Danny Johnson and Crystal Fox
“What I Learned in Paris” takes you on a light-hearted ride back to 1973 when Maynard Jackson has just become Atlanta’s first black mayor and women are striving for independence.
Playwright Pearl Cleage, who actually served as Jackson’s press secretary, twirls a story around Jackson’s mayoral campaign that focuses on romance and self growth.
Cleage depicts a time of political and social change as a divorced, wealthy black woman contemplates moving to a swanky white Buckhead neighborhood, and a young secretary contemplates marrying J.P. (Danny Johnson), an attorney she doesn’t love simply because it will bring good social change.
In comedic form, Evie (Crystal Fox), J.P.’s ex-wife, traipses around in long flowing kaftans, and spars with him in an ever so mindful Buddhist way as she lectures him on how to behave and breathe. Milk-toast character John (Eugene H. Russell IV), J.P.’s right-hand man, finally stands up for himself, puffing out his cheeks like a blowfish and inflating his chest like a blustering George Jefferson.
“What I Learned in Paris” is a farcical romantic comedy with twists that neatly wraps up in a tidy bow. A cute play with a terrific cast.
Brian Sidney Bembridge presents a beautiful Brady Bunch ’70s-style two-story modern home with clean lines. Crystal Fox keeps us laughing with an over-the-top “Maude”-like passion for life.
Directed by Susan V. Booth, “What I Learned in Paris” runs at the Alliance Theatre through Oct. 6.
Cast:
Kelsey Scott plays Ann Madison
January LaVoy plays Lena Jefferson
Meet playwright Pearl Cleage and the cast from What I Learned in Paris at Emory University’s Center for Ethics. This free event will feature a dramatic reading of select scenes from the play and an engaging ethical discussion.
“What I Learned in Paris” runs from Sept. 5-30 at the Alliance Theatre.
Aurora Theatre’s “Sweet Charity” is oh so sweet.
The 1960s Tony Award-winning show, best known for its hit songs “Big Spender” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” revolves around Charity (Rebecca Simon), who works as a dancer in barely-there lingerie at a seedy dance hall. Looking to break out of her dead-end job and find true love, she molds herself to suit men who ultimately disregard and discard her.
Aurora hits this production right with a fine 12-piece orchestra and a good cast of actors. Simon is excellent as Charity and has a wonderful singing voice, garnering her roles in Broadway National touring companies. Baritone Trent Blanton, who plays two of Charity’s love interests, also has a wonderful voice, and actor Jimi Kocini can’t be beat. He plays a bevy of wacky characters and reincarnates a character mixture of Jimmy Durante and George Burns as the dance hall owner.
Director Sean Daniels, co-founder of Atlanta’s comedy improv theater Dad’s Garage, adds a bit of silly quirkiness to the show, especially when an ensemble of onlookers quick-step in unison looking like a small army of toy soldiers. The silliness works well there but seems off-kilter in a scene where he mixes a “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” structure that features brief spurts of music in between darkness and a brief repartee between a couple. Making the show more affordable to the theater, Daniels whittles what is normally a 32-person cast down to nine players. Not only does it work, it seems almost unnecessary to have a large cast at any small theater off Broadway.
This show is a definite “go see it,” but there is one thing that leaves me wanting: great dancing. While Jen MacQueen brings original choreographer Bob Fosse’s style and flair to the dance numbers, it looks like the dancers needs hours more of practice. And passion.
Book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman, and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, “Sweet Charity” runs through Sept. 2 at Aurora Theatre just outside of Atlanta in Lawrenceville.
Cast & Crew
Rebecca Simon Charity Hope Valentine
Trent Blanton Oscar Lindquist, Charlie, Marvin, Vittorio Vidal
Caroline Freedlund Nickie, Ensemble
Taryn Bryant Helene, Ensemble
Jevares C. Myrick Daddy, Ensemble
Jimi Kocina Herman, Ensemble
Loren Lott Ensemble
Jenna Edmonds Ensemble
John Markowski Ensemble
Anthony Rodriguez Producer
Sean Daniels Director
Ann-Carol Pence Music Director
Jen MacQueen Choreographer
Kathryn Pelkey Stage Manager
Sarah Rowan Assistant Director
Daniel Terry Sound Designer
Thom Beaulieu Lighting Design
John Thigpen Set Designer
Joanna Schmink Costume Design
EB Hooyer Props Design & Assistant Stage Manager
Britt Hultgren Ramroop Production Manager
James M. Helms Technical Director
Sarah Thomson Scenic Artist
Only “Jersey Boys” would I go to see twice in three years. It’s not just the compelling story that brings me back, but a belief that the cast will be just as tremendous as it was last time it came to the Fox Theatre.
