BroadwayWorld.com Rhode Island Stories

Coastline Show Chorus Presents AMERICAN A CAPPELLA, 6/1

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:43:35 PST

The multi award-winning Coastline Show Chorus with their quartets - Pitched Up, Tempo Tantrum, Insongniacs, and Full Throttle, along with the Narragansett Bay Chorus and their quartets - Southeast Light and Trade Secret will be bringing their live AMERICAN A CAPPELLA show to the new state-of-the-art Ocean State Theatre located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick on June 1, 2013 at 2:30 and 7:30 pm.

The Coastline Show Chorus, which recently won its sixth consecutive competition, offers New England a unique form of entertainment, blending four-part a cappella harmony with energetic choreography. Under the direction of Gail Jencik, the Coastline Show Chorus presents a range of music from treasured American classics to Broadway hits and modern jazz.

Based in Providence, Rhode Island, the Coastline Show Chorus is one of more than 600 chapters of Sweet Adelines International, a worldwide organization of more than 26,000 women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance.

The Narragansett Bay Chorus is the performing unit of the Providence Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society - the largest male singing organization in the world! Competitively, the chorus has been the Society's District winner on fifteen separate occasions.

Based in the Greater Providence area since 1949, the Narragansett Bay Chorus is a premier chorus that sings popular music a cappella in four-part harmony. They perform, primarily in the New England area, but have also performed in England, Canada, and across the United States. Membership includes men of all ages from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

AMERICAN A CAPPELLA will be presented on Saturday, June 1 at 2:30 and 7:30 pm. The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets for both performances are on sale at the box office Tuesday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.

Now Playing Onstage in Rhode Island - Week of 5/19/2013

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

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DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID JR
PORTSMOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL
5/14-5/22/2013
In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince Prince Eric that she's the girl with the enchanting voice. Adapted from Disney's 2008 Broadway production, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. features the hit songs "Part of Your World," "She's in Love," and the Oscar-winning "Under the Sea."
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THE ROSE TATTOO
2nd Story Theatre
4/26-5/26/2013
Tennessee William's seldom-produced intoxicating fairy tale for grown-ups - a delightful, sexy, poetic story of the sexual salvation of a Sicilian widow - will have you wondering why you've never seen it onstage. There's no better eway to celebrate the rites of spring than Tennessee at his sensual, spiritual, lyrical best.
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THE ROSE TATTOO
2nd Story Theatre
4/26-5/26/2013
2nd Story Theatre: - Tennessee Williams; dir: Ed Shea.
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THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
Gamm Theatre
5/2-6/2/2013
- Martin McDonagh; dir: Judith Swift.
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(HOUSE &) GARDEN
Trinity Repertory Co
5/16-6/30/2013
Chace Theater: - Alan Ayckbourn; dir: Brian McEleney.
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HOUSE (& GARDEN)
Trinity Repertory Co
5/26-6/30/2013
Dowling Theater: - Alan Ayckbourn; dir: Brian McEleney.
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STOMP's Precision Percussion Brings Energetic Rhythm to PPAC

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:18:21 PST

For two non-stop, high-energy hours, the performers in Stomp drum, dance, and - yes - stomp their way through an array of impressive percussive exhibitions.

Though marking over 20 years on stage, Stomp remains true to its roots and retains the street-performance quality that first brought the show to life in the early 1990s. Don't expect to see traditional drum kits here. Instead, Stomp's talented percussionists use the most mundane objects to produce their precision rhythms, utilizing everyday items to draw art from unlikely yet ordinary sources. The show's style also maintains an urban, street vibe; the performers dress in ripped jeans and baggy tee shirts, and the set itself resembles a two-level junkyard, full of hubcaps, old street signs, trash barrels, and rusty pipes.

Stomp is primarily a percussion show, though the troupe incorporates dance and gymnastic elements in each sketch. The company also gives their performances lots of personality, maintaining an easy, light-hearted, and oftentimes comic rapport with each other and with the audience.

These strong, skilled drummers keep a rhythm going from the show's opening through to the finale, setting an exhausting pace for themselves. Yet the performers possess apparently boundless energy as their enthusiasm, speed, and accuracy never wane. They bring the heartbeat of the show to life using everything and (literally) the kitchen sink; trash cans, wooden poles, dust pans and brushes, life rafts, shopping bags, match boxes, and even the cast's own bodies serve as innovative instruments in Stomp. After seeing the impressive feats this talented group achieves with basic broomsticks or the average shopping cart, you may never consider household chores or buying groceries in the same way again.

