Sharpenicity

THE ILLUSIONISTS - MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS There is magic in art and art in magic!   The Illusionists- Magic of the Holidays   brings both to the National Theater for that magical time of Christmas with  amazing acts of illusions, close-up magic, mentalism, daring escapes, and technological spectacle.  Dizzy Partridge is “The Trickster” who  combine  magic, physical comedy, and theatrical thievery with mischievous British charm. Over the last 20 years, “The Showman” Steve Valentine has appeared in over 250 hours of TV and film, as he  constantly changes and morphs into a myriad of wild, quirky, funny, dangerous, and always unique characters. Valentin Azema is “The Elusive”  delivers a one-of-a-kind experience of wonder and mystery with a French touch and a dash of humor. British escape artist Jonathan Goodwin is  “The Daredevil.” Goodwin has been hanged, buried alive, hung by his toes from helicopters, burned at the stake, attacked by sharks, bitten by rattlesnakes,

HARD TIMES   Take a break from the seasonal ritual of  A Christmas Carol   to  enjoy another Dickens’ classic.  Hard Times, at Washington Stage Guild , is truly a show for this season.   One of Dickens shortest books is nevertheless filled with dozens of characters. This adaption for the stage by Stephen Jeffreys requires no less than19!  Switching roles in split seconds, Steven Carpenter, Brit Herring, Chelsea Mayo and Sue Struve,  each take on four or five, giving life to Dickens’ wide range of humanity. Brit Herring is Mr. Gradgrind, whose builds his life around facts. He will also play his manipulative son Tom who will rebel against all this by drinking and thieving.  Chelsea Mayo’s most important role is as his lovely daughter Louisa whose emotions are suppressed by his emphasis that facts alone are what to base one’s life on. She will be married off to Mr. Bounderby, played by Steven Carpenter, who will also play the James Harthouse who will try to persuade Louisa to r

AMADEUS             Antonio Salieri (Ian Merrill Peakes) pleads with God  Theaters are known to have ghosts. I saw one last night at  the Folger Theater.  It was Antonio Salieri,  in the starring role of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus .  As in his life, he played the bitter court composer at odds with the brilliant Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  Once again, as in his life, he is not given credit as he always felt was his proper due for the program notes credit Ian Merrill Peakes as Salieri. In Amadeus , Salieri is a ghostly figure who in his last hours before dying re-lives the story about how he is responsible for Mozart’s death.  Peakes is more than superb as the 18th century Viennese court composer whose rivalry with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the stuff of this all consuming bitterness. Indeed Peakes is a strong actor for sure, but it is truly Salieri who takes over the stage in angry moments when he rages at God for placing  musical genius in a person such as the silly Mozart.

MANON   Live at the Met Young and vibrant,  the innocent country girl Manon will end worn out by her frivolous life, regretting her choice of pleasure over true love as she dies in desolate spot outside of prison. From the opera’s first aria,  I expected that  soprano Lisette Oropesa was too cheerful to carry that role to such a bitter end.  But her skill as an actress and her talent— with a range not just vocally but of human continuum of experience— delivered an unforgettable performance. Tenor Michael Fabiano is her lover, Chevalier des Grieux. Intense and troubled, he tries to escape his heartbreak of Manon’s loss in a monastery, only to rebound as her gambling companion, and to follow her to a painful end. Polish baritone Artur Ruciński is her cousin Lescaut,  who goes along for the exhilarating ride of a gambler through life. Maurizio Benini conducting Massenet’s sensual score, which lingers in the ears of memory long after  The Live at the Met performance of October 26 wa

THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Constellation Theatre Company The Constellation’s sell out production has now been extended until Nov 24, 2019.  It has all the ingredients for a cult favorite that could pack the theater for ages.   Everyone knows something about that man eating plant  in a florist shop on Skid Row but to see this production  is to see it come to life — very up close to the audience. As endearing as Seymour, the flower shop assistant who creates an exotic plant, by scene-stealer Christian Montgomery … or as lovely as Teresa Quigley Danskey as his dream girl warm-hearted coworker Audrey… or as fun as the three girl singers/ sassy street urchins: Selena Clyne-Galindo as Chiffon , Alana S. Thomas as Ronnette,  Chani Wereley as Crystal… or as dynamic as  Scott Ward Abernethy who is Audrey’s boyfriend Orin, a dentist who tortures his patients (as well as taking on four other roles)… or as sentimental as Robert John Biedermann as Mushnik, the flower shop’s orn

