Jay Irwin - Page 44

There are some Shakespeare shows that are not quite as bulletproof as others. If the pacing isn't there or the casting or both then they can run into an uphill battle. Such was the case with Seattle Shakespeare Company's current production of "As You Like It". While having some lovely moments and definitely picking itself up in Act Two, it suffered from some uneven casting and pacing that left the show just so so.

As always, summers in the Seattle area are a crapshoot. Will we or won't we have nice weather? If the weather lately is any indication I think we're in for some lovely days and plenty of chances to play outside. But whether the weather forces us outdoors or indoors there's always plenty of theater going on around town to take in. Here are our top 5 picks for summer theater goings on around town this year.

I had a very confusing night last night. I went to go catch the latest tour offering from musical theater parodists Team StarKid with their "Apocalyptour" at the Neptune Theatre. My first moment of confusion was when I arrived an hour before the show and the line was already down the block and around the corner. I didn't realize how much of a cult following they have especially with the younger crowd as the majority of the crowd was still in their teens. But the place was packed! Then, once the show started, came the rest of my confusion as apparently seeing a Team StarKid show requires loads of advanced knowledge as there's no way you could hear any lyrics over the band not to mention the screaming fans who sounded as though they were witnessing the second coming of The Beatles.

Flying House Productions is currently presenting two shows over at the Erickson Theatre that's bound to appeal to all kinds of musical theater lovers. The problem is that elements of both shows combined form a kick ass show but separately they seem only half-baked.

England in the 1960's may not have been able to get away with overt displays as we can today but that doesn't mean they were any less randy. And that's half the fun with Joe Orton's play, "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" currently playing at Theater Schmeater. They can't come right out and say what they all want from Mr. Sloane but the double and sometime triple entendres and skirting of the real issue makes for a naughtily fun evening.

When will they learn that simply putting the music of some notable singers on stage without a decent script to back it up does not a good musical make? It's didn't work for "Good Vibrations" it didn't work for "Lennon" and it doesn't work for "Million Dollar Quartet" currently playing at the Paramount Theatre. The only things saving this show are the fact that the incredible performers are playing their own instruments and that there's enough nostalgia on stage to choke a horse. But is that enough?

Sometimes we just don't need those big flashy musicals. Sometimes it's just nice to have a simple little show that you can sit back and let wash over you. Such is the case with the current show out at Seattle Musical Theatre, "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change". The perfect little date night show and a production that just oozes with charm.

It's difficult when you have an iconic show to work with such as "The Producers" currently playing at Village Theatre. The Mel Brooks classic movie turned Mel Brooks mega hit stage musical turned Mel Brooks movie musical is definitely a big piece of musical theater history. Add in huge stars like Gene Wilder, Zero Mostel, Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane to that history and the result of subsequent productions can vary from bland imitation to just plain not in the same league to the other end of the spectrum with spot on awesome, but you'll always kind of compare with the original. Well, luckily the Village production is on that latter end of the spectrum. With their couldn't-be-better-if-they-tried cast they manage an amazing show and even a few departures along the way that only made it stronger.

From "Steel Pier", "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" and "Wicked" to "Four Christmases", "Glee", "Pushing Daisies" and her new hit series "GCB" (just to name a few) Kristin Chenoweth has proven herself to be a superstar. And now that super stardom is solidified in stone as she embarks on her nationwide concert tour that rocked Seattle's Paramount Theater with its premiere.

A show about two nobodies writing a musical about themselves writing the musical they are in. Sounds a bit self-serving and pandering. They even note that in the course of the play and that's the impression I've always had of it from the cast recording. And while I still have that impression to an extent, the current production of "title of show" from Curly Stache Productions and Balagan Theatre showed me a new side of it. A side that's funny and sweet and for the most part keeps itself from being mired in an endless series of in-jokes.

The thing I love about catching shows from the only three year old STAGEright is that you can see the amount of heart and love they pour into their productions. From the casting to the sets to the material itself you can tell that these folks have a definite love for what they are presenting rather than just putting something up for the hell of it. Their current production, "The Book of Liz" is no exception with its absurd yet hilarious send up of small town life and finding where you fit in.

Let me just start by saying I have never read or seen any works by Federico Garcia Lorca, so I could not be called a fan of his work. And I'm wondering if that's what you would need to really get into Arouet's production of Lorca's "The House of Bernarda Alba" adapted into English by Emily Mann. While there were some decent performances I just found it difficult to invest in any of the characters or situations.

As technology is fast approaching the time when we'll all have our own flying cars and robot servants (even though I thought we were supposed to be there by now) new and interesting tech also avails itself to theatrical productions. Sometimes it goes a little overboard and interferes with telling the story, but fortunately this is not the case with Wing-It's latest production, "Gauntlet". With their new interactive video game comedy, they have incorporated some new and exciting tech with their already brilliant improv skills to create one of the coolest shows I've seen.

New Seattle Indie web series CHOP SOCKY BOOM premieres today online.

This is not Liza's "Cabaret". This ain't even the edgier Alan Cumming version. The new Schoolyard production of Cabaret currently playing at Re-bar is a different animal entirely. With its more contemporary rock orchestrations and in your face style this production of the Kander and Ebb classic sometimes feels a bit forced into a new mold forsaking the spirit of the original but also manages some amazing moments of clarity of story and brilliant staging.

I'll have to admit I'm a sucker for those stories where people find new and wondrous things about themselves and succeed against all odds. Yes, I'm a sap, which is why I found myself tearing up a few times during ACT's current production of "The Pitmen Painters". It's not the most glorious script I've seen but it is a wonderful story of overcoming your given station in life and I have to say has one hell of an ensemble performing it.

"You gotta have heart!" That's the central conceit of any production of "Damn Yankees". Without that heart they might as well be singing about golf. Well luckily the current production at the 5th Avenue Theatre in conjunction with the Paper Mill Playhouse has heart to spare combined with a killer cast and visually spectacular set.

Village Theatre has a tradition of bringing up new musicals (often ones showcased in their Village Originals Festival) onto the Mainstage. Sometimes it works ("Next To Normal" or "Iron Curtain") and sometimes it doesn't ("Take Me America" from earlier this season) and sometimes you have a really promising show that just needs a little more time to cook. Such is the case with "It Shoulda Been You" currently playing at Village. An incredibly strong cast in a show that doesn't always hit the mark or flow the way it could.

Sometimes I don't think we in Seattle know how culturally lucky we are. We have amazing theaters that give us new and exciting works sometimes even as tryouts on their way to Broadway. But now the Seattle Rep has pulled off a new one as we are getting Bruce Norris' thrilling new work "Clybourne Park" here even though it just opened on Broadway last week. And if that weren't enough for us to thank our lucky stars, add into that the all around stunning production of this new work with its sublime cast and we may come to realize just how much the theater Gods are smiling down upon us.

The Heroes are back! Annex Theatre's favorite band of supers have returned for a prequel to their hit "Alecto: Issue #1" with the uproarious "Team of Heroes: Behind Closed Doors". And while the hilarity and amazingly clever staging is back with some new surprises and some actual poignant moments, at times the show seems in desperate need of some editing as it felt a bit disjointed and over complicated.