Routines featuring paint cans, basket balls, and rubber pipes attain an almost balletic quality with a raw elegance born from precise choreography, sheer style, and undeniable grace. In these scenes, the performers' confidence translates over to the viewing audience, making even the most complicated pieces feel natural and unrehearsed, easy expressions of the percussionists' talents.

Clever sight gags, unique lighting, and high-flying acts make Stomp enjoyable for all ages, though parents of young children should note the show's drumming gets quite loud in some segments and a couple of the humorous bits are moderately crude.

Stomp plays a limited engagement at the Providence Performing Arts Center through Saturday, May 18, 2013. Ticket prices range from $30-57 and group rates are available. To purchase tickets, contact PPAC by phone at (401) 421-ARTS (2787), visit the box office located at 220 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI, or book online at www.ppacri.org. For more information about the show, please visit www.stomponline.com.

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Photo credit: Steve McNicholas

Photo Flash: First Look at Anne Scurria, Phyllis Kay and More in HOUSE & GARDEN

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:43:21 PST

From the author of Absurd Person Singular comes the theatrical event of the season: a pair of interlocking comedies that take place simultaneously, with one cast performing both shows in two different theaters at the same time. Directed by resident company member Brian McEleney, the shows open in previews on May 16 and then run simultaneously through June 30 in both the Chace and Dowling Theaters. Tickets are on sale now at the Trinity Rep box office, 201 Washington St.; by phone at(401) 351-4242; and online at www.trinityrep.com. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production shots below.

Both plays tell a day in the life of the same set of twenty characters and star an incredible ensemble of Trinity Rep favorites, including resident company members Angela Brazil, Janice Duclos, Phyllis Kay, Barbara Meek, Anne Scurria, Fr Ed Sullivan, Jr., Stephen Thorne and Joe Wilson, Jr.; Guest artists Mary C. Davis and Barry M. Press and Brown/Trinity MFA students Catherine Dupont, Steven Jaehnert, Ted Moller and Bridget Saracino.

The seven member children's cast features Swansea, MA resident Lauren Durkin; Warwick resident Kate Fitzgerald; Cranston resident Bedros Kevorkian; Providence residents Margo Herreid, Elliot Peters and Phineas Peters and Pawtucket resident Taliq Tillman.

Tony award-winning set designer Eugene Lee has created both the detailed manor house and the lush landscaped gardens of this sprawling country house in England. Bringing their unique design talents to the production are the exceptional team of lighting designer Bryon Winn, costume designerWilliam Lane and sound designer Peter Sasha Hurowitz.

Photo Credit: Mark Turek

Bridget Saracino (foreground) and Steven Jaehnert

Catherine Dupont

Fr Ed Sullivan , Jr.

Anne Scurria

Phyllis Kay and Fr Ed Sullivan , Jr. , Barbara Meek and Anne Scurria

Bridget Saracino and Joe Wilson , Jr.

Phyllis Kay and Fr Ed Sullivan , Jr.

Fr Ed Sullivan , Jr., Joe Wilson , Jr.Angela Brazil , Anne Scurria and Stephen Thorne

NUNSENSE Opens Theatre by the Sea's 80th Anniversary Season

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:04:02 PST

NUNSENSE, the award-winning and hilarious Off-Broadway hit musical comedy, plays the historic stage at Bill Hanney's Theatre by the Sea from May 29 thru June 16. Tickets are on sale now by calling (401) 782-8587, online at theatrebythesea.com, or in person at 364 Cards Pond Road, Matunuck, RI 02879. Press night is planned for May 31 at 8pm.

"It is an honor to have the shows original creator, Dan Goggin, directing this production of Nunsense," said TBTS owner and producer Bill Hanney. "With more than 5000 worldwide productions in 21 languages, tap and ballet dancing nuns, an audience quiz, and comic surprises, this show has become an international phenomenon. It is my pleasure to produce it for Theatre by the Sea audiences to enjoy."

With book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin, NUNSENSE started out as a cabaret act in New York City, and spawned into an international sensation, complete with six sequels and a staggering 3,672 performances Off-Broadway (and winning four Outer Critics Circle Awards). The star-studded rosters of actresses that have played these beloved nuns include Rue McClanahan, Sally Struthers, Joanne Worley, Phyllis Diller, Cindy Williams, and Georgia Engle.

