THEATER: The 39 Steps

Millbrook Playhouse has done it again.  THE 39 STEPS is a complete surprise! When I first saw that Millbrook would be doing a production of Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film THE 39 STEPS, I was delighted. The movie is a classic suspense film done as only Hitchcock could do suspense. When I heard that Millbrook would be doing it as a spoof, and with only four actors, I was apprehensive to say the least. I should have trusted Artistic Director, Teresa Pond.

Selecting Lawrence Lesher to direct was the first good decision. Regular patrons of Millbrook know Lawrence as an actor. Remember Saunders in Lend Me A Tenor? It is nice to know that he has the directorial touch to do fast moving comedy as well. The pacing is crucial to this show.

Getting the right four actors was also vital. These four people are responsible for playing over 150 roles. Yes, you read that correctly…..150 roles played by four actors. Now you see why pacing was so important.

The exception to the above paragraph is Chris Kateff who played the single role of Richard Hannay, the innocent man who gets pulled into the spy/murder/intrigue/ romance plot. There were few times that Chris was not on stage and the audience depended on him to keep us abreast of the story line. He also has the sophistication of a true British leading man. It was the little touches that reminded us that he was in a farce. I loved his reaction to hearing the radio describe him as he was running from the law. He ran a little taller and prouder as the radio announcer gave his physical facts. I would love to see this actor in some of the roles listed in his bio.

Synge Maher had the fun of playing most of the women parts. She got to be the murder victim, the submissive wife, as well as the love interest, thus giving her a chance to show impressive acting skills. Synge understood that sometimes the best way to do comedy is to do it straight. This is especially true if everyone around you is a little frantic.

Tim Cox and Matt Harris played every other role. They each had so much energy and talent that the show raced to its logical conclusion before I knew it. Keeping the different parts with different voices and accents took amazing skill. The train scene had to be watched to be believed. The two actors never left our sight but we watched a newsboy selling the ever important newspaper with the picture of our hero on the front page, the train conductor trying to get everyone back on the train, the local constable, a policeman, and I am sure that I have missed some more. This was a fast change of voice, hats, and simple props. I was very impressed with how fast they moved and never got the parts confused. It really had to be seen to be believed.

The female roles not played by Miss. Maher were handled by Matt Harris. Matt kept the theatre tradition alive of cross-dressing comedy. Why are we so amused by men dressed as women? It never seems to get old. Tim Cox even in a comedy plays a very believable villain. These guys were terrific. I would imagine that by the end of the two week run, they will both have lost a significant amount of weight.

So many little bits of business made this a very funny show. I had fun just watching for references to other Hitchcock films. Watch for them; they are cleverly worked into the dialog, music, and props. As all Hitchcock fans know, he made a “hidden” appearance in each of his films. Watch carefully for him in this production of his  THE 39 STEPS.

THE 39 STEPS will run through August the 5th. The Fantastiks will run from August 2 through August 12. This production will showcase some of the best talent that Millbrook has given us this summer.

Now for the good news: After the conclusion of the regular schedule, Millbrook treats us to an encore production of their most popular play from that season. This may have been a difficult year to pick only one, but I think that their choice of Lend Me a Tenor is the right one. I went to see it twice and will go the third time if I can find someone to go with. It will be in the Cabaret from August 16-19.
Call 570-748-8088 for ticket information.

EVENT/MUSIC: JazzPA's 2012 Summer Jazz Celebration

(Guest Blogger:  Wendy Myers.  This blog is designed to expand upon, just a little bit, each performance based upon what I could find and already know.  For a more succinct list of performances, please visit the JazzPAs website and see their Schedule of Events.)

Tonight begins JazzPA's 2012 Summer Jazz Celebration in Centre County.  This annual event has rocked Centre County for the last few years and continues to be a crowd pleaser!  Musical acts include the sounds of jazz, big band, blues, boogie, soul and so much more.  Performances include local high school students, local amateur and professional musicians and world-renowned musicians.  All come together for one weekend to show Central PA just how jazz gets done.

The weekend kicks off with JT Blues.  John "JT" Thompson is a blues pianist who will be doing his "blues, boogie and other popular songs" up right at the Governor's Pub in downtown Bellefonte beginning at 6:30pm.  JT is a popular fixture at many local clubs and restaurants.  Don't miss this local favorite!

