The Marriage Matinee - Page 4

The premise is simple: a theatrical group who comes together in the hopes of producing their first a?oeprofessionala?? performance, a dramatic murder mystery. The action of it is far from simple as everyone's best intentions turns into everyone's worst nightmares. THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is burgeoning with classic physical humor and over-the-top personalities that will consume your attention from start to finish.

We were lucky enough to get to speak with Chris French who plays Jonathan Harris in THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG opening at Clowes Memorial Hall February 25th. He had plenty to say about what makes this show something special and why it's a fun departure from the musicals most patrons are used to from Broadway Across America.

DUTCHMAN by Amiri Baraka has an essence all its own that is complicated, lyrical, and timeless. This production by Monument Theatre Company pushes at the edges of comfort and makes you as an audience member not only pay attention but also become a part of what is happening on the stage.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER summons mental images in an instant. Bell-bottoms, elongated lapels, disco balls, big hair, crazy colors, intense patterns, everything shiny imaginable. What's not to love? That is the visual feast being served up by Beef & Boards, and what a feast it is.

There is a day that is crystallized in the American consciousness as a day you will never forget, a day you can recall in perfect detail: September 11, 2001. On that day, so much of the bedrock of humanity felt like it was eroding into chaos as we all watched those planes strike the World Trade Center and reduce it to rubble, again and again. But COME FROM AWAY calls on us to remember something different about that day. It hearkens to the heart of what unites humanity rather than divides it. It is a look at the beauty of kindness being lived out in a small community on an island in Canada and how that kindness can overcome even the worst of days.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS is a much beloved play and film full of the charms of the South and the wit and resilience of the women who inhabit it. It has so many timeless themes, like the bonds of womanhood, the trials of courtship, the anxieties of motherhood and aging. What makes it such an enduring presence on the stage is the way these themes interweave to create peaks of humor and valleys of tragedy that ultimately show a beauty salon is more than a place to beautify. It is a place to forge friendships that are there to catch you when you fall.

Few musicals in recent years have received as much attention and acclaim as HAMILTON. It is essentially a historical drama with a dash of comedy delivered in the form of exceptional lyrics and tantalizing beats that switch seamlessly from a melody to a rap and back. The brainchild of Lin-Manuel Miranda has caused a ripple of excitement across the musical world, and that ripple has made its way to Indianapolis this winter.

Childhood is tied up with memories of favorite fairy tales and the dreams they inspired, which is part of what makes this musical so beloved. Everyone enjoys a chance to be pulled into a fantasy where magic is real and wishes are granted. This production has dashes of whimsy and romance that are sure to enchant children and adults alike into the fairy tale world of RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA.

Audience members of all ages hurried eagerly into Beef & Boards on Saturday night, my wife and I included, with dreams of a fun evening ahead but unsure of what would take place. We've all seen the movie, especially with being from Indiana. The orchestra began to play the overture, and the show began. We quickly found out that the next two hours would be filled with hilarity and delight. From the very first song, Counting Down to Christmas, we knew that we would be in good hands watching A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT has all the key ingredients for a smash hit: Andrew Lloyd Weber, Tim Rice, crazy costumes, emotional highs and lows, humor, and lessons learned. Many may even recall Donny Osmond's portrayal of Joseph, including a VHS version that perhaps graced their shelves. It has a timeless element to it, but more importantly, it's just plain fun. The Biz Academy of Musical Theatre was certain to bring that fun to the fore, and it made for a memorable evening for all.

The original book and musical, a?oeInto the Woodsa??, by James Lapine harkens back to oh-so-common cultural classic children's stories including a?oeLittle Red Riding Hood,a?? a?oeCinderella,a?? a?oeJack and the Beanstalk,a?? a?oeRapunzel,a?? and a?oeThe Baker and his Wife,a?? among a few others. Lapine wove these iconic characters and stories into one of his own. It's a new and perverse story line controlled by a spiteful giantess and a egotistical witch. Stephen Sondheim's musical additional punctuate the tale and gave depth to characters from other tales such as the Big, Bad Wolf and two love-struck princes and the witch herself.

John Pielmeier's mind-bending drama, ''Agnes of God,'' started as a successful play on Broadway and was later turned into a movie starring Jane Fonda. On the surface, ''Agnes of God'' is about a psychiatrist who longs to understand herself and opinions on the world. While working, the court has appointed that she take on Agnes (Katie Marie Eaker), a case of a nun who has gave birth in a convent and has been charged with infanticide. Dr. Martha Livingstone (Jesi Brown Friedly), psychiatrist, longs to discover the truth hidden behind Agnes's shrouded and cloistered mind. A psychological conflict ensues between Dr. Livingstone and Mother Miriam Ruth (Tina Valdois-Bruner) over Agnes's mental and spiritual health, and the show became a myriad of contrasting opinions between science and religion, the temporal and spiritual, and what is fact versus faith.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is a quirky and offbeat musical beloved by off-Broadway fans for decades. Its irreverent comedy but relatable story lines make it easy to love. However, it comes with its challenges, especially the technical aspect of making a plant behave as a character without showing the operator on stage. And how does someone give voice to such a character? Beef & Boards takes on these challenges and conquers them with ease in their production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

Refreshing a cherished, old-time musical can be a daunting process and undertaking. You have to choose what directions you'd like to goa?? Should you keep the faith with longstanding traditions, or should you try something new and risky? If you want to go for some of both, how much of each should you incorporate? It's difficult to strike that perfect balance a?" it's almost like you're a fiddler on the roof.

After being in a show for over 300 times, how to do you keep it fresh? For Kelly Gabrielle Murphy in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, it's all about the relationships built along the way a?" with the audience and her fellow performers.

HAIRSPRAY is such a likeable musical, full of catchy upbeat tunes and 60's flair. It is nearly impossible to resist the urge to tap your toes or bob your head as Tracy wheels her way around the dance floor. But the latest production of HAIRSPRAY at Beef & Boards brings more than what the musical has to offer on its own. It has heart and soul that cannot hide, even behind the misty clouds of Ultra Clutch hairspray.

Monument Theatre Company is celebrating its inaugural season with a play that encapsulates so much of its mission. They have entered the Indianapolis theater world to challenge and trouble some of the fixed mindsets that the average theater-goer may have developed. 1984 is the perfect vehicle to bring that goal to life and to create a strong impression on its audiences, leaving more questions than answers.

Nostalgia can be big business, especially in musical theater. Harking back to some by-gone, golden age permeates both politics and pop culture now, but nostalgia has always been rose-tinted and shines above and beyond any hardships, struggles, and even life. Beef & Board once again hits the nail on the head and has successfully recreated classic rock and roll in BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is an internationally recognized symbol, a mammoth structure of stone and priceless art, some of which suffered from the ravages of fire in April. But it is so much more. It is the building that bears witness to the faith and failures of countless people who come to it every day, and Footlite Musicals gives you a window into some of those deep themes with their production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.

What would it be like to live "under the sea"? Beef and Board's THE LITTLE MERMAID provides the audience with a fantastical glimpse into the world of King Triton and Ariel along with her friends in this colorful, bubbly show now showing at Beef and Boards from now until June 30th.