NUNSENSE follows the foibles of the five remaining Little Sisters of Hoboken, who plan a fund-raising variety show at the auditorium of the Mount Saint Helen's School in order to pay for the burial of compatriots accidentally killed by vichyssoise prepared by their late cook, Sister Julia, Child of God. The group includes Sister Mary Regina, the Mother Superior, a former circus performer; the competitive second-in-command, Sister Mary Hubert; ambitious understudy Sister Robert Anne; the determined would-be ballerina Sister Mary Leo; and the sweet but somewhat dim Sister Mary Amnesia.

The cast features five longtime veterans of various productions of NUNSENSE, including Bambi Jones (Sister Mary Hubert), Christine Mild (Sister Robert Anne), Jeanne Tinker (Sister Mary Paul aka Amnesia), Stephanie Wahl (Sister Mary Leo), and Terry Wickline (Reverend Mother Regina).

NUNSENSE runs May 29 - June 16. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays. Show times are: Tuesday - Friday 8:00pm;Thursday 2:00pm; Saturday 4:00pm and 8:00pm; Sunday 3:00pm(first week only), 5:00pm, and 8:00pm(first week only). Tickets are $39, $49, & $59. Tickets are on sale now by calling (401) 782-8587, online at theatrebythesea.com, or in person at 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. The 2013 Season is sponsored by WJAR - NBC 10 News.

Theatre by the Sea will continue the 80th Anniversary 2013 Season with the premiere of CATS (June 19 - July 13), ANNIE (July 17 - August 10), and conclude with LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (August 14 - September 1).

Richard and Sharon Jenkins to Direct OLIVER! at Trinity Rep, Feb 2014

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:46:38 PST

Trinity Rep has announced that former artistic director and Academy-award nominated film, stage and TV actorRichard Jenkins is returning to Trinity Rep for their 50th Season. Richard and his wife Sha Ron Jenkins are set to direct and choreograph Trinity Rep's production of Lionel Bart's family musical Oliver! in February of 2014.

Former artistic director Richard Jenkins, nominated for a best actor Oscar in 2007 for his performance in The Visitor, he has found great success in film and television. Perhaps best known for his patriarchal role on HBO series Six Feet Under, he is frequently seenin films by the Cohen brothers and David O. Russell. Richard Jenkins became a member of the Trinity Rep Acting Company in 1970and played over 40 roles during his time with the company. He served as Trinity's artistic director from 1990-94. Sha Ron Jenkins' engaging choreography has been showcased in many Trinity Rep productions, most recently in Cabaret and Camelot.

"It is an understatement to say that we are thrilled that Richard and Sharon have agreed to join us in bringing Oliver! to the stage next season! They are both longtime members of the Trinity Rep family - not to mention world-class talents," states Artistic Director Curt Columbus. "To have them return home for our anniversary season is just a treat for all to enjoy!"

Since its founding in 1963, Trinity Repertory Company has been one of the most respected regional theaters in the country. Featuring the last permanent resident Acting Company in America, Trinity Rep presents a balance of world premiere, contemporary, and classic works for an estimated annual audience of approximately 145,000. In its almost 50-year history, the theater has produced 61 world premieres, mounted national and international tours, and, through its MFA program, trained hundreds of new actors and directors. This season marks the 46th year of Project Discovery, Trinity Rep's pioneering educational outreach program. Last season, Trinity Rep's educational programs reached nearly 15,000 Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut students through matinees as well as in-school residencies and workshops. Brown University/Trinity Rep offers professional training for actors and directors in a three-year MFA program. Subscriptions are now on sale for Trinity Rep's 50th Anniversary 2013-2014 season, which includes John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the New England premiere of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang, Lionel Bart's Oliver!, Intimate Apparel by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, the world premiere ofVeronica Meadows by Stephen Thorne and A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard.

For more information, call the box office at (401) 351-4242 or visit Trinity Rep's website at www.trinityrep.com.

BWW Reviews: Despite Some Thorns, 2nd Story's THE ROSE TATOO Blossoms Into Solid Entertainment

Sun, 12 May 2013 19:15:05 PST

Among other things, playwright Tennessee Williams is known for plays which fit into the category of "southern gothic." His works are often set in the south and tell steamy, sordid tales of love, sex, power and death. One such play, The Rose Tattoo, is set in a small town on the gulf coast, where everybody knows everybody else's business and where secrets and passions run as deep as the humidity is high. Less often produced than Williams' other plays, Rose Tattoo is currently on the stage at 2nd Story Theatre in Warren.

