Roy Berko - Page 32

Shortly into Actors' Summit's production of BAD JEWS, several things become obvious. The off-setting title was not only a turn-off for many, but was misleading. Secondly, author Joshua Harmon, self-admitted stumbler into the world of playwriting, may need a re-thinking about his career.

William Shakespeare is considered by most experts on English language theatre as being the greatest of all writers. His vast folio of plays, consisting of tragedies, comedies, histories and dramas have lasted for over four hundred years. He is one of the few writers who has theatres, let alone festivals, dedicated exclusively to his works.

As the lights came up at the start of Cleveland Play House's VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, the audience is exposed to a comfortable large morning room, backed up by a piano area, and stairs to an upstairs. On stage left is a patio, on stage right the house's entrance. Were in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a home situated on a lake.

o resounding applause, Gina Vernaci, the Executive Producer of Playhouse Square, the woman responsible for cobbling together each year's Key Bank Broadway Series, announced at the local KINKY BOOTS' press opening, that Cleveland's 32,000 subscribers constituted the largest body of audience for any of the toured Broadway cities. What she didn't share was that almost all the tickets for the local run of KINKY BOOTS are sold out. If you expect to see the show, run, don't walk to your computer or phone and order now (216-241-6000 or www.playhousesquare.org). Not later, now!

Some people go to the theatre to be educated. Some go to see/listen to a pleasing combination of music and lyrics enclosed in a story. Others go to just have a good time. The latter group should run to their phones or computers right now and make reservations for LEND ME A TENOR. Beck's production is farce at its finest!

One of the major issues in watching a historidrama is figuring out what is real, what is fiction, and what is fantasy. This is especially the case in Lucas Hnath's ISAAC'S EYE, now on stage at convergence-continuum. Between the laughs and mumbles of 'I didn't know that,' 'wow,' and, 'no way,' it's easy to get lost in intrapersonal mumblings.

In October of 2012, when Cleveland Public Theatre first staged, STANDING ON CEREMONY THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS, 'same sex marriage was legal in nine states (Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington and the District of Columbia).' At the same time, '30 states had added language to their constitutions banning same-sex marriage.'

Gina Gionfriddo, the author of BECKY SHAW, now on stage at Dobama Theatre, is one of the new breed of playwrights who reflect topics relevant to today, cleverly construct their writings, and uses language that shimmers with naturalism. They don't use stage language or formats like Arthur Miller or Eugene O'Neill, or the oft-present symbolism of Tennessee Williams, nor the existential philosophy of Edward Albee. Gionfriddo, along with such modernists as Neil LaBute and Rajiv Joseph, push the envelope, using real people interacting to highlight their foibles and weaknesses.

It is the intent of theater to educate and entertain, and, in the case of some special offerings, enrapture. Such a piece of theater is THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE, now on stage at Cleveland Play House.

DIRTY DANCING, THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE, which is now in production at the Connor Palace transports the audience back to the summer of 1963. As is the custom of many well-to-do Jewish New York City families of that time, the Housemans have escaped for the summer to the Catskill Mountains, home of the Borscht Belt. It's a summer away from the sweltering city. It's a time for fun and games, and summer romances.

Mystery books are the second highest money-making genre in literature, only exceeded by Romance/Erotica. They are the highest rated television demand topic.

One of the major purposes of collegiate musical theater programs, besides teaching acting, singing and dancing skills, is to expand student knowledge of not only traditional, but new scripts. Kent State is offering its students such an opportunity by presenting MY HEART IS THE DRUM.

Beck Center for the Arts and Baldwin Wallace's Musical Theatre Program have, for the past four years, collaborated to produce some outstanding productions. CARRIE, SPRING AWAKENING and NEXT TO NORMAL all received Cleveland Critic Circle and Times Tribute recognitions.

PIPPIN, the Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Roger O. Hirson (book) magical show is now on stage at The Palace Theatre. It tells a modern version of the mythical tale of Pippin, the oldest son of King Charlemagne, and his search for purpose and identity.

PILOBOLUS is noted for adding both physical and theatrical elements to dance presentations. They have been credited, in their 44 years of performances, to have added a new way for audiences to look at dance.

Thurgood Marshall has been called the 'greatest lawyer of the 20th Century,' 'Mr. Civil Rights,' and is credited with doing 'more than any other American to lift the burden of racism from our society.' It is only appropriate that his life and judicial story be told during Black History month. Ensemble is doing exactly that by presenting multi-award winner George Stevens, Jr.'s THURGOOD.

Cleveland Play House has in its recent history included small cast musicals in its offerings. Those shows included TAPPIN' THROUGH LIFE (Maurice Hines), BREATH AND IMAGINATION (Roland Hayes), WOODY SEZ; LIFE AND MUSIC OF WOODY GUTHRIE (Woody Guthrie), THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BESSIE SMITH (Bessie Smith), and ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN (Janis Joplin). Each told a story about the person through their own words, their music, or from the mouths of those who knew them. Often they have been tied to Black History Month.

On June 15, 2015, Karamu, the country's oldest continuously performing Black Theatre, will celebrate its 100th birthday.

On the surface, Greg Pierce's SLOWGIRL, which is now on stage at Dobama, is the tale of a teenager who finds herself living a real-life nightmare and her confronting the issues with her reclusive uncle, who has problems of his own.