“Jersey Boys,” the 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, runs from May 22-June 9 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.
Joseph Leo Bwarie, a superstar actor and singer, is once again slated to play Frankie Valli, according to the Jersey Boys touring company cast website. His talent alone is reason enough to see this show.
To see my previous review on “Jersy Boys,” click here and here.
One of the most sensational choreographers this side of anywhere will host “A Night of Choreography with Juel D. Lane and Friends” on Thursday, May 10 at the Southwest Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.
Not since seeing Twyla Tharp’s “Come Fly With Me” have I been so blown away by dance. Like Tharp, Lane mixes modern, ballet, African and hip-hop styles, and each dance seems to tell its own story.
Thursday, Lane will present two of his dances, one performed by The Atlanta Ballet and one by The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Other choreographers include Camille A. Brown, the current choreographer for “A Streetcar Named Desire” on Broadway; Ja’Malik of Balletboy Productions based in NYC; Kristin Taylor of KT Collective from Durham, North Carolina; Rachel Sherertz, freelance choreographer from Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Ursula Kendall Johnson of “SHE, Created It” in Atlanta; Meredith A. Moore, professor at Spelman College; and Daryl Foster of “LIFT” based in Atlanta.
Lane says, “This show will feel like a huge party with different choreographic styles.”
Lane’s dancers present graceful and quirky theatrical snippets of life, and have performed in grocery stores, bedrooms, retail outlets and rooftops. Click on the link to the above video to see what I’m talking about. Even if you’re not a dance fan, it will be hard to avert your eyes.
Deb Clark and Caroline Boyd Monroe; Photo: MagicStar Photography
Only a six-year career, yet she’s still a star. Although Patsy Cline died in 1963 in a plane crash, you can hear country singer-songwriter Caroline Monroe Boyd cover more than 20 of her songs in “Always . . . Patsy Cline” at The Onstage Playhouse in Monroe, Ga.
Boyd headlines as Patsy Cline with Deb Clark, who plays her friend and manager, Louise Seger. Based on the true story of these two friends, Louise recants the tale of how they met and the two relive their times together.
Boyd rings out some killer sounds on “Love Sick Blues” and on “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” And Clark shines in a few comedic scenes, especially when she’s emulating a tobacco-chewing gruff club manager and a woman bawling over dog-men.
The backup band features Harriet Kilpatrick, piano; Dylan Wheeler, guitar; Charles Sewell, bass guitar; John Garner, fiddle; and Chuck Lambert, drums.
Written by Ted Swindley and directed by Steven Johnson, “Always . . . Patsy Cline” runs Fridays and Saturdays through May 5 at The Onstage Playhouse.
Emma Jackson and Andrew Crigler
Many a child’s favorite book, “A Wrinkle in time,” comes to life in John Glore’s adaptation now playing at Theatrical Outfit.
Reminiscent of Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone,” takes three youngsters–Meg (Emma Jackson), her little brother, Charles Wallace (Andrew Crigler) and her new friend Calvin (Lowrey Brown) on a trip to rescue the siblings father who is on another planet.
As usual, Kate Donadio, who plays the siblings’ mother and Aunt Beast, is stupendous, but what was really surprising, is that every actor in the cast was really good.
Kudos to Anna Michalle Tucker for outstanding creative costumes, especially her Aunt Beast, who looks like a mix between an exceedingly tall ET, with giraffe-like legs and an ostrich head.
Novel by Madeleine L’Engle, stage adaption by John Glore, directed by Justin Anderson, “A Wrinkle in Time” runs through May 6 at Theatrical Outfit.
Cast includes Mark Cabus as the father and Marianne Fraulo as Mrs. Whatsit.
- Malcolm Campbell-Taylor and Adam Fiddler
Tthis is the last weekend to see award-winning playwright Pamela Turner’s latest spectacle “Hidden Man” at 7 Stages.
