‘It’s a Wonderful Laugh’
on the Hertz Stage at the Allliance Theatre
Matt Horgan, Karen Cassady, Daniel Triandiflou, and Jackie Barbour; Photo: Greg Mooney
Although I couldn’t say it’s wonderful, there are quite a few laughs in the Dad’s Garage Theatre Company parody of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The audience chooses a new “invader” (played by a different Dad’s Garage improviser each performance) to infiltrate the world of Bedford Falls. Friday night Peter Pan (Lucky Yates) showed up, so the play took place in Neverland Falls.
As George Bailey, Dan Triandiflou brings back touches of Jimmy Stewart’s speech and mannerisms as the would-be-explorer goes through similar but more contemporary life situations than those in the original movie. The angel, Clarence (Karen Cassady), is literally cursed at by God–lots of gratuitous cursing– and descends upon earth to save Bailey from suicide after the business owner discovers his company is in ruins and, thanks to a life insurance policy, he is worth more dead than alive.
The acting skills of Cassady and Triandiflou are the best treats of the show. Although there are quite a few funny moments, neither the script nor the improv is wonderful.
Written and directed by Kevin Gillese, “It’s a Wonderful Life” runs through Dec. 20 on the Hertz Stage at the Alliance Theatre.
Jackie Barbour . . . . . . . . . . . Violet
Karen Cassady . . . . . . . . . . . Clarence
Perry Frost . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary
Matt Horgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . Old Man Potter/Uncle Billy/God
Ed Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry
Matthew Hobbs . . . . . . . . . . . .Keyboard/Piano
Africa Umoja, the real music and dance of South Africa, features a cast of 32 of South Africa’s brightest and most versatile young performers. Singers, drummers and dancers will be performing at Atlanta’s Rialto Center for the Arts this week.
Africa Umoja, The Spirit of Togetherness, is performing its 20 Years of Freedom and Democracy Tour, a celebration of dynamic talent, high energy, great voices and sensual dances that sweep across the bright and vibrant South African traditional landscape.
DC Metro Theatre Arts says, “The energy of Africa Umoja virtually leapt off the stage. At times, the performer’s enthusiasm was nearly matched by the shout-outs, ululations, whistling, foot stomping, singing, arm-waving and clapping emanating from the audience.”
The show runs Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Rialto Center for the Arts.
OK, so you saw the movie. How much better could “Dirty Dancing” be live? Plenty if you believe the Washington Post reviews of the touring show. Jennifer Grey may have made herself unrecognizable, but you will recognize the musical if you saw the movie when it hit theaters back in the 1980s as it is similar to the film.
So why should you see this if you’ve seen the movie–probably even numerous times by now? Because, as the WP says, “[It’s] an energy-to-burn cast” and it’s “really fun.”
The show opened in Australia 10 years ago and since has played in London and other European cities, Toronto and other North American cities, and is now on a new 30-city tour.
Cincinati.com says of the two lead characters, “Jillian Mueller (Baby) and Samuel Pergande (Johnny) have fabulous chemistry. They actually look like they enjoy dancing and romancing.”
Minnesota Monthly says, “Pergande has considerable shoes to fill, and he does—at least when he’s hoofing. He’s matched nicely by Mueller, who deftly portrays Baby’s evolution from dorky to slinky. . . Does it work? Yes, indeed . . .”
“Dirty Dancing” runs Tuesday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 30 at the Fox Theatre.
Zoë Winters, Mary Pat Gleason, Sarah Stiles, Beth Broderick, Deirdre Lovejoy, and Becky Ann Baker; Photo: Greg Mooney
Similar to the movie starring Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Darryl Hannah, “Steel Magnolias” the play is not quite as good. I think the fault lies with the poor acting because the movie was so much better.
If you like a bunch of chatty women from ages 18 to 60 acting like a bunch of sorority girls with gossip and funny one-liners, this play is for you. If you thought “Peachtree Battle” was a riot, and you like fake, thick, syrupy Southern accents, you’ll probably like this production. The overbearing Ouiser (Mary Pat Gleason) brings laughs and visions of Mobs Mabley, and Annelle (Sarah Stiles) is charming and touching as the kooky, shy new hairdresser with the squeaky Minnie Mouse voice, but they, like the other performers, tend to overact.
Although I shed a few tears, I could never lose myself in this play.
Written by Robert Harling and directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Judith Ivey, “Steel Magnolias” runs at the Alliance Theatre through Sunday, Nov. 9.