The Phil Haynes Trio will begin their act at the Palmer Museum in State College tonight at 7:30pm.  Phil Haynes is a jazz percussionist and composer with much experience and critical acclaim.  Tickets were free... and I say "were" because they are gone.  There is, however, a waiting list...  call Sue Bryant at (814) 863-6635, or email suebryant@psu.edu.  If you have tickets, I'd love to hear what you think!

Friday and Saturday are both packed full of entertainment.  Friday kicks off with Catherine Dupuis with Russ Kassoff performing at Centre Crest in Bellefonte beginning at 2pm.  Ms. Dupuis is not only the President of the board of JazzPA, but a renowned vocalist and actress, having worked regionally and off Broadway for many years.  While her dedication to JazzPA is a stand-out as she returns to her roots of Centre County for this event, her singing is phenomenal.  Do not miss her performance with jazz pianist Russ Kassoff, as this is truly one of the highlights of the weekend!

The State High Jazzers will be performing at Cool Beans in Bellefonte on Saturday at 4pm.  

Zeropoint Big Band is jazz in the best of the big band styles (in my opinion).  Full horns, trippin' percussion, something you can dance to or sit back and sip your martini to.  They'll be playing Friday at the Match Factory in Bellefonte beginning at 6pm on Friday.  There is a $5 cover charge at the door, which is well worth it, given what I've heard of them!

Carl Ector and Chip Lovett will sooth your soul at the Governor's Pub Friday night beginning at 7:30pm. This violin/piano duo will allow to relax after a long day, visit with your friends and STILL hear great music!

If you want something a little more upbeat to end your evening, head over to the Gamble Mill Friday at 8pm to catch the Arthur Goldstein Quartet with Steve Bowman.  Both Mr. Goldstein and Mr. Bowman are well-known jazz staples in the area.  Their popular jazz styles command much attention, which is why making reservations at the Gamble Mill is very highly recommended.  Call (814) 355-7764 to be sure you get seat!

If you're in State College on Friday night, don't forget to check out The Jazz Connection at Zola beginning at 9pm!

Saturday starts with a chance to hear music in the making!  The Friends Band will be rehearsing at the Main Stage in Bellefonte beginning at 9:30am.  This would be a great way to introduce children to music!

While you have your children out Saturday morning, head over to the Children's Garden in Bellefonte to hear the Children's Jazz Storytime performed by Arthur Goldstein and Rick Hirsch.  The story begins at 11am and I would suggest getting there a little early to make sure your little ones are settled in and ready to be entertained!  Don't let the "Children's" part scare you -- children of ALL ages should hear this!

A personal favorite of mine begins at 11:30am at the Gazebo in Bellefonte - The Tarnished Six!  I've heard them many times and they are always fun and ready to entertain!   Be ready to applaud.  They like that.

The Bellefonte Area High School Jazz Band will begin at 12:30pm on the Main Stage in Bellefonte.  Yes - I have a soft spot in my heart for these kids, as this is my alma mater.   Now, as an adult, I'm amazed at the incredible amount of talent and musicianship these kids have!  Don't miss ANY of the school bands - you'll be VERY pleasantly surprised!

Russ Kassoff and Catherine Dupuis perform again, this time with the Russ Kassoff Trio and the Friends Band.  They will be performing on the Main Stage at the Train State in Bellefonte beginning Saturday at 1pm.  If you don't catch Catherine and Russ at Centre Crest earlier in the day, be sure to catch them here the Friends Band!  Personally, I love it to hear musicians of this caliber come together to jam and this should do it up right!

THE highlight of the weekend is a Master Class with renowned tenor saxophonist Houston Person!  He takes soul jazz to a whole new level and he's willing to share his knowledge with you on Saturday at the Gazebo beginning 2pm.  Whether you are a saxophonist, musician, fan or hack, this is a huge don't-miss event!

The Rick Hirsch 5 will entertain Talleyrand Park from the Gazebo beginning at 3:30pm on Saturday.  Rick Hirsch is a local saxophonist, composer, arranger... many other things related to his talent and love of jazz.

