a home.

A video with a welcome from Anthony Hopkins as well as island scenes shown to the tune of "Cheeseburger in Paradise" get the evening off to a fun start. Mapes states up front that he's not a  psychic. Instead, he uses suggestion and persuasion and the results are quite entertaining thanks to participation by audience members who allow Mapes to play with their subconscious minds.

In one demonstration, Mapes let's the audience in on secrets for being able to tell when a person is lying. He gives a number of $20 bills to a participant and takes one back each time the volunteer is caught in a lie. At the Fairfield show, Mapes had selected an audience member very skilled in deception and he lost one of the bills -- something that doesn't happen very often, he tells us. Roaring his hearty laugh, which brightens the performance throughout, Mapes accepted defeat while explaining how he missed -- what facial features or eye contact might have suggested truth. 

Suddenly a man walked down the aisle and up on stage. He apparently had attended a previous show hosted by Mapes years ago when the hypnotist embedded a subconscious suggestion compelling the man to follow directions should he ever hear a particular prompt. Hearing the right words in dialogue during the show in Fairfield, the man followed the suggestion came forward and stepped up on stage. He had no idea that he had done so.

An extended hypnosis and age regression demonstration fills most of the second act of the show, which runs more than two hours. At Mapes's suggestion, people fall asleep on command and are unable to remember their own names. During intermission, audience members talked with each speculating on how Mapes had done some of his "tricks." The informal atmosphere allows the audience to feel like they are enjoying an evening with a friend and questions are welcome during the show as well.

Mapes's talent isn't limited to the stage, where he has presented several version of the show including A Journey to the Imagination. He puts his more than 40 years of studying human behavior into action as a motivational speaker working with major corporations like British Airways, Sprint, IBM and others whose employees have enjoyed his "Imagine That!," "True Leadership" or "Mind Over Body" programs. He has entertained government agencies and even was flown to Saudi Arabia where he amazed a sheikh. He also works with cancer patients to minimize pain and beeding during procedures.

His book, "Quantum Leap Thinking: An Owner's Guide to the Mind," deals with how to make quick,  positive change in one's life and his latest, "Imagine That: Igniting Your Brain for Creativity and Peak Performance" shows readers how to apply imagination to productivity.

For more information, visit mastertheimagination.com; www.jamesmapes.com.

Full disclosure: Mapes's wife, Susan Granger, is a theater critic colleague.

CT Theater Review: The Legend of Georgia McBride -- TheaterWorks

Austin Thomas and Jamison Stern. Photo: Lanny Nagler.

The Legend of Georgia McBride
By Matthew Lopez
Directed by Rob Ruggiero
Choreography by Ralph Perkins

Through April 22

TheaterWorks

By Lauren Yarger
A washed-up Elvis impersonator finds himself as a drag queen performer in this play with music from The Whipping Man playwright Matthew Lopez getting a run at TheaterWorks.

Casey(Austin Thomas) and his wife, Jo (Samaria Nixon-Fleming) are trying to get by on her waitress tips and what he earns as an Elvis impersonator at Cleo's, a dive nightclub run by Eddie (J. Tucker Smith) in the Florida Panhandle. Just when they find out they are expecting, Casey finds out that Eddie is replacing him with a drag-queen act headlined by Miss Tracey Mills (Jamison Stern) and Rexy -- short for Anorexia Nervosa -- (Nik Alexander, who also doubles as the couple's landlord, Jason, who is about to evict them for not paying the rent).

Casey is given the option of bar tending to earn a few bucks, but when Rexy gets drunk and can't go on, Tracey gives Casey a quick how-to in drag queen lip syncing and a star is born. Well, it actually takes some practice and Director Rob Ruggiero expertly captures humor and growth during this sequence, and suddenly Rexy is out and Tracey and her new creation -- Georgia McBride -- are packing them in at Cleo's. There is one problem, though, Casey hasn't told Jo how he's really making a living. Is it because he is embarrassed, or because he is enjoying his new persona too much?

Part of the evening's entertainment (runt time is one hour and 45 minutes without intermission) includes a lengthy drag queen show brought to life by Choreography by Ralph Perkins and Paul Tate dePoo III's set design (it moves quickly from backstage at the club to Casey and Jo's apartment to center stage) lighted by the always excellent John Lasiter. Special kudos go to Costume Designer Leon Dobkowski and Wig Designer Mark Adam Rampmeyer, who create many looks for the guys dressing as gals.

Georgia McBride works on becoming a legend at TheaterWorks,  233 Pearl St., Hartford. The theater warns this show is for ages 14 and up. Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $45-$70: theaterworkshartford.org.

