Jay Irwin - Page 49

Getting up on stage by yourself is, to say the least, a daunting task. If you forget a line, or a bit of staging, there's no one there to turn to other than you. So it's a good thing we have such amazing talent here in Seattle to pull it off. This is why Theatre Off Jackson is back with their 5th annual Solo Performance Festival (SPF #5). And while I was only able to catch two of the seven acts running over the next few weeks, if the others are anything like these two, then who needs a full cast as these performers have enough talent and energy for 100 people.

What do goats dream about? That is a question that has plagued mankind … well … not really at all. But New Century Theater Company is endeavoring to answer just such a question with their latest show, "O Lovely Glowworm or Scenes of Great Beauty" by Glen Berger. And this existential question is handled in as artfully and skillfully a way as to create a production of near perfection on every level.

Most actors have had that typical nightmare; you're suddenly in the wings about to go on for a musical that you've never even heard of before. For most, it's a terrifying thought. But for the improv actors at Wing-It's production of their improvised 1950's Rock 'n Roll musical, "Goin' Steady: The Musical" it's just another day at the office. And these folks make it look amazingly easy and with hysterical results.

In Melissa James Gibson's play "This", currently having its west coast premiere at the Seattle Rep, the central conceit is that this is an inside look at four witty average urban thirty-somethings, a group that seems to be the go-to for new playwrights. But the problem is that these people are average only in that they end up as stereotypes to the way we see this "type" and possibly how we would like to see ourselves. And those stereotypes, while funny and engaging, sometimes come across as forced.

If you've lived in Seattle for any substantial length of time then you probably know of one of Seattle's lost landmarks, "The Lusty Lady". Whether you just reveled in their hysterical reader board signs as you drove along 1st Avenue or were actually a visitor to Seattle's favorite peep show you knew of the old girl's allure. But how many people are actually privy to the inner workings of this pleasure palace? Well, having worked there in various jobs for 5 years, Ron Richardson is and he's come to the Market Theater to share his insights with you with his show, "My Time with the Lady". Yes, there's dirty stories and slightly off beat customers but there's also a look at the other wonderful people who brought the place to life and, believe it or not, a deeply heartfelt look at the peep show that helped make Seattle what it is today.

Right from the opening few notes of "9 to 5: The Musical", now performing at the 5th Avenue Theatre, the show wants to draw you back to connect with the original film. And while the show is a solid bit of fluff and definitely improved from the last time I saw it (but we'll get to that in a minute) occasionally those moments of connection get a little cheesy and desperate.

Puppet This and Eclectic Theater Company have taken on one of the worst movies ever created and presented it with their puppet friends in "Manos - The Hands of Felt". And although they suffer from a few lags in the action, the production manages to put a fun twist on one of the worst stories ever told.

Before the midnight movie showings, before the audience participation there was a little stage show from England called "The Rocky Horror Show" that tried to push social and sexual boundaries with its risque themes. Well, Open Circle Theatre is trying to bring that boundary pushing into a new millennium with their own production of the classic, albeit odd, musical. And while some of it comes across as a bit self serving and under produced, the production manages to take a new look at what an old show could do today.

Seattle's Intiman Theatre is currently presenting Arthur Miller's post war tragedy, "All My Sons" with a bit of non-traditional casting. And while the casting didn't detract from the story, I didn't feel it lent anything to it either. But my biggest qualm was not with the casting but with the lack of connection happening on stage.

The La Jolla Playhouse is presenting a world premiere musical based on the 2006 Academy Award winning film "Little Miss Sunshine". And while the show had its shining moments and a cast that matched the subtlety and charm of the original sleeper hit, on the whole it needs a bit of a jump start if it's going to make it down the road to Broadway.

Seattle Repertory Theatre is currently presenting John Steinbeck's depression era classic "Of Mice and Men". While not the most amazing play I've seen this season, the Rep continues to demonstrate that they know how to put up good, strong solid theater and this production is no exception.

Every now and again a show comes along that wins all the awards, sells out the houses and gets all the praise and I simply look at it and ask, "Why?" Well, the Paramount is currently presenting one of those shows. The national tour of the Best Musical Tony Award winning "Billy Elliot The Musical" has come to town and now after having seen the production I still ask, "Why?" Why is this so popular?

Seattle Public Theater is presenting the Northwest premiere of Julie Marie Myatt's drama "The Happy Ones". And while I appreciated the performances in the production I didn't really feel the play went anywhere.

Theater Schmeater is currently presenting their latest installment of their wildly popular stage adaptations of the classic TV series with "The Twilight Zone: Live!" And while I've seen some of the Zones before and even some of these episodes done previously, I don't believe I've seen them done better.

Village Theatre is currently asking the very unlikely question, "What happens when two American songwriters get kidnapped by cold war era KGB agents to write the quintessential Russian musical?" The answer is, "You get "Iron Curtain", the latest show to get a main stage production out of the Village Originals Festival, which amounts to two and a half hours of absolute bliss!"

Seattle's STAGEright Theatre is currently presenting the peculiar morality play, "The Firebugs" at Odd Duck Studio on Capitol Hill. A gritty little play about trying to outwit evil, the show is a quirky and fun game of cat and mouse that leaves you no wiser but wary.

ArtsWest continues their streak of Seattle Premieres with "Distracted" by Lisa Loomer. Unfortunately as topical and fresh as the subject matter is, the production itself seemed to take the title, "Distracted" and use it as a watchword for the tone of the show.

The La Jolla Playhouse is presenting a world premiere musical based on the 2006 Academy Award winning film "Little Miss Sunshine". And while the show had its shining moments and a cast that matched the subtlety and charm of the original sleeper hit, on the whole it needs a bit of a jump start if it's going to make it down the road to Broadway.

Village Theatre breaks out its magnifying glass with a change of pace from the usual musical fare with the Tony award winning "Sleuth" by Anthony Shaffer. And what can I tell you about this production? Well, not a lot so as not to give it away. But I can say that it's a viciously fun game from beginning to end.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting the touring production of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Next To Normal" which began part of its life in a workshop locally at Village Theatre. This odd musical theater show about dealing with mental illness proves that the art form is alive and well and need not be the cookie cutter formula.