Two more local high school jazz bands take the Main Stage beginning at 4:30pm.  The first is Penns Valley Area HS Jazz Band, followed by the State College Area High School Jazz Band.  As I mentioned before, take a listen to the up-and-coming talent in Centre County.  Take your young children to see them (that's how I got interested) and enjoy their youth, vitality and energy!

Another absolutely don't-miss event is  Houston Preston performing with the Russ Kassoff Trio!  Again - I love it when musicians get-together and jam and this one should take the cake!  The performance begins at 7:30pm at the Match Factory in Bellefonte.  Tickets are required ($15) and can be purchased at Websters in State College or at Cool Beans in Bellefonte.   This should rock the house!!

On Saturday at 10pm you have a choice of music and venues.  The Burlingame Group will be at the Gamble Mill and Carl Ector and Chip Lovett return to the Governor's Pub.    This may be a difficult decision, but they're close to each other... do both!!

On Sunday,  the Jay Vonada Group will be performing at the Deli in State College beginning at noon. This cool, jazzy trombone-based trio is perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon sipping coffee at the local cafe.  Need a good first date??  I think this may be it!  Ever since I started listening to my mom's JJ Johnson albums, I have loved to hear a good trombone jazz ensemble.  This one fits the bill.

Just as John "JT" Thompson kicked off the weekend, he also wraps it up with a piano performance at the Gazebo on Sunday evening beginning at 7pm (also as part of the Summer Sounds From The Gazebo concert series in Bellefonte).

Please send us your comments regarding each of the acts.  I would love to hear feedback.  There is a LOT of talent in Centre County and to have just a small piece of it packed into a fabulous weekend like this is a rare treat!  Listen, enjoy and let me know what you think!

BOOK REVIEW: Cold Case AND The Price of Silence

The weather has been hot in Central Pennsylvania. It has been too uncomfortable to do much of anything except read…at least that is my excuse and I am sticking with it. I want authors who can keep me completely engrossed and Kate Wilhelm fits the requirements perfectly.

COLD CASE picks up the characters twenty-two years after the death of a young college girl. Two fellow students had been suspects at the time, but the case had never been solved. Robert is now an ambitious state senator and David, a successful author. The old case becomes news again when the senator is found shoot to death. Once again David is a suspect in a murder case, only this time he is the only one.

After I started COLD CASE I discovered that it is part of a series. My bad. This book is several books into a series featuring attorney Barbara Holloway. It took me several chapters to identify the people who were regulars around her and not connected to the mystery. Once the characters were clear to me, the story moved well.

The other Wilhelm book that I relaxed with was THE PRICE OF SILENCE. Todd Fielding has moved to the small town of Brindle to work for the newspaper. She is getting accustomed to living with the boredom of the rural community when a local girl disappears. Todd is shocked by the complete indifference of the town to the disappearance. Not even the police seem to care; they all assume that the girl has run away.

As Todd looks more closely into the story, she learns that over the past twenty years five girls have “run away”. What she finds is evidence of a series of brutal, cold-blooded murders. In true, good murder mystery style, Todd finds that she may be the next victim.

My first Kate Wilhelm book was When Late the Sweet Birds Sang, an excellent example of how fantastic science fiction novels can be. She seemed to have dropped off my radar and I had not noticed anything by her for years. I am so glad that I have found her again. Her characters are well done and her plots are full of suspense and twists. She is going to be a regular on my reading list.

THEATER: I'll Be Back Before Midnight

We just got back from seeing I'LL BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT at Millbrook Playhouse and I want to thank everyone involved with the show. It was terrific!

The first person to be thanked is Ken Kaissar, the director. The action was non-stop through all six scenes; he even had the audience buzzing with curiosity during the intermission. The suspense had us on the edge of our seats and some of the action caused us to jump out of those same seats.

Too often the sound crew gets over-looked in the theatre. Sound designer Lorraine Rhoden gave us footsteps, heartbeats, gunshots, offstage voices, and other weird sounds that added to the tension. Daniel Thobias designed a great set and Kimberly Jones gave us costumes that helped to define characters.

As in most murder/mysteries, lighting was very important and Ethan Vail knew just when to black out the stage or create a mood. Lighting is one thing that demands perfection. Mistakes in other areas can usually be covered, but if lights come on at the wrong time it can be disastrous.