Additional credit:
Assistant Director, Eric Ort; Sound Design, Ed Chapman.

Calling All Old Theater Lovers!

Centennial Memorial Temple

You are invited to an open house to see an art deco theater now available for rental in New York.

The Centennial Memorial Temple on 14th Street is a step back into the past. Built in 1929 at the Salvation Army's headquarters at 120 W. 14th St. between Sixth and Seventh avenues to honor the 100th anniversary of its founder, William Booth, this state-of-the-art performance hall was designated a New York City landmark in 2017.

The theater is available for all kinds of events including  film shoots, concerts, corporate meetings, movie screenings, fundraisers, graduations and town hall meetings. The theater seats 1,347 while Railton Hall, located under the auditorium, can host up to 100 guests and Mumford Hall, right below Railton, is available for groups of up to 220 for an intimate luncheon, corporate meeting or staff training.

CMT’s technical staff members have won Grammy Awards, worked on the Oscars, served on crews for top recording artists like Sting and the Foo Fighters, toured with Broadway shows and staffed production crews at major TV studios. All proceeds from the rental of our spaces are used to support The Salvation Army’s more than 100 programs and services in the Greater New York area, which serve more than a million at-risk adults, children, and families each year.

If you are unable to attend the open house April 10 from 10 am to noon, you may arrange a private tour. To RSVP for the open house, to arrange a tour or for more information, call 212-337-7339 or visit salvationarmyny.org/openhouse.

All proceeds from the rental of our spaces are used to support The Salvation Army’s more than 100 programs and services in the Greater New York area, which serve more than a million at-risk adults, children, and families each year.

CT Theater Review: Baskerville -- Long Wharf

Owen, Pearce, Moggridge, Livingston

Baskerville
By Ken Ludwig
Directed by Brendon Fox
Long Wharf Theatre
Through March 25

By Lauren Yarger

What's It All About?
It's Ken Ludwig's comic twist on the Sherlock Holmes (Alex Moggridge) mystery "The Hound of the Baskervilles."  Holmes and his trusty assistant, Dr. Watson (Daniel Pearce) offer their assistance to unravel a mystery around a fatal heart attack might actually be murder and a hideous, huge hound who may be the culprit. Think "The 39 Steps," with it's silly humor and gags, only not quite as engaging.

What Are the Highlights?
An able supporting cast doubling, tripling and more to bring to life numerous characters. The cast includes Kelly Hutchinson (Actress 1), Christopher Livingston (Actor 2), Brian Owen (Actor 1).

What Are the Lowlights?
It's a fun time at the theater, but the most annoying thing for me was that the actor playing Watson resembled what I expect Watson to look like and vice versa. I had to stop and re-gear my thoughts several times because I kept getting them confused.

More information:
Baskerville is elementary at Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Drive, New Haven, through March 25. longwharf.org

The creative team includes Tim Mackabee (set design), Lex Liang (costume design), Robert Wierzel (lighting design), Victoria Deiorio (sound design)

Hamilton Releases New Cast Photos

Mandy Gonzalez, Lexi Lawson and Joanna A. Jones. Photo: Joan Marcus

Michael Luwoye. Photo: Joan Marcus

James Monroe Iglehart and Thayne Jasperson.
Photo Joan Marcus

And before you ask (and many of you do quite regularly), no I have not reviewed these folks. I was invited to review the show Off-Broadway at the Public Theater with the original cast, but have not had the pleasure of seeing it on Broadway. Read that review, which put the show in our Top Picks category, here.  There still is a very long wait for tickets. Try the lottery here.

For more information about the show, visit hamiltonmusical.com/new-york/. For information about whether a tour is coming to your city, visit www.broadway.org/tours/details/hamilton,673. The show is scheduled to come to The Bushnell in Hartford next season. Look for more information Monday, following the Bushnell's 2018-2019 Broadway season announcement.

Opportunities to Work for Connecticut Arts Organizations

The Connecticut Office of the Arts has launched its 2018 Arts Workforce Initiative designed to provide internship opportunities for Connecticut college students, emerging professionals and military veterans at Connecticut not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations. 

A total of 28 individuals will be placed with selected host organizations for a 10-week, paid internship June 4-Aug. 17, 2018.

To be eligible for an AWI Internship, individuals must:

Be a Connecticut resident 

Demonstrate a financial need 

Align with the Office of the Arts' READI Framework

Have availability to successfully complete the program

Specialize in or wish to grow professionally in the following categories: arts administration, arts presenting/curating, media arts, performing arts, visual arts, arts education, and literary arts

Be enrolled in an accredited college or university or be an emerging arts professional (for the "40 and Under" Category)

Be a veteran of the US Armed Forces (for the "Veterans in the Arts" Category)

Apply here. Applications must be received no later than midnight Sunday, April 8, 2018.

