REVIEW: "A Little Night Music"

Performance: Saturday, April 24th @ 2:00pm

Location: Ruth N. Halls Theatre, Bloomington, IN

I must admit that while I have fallen in love with A Little Night Music since seeing it on Broadway in March, I was a little worried that my expectations for the IU Theatre Department's production would be set too high, thus resulting in disappointment. If you are unfamiliar with the story of A Little Night Music, see my March review of the Broadway production. I'm happy to say that, overall, it was a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

I felt the show started off a bit rocky. While the vocal were beautifully precise, the execution of the choreography in the opening number seemed awkward and at times messy, for lack of a better word. There were several instances where it was noticeable when the actors/actresses were speeding up, slowing down, or even bumping into one another. The opening number is such an elegant beginning to the show and I don't think it needed so many entrances and exits or rushed choreography.

Vocally, the show was stunning. It is wonderful to see, not only so much talent in general, but so much young talent! There are a number of performers that I look forward to seeing in future productions. Two of these younger performers are Matt Birdsong (Henrik) and Jamie Anderson (Charlotte). Birdsong, a sophomore, BFA student who I remember from Blood Brothers earlier in the 2009/2010 season, not only emoted the frustration of dejected Henrik, but also had the wonderful ability to make you smile. Let's face it, if performed well, how can anyone avoid smiling during the song "Later"?

Anderson made her debut at IU in A Little Night Music. While the character of Charlotte, Carl-Magnus' neglected wife, did not gain much of my attention when I previously saw the show, I was really swept away by the charm, timing, and vocal abilities of Anderson (seen above- Right: Jamie Anderson (Charlotte) Left: Leslie Spitznagel (Anne) ). I was very drawn to her portrayal of Charlotte and I am excited that she is only a sophomore BFA student, which leaves another 2 years to enjoy her talents.

One MFA performance that I cannot neglect mentioning is that of Abby Rowald (Madam Armfeldt). Admittedly, while I have enjoyed Rowald in the past, I have never been really taken or drawn in by her her performances. She completely won me over as Madam Armfeldt. I would even go so far as to say that I enjoyed her performance more than Angela Lansbury's performance on Broadway. Her mannerisms genuinely reflected the fragility of Madame Arfeldt, yet the strength of voice reminded the audience that she is no pushover. Her performance of "Liaisons" could not have been more perfect.

Though I had some initial hesitations, I greatly enjoyed this production of A Little Night Music. I also enjoyed that discovery that different productions also brings different likes and dislikes. This is a show that I feel confident I will see again, should I have the chance.

REVIEW: "Take Me Out" in Bloomington, IN

Performance: Thursday, March 25th (Final Dress Rehearsal)

Location: Ruth N. Halls Theatre, Bloomington, IN

Take Me Out by playwright Richard Greenberg, and 2003 Tony Award winning Best Play, was a highly anticipated show in the Indiana University Theatre Department season. Plays that focus on diversity related issues provide a unique opportunity for me to expose the students in my "Understanding Diversity" class to the art of theatre, and the notion that not all learning comes from a textbook. I am happy to say that this production surpassed my expectations.

Take Me Out follows the relationships and interactions among men on the New York Empires baseball team. When the team's star player, who also happens to be African American, easily announces that he is gay, the team must come to terms with this new knowledge which is especially difficult for the team's homophobic and racist pitcher. Beautifully acted and written, I was easily able to expose my students to the beauty of theatre and the complexities of human interaction, socially constructed norms and discrimination.

Admittedly, I have not been greatly impressed by the 2009/2010 IU Theatre Department season. However, I offer nothing but praise for this production. While I normally highlight the few standout performances, I welcome the difficulty that I have had singling out only a few.

First year MFA student Jaysen Wright, who brought to life star player Darren Lemming, commanded the stage from the moment he entered. His performance also offered complexity, as one wonders if his confidence and "no cares" attitude is genuine, or only a mask intended to shield his doubts. Freshman, Taylor Crousore (Shane Munger) offers the opposing force to Darren, as he holds strong to his homophobic and racists beliefs. Though Shane plays a large role in the play, his character has has very few lines; he thoughts, attitudes, and reactions by and large come only from the intricate mannerisms that Crousore developed. I was truly taken aback by the talent of this first year student.

Though not wishing to ignore the overall strength of this ensemble cast, I would be remiss not to mention Neal Utterback (Mason Marzac), seen to the right with Wright, who offered moments of laughter to the point of tears. Mason is Darren's new, VERY gay, business manager. Marzac's timing, over the top mannerisms, and general likability quickly made him an audience favorite.

I never would have guessed that the performance I was watching was a final dress rehearsal. My kudos go out to the cast and crew of this production.