Cast:
Clairee Becky Ann Baker
M’Lynn Beth Broderick
Radio DJ Voiceover David de Vries
Ouiser Mary Pat Gleason
Truvy Deirdre Lovejoy
Annelle Sarah Stiles
Shelby Zoe Winters
Jewish Book Festival Features Bob Saget, Andy Cohen, Bob Mankoff, Mark Bittman, et al.
What a lineup at this year’s Book Festival at the MJCCA.
Down and dirty comic Bob Saget, far removed from his saccharine “Full House” persona, opens the festival this Saturday in conversation with Josh Levs. In “Dirty Daddy” he writes about the connection between humor and pain, offering insights into his own life, including the deaths of his beloved sisters and several additional close family members.
The festival runs for more than two weeks.
Schedule of Events
| Saturday, November 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| » | 8:15 pm | BOB SAGET, Dirty Daddy |
| Sunday, November 2 | ||
| » | 1:00 pm | OLIVER HOROVITZ, An American Caddie in St. Andrews |
| » | 3:30 pm | KOSTYA KENNEDY, Pete Rose LEO MAZZONE, Tales from the Mound |
| » | 7:30 pm | MARK BITTMAN, How to Cook Everything Fast |
| Monday, November 3 | ||
| » | 12:00 pm | JOSEPH BERGER, The Pious Ones |
| » | 7:45 pm | ANNA QUINDLEN, Still Life With Bread Crumbs |
| Tuesday, November 4 | ||
| » | 12:00 pm | HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN, Truth Be Told JULIA DAHL, Invisible City |
| » | 7:30 pm | SCOTT COWEN, The Inevitable City |
| Wednesday, November 5 | ||
| » | 12:30 pm | JONATHAN EIG, Birth of the Pill |
| » | 6:30 pm | LISA BLOOM, Suspicion Nation |
| » | 8:15 pm | BOB MANKOFF, How About Never, Is Never Good For You? |
| Thursday, November 6 | ||
| » | 10:30 am | TIM TOWNSEND, Mission at Nuremberg |
| » | 12:30 pm | AYELET WALDMAN, Love & Treasure |
| » | 7:30 pm | DR. EBEN ALEXANDER, The Map of Heaven |
| Friday, November 7 | ||
| » | 12:00 pm | SUSAN JANE GILMAN, The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street |
| Saturday, November 8 | ||
| » | 8:00 pm | WALTER ISAACSON, The Innovators |
| Sunday, November 9 | ||
| » | 10:00 am | Family Reading Festival featuring RICK RECHT & AMANDA KINGLOFF |
| » | 3:00 pm | JOSH FATTAL, A Sliver of Light |
| » | 7:00 pm | Kristallnacht Commemoration at the Besser Holocaust Memorial |
| » | 7:45 pm | RON SUSKIND, Life Animated |
| Monday, November 10 | ||
| » | 12:00 pm | ALYSON RICHMAN, The Garden of Letters PAM JENOFF, The Winter Guest |
| » | 7:30 pm | RABBI JOSEPH TELUSHKIN, Rebbe |
| Tuesday, November 11 | ||
| » | 12:00 pm | GERALYN LUCAS, Then Came Life |
| » | 5:30 pm | Film Screening: 50 Children |
| » | 7:30 pm | EGL Community Read MARTIN GOLDSMITH, Alex’s Wake STEVEN PRESSMAN, 50 Children |
| Wednesday, November 12 | ||
| » | 12:30 pm | EDDIE SHAPIRO, Nothing Like a Dame BARBARA ISENBERG, Tradition! |
| » | 6:00 pm | PATRON RECEPTION |
| » | 7:30 pm | DANIEL GORDIS, Menachem Begin |
| Thursday, November 13 | ||
| » | 10:30 am | ILANA DANNEMAN, A Tale of Two Souls |
| » | 12:30 pm | RABBI CHARLES SHERMAN, The Broken and the Whole REBECCA ALEXANDER, Not Fade Away |
| » | 7:30 pm | DR. EZEKIEL EMANUEL, Reinventing American Health Care |
| Friday, November 14 | ||
| » | 12:00 pm | JOSHUA MAX FELDMAN, The Book of Jonah BORIS FISHMAN, A Replacement Life |
| Saturday, November 15 | ||
| » | 8:00 pm | ANDY COHEN, The Andy Cohen Diaries |
| Sunday, November 16 | ||
| » | 12:00 pm | KAI BIRD, The Good Spy |
| » | 3:00 pm | BERNIE SCHEIN, Famous All Over Town in conversation with PAT CONROY |
| » | 6:30 pm | CARL HOFFMAN, Savage Harvest |
| » | 8:15 pm | DAN HARRIS, 10% Happier |
| Monday, November 17 | ||
| » | 8:00 pm | @ The Temple MITCHELL BARD, Death to the Infidels |
| Tuesday, November 18 | ||
| » | NO EVENTS TODAY | |
| Wednesday, November 19 | ||
| » | 7:30 pm | Closing Night TRACEY DAVIS, Sammy Davis Jr: A Personal Journey with My Father |
For tickets and more info, visit Book Festival of the MJCCA.