To be eligible as an AWI Host Organization, an organization must:

• Be a not-for-profit Connecticut arts/cultural organization
• Be able to provide an internship opportunity within the following categories: arts administration, arts presenting/curating, media arts, performing arts, visual arts, arts education, and literary arts
• Be able to provide a hands-on and engaging internship opportunity 
• Be in alignment with and display an understanding of COA's READI Framework
• Be able to accommodate an intern or interns from June 4, 2018 through August 17, 2018
• Be committed to ensuring that the intern or interns complete(s) the required 250 hours

Apply here to be a host organization. Applications must be received no later than midnight Sunday, April 8, 2018.

For more information:

Questions:

Contact Adriane Jefferson at 860-500-2328 or via email. 

Due to the enormous success of the AWI pilot program in FY17, COA has committed to expanding the Arts Workforce Initiative in 2018. The number of interns has more than doubled from 12 to 28 and the application process is now open to all Connecticut not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations that can provide a hands-on and engaging internship opportunity in the arts.

Last year, during the pilot phase of the Arts Workforce Initiative, 12 individuals successfully completed internships with the following organizations:

Hartbeat Ensemble, Hartford

TheaterWorks, Hartford

Neighborhood Studios, Bridgeport

The Mark Twain House and Museum, Hartford

The Writer's Block Ink, New London

The International Festival of Arts and Ideas, New Haven

Expressiones, New London

The Amistad Center for Arts and Culture, Hartford

City Lights Gallery, Bridgeport

The Judy Dworin Performance Project, Hartford

The Autorino Center at St. Joseph’s College, West Hartford

The Workforce Initiative is funded by the Connecticut Office of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

CT Theater Review: Murder on the Orient Express -- Hartford Stage

David Pittu. Photo: T. Chalres Erickson

Julie Halston. Photo: T. Charles Erickson

Murder on the Orient Express
Adapted by Ken Ludwig, based on the novel by Agatha Christie
Directed by Emily Mann
Hartford Stage
Extended through March 25

By Lauren Yarger
What's It All About?
The McCarter Theatre's production of the who-done-it. David Pittu stars as Agatha Christie's Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who tries to solve the murder of a mysterious Mr. Ratchett  (Ian Bedford) aboard the Orient Express. There's no shortage of suspects. Who could it be?

• Princess Dragomiroff (an engaging Veanne Cox)
• Col. Abruthnot (Ian Bedford)
• Helen Hubbard (a riotous Julie Halston), who might have seen the murderer
• Countess Andrenyi (Leigh Ann Larkin)
• Michel (Maboud Ebrahimzadeh), the train's conductor
• governess Mary Debenham (Susannah Hoffman)
• an army officer (Charles Paul Mihaliak)
• Hector MacQueen (Juha Sorola), Ratchett's personal secretary
• Greta Ohlsson (Samantha Steinmetz)
• Monsieur Bouc (Evan Zes), a friend of Poirot's and owner of the railroad

And what is the connection between the murder and the kidnapping/murder of little Daisy Armstrong (Jordyn Elizabeth Schmidt of Glastonbury) some years before? 

What Are the Highlights?

Halston, with her comedic charms in high gear, finds ways to keep us laughing throughout as usual. She's a theater gem.

Beowulf Boritt's deco train set is the other star of the show. It sparkles and moves and provides visual stimulation for the various compartments on the train.

What Are the Lowlights?

This Christie story is slow moving and I realized somewhere in the middle of attending the show that I never had made it through the book (first published in 1934) or the film versions based on it. I had grown bored and given up each time. Ludwig adds some humor, but my interest still waned during the two hours with intermission (it felt longer, but not sure what Director Emily Mann could have done about it). The upside was that I finally found out who done it. And I didn't correctly guess ahead of time like I usually do in murder mysteries, so that says something for the plot after all.

More information:

Murder on the Orient Express chugs along at Hartford Stage, 50 Church St., Hartford through March 25. Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday at 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday at 8 pm; Sunday at 2 pm. Audio Described Performance—Saturday, March 10 at 2 pm, Tickets are $18-$95: www.hartfordstage.org; 860-527-5151.

Additional credits:

Costume Designer William Ivey Long; Lighting Designer Ken Billington; Sound Designer Darron L. West; Fight Consultant Greg Webster; Dialect Coach Thom Jones

March Top Theater Picks for Broadway World

Click here to see this months picks.