Thursday, August 7, 2008

Robin Hood the Musical

Robin Hood the Musical! succeeds at "the Musical" but fails at "Robin Hood". Strong performances and skilled singing save the show from a formulaic story.

The goal of the script seems to be to ensure every cast member is given a moment in the spotlight, whether it has any bearing on the story of Robin Hood or not. Crammed into the fifty minute Fringe time slot, most of the plot is rushed through. The transitions are abrupt, and all of the problems are solved in about sixty seconds during a sudden wedding scene. There isn't enough action. This would be fine for a class show that was being presented for friends and family. But a ticket holder spending $12 a ticket to see a musical about Robin Hood will be disappointed.

That said, my son really enjoyed the show. The ensemble shines. The kids in the show radiate the joy of theater. Everyone on stage is having fun and it transfers to the audience.

The are many strong performances in the show. Larry J. Evans as King Richard lends gravitas to the proceedings. Basso profundo John-Scott Moir is a deliciously evil Prince John. Little Sophia Russell as "Kid" is cute as a button. Martino Mayotte and Siri Hellerman as Alan A. Dale and his love Alice could have sustained their own show. Mayotte has a lyric soaring voice and Hellerman has sharp comic instincts.

Robin Hood(Grant Hauptman) and Marian(Valerie Roder) have a moving eleventh hour love duet. Roder's voice has a beautiful shimmer and easy top notes.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Snip, Snap, Snute

The message I took away from Snip, Snap, Snute: A new musical for children is be fearful of people you don't know. People who wear matching red wool vests are good and trolls with messy hair and dingy clothes are bad. If you are red vest person, like the farmer, who gets stuck with a messy-haired, dingy-clothed daughter, make sure you make her feel like a loser. Even though she is smart and spirited tell her she can't do things because she's just a girl. By the same token, if you are a troll-ma, be certain to let your sweet-voiced daughter know that she is worthless because she can't burp like a troll. The two young girls-the changelings- get a "happy" ending that is telegraphed the minute you first meet their characters.

Musically, the show is engaging. John Mattesich on guitar and Russ King on keyboard kept a firm foundation under the singers and kept things rollicking along. I enjoyed the vocal writing as well. "Goat for Supper" and "Human Bean for Supper" were sharp and witty. The quartet of trolls (Cory Anderson, Nikolas Soll, Johnny Charon, plus Daniel Olson as the troll ma) were hilarious.

Unfortunately, I could not get past the message of the show.

Tommy's Top 10

Every year Tommy compiles a list of his favorite shows for the fringe website. This year he has broken his personal attendance record. He has seen eleven shows in four days. He only has two official kid's shows to see-A Royal Birthday Mess, which opens tonight, and Ars Longa, vita brevis. So here is Citizen Journalist Tommy:

"Thanks, Mom. I'm going to do a top ten list(as the title informs). Most of these are kid's shows, by the way, so you take the kids along too."

10. Maggie's Magical Cat and Other Catastrophes

"Clearly, this is a girls show. All the actors are girls, there's girl themes, yada yada yada. Overall, it's a fun experience, but I clearly recommend this for girls. Plus, did I mention that all of the cast shares memories of grade school?"

9. PieRats: The Crusade for Peaches Cobbler

"This play ranks a little over the middle. The story is okay, with good plot twists, but doesn't have enough humor(although there are lots of gags, most of them are running gags of shutting up Clueless Willie) Overall, it's a 'just for fun' show."

8. Frizzabelle and the Circus

"The show's climax, which is the circus performing, is one of the best scenes I've seen at the Fringe. The story and acting is good, there's good comedy, and it's, overall, a great show.

7. The Legend of Little Bad: Not Her Father's Fairytale

"This is one of those shows where everything is great! The only scene that lags is one about two 'not-so-handsome' princes, but everything else gives a smile."

6. Shakespeare's Land of the Dead

"I....WANT....MORE....ZOMBIES!!!!! This show, about an occurrence of the fictional Elizabethan Zombie Plague, is funny, a little scary, and filled with....duh, zombies! However, this show is NOT FOR KIDS."

5. The Supercilious Ways of Walter Wading

"This show, aimed at the little guys, has simple all over it. Simple fun, simple story, simply great! The acting is superb, the scene at the beginning is excellent, and it's extreme fun. Go see it, NOW!"

4. Silent Poetry - A Tribute to Marcel Marceau

"Shhh....it's Silent Poetry, and it's GREAT! Hilarity and heart are present in the show, with humorous bits such as 'Jack*** The Mime', 'The Creation of the World' and my personal favorite, 'A Day at the Church'(you'll see why) Young kids may not understand what he's doing. Recommended for ages 9+."

3. Robin Hood The Musical
"The best musical I've seen at the Fringe! Great songs fill up the show, and it gives a smile in your face. Also, Robin Hood has a girl who's kind of like a daughter, and she's just cute! There are a few cons, though. The story's a bit mashed, the sound system had problems, and songs come and go a little too fast. Still, this is a must see!"