At the play's center is Serafina, an Italian-American woman who is highly superstitious, deeply religious and deeply passionate in her love for her husband, Rosario. When he is killed, she goes into permanent mourning, expecting her teenage daughter to follow her example. Eventually, a strange man appears in her life, arousing the feelings of love and passion she had buried deep inside. His presence leads to her sexual awakening as well as the revelation of dark secrets about the husband she had worshipped.

Unfortunately, as directed by Ed Shea, The Rose Tattoo is beset by a number of problems. First and foremost is the challenge of accents and dialects. The program lists no dialect coach and one must wonder whether or not 2nd Story ever brought someone in to help the cast. Attempts at Italian accents are woeful but even worse are the attempts to speak actual Italian. Very few of the cast pull it off. Additionally, for a play set in the deep south, not one person sounds like they are from there.

In terms of language, another problem was that everyone was speaking much too quickly. This may have been an attempt to sound more like "fast-talking Italians." It had the effect of making actors even harder to hear or understand. Williams' plays are lyrical and poetic, with lines that are often meant to be spoken slowly. Much of this poetic lyricism was completely lost as I wished that everyone would just stop talking so fast.

While talking too fast was a problem, another was too many people talking at the same time. This was partly because the ensemble is just too large. It's true, there is a need to set the scene by having ensemble members pay townspeople, so that the atmosphere of the place can be crated. In this case, less would have been more. Most of them were hardly ever even on stage or served little actual purpose. Some of them were so over the top and unrealistic, they were more of a distraction than anything else.

Another distraction was the revolving set, designed by Trevor Elliot. While the set may have helped to create the indoor and outdoor settings needed for the play, it just didn't work. It turned too frequently, too fast, and very inefficiently. Again, it was another case where less would have been more.

Fortunately, 2nd Story has at the play's center an actress who puts the production on her shoulders and carries the show. As Serafina, Rae Mancini is on stage for almost the whole entire play, which is a laudable feat all on its own. She is a whirlwind of emotion, energy and charisma and she creates a character that is easy to sympathize with and root for. Her journey, especially when all the distractions around her go away, is entertaining and a lot of fun to watch.

Also great is Ara Boghigian as Alvaro, the man who enters Serafina's life and reignites her passion. Boghigian looks the part of a male Tennessee Williams character. He's tall, broad, manly and handsome, and you could easily picture him playing other Williams roles, like Stanley in Streetcar Named Desire. He's also got great comic timing and talent, with some very funny moments and lines. The chemistry between him and Mancini is really the fuel that keeps the play driving forward and makes the engine hum.

There are a few other notable cast members who deserve mention. Andrew Iacovelli is a lot of fun as Jack, the sailor who is in love with Serafina's daughter. Iacovelli's Jack is all raging teenage hormones and angst-ridden fear about what might happen if he upsets the mother of the girl he loves. Valerie Westgate was also good as Rosa, Serafina's daughter. While her acting was a bit over the top at times, I found her to be believable and fun to watch in the role.

Luckily, the lead actors are good enough that the play is able to overcome its deficiencies. While it has a number of serious dramatic moments, it's also filled with many that are lighthearted and comic. As long as you focus on those things and the undeniable entertainment value, The Rose Tattoo might be an excellent way to spend a sultry evening.

Performances are held Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25, and $20 for those under 21. For more information, call 401-247-4200, email boxoffice@2ndStoryTheatre.com or visit www.2ndStoryTheatre.com.

