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A Fine Oliver!
The Dickensian tale of the adventures and misadventures of a foundling orphan waif is blessed by the fine, confident performance of Ben Phillips in the title role. Young Phillips sings fearlessly and avoids the pitfalls of cloying sentimentality and affectation that often curse the role. Kenneth Cusson as workhouse tyrant Mr. Bumble and Nancy Williams as Widow Corney provide much of the evening's comedy with broadly played, excellently sung, over the top performances. Resident actor Michael D Jacobs makes a superb Fagin. With grey locks cascading from a balding pate and a scraggly unkempt beard, his Fagin is in turn benignly dictatorial with his child army of scruffy pickpockets, tender with the slum doxy Nancy (Erica Racz) and obsequious in the presence of the sociopath Bill Sykes (Michael Champlin). Mr. Jacobs invest this "bad 'un" with just enough humanity to elicit a modicum of sympathy for him at close of curtain. Ms. Racz, ably supported Lana Richards as Nancy's best friend Bet, creates a character who loves life and the people around her, including, mysteriously, the brute Sykes. Her justifying number "As Long as He Needs Me," which she sings brilliantly, dominating the stage with her presence and silky contralto, reveals Nancy as a codependent and enabler who accepts abuse as the price of caring. She is heartbreaking in the reprise when she opens up to include young Oliver in the tight circle of those who need her, setting herself up for a tragic end at the hands of a monster. With such a huge ensemble, let me point out that the children were adorable, the dancers were drilled to near perfection and the cast was uniformly coached to more than acceptable, consistent levels British and Cockney accents. The funeral dancers (Melinda Burns, Danica Harootian, Elana Kline, Molly Krost, Lana Richards, Sofia Sarlat and Katherine Stadtlander) and the chimney sweeps (Christopher Marcos, Antonio Ferrer, Jr., Michael Junsay, Arick Arzadon and Daniel Matsumoto) were particularly fine in executing the inventive choreography of Ms. O'Bryon. And while it may be may be unfair to single out one performer from amongst so many, Kent Burns as the strawberry seller was magnetic drawing the eye with charisma and pleasing the ear with a beautiful and powerful child's soprano. The multilevel set by Rick Ortenblad efficiently represented the many locales called for and scene changes were swift and seamless. Lady Hull costumed the multitudes with satisfying period representations that were rich and colorful. Kudos PRT for a delightful production. Anna in the Tropics
Under the expert direction of Lorenzo Aragon, a fine ensemble cast tells the story of a small, family owned cigar factory in Tampa, Florida in the year 1929. The opening establishes character and situation as the scene shifts between the cock fights where impulsive factory owner Santiago (Cesar E. Flores) drinks and gambles away hundreds of dollars and a trio of women, Santiago’s wife Ofelia (Suzanne Sturn) and daughters Marela (April Saldaña) and Conchita (Beatrice Basso) who breathlessly await the arrival of the new lector. In a tradition that dates back to the Taino Indians who rolled the first cigars, the lector is a learned man that reads to the cigar workers to give some relief from the boredom of the repetitive tasks involved in the making of cigars. Handsome and charismatic, the new lector, Juan Julian (Cain Camargo – every inch the Latin lover), chooses to read Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, which together with his smoldering personality stirs up the passions already simmering in this close knit family. Inspired by the story, Conchita (the lovely Beatrice Basso in a finely detailed performance) confronts her philandering husband Palomo (Ron Perez, understated and intense as a man confused by his yearnings) and threatens to stray herself. Santiago’s illegitimate stepbrother Cheché (a seething Leonard Maestas) hates his second-class status in the family enterprise and, because his wife ran off with Juan Julian’s predecessor, also despises any and all lectors. As Marela, a teenager smitten by romantic notions unleashed by Anna Karenina, April Saldaña is in turns affectingly sweet, vulnerable, moody and angry. Cesar Flores gives us a Santiago who is touching and humorous as he battles his twin demons. Suzanne Sturn is superbly sensuous as his wife Ofelia, the backbone of the company. Bernadette Vallejos-Michaels’ costumes beautifully and accurately evoke the period. David Parker’s scenic design suggests a cigar factory simply and effectively and Derek Duarte’s lighting, as always, is wonderfully transparent. Mr. Aragon’s choices of classic Cuban music together with the sound design of Tomás Reyes add immeasurably to the impact of the show. Do not miss this terrific production running through September 13 in the Studio Theatre of Hartnell College’s Performing Arts Center in Salinas. Office Hours A 220 pound jockey, a suicidal figure skater, a boozy clueless film director, a sharp tongued vengeful wife and her philandering husband…all these characters and more supply the laughs in Norm Foster’s Office Hours playing through September 5 at Pintello Comedy Theatre. The Pintellos chose Office Hours as their first revival production and assembled the original 2004 cast of John Brewer, Sandi Lewandowski, Rod Pintello, Donna Knippen and Simon Pintello in their original roles. In six scenes, the actors play seventeen different roles and as the links between the seemingly random sets of characters and situation become increasingly clear, the opportunity for hilarity increases. Donna Knippen is a shrill, domineering mother to her gay attorney son (Simon Pintello) and wife to her hen pecked husband (Rod Pintello). Sandi Lewandowski delightfully shreds her jerk of a horndog husband (John Brewer), a talent agent. In contrast to the occasionally over the top playing, Simon Pintello was delightfully understated whether as race track owner, a gay son breaking the news to his parents or a whacked out film maker pitching a dubious story. I’d like to see more of him on stage. Coming Up My old friend and veteran performer Lee Kopp will appear with Jim Stevens & Friends in a free concert Sunday, September 6th from 1pm to 4pm in the historic 19th Century tasting room and patio of Testarossa Vineyards in Los Gatos. “Jim Stevens and Friends” is noted for a wide variety of acoustical folk, country, blues and standards. Stevens has opened for such major talents as Richie Havens, Maria Muldaur and Ray Price. The talented quartet of singers and musicians is the regular main stage opening act for the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival and has played the event for the last 20 years. Breaking away from their signature melodrama and vaudeville shows, The Gaslighter Theater in downtown Gilroy will open a murder mystery. Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been delighting audiences continuously in the West End of London since 1952. And reviving a tradition dormant since Russ Hendrickson lowered the curtain on Center Stage, audiences are encouraged to bring a dinner to the theatre or they can purchase food on site including beer and soft drinks. The Mousetrap opens September 26 and runs through November 7. On Saturday and Sunday September 12 and 13, the internationally renowned Trio Los Panchos will perform in benefit concerts for GavTV Productions in the Gavilan College Theatre. “Los Panchos made the sound of the bolero familiar to romantics worldwide. Beginning in 1944, their classically-fingered guitar ballads, honeyed, warm harmony vocals and relaxed, sensual style was an updated version of the traditional trio music of central Mexico; their smooth sound gave the genre a new style and life. Emotional interpretations of such songs as “Besame Mucho,” “Quizas, Quizas, Quizas,” and “Sin Ti” propelled them into international fame. To add to their unique sound, the group made use of the “requinto,” a small-sized guitar invented by Los Panchosfounding member Alfredo Gil. The “requinto” became a standard instrument for all trios, typically made up of three guitars and voice harmonies. 2500 songs and 200 albums later Los Panchos continues to delight audiences of all ages. These timeless classics have become a Mexican treasure in the people’s hearts. Los Panchos is presently formed by Gabi Vargas (director), Jaime Ariel Miranda, and Taurino Aguilar who continue a legacy born over 65 years ago (press release).” Last year, Gilroy Arts Alliance brought some of the best female performers in our area together in one place for one hit concert called Divas. This year it’s the guys’ turn. Divos presents Lance La Shelle, Ryan McBrearty, Rob Christopher, Ted Sanchez, Bill Tindall, Phil Robb, Alan Hosida, Don “Elvis” Prieto, Andoni Bundros and me, Paul Myrvold, singing 20 songs from the Broadway stage, popular classics and, in Andoni’s case, original compositions. The singers will be backed by Martan Mann and his trio. Rod Pintello and Kevin Heath will master the ceremonies, so there should be some laughs, too. The event takes place on September 26 at La Vigne, the event center of Hecker Pass Winery. It’s a rare chance to see and hear a pretty fabulous bunch of men. I didn’t want to toot my own horn, but the editor in chief says I have to. And don’t forget… Sam Burguesa and the Pixie Chicks runs through September 19 at El Teatro Campesino’s Playhouse in San Juan Bautista. The world famous company will also present free outdoor performances of La Carpa de los Rasquachis on the lawn of the San Juan Bautista Library on Sunday 9/6 and 9/20 at 2pm…Teatro Visión kicks off there new season on October 1 with the world premiere of Ghosts of the River by the great American playwright Octavio Solis at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose…Green Day’s American Idiot runs Sep 2 – Oct 11 at Berkeley Rep…Renegade Theatre Experiment opens its 2009-2010 season with Tracy Letts Bug Sep 11 – 26 at the Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose…San Jose Stage Company offers up The Pillowman Sep 23 – Oct 18…and South Valley Civic Theatre still proclaims The Butler Did It through Sep 17 at Morgan Hill Community Playhouse.
For more information and details on these shows and many more as well as upcoming auditions, please turn to OnStage. See you at intermission.
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I had no need of the leather jacket, Basque beret and blankets that we schlepped into the Forest Theatre expecting the usual fog chilled evening. The customary roaring fires house left and right remained unlit. The balmy evening prepared a receptive audience for an utterly charming production of the now classic Lionel Bart musical Oliver! Pacific Repertory Theatre assembled a first rate cast of principals and a vast ensemble, which combined, my companion, the editor-in-chief, totaled up to 78 cast members. Under the direction of Katie O'Bryon, the show ripped along at a fast pace aided by the brisk musical direction of Michael Blackburn. 
With Anna in the Tropics, Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz delivers a finely wrought, tightly written, fast paced beauty of a play laced with humor and a passion that is operatic in its grandeur, and The Western Stage has delivered a beauty of a production that reveals the full potential of the text.
Got word just as we were going to press that Tom Humphrey exited this life at his home in North Carolina where he had been Head of the Theatre Department at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. I have worked with many fine directors, but I put Tom at the top of the list. As Artistic Director of The Western Stage, he gave me some great roles and perhaps the single best bit of direction I ever received: "In this scene you cannot be too stupid." Ah, the liberty. A great director, a wonderful man and a pure soul has "shuffled off this mortal coil." He will be well remembered for he touched thousands of lives and launched or boosted hundreds of careers. May he truly rest in peace.
2009-2010
Dining Guide
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