FESTIVAL WATCHING - - SHORT NOTES, Part 1
Spotlight-On Halloween Festival - Fall 2002 - by Louis Lopardi
Closin' Time had a truly magical premise: all who drink from
a unique bottle of Champagne have spirit visitations of a sort they 'need'
to see. Spotlight regular Vance Clemente as the bar owner held the lion's
share of the evening's work. Sean Dill as an early visitor to the bar was
a welcome and commanding presence. Also in control of her scene was Cate
Bottiglione as Joanne. There were some hidden talents, including Jennifer
Bachman in a bit part, who effortlessly portrayed the physicality of a
flower child. The production overall had a workshop feel to it,
exacerbated by lengthy pauses between frequently mumbled lines. However,
this concept play by Elias Stimac has a concept worth developing. Directed
by Dana Letowsky.
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Renee Flemings' Coyote Calls, carefully directed by the author, deals with a nascent psychic (a consistently excellent Karen Kitz) coming to terms with her power. It gets off to a perfect start and a well thought out development section. But the final third has an unfinished feel, with something lurking, still wanting to be said. Characters seemed to wonder: What business were we really about? Featuring the powerful Kevin McKelvy as the psychic's close friend and an early victim of fate. Carole Mansley showcased her amazing range and diction in the sometimes comic role of an Arkansas brat.
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Master of Period Mirth Edward Crosby Wells provides us with another fun sendup in Curse Of The Spider Woman. Tommy Barz reprises his deadpan 40's detective character to perfection as he is imprisoned in the Von Cobra Mansion, a nest of Nazi spies (and gorillas, and snakes...) Natasha Yannacanedo as the very 'method', deliciously evil Baroness, and Scott Petche as her masochistic aid Otto, helped to set the exaggerated tone for the spoof. Andrea Hoffman had a mastery of period moves, poses, and voice as the secret agent's would-be girlfriend. Breana Murphy as Frau Schnapps had a delightful run in with the pet cobra Adolph, played with definite personality by Michael Dulev. Stage Manager Gary Phillip Russo had his hands full with this busy production, which wisely used a unit set (well designed by Tommy Barz) for the many locations - a lesson some other showcases would do well to learn. Sean Cassels directed.
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Best single line heard in the Festival seemed to be a fortuitous ad-lib in Andres Wrath's comic romp with a message, The Fairy Playz: The deadpan Christopher Briggs has a comic talent worth developing. As the fairy Anaconda - (imagine a Disney animator in a drug overdose designing a fairy godmother for Dahmer) - he lurched through the crowded audience seating, excusing himself after tripping over someone with "I know, I know - I'm like a bondage fantasy gone strangely awry." Nicole Longchamp was commanding, as a Fairy Queen should be, and Adepero Oduye showed great stage presence as one of her offspring. Susan Barnes Walker, a convincing dramatist, took all the time she needed for her scene as an aged alter-ego to another offspring. Daniel J. O'Brien has a real talent for looking relaxed in a variety of roles. The wonderfully wacky costumes were by Julia Lintern. Marc Weltz directed.
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More notes from this extensive festival will be posted soon.