THE GREEN ROOM How will four Generation Z friends make it from a small college theatre department’s  "green room” to the Off-Broadway stage?  The Green Room spans three years of college life, in which four actors explore all the complications from looking for love to last-minute cramming for final exams. They are young, vibrant, aspiring—still green— like the room.   Director Jessica Jennings  guides them through this complicated journey to success as  Rod Damer and C. Stephen Foster’s book comes to life on stage.   The magic ingredient is music. Charles Pelletier’s rocking pop score and lyrics, with David Fletcher’s skilled musical direction, give the cast much to sing about. Ariana Valdes is Divonne, “the Diva.”  In one of the show’s most unforgettable moments, her rendition of “It’s All About Me” sums up great diva moments from musicals and movies. The song won a Songwriter’s Guild of America award.  Corbin Williams as John (the Jock) and Sami Staitman

EVERYBODY   A 15th century play about Death might be the livest show  around.   Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins brings the  medieval morality play up front and center for all to  look squarely at the most shared and puzzling human question. Death is portrayed by the irresistible Nancy Robinette, who  carries out her mission directed by God, played by Yonatan Gebeyehu (who also doubles as Usher, who “ushers the audience”  in to the story as God ushers us into and out of life.) He also plays Understanding! There is nothing unique to think of life and death as a lottery. And while death is mysterious, so is who of five fantastic actors  or Somebodies are going to play the single role (thought of as  Everyman ).   Alina Collins Maldonado, Avi Rogue, Kelli Simpkins, Ayana Workman, and Elan Zafir all participate in God’s lottery  to see what roles they will take for that performance.   No two  shows will be alike, just as no death is like any others.   While this is impressive

CANDIDA at WASHINGTON STAGE GUILD Where else but in a play by George Bernard Shaw could extreme arguments  both about the nature of human love and on  politics (socialism vs capitalism) occur in a peaceful Victorian study of a minister and his wife.  And where else to see this play filled with wisdom and wit,  then as Washington Stage Guild opens the season with GBS’s Candida. Emelie Faith Thompson stars as Candida, the lovely wife of Rev. James Morell, played by her real life husband Nathan Whitmer.  He is a socialist Anglican clergyman who spars off against Eugene Marchbanks, the son of a peer and Mr. Burgess, Candida’s father.  Ben Ribler spares nothing in intensity in argument as the youthful poet in love with Candida while David Bryan Jackson Candida’s father representing capitalism goes at Morell in a nipping way. There is mystery in all of this—who will ultimately hold  Candida’s heart as she sorts through all the moments of intense anger and poetic musings.  (No surpr

Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville When you want to get away but can’t just hop off to the islands at the moment — then Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville   road touring company might be just the ticket! Sarah Hinrichsen is Rachel, a too serious scientist, and  Shelly Lynn Walsh, her best friend Tammy.  Together they head off to take a break before  Tammy’s wedding in Cincinatti, Ohio to a total jerk.  There they meet Chris Clark who stars as Tully,  a singer in a run down hotel in the Caribbean, and Peter Michael Jordan, who plays Brick the bartender.   Rachel Lyn Fobbs is Marley the owner of the bar, Patrick Cogan is J.D. a one eyed beach bum  and Matthew James Sherrod is Jamal, the busboy.   What Rachel and Tammy find is not exactly what the pictures looked like on the internet, but something better.  True love! This juke box musical featuring both original songs and your most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Fins,” “Volcano,” “Cheeseburger in Paradis

LIFE IS A DREAM at GALA Hispanic Theatre  A gem of the Spanish Golden Age,  Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s  Life is a Dream is a gift for all the ages.  Now at GALA Hispanic Theatre, this world premiere adaptation by Nando López and  directed by Hugo Medrano is a rare  theatrical treasure opening  the 2019-20 season. The story of Segismundo, a prince heir imprisoned by his father King Basilio to prevent the fulfillment of a prophecy might start out like one a familar fairy tale.  What ensues in this thought provoking play, is the stuff that great playwrights and poets and philosophers have grappled with on the power of tryranny, fate and free will in human existence.  Daniel Alonso de Santos as Segismundo  confronts the dilemma of his experiences as whether they be dreams or reality or some experience that is a mix of both. Timothy Andrés Pabon is King Basilio who struggles as a father who fears his son will overtake his throne. Soraya Padrao as Rosario presents dua

LOVE SICK at THEATRE J Love Sick  is not unlike a folktale,  re-told in poetic language from the Bible, with singing and dancing most operatic.  Tirzah is an amazing character who tells her story to a group of street characters of how she craved love, found it, and gave all to never let it go.  Not only does Ofra Daniel create Tirzah in this stage role, but she first created her as a writer and composer.   Her acting is intense, her dancing mesmerizing.  The character she brings to the stage, unforgettable.   Sasha Olinick is   Tirzah’s husband, a fish monger, sung with poignancy.  Fulfilling many role are four women: Sarah Corey, Sarah Laughland, Kara-Tameika Watkins and Kanysha Williams.  Ali Paris is The Lover, Music Director and plays the Qanun (a rare Middle-Eastern 76-string zitther dating from the 14th century).  His fellow musicians  include:  on violin Jason Lobrador, John Tayler Garner, on Guitar Critian Perez,  Duff Davis, on bass Benjamin Rikhoff, and woodwind

