Baltimore Backstage - February 3, 2006

There is little question the most anticipated new production in Baltimore this year is the American premiere of the play "The Murder of Isaac" at Center Stage. This past Wednesday, an intimate gathering at Clayton's Book Store and Cafe, heard Center Stage Dramaturg, Gavin Witt, present an introduction to the play.

He described the Israeli author, Motti Lerner, as a politically active playwright. The sterile set depicts a hospital trauma ward for victims of post-traumatic stress syndrome. The back wall of the Head theater is a collection of shrines, multi-cultural memorials to celebrate or bemoan the dead.

The play itself , a mammoth endeavor with over 50 scense, is a memorial to former Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin.  Music plays an integral part, and there is a live musician on stage. The nine musical numbers are composed by Eric Svejcar, who last worked at Center Stage on last season's "Two Gentlemen of Verona". This prominent use of music seems to be a trend. The off-Broadway play, "Almost Maine" also contains much music composed by Baltimore composer Julian Fleisher.

Witt stated that Center Stage hoped to involve another regional theater in presenting the play, but was unsuccessful in doing so. Now that the production has finally reached its zenith, there is much interest across the country in what will be transpiring on North Calvert St. 

"The Murder of Isaac" was presented as a reading at Center Stage around the same time U.S. began to bomb Afghanistan. According to Witt, political events that have transpired in this country surrounding Iraq, make the play  still resonate today. While the play was without question an anti-war play in its first draft, it is not as clear in its current form. It is now more balanced.

For therapy, patients in the ward perform a play about the assasination of Rabin in real time with an institutional clock on the wall, a la the hit television show "24".  The patients hire a pianist to assist them in presenting their play. The lyrics of the music are written by the playwright.

Questions were raised during the discussion concerning whether Rabin actually anticipated the possibility of an assasinatoin attempt on his life. While he did, he refused to allow eavesdropping on synagogues or settlements since he believed it was an infringement on individual rights. It certainly is not difficult to relate to this issue.

There will be many opportunities to discuss this thought-provoking play during its run starting Sunday, Feb. 5 when following the 7:30 p.m. performance both Witt and playwright Lerner will be available for comments.  The play continues at Center Stage till March 12.  Call 410-332-0033 for tickets.

SAVE THE DATE!

The Baltimore Sun Auction for Center Stage on WBAL AM 1090 returns for its 29th year on February 12. The auction runs from 8 a.m.till midnight. You can check out the items up for auction at www.auction.centerstage.org.  If  you call between 2-5 p.m., you may get me answering the phone.

Catch "Artworks This Week" on MPT (Wednsday, Feb.8 and rerun on Saturday morning, Feb. 11) for an interview with James Flanagan who plays "Cripple Billy" in the marvelous "The Cripple of Inishmaan" at the Everyman Theatre. This is Flanagan's debut with Everyman. Other Baltimore credits include "Romeo and Juliet" and "As You Like It' with the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival and "Troilus and Cressida" with the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Flanagan brings a touching performance in this role.

Looking forward to the hysterical "Fully Committed" this week-end at the REP Stage in Columbia. Call 410-772-4900 for tickets.

If you are an Agathie Cristie fan (and who isn't), the Spotlighters is presenting the classic murder mystery "And Then There Were None". Opening Night is Friday, Feb. 10.  A light fare reception follows the performance with the cast and crew. Call 410-752-1225 for tickets.

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" continues at the Hippodrome till Sunday, Feb. 5. It will be interesting to see if word of mouth increases lack-luster attendance. Probably best availability will be at the 6:30 Sunday night show which competes with the Super Bowl. Curious to know how many people show up for this. Call 410-547-SEAT. 

Looking forward to the big announcement at the HIPP on Feb. 16 to see if the "BIG" musicals will heading to Baltimore next season. As one Hipp official stated, this was certainly  a transitional season.

The World Premiere of "Nevermore" that uses Edgar Allen Poe's poetry and short stories as its base to explore a twisted true-life tale as bizarre as Poe's classic stories of the macabre, a hit with this critic, has been so well-received it has been extended at the Signature Theater in Shirleyton, VA until March 5.  Call 800-955-5566.

If you want to compare the wonderful Arena Stage production of "Awake and Sing", head to Lincoln Center where the Clifford Odets' play returns to its Broadway birth at the Belasco Theater (first done in 1935). Mark Ruffalo joins a star-studded cast that includes Ben Gazzara, Jonathan Hadary, and Zoe Wanameker. Previews begin March 24 toward an opening night of April 17.

I highly recommend the Disney production, "High School Musical". The show's debut rated No. 1 in cable TV programs for the week of January 16-22, a record high for the Disney channel. I'm sure the Disney people are pleased that the soundtrack, released on January 10, has risen up the charts into the Billboard Top 10. I predict this will eventually find a home on Broadway.  Catch it on the Disney Channel on Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. Visit www.disney.go.com/disneychannel.

Baltimore is indeed lucky to land the 10th anniverary national tour of the Tony winning ballet "Swan Lake". Mathew Bourne, who received the Tony award for Best Director of a Musical (while admitting it is NOT a musical), presents a bold, all-male take on the swan-focused fantasy. Four members of the original Broadway cast will be performing at the Lyric May 12-14.  Go to www.swanlaketour.com.

Finally, we bid adieu to playwright Wendy Wasserstein.  I recall vividly meeting her after a lecture at the Owings Mills JCC and was thrilled to get her to autograph her book, "A Shiksa Goddess". I sure hope someone in the Baltimore theater community will produce her work soon.

You can reach me at cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

 

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