The cast was full of experienced actors and it paid off. As Jan, the young housewife on the edge of a breakdown, Olivia Bosek was perfectly vulnerable. This actress has moved beyond the virginal ingénue of past plays.

Nicholas Wilder played her husband Greg. Nicholas can be remembered from last season in vastly different roles. Going from the roommate in drag in Love, Sex and the I.R.S. to this more dramatic roll shows what Nicholas is capable of doing.

There is something about Cara Maltz’s smile that seems evil making her perfect for the role of Greg’s sister Laura. Cara was probably the main subject of conversation during intermission. She did a great job in a very taxing part.

George, the friendly neighbor, was brilliantly played by Frank Franconeri. Frank is a very talented character actor and the part of George gave him room to show what he can do. A show with this much drama/ suspense needs comedy relief and fortunately we had Frank. His timing on stage is excellent.

I'LL BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT is a show that could be a complete disaster. It depends on the audience being completely engrossed in the action on stage. Noticeable mistakes, even hesitation with lines, can break the spell. If there were any miscues, the cast and crew covered skillfully.

The best compliment that I can pay this group is that I was scared. During a performance, I usually check to see audience reaction, what lights are on, costume details, etc. This did not happen last night; I did not want to miss a thing on stage. Great job everyone.

I'LL BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT will be in the Cabaret at Millbrook until July the 29th and will be followed by the popular The Fantasticks. The 39 Steps starts July 26th on the Main Stage.

Go to their website or call 570-748-8088 for tickets and times.

THEATER: Steel Magnolias

STEEL MAGNOLIAS is currently at the Boal Barn in Boalsburg. This is a play about six strong women and the success of the production depends on finding six strong actresses. State College Community Theatre found them.

Four women meet regularly at Truvy’s Beauty Salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana and along with Truvy and her new assistant, Annelle, we listen in on the gossip and learn about the private lives of these steel magnolias.

Ginger Larson was a sweetheart of a Truvy. Her love of juicy gossip was underscored by a very caring heart, a true concern for her assistant and customers. I got the feeling that Ginger was either type cast or is an exceptional actress. I am thinking that it might be the former; her sweetness came across as very natural.

Trudy’s assistant Annelle was played by Elaina Mercurio. This is a more complicated roll then an audience might recognize. Elaina grew from the very frightened, lost young girl to the mature mother-to-be with ease. Her quiet acting was a perfect foil for the drama in her customers’ lives.

Another actress who had a chance to grow was Priscilla McFerren in the roll of Clairee. Recently widowed when we first meet her, Clairee uses her love of the local football team plus her determination to make a very full life for herself. Priscilla was fun to watch as the mature member of the group who had a surprising sense of humor.

Susan Kleit had a ball as Ouiser, the group grump. Susan made good use of the stage as she became very vocal about her neighbor shooting his gun to scare off the birds and the disappearance of the blooms from her magnolia tree. Personal note to Susan: I believed EVERY word in your bio.

The evening belonged to Kristi Branstetter as M’Lynn. Kristi is enough of a pro to know when to under play a scene and when to tear up the stage. She was able to capture the love, fear and heartbreak of every mother watching.

The actual plot of the play centers on Shelby, the daughter of M’Lynn. Jocelyn Kotary is such a natural actress that it was very easy to get caught up in her story. To tell you about her progress at the Salon would ruin the dramatic ending if you are not familiar with the play.

On opening night it took the ladies several lines to settle into their parts. Nerves seem to have affected their speaking voices. They all appeared to be much more at ease once Susan Kleit came bursting on the scene.

The only problem that I had was the costuming. The Barn, as some of you know, is not air conditioned and if the location of the play, Louisiana, is added to the mix, the costuming was too warm. Black shoes, sweaters, etc. did not work. I have seen other plays that Diane Twomley has costumed and was surprised that she dropped the ball on this one.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS is such a tribute to the strong women in our lives that it should be watched regularly.  STEEL MAGNOLIAS will be playing through July 28th.

For photographs, please see Meadowlane Photography on Facebook.