The Andy Statman Trio brings its mixture of klezmer, bluegrass and jazz to The Marcus Jewish Community Center Sunday.
Statman has recorded several albums and gained acclaim as a mandolinist as a sideman with David Bromberg and Russ Barenberg, He has been nominated for a Grammy Award and appeared as a guest on the Bela Fleck and the Flecktones holiday album “Jingle All the Way.”
Bassist Jim Whitney is an original member of the jazz-bluegrass fusion group The Wayfaring Strangers and has performed with Meryl Streep, John Goodman and Philip Seymour Hoffman as a member of the group Parabola, under the direction of composer/conductor Carter Burwell. He has appeared with jazz notables Anthony Braxton, Bill Frisell and Alan Dawson, and has worked with bluegrass luminaries Richard Greene, Tim O’Brien, David Grisman and Darol Anger.
Drummer and percussionist Larry Eagle is a founding member of Bruce Springsteen’s Sessions Band (which won a Grammy for traditional folk music), and played on R&B/Soul artist John Legend’s Grammy-winning second album. He’s a Blues Grammy nominee (with Odetta) and a Country & Western Grammy nominee (with Andy). He has also recorded albums with bluegrass star Ricky Skaggs and with jazz/soul singer Lizz Wright. He has performed on The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Good Morning America, PBS, and the BBC.
The Andy Statman Trio performs this Sunday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at the MJCCA‘s Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Ticket Prices: MJCCA Members: $25, Community: $32.
Get yourself down to True Colors Theatre Company now to see an outstanding performance of August Wilson’s play “How I Learned What I Learned.” Eugene Lee’s portrayal of August Wilson in the author’s personal stories of his life is not to be missed. Whether you’ve already seen the show performed by Wilson himself or on the stage in New York, this production is worth it just to see Lee. The stories themselves are mesmerizing and Lee’s performance is stellar.
With a fine scholarly oratorical prowess and near-perfect annunciation, August (Lee) winds through the stories of his life, growing up in the Hill district of Pittsburgh in 1965, going to jail, having an affair with a married woman and getting thrown out of his apartment when he couldn’t pay the rent. A man of principles who demands respect, August sticks to his guns, even when it gets him in trouble at work and with the law.
Self taught by reading reams of books since leaving high school, August became a poet and a playwright. Though he never reveals it in his monologue, Wilson was a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner (“Fences” and “The Piano Lesson”) and Tony Award winner for “Fences.”
Whole World Cast Circa 1990s: Sarah Baker, Chip Powell, Rob Poynter, Phil Cater, Emily Reily Russell, Michael Sweeney, Annie Humphrey, Lance Krall, Jim Issa, Michael Snow, David Webster, Kalen Conover: Photo by Jerry Beckham
This Friday you can see what was the greatest home-grown comedy this city has ever seen, some of the original cast of Whole World Theatre. It included Lance Krall, who starred in his own TV show, “The Lance Krall Show” and Sarah Baker, who is fast becoming a superstar after her numerous TV and movie roles.
While Baker and Krall will not be among the players, one of the standout performers and my personal favorite, Phil Cater, will be. I am hoping that he does his rendition of James Brown because no one does a comedic impression of Brown as hilariously as Cater. He can make you laugh until you cry.
The show will also feature the outstanding original cast regulars: Jenny Andrews, Jim Issa, Wes Kenmore, Annie Humphrey and Chip Powell as master of ceremonies.
The last time I saw a Whole World Theatre show was about 10 years ago, after this original cast had left, and it was nowhere near the quality of this original cast, which was better than any of the numerous Second City show I’ve ever seen.