Pictured: Ara Boghigian and Rae Mancini. Photo by Richard Dionne

Now Playing Onstage in Rhode Island - Week of 5/12/2013

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

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DISNEY'S ALADDIN JR
ST MARGARET SCHOOL
5/15-5/15/2013
Welcome to Agrabah, City of Enchantment, where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail! All of your favorite characters are here in Disney's ALADDIN JR., a stage adaptation of the Disney hit film. Filled with magic, mayhem, and flying carpet rides, audiences' spirits will soar with excitement. Most of all, the tuneful, Academy award-winning score with songs including "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me" will certainly make this musical a favorite for many years to come!
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GUYS & DOLLS
ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL
5/17-5/18/2013
Set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy - considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy - soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to a cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight "mission doll," out to reform the evildoers of Time Square; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by the fact she's been engaged to the same man for 14 years; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiance, desperate as always to find a spot for his infamous floating crap game.Everything works out in the end, thanks to the machinations of Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling's hilarious, fast-paced book and Frank Loesser's bright, brassy, immortal score, which takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City. Funny and romantic, GUYS AND DOLLS is ideal for audiences and performers of any age.
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MARRY ME A LITTLE
ST GEORGES SCHOOL
5/17-5/18/2013
MARRY ME A LITTLE uses several unknown songs by the undisputed master of the contemporary Broadway musical to tell a charming and bittersweet tale of love, loneliness and survival as a modern single. Two single strangers, left alone in their studio apartments on a Saturday night, pass their time with sweetly secret, unshared fantasies, never knowing that they're just a floor away from each other and the end of their lonely dreams. Originally conceived by director Norman Rene and playwright Craig Lucas (Prelude To A Kiss), this ingeniously-constructed "revusical"� is told entirely through songs either written early in Sondheim's career (including numbers SATURDAY NIGHT) or cut from his groundbreaking Broadway musicals (A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, COMPANY, FOLLIES and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC). A must for Sondheim aficionados, this easily produced one-act musical is also perfect as a benefit, curtain warmer or second-stage production, as it can be played on virtually any existing set - or no set at all. It's a smart, funny, sophisticated and moving evening, and a fascinating lo
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THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Moses Brown School
5/16-5/18/2013
The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world's most beloved musical. When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern Captain, and they marry. Upon returning from their honeymoon they discover that Austria has been invaded by the Nazis, who demand the Captain's immediate service in their navy. The family's narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides one of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in the theatre. The motion picture version remains the most popular movie musical of all time.Music by Rodgers, Richard; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Book by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse; Suggested by `The Trapp Family Singers` by Maria Augusta Trapp
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THE KING AND I
Ocean State Theatre
4/24-5/19/2013
This family classic full of splendor and pageantry features a dazzling score with some of the most popular songs ever written, including "Hello, Young Lovers," "I Whistle a Happy Tune," "Getting to Know You," "I Have Dreamed," "We Kiss in a Shadow," and "Shall We Dance?" The King and I is based on the novel Anna and the King of Siam, which recounted the experiences of the English governess, Mrs. Anna Leonowens, who spent seven years at the Siamese Royal Court in Bangkok, imparting Western ways and culture to the king's court. Running for nearly three years when it was initially produced in New York in 1951, this great American masterpiece, with its legendary songs and touching story, is a must-see for children of all ages.
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DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID JR
PORTSMOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL
5/14-5/22/2013
In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince Prince Eric that she's the girl with the enchanting voice. Adapted from Disney's 2008 Broadway production, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. features the hit songs "Part of Your World," "She's in Love," and the Oscar-winning "Under the Sea."
Click Here for More Information
THE ROSE TATTOO
2nd Story Theatre
4/26-5/26/2013
Tennessee William's seldom-produced intoxicating fairy tale for grown-ups - a delightful, sexy, poetic story of the sexual salvation of a Sicilian widow - will have you wondering why you've never seen it onstage. There's no better eway to celebrate the rites of spring than Tennessee at his sensual, spiritual, lyrical best.
Click Here for More Information
THE ROSE TATTOO
2nd Story Theatre
4/26-5/26/2013
2nd Story Theatre: - Tennessee Williams; dir: Ed Shea.
Click Here for More Information
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
Gamm Theatre
5/2-6/2/2013
- Martin McDonagh; dir: Judith Swift.
Click Here for More Information
(HOUSE &) GARDEN
Trinity Repertory Co
5/16-6/30/2013
Chace Theater: - Alan Ayckbourn; dir: Brian McEleney.
Click Here for More Information

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The Gamm Captivates Audiences with Darkly Funny BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:04:44 PST

Stories about mothers have been around for as long as...well...mothers. And with Mother's Day coming up this Sunday, it's hard not to reflect and think about our own mothers or the other mothers in our lives. Or to remember some of the stories and memories that the word "mother" conjures up. With its production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Gamm Theatre offers up an undeniably darker and arguably disturbing tale of one mother and how she rules her house and her daughter.

Beauty Queen, written by Martin McDonagh, tells the tale of Maureen Folan, a middle-aged woman living in the town of the title, a small community in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. She lives with only her mother, Mag, a woman who could be described with adjectives ranging from manipulative to mean to downright evil. Still, Maureen cares for her mother dutifully, even though she harbors resentment and bitterness about how her life has gone. When a man, Pato Dooley, enters into her life, and her bedroom, things between mother and daughter quickly spiral inexorably out of control.

McDonagh's play is a black comedy, make no mistake about that. But to call it that may not do it justice. It is a family drama, a realistic portrayal of universal human suffering, a laugh-out-loud comedy and an epic tragedy. The playwright has rolled all of this into a riveting piece of work that an audience cannot turn away from, even when they may want to.