2. An Inconvenient Squirrel

"This....is PURE COMEDY! Excellent story, excellent acting, excellent humor. The costumes are funny as well. You should GO SEE IT NOW!!!!!!"

1. Fools For Love

"Best....Fringe....Show....EVER!!!!!! This is FLAWLESS!!!!!!!!! Humor, heart, acting, story, fun....IT'S PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






Sunday, August 3, 2008

Sunday-Fringe Day 4

We took the light rail train to Bedlam (Fringe Central) today. We saw two shows and Mixed Blood and then walked to the Rarig for the third. We headed back to Bedlam where we enjoyed the Best Ice Cream Sandwiches Ever! Then we hopped back on the train and came home.

Our first show was Silent Poetry-a Tribute to Marcel Marceau. Dean Holt is amazing. I don't have the vocabulary to describe mime from a technical standpoint. I just know that we enjoyed every moment of this show. It was fifty minutes of pure storytelling-without words. Definitely a five kitty show.

Next we saw PieRats:The Crusade for Peaches Cobbler. Although the script was clever the production felt under-rehearsed. There were transitions where you could see the cast thinking "what comes next?". Kyle Conner as the pie maker frequently broke character. The story had some great bits. William Bradshaw as Blind Bart with his "evil pocket dog" Jolly Rodger-Rita" had the audience in stitches.

I also question the wisdom of opening the show with an off-color joke: A pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel down his trousers. The bartender says "do you know there's a steering wheel down your trousers" to which the pirate replies "it's drivin' me nuts!"

I'm no prude. My kids are older and I have no problem with it. The joke is funny. But I don't know many familes who take their pre-schooler to a pirate play to hear jokes about men's junk.

Our final play was John Heimbuch's Shakespeare's Land of the Dead. This is not a show intended for kids but Tommy really wanted to see this one. He enjoyed it but much of it flew over his head. He wanted more zombie action.

I loved it. The script was witty and tight and the cast was superb. I would love to see this play extended to a full-length show. If anything, I think the zombies should be more terrifying.

We are taking tomorrow off from fringing. I still have 3 shows left to review.

The Legend of Little Bad:Not Her Father's Fairy Tale

Tommy (who is 10) was concerned that he might be to old for "The Legend of Little Bad: Not Her Father's Fairy Tale". Not to worry. The clever script kept him entertained for the full forty-five minutes. Closer to the spirit of the original Grimm's fairy tales than the Disney versions, this fractured fairy tale picks up the story with Little Pink (Red Riding Hood's daughter) and Woofie (the big bad wolf's daughter) running off into the forest to change their story . Little Pink doesn't want to be naive and stupid and Woofie doesn't want to have to eat her friends. Archie, one of the three little piggies, tags along. Silliness ensues. The children in the audience enjoyed being invited to participate. Even the adults had a howling good time.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Fools for Love and An Inconvenient Squirrel

It is 10:15 PM Saturday night and mijos are getting ready for bed. Once again, I'm missing my opportunity to wear my tiara. (Yes, I have one). All of my cousins had a quince, but not me. Pobrecita.

I can't complain. We have seen eight shows and not a single rotten tomato. But the best of the crop were Fools for Love and An Inconvenient Squirrel.

Fools for Love is extraordinary. Chris and I regretted not taking the boys with us to see Fishbowl at Jeune Leune before it closed. Fools for Love has restored my faith that the fresh, innovative commedia dell'arte lives on. It is in our water, like mercury and antibiotics. It has spread to the children. The show, directed by Noah Bremer, was created by an ensemble of Hastings High School students between the ages of fourteen and eighteen.

Beginning with a joyous entrance as a rag-tag marching band, the ensemble seamlessly glides from one vignette to another. There is broad physical comedy and poignant acting. The actors use their faces, bodies, voices, and fingertips to create strong individual characters. There is a funny airplane ride, a joyous penguin ballet, and a heartbreaking dance with red feathers.

I recommend this show to everyone, but especially to those who are missing good old-fashioned jeune-leuny imaginative theater. Don't worry..they're here.

On to my other "must-see"-An Inconvenient Squirrel. Where else can you meet "passive-aggressive squirrel" (well, at first I didn't like my name but now I'm okay with it) and "eeevill genius squirrel". My favorite insight came from Socially Awkward Squirrel-"Being weird isn't awkward for me-its awkward for everyone else!" Tim Uren, Dan Rooney, Reid Knuttila, and Joseph Scrimshaw are brilliantly squirrelly. Like the great Warner brothers cartoons, the adults are howling with laughter alongside their children.

The message comes through clearly-don't label yourself with one role to play. It is more important just to be. (Oprah would approve!) But unlike many shows for children it never condescends; it never goes into after-school special territory. This show doesn't play again until Thursday, don't let it get lost on your schedule.