BOOK REVIEW/MOVIE REVIEW: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The following statement is rare, one that you seldom read on this blog: “I liked the movie better than I liked the book.” Allow me to explain.

Jean, Geni and I went to see the movie THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL and loved it. As a result, I had to read the book by Deborah Moggach. I have found that if I see a movie first and then read the book, I enjoy both more than if I read the book first. THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL proved this to be true.

The basic story involves a group of senior citizens who, for mainly financial reasons, move from England to the Marigold Hotel in India, a hotel advertised to be an exotic home for the elderly. Arrival in India, and especially the promised “elegant” hotel, causes different reactions in the retirees. To one, it is coming home after years in England. To another it is a chance to find romance in the later years of life. Some are just appalled by the poverty of the country….. not to mention the lack of water, electricity, and privacy at the hotel itself. This gives the opportunity for a multi-layered plot and us a chance to watch each of the characters to grow, in spite of their ages.

The movie had several advantages going for it. To me the biggest plus was the cast: Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Tom Wilkinson, among others. This is a very heavy acting ensemble. I love all four of them, but have to admit that if a movie is ever made of my life, I rather hope that Maggie Smith is given the opportunity to play me.

The second thing that got my approval was the condensation of the characters. Due to time constraints movies have to compress people and plot. Many times this is a bad thing. This time it helped. In some cases, a character was dropped completely; in some cases, several characters from the book were blended into one person for the movie. I felt that this strengthened the importance of the main characters considerably. It also gave more interesting twists to their individual stories.

I also like the addition of the sub-plot. Instead of a bickering married couple as the owners of the Marigold, the hotel owner in the movie was young and in love with an, according to his mother, unsuitable young woman, giving a nice Romeo/Juliet touch.

Deborah Moggach has written a nice book, but THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL made an excellent movie. It is the perfect choice for the more mature movie goer. Such movies are becoming scarce.

THEATER: You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

Each of us can identify with one of the Peanuts gang: crabby Lucy, her brother Linus with his blanket, musical Schroeder, loyal Snoopy, youthfully optimistic Sally, and clumsy Charlie Brown himself. For 62 years we have watched them face the joys and hurts of growing up and understood them because we have been there ourselves. The whole gang is presently at MillbrookPlayhouse, much to everyone’s delight. 

Director Snechal Desai and chorographer Edward Carignan have beautifully captured the spirit of the original comic strip in their production of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. With help from costume designer Kimberly Jones and scenic designer Daniel Thobias, we are transported to the playground to watch a baseball game, a kite that just might fly, a glee club rehearsal, and a famous beagle chase some rabbits.

The best thing about this show though is the casting. (Have I mentioned what a talented group is hanging out at Millbrook this summer?) Mathieu Whitman plays Charlie Brown and there were moments when I wanted to walk on stage and give him a hug. We all celebrate his few, small victories. After the show, Lora Nicolas assured me that she really was not actually as crabby in person as Lucy. She was definitely convincing on stage.

The part of Linus gave us a chance to see another side of Cameron Perry. He is proving this season that as an actor he can do it all, and do it well. Brandon Hanks may have been slightly miscast as Schroeder. He has the talent to sing and dance, but he came across as too mature to be on the playground with the little kids. Maybe we are too accustomed to seeing him in more sophisticated roles.

Josh Houghton brought a touch of Ray Bolger to the part of Snoopy. Josh has the long legs and the ability to move his body into what seems to be impossible positions. The actress lucky enough to be cast as Charlie Brown’s sister Sally has the opportunity to steal the show and Chandler Reeves took advantage to do just that. She was all of the joys and innocence of a little girl rolled into one person, a little girl who just happens to have a great singing voice.

This is a show that will take you back to your childhood in a painless way. We remember some of the heart aches, but the Peanuts gang gives us lots to laugh about also.

I would like to add a line to the closing song “Happiness is …”. Happiness is knowing that Chandler Reeves, Cameron Perry, and Josh Houghton will be appearing later this season in The Fantastics.

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN will be on the Main Stage until July 22.  I’ll Be Back Before Midnight opens July 19^th in the Cabaret.  This is a show that is completely unknown to me, so I am looking forward to a new experience. You can call 570-748-8083 for tickets for either production.