1 HENRY IV at the FOLGER THEATRE The latest Falstaff now at the Folger Theatre is the greatest ever seen —  or so said many in the audience of 1 Henry IV. Ed Gero overwhelms as Sir John Falstaff, in a show that is filled with great actors playing great men.  Prince Hal is a fun guy.  Avery Whitted in his DC theater debut looks every bit that he is having a joy of a ride hanging out with Falstaff as his mentor of a good time!  Tyler Fauntleroy as Hotspur is Prince Hal’s match.  As Prince Hal steps up to his role of duties to his father and the kingdom so will it be that Hotspur  fall on the battlefield, the demise of his ambitions.   Peter Crook as Henry IV is serious and worried.  Perhaps a bit of a stickler bore for a father, he is a true counter to Falstaff, both in their status in life and their approach to it, but both sharing a love of Prince Hal.     The outstanding cast are  all leading stars in their own right: Mabound Ebrahimzadeh as Blunt and Mortimer, Naoimi J

Lynn Nottage’s FABULATION  OR, THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE Fables and fairy tales are supposed to end happily when the poor little girl  meets a handsome  prince who whirls her away to a magic kingdom etc. Fabulation tells that story backwards.   Felicia Curry is Undine, the princess at the top of her own public relation firms in Manhattan…She has it all!… until   one by one, the threads of this life start to unravel.   Her   husband has spent all her money and is wanted by the FBI.   Bankrupt and pregnant, she goes back to the only place left where she started with her family in Brooklyn. At a fast clip,   a fine cast of actors   appear and re-appear, in different roles.  Aakhu TuahNera Freeman is her doped up wheel chaired Grandma as well an inmate Undine shares a jail cell with after she is arrested for trying to buy Grandma some drugs on the street corner. Roz White is her mother and also some of her girl friends.   William T. Newman, Jr is her father who keeps h

Till  New York Musical Festival 2019 From left, Denielle Marie Gray, Tyla Collier, Taylor A. Blackman, Dwelvan David, Devin L. Roberts and Judith Franklin  Credit  Russ Rowland Till is a musical that never could have been made in 1955, the year that Emmett Till was brutally murdered in Mississippi. In the tradition of African American  musicals where the characters generally are featured in happy dancing moments of life, its horrific theme is rare. Emmett Till is also unlike hundreds of  murdered African Americans preceding him  who mostly remain unknown.  Nor is he like those who would be murdered after him, like MLK Jr. and  Medgar Edgars,  leaders in the Civil Rights movement. He was an ordinary fun loving boy never known to be in trouble, raised in Chicago by a single mother.  But he was also part of a larger family, those who had not migrated north for a new life, those who wanted him to come visit them in Mississippi, albeit a place with dangers that this youn

CRAZY FOR YOU You will be crazy for the Heights Players after you see their energetic romantic musical production of Crazy For You . George and Ira Gershwin wrote the music and the words, Ken Ludwig put it into a book, but the Heights Players bring it to life on stage! Joe Bliss is Bobby Child, a rich New York banker who heads west to Deadrock, Nevada to close down a broken down theater.  Marissa Giglio is Polly Baker, the daughter of the theater owner who will  lose her heart to Bobby (well after a few mishaps) and  render the unforgettable ballad of love awakening, Someone to Watch Over Me .  Joe and Marissa are true “triple threats”  They act, sing and dance their way through this show at the level of the best in regional theater.  Together they join in an unforgettable rendering of Embraceable You . The multi-talented cast features Leah Elm as Irene, Bobby’s fancy, long-frustrated fiancée who toys with saloon owner Lank Hawkins played by Henry Ponthieu with her va-

THE WHITE SNAKE The White Snake is the love story of a white snake with magical powers who turns into a mortal woman and comes down to earth from her thousand year home on a mountain top.  She meets and marries a humble pharmacist assistant and together they start a thriving herbal medicine business,  have a lovely home and are about to have their first child —all the ingredients of an ordinary happy life.   Unbelievable as ancient epic legends go?   On stage at Constellation Theatre, Eunice Bae as the White Snake and Jacob Yeh as the humble XuXian bring the ancient Chinese legend to real life, where true love and devotion never get old. Momo Nuakumura is Green Snake,  the White Snake’s faithful companion, who moves the story along to keep everything together while Ryan Sellers plays the vengeful nasty monk who seeks to tear the lovers apart.   The production features multiple delights for the ears and eyes:  performance by Chinese dulcimer virtuoso Chao Tian,  sumptuous