Having lived in Atlanta and gone to the theater since the 1960s, I have never experienced comedy as great as this cast. You have one chance to see this cast as most of them now live in Los Angeles.
The Whole World Alumni Show runs one night, Friday, Oct. 10 at Whole World Theatre.
Jill Jane Clements and Rob Cleveland
Step on the gas to see ”Driving Miss Daisy” at Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville. Just 30 minutes from Atlanta, it’s well worth the drive to see this production, even if you saw it nearly 20 years ago at the Alliance Theatre with Mary Nell Santacroce.
Set in Atlanta from the late ‘40s to the ‘70s, the play touches on race, religion and prejudice. Daisy Werthen (Jill Jane Clements) is a 72-year-old Jewish woman striving to maintain her independence after her son, Boolie (Jared Simon), forbids her to drive after her third recent accident. Boolie hires a middle-aged black man, Hoke (Rob Cleveland), to serve as her chauffeur. Daisy says that is too pretentious and she’d rather take a bus and doesn’t need anyone lurking around her home.
Pursing her lips again and again, Clements portrayed Daisy as one dimensional for the first part of the show, but she did a wonderful job of aging over 25 years and was heart wrenching when Hoke and Boolie visited her in a retirement home. Cleveland, a long-time Atlanta comic and actor, only plays Hoke up until Sept. 28. Then, Geoffrey Williams takes on the role.
Set designer Britt Hultgren Ramroop does a nice job of using a multitude of slides of old Atlanta to set the scenes and time period.
Set in Aurora’s small black-box theater, the play lasts under 90 minutes with no intermission. Seats are general admission.
“Driving Miss Daisy” won an Outer Critics Circle Award and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The film version, starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman, won an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Written by Atlanta native Alfred Uhry, directed by Justin Anderson, “Driving Miss Daisy” runs through Oct. 19 at Aurora Theatre.
John Behlmann and cast; Photo: Greg Mooney
Scene after scene, the new musical “Bull Durham,” loosely based on the motion picture of the same name, is batting a thousand at The Alliance Theatre. If all it takes is a smash hit here to make it on Broadway, this world premiere and cast should be packing its bags soon.
This show, whose book is written by the original screenplay writer, Ron Shelton, pops starting with the opening number, “Opening Day.” The new baseball season brings Nuke (John Behlmann) reminiscent of Gary Bussey’s wacky film portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis, to Durham, N.C., to become the new baseball star. He meets the bewitching Annie Savoy, who falls for him and the team’s catcher, Crash Davis (played by Will Swenson here and by Kevin Costner in the screenplay).
The musical brings more playful fun–and bawdiness–than the original screenplay, and these characters are more exciting to watch. Sexy siren Annie Savoy (Melissa Errico–Susan Sarandon’s character in the film) can shake you to the core when she belts out a torch song or sings a ballad that rips at your heart.
This production has one of those rare casts where EVERYONE is extraordinary and believable. Behlmann manages to make this cartoon-like dimwitted character totally believable. Even the ball team’s mascot (the actor is not credited in the playbill), who hassles Nuke on the sidelines, is eye catching, lovable and believable. The singers are all great, most notably the Bull’s coach, Larry Hockett (Brent Bateman) and Millie (Lora Lee Gayer).
Choreographer Joshua Bergasse mixes dances with typical baseball player moves like chest bumps and fights (set in slow motion). The hip-hop number (song and dance) is absolutely hilarious. Set designer Derek McLane also deserves a shout-out for simple but life-like sets, especially his honky-tonk bar whose shelves are filled to the top with bottles of liquor.
There is not one thing I disliked about this show. The show itself gets an A, but the cast gets A++.
Music and lyrics by Susan Werner, directed by Kip Fagan, “Bull Durham” runs at the Alliance Theatre through Oct. 5.
Cast: Randy Aaron, Jake Boyd, Chris Critelli, Khris Davis, Lily Dickinson, Erica Dofler, Benny Elledge, Wilkie Ferguson III, Randi Garza, Lora Lee Gayer, Jordan Gleber, Meg Gillentine, Joel Hatch, Manuel Herrera, Harrison McCall Lewis, Koh Mochizuki, Chase Peacock, Diany Rodriguez, Travis Smith, Manuel Stark, John Clarence Stewart, Will Swenson, Joe Tippett, Alpha Trivette, Laura Wright.
