Tag Archives: theater

The Sound of Music is alive once more

By | |
Comments Off on The Sound of Music is alive once more

July 15, 2023 by Ife Oshun

Desi Oakley (Maria Rainer) and the cast of “The Sound of Music” at North Shore Music Theatre thru July 23. Photo © Paul Lyden
Desi Oakley (Maria Rainer) and the cast of “The Sound of Music” at North Shore Music Theatre.

With the North Shore Music Theatre production of the classic Sound of Music, the poignancy and power of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s sonic legacy is alive once more. Under the musical direction of Milton Granger, Desi Oakley brings massive energy to the role of Maria, the guitar-toting governess who defies her recent-widower employer’s anti-music edict, and brings song-filled joy into the lives of his seven children.

Inspired by the true story of Maria Von Trapp, main character, Maria, a doe-eyed Nonnberg Abbey postulate, can’t seem to align her free-spirited  ideals with her aspiration for a life as an obedient nun. Wise Mother Abbess (Janinah Burnett) sends Maria to live in the world for a few months as a prerequisite to committing to life at the abbey. Maria’s assignment: serve as governess in the home of Naval Captain Georg von Trapp (Joseph Spieldenner) who is desperately in need of yet another childcare replacement. It is then, against the backdrop of a 1938 Nazi-occupied Austria on the verge of World War II, Maria’s inner song ignites hearts and opens minds, particularly apparent in a touching rendition of “Do-Re-Mi” with the cast of adorable kids.

And while the music and vocals are heartwarming, the cold stage direction makes one wonder whether the job was farmed out to AI. Kevin Hill’s decision to make almost each cast member (over 35 adults and kids) hop onto at least one of a number of short statuary prop columns on the perimeter of the circular stage felt forced and devoid of character inner motivation. Spieldenner’s brilliant performance of “Edelweiss” barely survived further questionable direction which forced the actor, guitar in hand, to spin in a hapless circle while simultaneously singing and playing (and probably fighting vertigo). Wooden staging choices paired with lackluster twirling from Briana Fallon (making her choreography debut, clearly) cemented the sub-theme of disconnected, human movement juxtaposed with the overflowing emotion from book, lyrics and music. 

Fortunately, Hill downplays the Nazi menace and creates space for soaring hope. Burnett’s ovation-worthy “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” along with other classics such as “My Favorite Things” and “So Long, Farewell,” deftly moves the crowd, while the children’s stirring chemistry with Oakley even elicits tears. The near sold-out production is a testament that this classic story remains relevant in its depiction of the power of music and love in the face of hatred and adversity.

More theater reviews

Fat Ham cooks up sizzling madness

By | |
Comments Off on Fat Ham cooks up sizzling madness

October 2, 2023 by Ife Oshun

A scene from Fat Ham At The Huntington In Association With Alliance Theatre And Front Porch Arts Collective
Fat Ham At The Huntington In Association With Alliance Theatre And Front Porch Arts Collective

I sauntered into Huntington Theater’s opening night of James Ijames’ Fat Ham, thinking that the 2022 Pulitzer Prize and five-time Tony nominee would constitute yet another rendition of ye ole Hamlet. Hours later, jaded-ness exorcised by comic genius and belief in fresh Shakespeare takes renewed, I cried happy tears inspired by Black, queer joy. 

This electrifying romp sees its lead (the brilliant Marshall W. Mabry) deliver hilarious Gen Z insights and drop the Bard’s “what a piece of work is man” monologue with such technical aplomb I felt like I’d never truly heard it. “Man delights not me: no, nor woman neither” indeed! Alas, I missed a bit of the 90-minute, no intermission comedy-drama, due to damn near running to the unisex bathroom and back, and decided in the crowded post-performance lobby, clinging to my beautifully-designed program, that I simply must return for a second go round.

Oh, such wicked good madness.

Days later, I revisited the Calderwood Pavilion accompanied by my 19-year old son, aye, the one who’d devoured Hamlet multiple times before 4th grade. ”Ma,” he sighed, “you’re always dragging me to these boring things.” Was he right? Had my thirst-trapped search for abiding contemporary Shakespeare caused me to, like Hamlet, lose my Gen X mind?

By the time we were in our seats, I’d already spent a half hour in an unrequested soliloquy about how the Alliance Theatre and Front Porch Arts Collective production brilliantly turns the long-acknowledged misogyny of the original on its head. Along with the queer-liciousness sprinkled all over the Ham, all characters identifying as female have a voice and distinct personalities. And despite the new found identity these oft-underserved roles suffer, Ham’s mom–also battling toxic masculinity in her own search for life’s meaning–admits that now that she finally has everyone’s attention she doesn’t know what to say. This tragic twist resonated so deeply in my fellow Black woman brain, I had to catch my breath. I forgot about the details–Stevie Walker-Webb’s tight, effective direction, PJ Johnnie, Jr.’s invigorating choreography, Luciana Stecconi’s realistic set design, the troupe’s stellar performances, the ROTFLOL humor and Xiangfu Xiao’s lighting–and got lost in Ham’s mad, lofty musings piercing the fourth wall, while Ijames’ glorious exploration of family dysfunction unfolded within a search for identity, acceptance and truth transcending time and space. 

At evening’s end, my son, sensitive soul that he is, admitted I wasn’t mad after all. The karaoke and disco were the cherry on top. Really, go see this play now. You might see me on my third visit singing Radiohead’s “Creep” in the front row.

More theater reviews

CBS Radio Mystery Theater

By | | ,
Comments Off on CBS Radio Mystery Theater
CBS Radio Mystery Theater

CBS Radio Mystery Theater

CBS Radio Mystery Theater… Aaah, along with the epic Dark Shadows, this was a show that I and my mom would enjoy religiously. The opening intro, deliciously dark and mysterious, featured the sound of an opening door,  ancient in its creak, and the foreboding tones of soundtrack music originally featured in the Twilight Zone episode titled “Two” and written by Nathan Van Cleave. Dark, scary music with stories that crept under the skin before establishing permanent residence in one’s cranium. Good family entertainment.

Check out 1:33-2:10. That’s the portion used as the CBS Mystery Theater theme.

The stories on Mystery Theater featured awesome actors and stories that totally sucked the listener in. The host, actor E.G. Marshall, struck the perfect tone. His voice was old-school but creepy at the same time– especially at the end of the each episode where he said “Until next time… pleasant dreams?” It was amazing that my ADD settled down long enough to become immersed in the various plots offered every week. It was appointment radio (yes, such a thing actually existed!) and the precursor to the greatest love of my imagination’s life, and one of my most enduring Muses, The Twilight Zone (prostrate and worship here).

As I write this, I’m listening to a Mystery Theater episode called “Afraid To Live, Afraid To Die.” It starts sounding mad spooky at 23:00. I wonder if a program like this would even survive in the new millennium? I like to think so, because at the end of the day the story rules, and if it’s good, people will want to experience it. I really wish there was a show, or podcast like this!

CBS Radio Mystery Theater Archives – Hear the archived episodes here.