Breathing life into this world is a group of supremely talented artists, led by director Judith Swift. She makes some brilliant choices that ratchet up the tension about as high as it can go. For example, one can't help but notice that Maureen and Mag are almost never staged so that they are close together. In fact, they almost always occupy opposite ends of the stage, a physical distance that matches their emotional distance. It's as if they are volatile lab chemicals that must be kept apart and when they do come into physical contact, it is always explosive and often violent.

Equal to the task of bringing that tension and violence to their roles are a superb group of actors. As Marueen, Jeanine Kane once again creates a character that is fully fleshed out and multifaceted. The audience can never really be sure what's going on deep down, inside this woman who harbors many secrets and unspoken emotional truths. Kane excels and creating a character who always has something simmering beneath the surface or just behind her eyes.

As the quintessential mean old woman, Wendy Overly is magnificent as Mag. In some moments, her actions and words are from a heart of pure darkness. But at other times, there are flashes of real sentiment and true sadness. It's impossible to tell what motivates Mag's actions, as there are so many emotions that flash truthfully across Overly's face as she embodies the role.

The two male characters are not as interesting, nor are they as fully developed in the script. Joe Short makes every moment he's on stage count, though, as Ray Dooley. He is all flailing arms and nervous energy as he bounces around the set. His character really doesn't serve much purpose other than as a plot device, but Short still creates a very real human on stage.

Steve Kidd, as Pato Dooley, does not fare as well, though it's hard to tell who's at fault for that. The character of Pato might just not be written as well as the others. Or Kidd may just not be the equal of his cast mates in some way or another. It was hard, though, to escape the feeling that something was off about his performance. Something was more shallow or superficial about it, with less depth of feeling or truth than the other actors on stage. It didn't help that he had little to no chemistry with Jeanine Kane, who was supposed to be his love interest.

Mention must also be made of another character of a sort, the set, as designed by Carrie Capizzano. She has created a home as weathered and worn as the people who live inside it. In a wonderful choice, the set also has a low-hanging ceiling that extends all the way downstage. While I'm sure the choice was partly practical, so lights could be hung over the downstage area, the ceiling creates a feeling that the characters are truly trapped inside this house, which, in fact, they are.

For some, attending this play may not be the best gift to give your mother on Mother's Day. On the other hand, if your mother, or anyone else you know, enjoys thought provoking, entertaining, riveting and first-rate theater, then you should bring them to the Gamm immediately.

The Beauty Queen of Leenane runs from May 2 through June 2 at The Gamm Theatre, 172 Exchange St., Pawtucket, RI. Tickets: $36 and $45 (depending on day/time); preview and press performances (May 2-6) just $26. Discounts for subscribers, groups of 10 or more, seniors and students. Tickets at 401-723-4266 or gammtheatre.org.

Pictured: (L to R) Jeanine Kane and Wendy Overly. Photo by Peter Goldberg

Photo Flash: First Look at Brown and Trinity Rep's ROMEO AND JULIET

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:05:59 PST

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, directed by Ryan Purcell ('13) presented by Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA Programs. Playing now through May 19 in the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire Street, Providence. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Featuring Leah Anderson as Juliet, Peter Mark Kendall as Romeo, Alston Brown as Benvolio, Grant Chapman as Mercutio, Caitlin Davies as Lady Capulet, Amanda Dolan as The Nurse, Daniel Duque-Estrada as Lord Capulet, Barrie Kreinik as The Prince, Leicester Landon as Tybalt, Drew Ledbetter as Paris, Liz Morgan as Petra, Brandon J. Vukovic as Friar Laurence, and students from the Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing Arts.

Costume Design by Cait O'Connor, Lighting Design by Scott Bolman, Set Design by Tilly Grimes, Sound Design by Daniel Baker of Broken Chord Collective. Stage Managed by Sara Sheets.

General admission is $12/$6 seniors & students. Tickets on sale now at www.trinityrep.com.

Photo Credit: Mark Turek

Leah Anderson as Juliet

Leah Anderson as Juliet and Peter Mark Kendall as Romeo

Peter Mark Kendall as Romeo and Leah Anderson as Juliet

Peter Mark Kendall as Romeo, Alston Brown as Benvolio, Grant Chapman as Mercutio

Leicester Landon as Tybalt and Daniel Duque-Estrada as Lord Capulet (foreground)

Leah Anderson as Juliet and Peter Mark Kendall as Romeo