The Last Laugh - Articles Page 14

Today we are completing BroadwayWorld's seven part analysis of Shakespeare's works, all with an eye towards the new movie ANONYMOUS - which questions the authorship of William Shakespeare - with a look at the greatest moments of deception in theatre taken from the last few decades. While deception and betrayal are both tried and true tactics of creating some tense, terse, taught drama by playwrights and filmmakers the world round - both onstage and onscreen - and it is certainly as much a hackneyed trope used today as it was used five hundred years ago in Shakespeare's time - the acts themselves that we will be focusing on today are the most surprising, effective and entertaining examples of them all. Analyzing moments from entities as diverse as SWEENEY TODD, CARRIE, WICKED, GYPSY, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, THE MUSIC MAN, SISTER ACT, SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, HAMLET, ENRON and more - split into three categories: musical tragedies, musical comedies and straight plays - it becomes quite clear over the course of analyzing these double-crosses that Shakespeare was not the only dramatist who could make the drama's biggest twist also be the moment that stays with us long after the curtain has come down or the screen has gone black. Note: given the nature of today's topic, be forewarned that spoilers copiously abound from here on out!

For the last seven years Jamie Morris' twisted version, MOMMIE QUEEREST, has had sold-out audiences across the country rethinking the oft-quoted tale with the simple premise, 'What if Joan had really been a man all those years?' Told by an all male cast of four, MOMMIE QUEEREST entertains the notion that Crawford was actually a man in drag, a fact she hid from her fans, her children, and the world. Even when Christina finds out, takes revenge, and writes 'Daddy Dearest' it's Joan who still has the last laugh.

For the last seven years Jamie Morris' twisted version, MOMMIE QUEEREST, has had sold-out audiences across the country rethinking the oft-quoted tale with the simple premise, 'What if Joan had really been a man all those years?' Told by an all male cast of four, MOMMIE QUEEREST entertains the notion that Crawford was actually a man in drag, a fact she hid from her fans, her children, and the world. Even when Christina finds out, takes revenge, and writes 'Daddy Dearest' it's Joan who still has the last laugh.

For the last seven years Jamie Morris' twisted version, MOMMIE QUEEREST, has had sold-out audiences across the country rethinking the oft-quoted tale with the simple premise, 'What if Joan had really been a man all those years?' Told by an all male cast of four, MOMMIE QUEEREST entertains the notion that Crawford was actually a man in drag, a fact she hid from her fans, her children, and the world. Even when Christina finds out, takes revenge, and writes 'Daddy Dearest' it's Joan who still has the last laugh.

Today marks the last episode review of the second season of Fox's hit musical dramedy series GLEE and I'm sure that many will agree with me that last night's show was as good a Season Two send-off as could have possibly been expected from Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan and company given what has gone on this year so far. Besides the sights and sounds of the dramatic NYC wrap-up, the Broadway babies amongst the gleeks were treated to the extended returns of fan favorite Jonathan Groff and new cast member Cheyenne Jackson, in addition to a characteristically fabulous cameo by Broadway legend Patti LuPone - and the grand return of international singing sensation - as well as a participant in this column; in addition to Mr. Groff, yesterday (and, coming up: Mr. Jackson) - the big-voiced-diva known as Charice. While original songs dominated the episode, we were also treated to a mash-up of Madonna's 'I Love New York' and the Leonard Bernstein/Betty Comden/Adolph Green ON THE TOWN anthem 'New York, New York' (and a sample of the Kander & Ebb version elsewhere in the episode, 'for good' measure), in addition to one of the musical highlights of not only this episode, but all of Season Two - a song which was incidentally premiered in this very column on BroadwayWorld last week: Lea Michele and Chris Colfer putting their own spin on the WICKED curtain song 'For Good' on the very stage of the Gershwin Theater where the Broadway smash plays eight times a week - and has since 2004 - right where fellow GLEE guest stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel first sang it. While the musical quotient on GLEE is always appreciably entertaining - with few exceptions - this season has been significantly more expansive and varied in its storytelling style, so the question of the season undoubtedly is: was it all wrapped up satisfactorily? Well, we'll just have to stack it all up side-by-side-by-side-by-side and see, now, won't we? But, one thing is crystal clear: GLEE in NYC was all it was cracked up - and built up - to be. The big pay-off. Finally. Or, make that more to the point: finale.

Love can be a battlefield, but when hip hop is involved it can be a war where only the strong survive.

Love can be a battlefield, but when hip hop is involved it can be a war where only the strong survive. In the premiere season of VH1's 'Love & Hip Hop,' five women who are all part of the New York hip hop scene, shared their lives and secrets and showed the world what life is really like behind the velvet rope.

Love can be a battlefield, but when hip hop is involved it can be a war where only the strong survive.

Skylight Opera Theatre of Milwaukee, Wisconsin will open Mozart's Cosi fan tutte March 18, 2011.

Skylight Opera Theatre of Milwaukee, Wisconsin will open Mozart's Cosi fan tutte March 18, 2011.

The Wagner College Theatre has named Philip Gerson the winner of the 2011 Stanley Drama Award for his play, 'Eyes Forward.' Gerson makes his home in both New York and Los Angeles.

'The Kiss' - In honor of her late grandmother, Gloria decides to cook more traditional Colombian meals, which is met with some ribbing from Jay -- but see who gets the last laugh. Meanwhile Claire finds herself becoming the overbearing mom when she finds out Alex likes a boy, and Haley's idea of sisterly advice is not helping matters; and Mitchell and Cameron have a tiff over Mitchell's freakish aversion to PDA, on 'Modern Family,' WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9:31-10:01p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 9/29/10)

With the clocks going back and the dark evenings drawing in, you're probably looking for something to entertain you on these dark dreary nights. Well, don't dispair because here at Roscommon Arts Centre there are lots of theatre, music and comedy nights, not to mention another exhibition opening this Friday 5th by Kilkenny-based artist Paul Mosse.

With the clocks going back and the dark evenings drawing in, you're probably looking for something to entertain you on these dark dreary nights. Well, don't dispair because here at Roscommon Arts Centre there are lots of theatre, music and comedy nights, not to mention another exhibition opening this Friday 5th by Kilkenny-based artist Paul Mosse.

Music and comedy fans will not be disappointed this autumn with a varied mix of both just confirmed for autumn at Roscommon Arts Centre. The Last Laugh Comedy Club welcomes the return of Jason Byrne on Friday 5th November for what is sure to be another night of mayhem and laughter.

The Roscommon Arts Center of Roscommon, Ireland has announced its calendar for May and June 2010.

The Roscommon Arts Center of Roscommon, Ireland has announced its calendar for May and June 2010.

The Roscommon Arts Center of Roscommon, Ireland has announced its calendar for May and June 2010.

The Roscommon Arts Center of Roscommon, Ireland has announced its calendar for May and June 2010.

The Roscommon Arts Center of Roscommon, Ireland has announced its calendar for May and June 2010.

The Roscommon Arts Center of Roscommon, Ireland has announced its calendar for May and June 2010.

The Roscommon Arts Center of Roscommon, Ireland has announced its calendar for May and June 2010.

Japan Society announces an exciting spring season featuring a variety of art forms, ranging from traditional Japanese comic theater to a weekend of experimental music.

This Summer, PBS will bring the emotionally provoking, memorable score of the London musical Imagine This to DVD and CD. Released on May 4, this fascinating and inspiring story tells of the misfortunes and triumphs faced by occupants of the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw during the Holocaust.

Japan Society announces an exciting spring season featuring a variety of art forms, ranging from traditional Japanese comic theater to a weekend of experimental music.