My Free Time

So for those of you that are not up to date on my whereabouts, I am currently stage managing Eleemosynary at Catalyst Theatre. We opened on February 1st and had a good first two weeks. What I am not used to is a four show week!! We do Thursday, Friday and two shows on Saturday. Coming from an eight show week this is like a vacation!!

So I am trying to use all of this time to get out and see shows around town. I would like to share with you what I have seen so far... I AM NOT REVIEWING ANYTHING... just sharing...

Now, of course I have seen Nevermore at Signature Theatre (twice) because my wife is the Music Director/ Conductor. It is a really great show and I am very proud of Jenny's work. She has done a fantastic job with the music for this show and the orchestra sounds wonderful.



Last Wednesday I got over to the Folger Theatre to see Measure For Measure. I loved it!! I have done two shows at the Folger and have never been able to see anything there. The show was fantastic. Some of you may know that Measure is not considered one of Shakespeare's easiest plays. It has some definite problems. Director Aaron Posner certainly has a way with the problem plays. After see what he did with Two Gentlemen of Verona, a play that seldom works really well, I was not surprised by his work with Measure. There are also some really fine performances in this show. Ian Merrill Peakes who is becoming a regular at the Folger (to the delight of the audiences) is a wonderfully hatable prick... in the show :) His wife Karen is also showing her talent as Isabella. Other performances of note include Mr. David Emerson Toney and the fantastic puppetry that fills in all of the "chorus roles."

That takes us to Sunday...

Sunday afternoon I was able to see Midwives at Round House Theatre. I consider myself very lucky to have been able to see it. I had a couple of friends who were in it and Andy Polk from Morning's At Seven at Olney Theatre told me that I would really enjoy Mark Ramont's work. Andy was right!! I agree with what Brad Hathaway from Potomac Stages has said, "a tight telling of an absorbing story." I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the production. I want to recognize my friends for their work especially. Jim Kronzer for a great set (as usual) and Johns Down and Lescault for fine performances. If you are lucky enough to get to see this show, you will be seeing Ms. Mary Beth Wise in the lead role. Mary Beth is a powerhouse onstage and will be fantastic I have no doubt. I was able to see Alma Cuervo's final performance before she takes off to join the tour of Wicked. She was unbelievable!! I hope that we get to see a lot more of her in our area. What a fine actress... keep an eye out for her!!

And finally Sunday night I journeyed down to the Penn Quarter to see The Velvet Sky at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. This show did not get very good reviews across the board. I don't think it really deserved the reviews that I received. The script is not the best but I was definitely entertained. It's a dark play with some fine performances from actors that are well loved in our city. Rick Foucheux, Will Gartshore, Michael Russotto, and Dawn Ursula are doing some great work with their characters. The performer who is vital to the show and oddly not listed with the cast but rather at the end of the program is the puppeteer! Without the work of these spooky puppets the show would lack the extra bit to push it into the fantasy realm and I feel that the puppetry creator and manipulator were under credited. I also enjoyed the design elements of this production. This kind of spooky, comic book kind of story is not for everyone but I had a good time.

So with a couple more weeks of "free time" to see theatre I am compiling a list of what I need to see in town. Still on my list are Don Juan, The Story, and Trying. Any other suggestions?? Any comments on theses shows??