The movie is fantastic, and the musical is a great adaptation with great music by David Yazbek. I loved Yazbek after listening to The Full Monty (musical not movie), but I didn’t know that he also wrote the Carmen San Diego theme! I had two issues with the adaptation: the subtle changes to Lawrence Jamison and Janet…I mean Christina…Colgate. Lawrence came off as more of a sexual playboy (could have just been Tom Hewitt) while Michael Caine was a stylish thief who didn’t care that much about sex…in fact the whole musical seemed more amped up sexually…Norbert Leo Butz humping everything in sight…hilarious, but…I guess this makes me a prude, but I’m old fashioned that way. My issue with Colgate was her klutziness…I just think it tips her character’s hand quicker than the movie so I blanche a little. Other than that this is a great adaptation. Freddy: Wear this, … Continue reading →

You cannot come to this musical if you think Oklahoma is the epitome of musical theatre. “It’s not for you!” This movie is all about spectacle. One of the greatest things about it is that it does for me what Lion King could never do: tell me a story that I love AND blow me away with technical wizardry. As a matter of fact, this show takes at least two technologies from Lion King and heartily improves them: the turntable with rising platforms (17 elevators!) and extended legs/arms to alter the human gait (movement pattern). The show is 3 1/2 hours long with one 15 minute intermission and one 3 minute intermission. My biggest complaint is that there are several subplots/moments from the books/movies that I wanted reproduced and didn’t get, leading me to whine a little. Actually while these missing moments made me shake my head in wonder, it … Continue reading →

Ruthless All I really want to talk about here is the Broadway cast. The production I saw was at an all girl’s high school somewhere in Los Angeles in a hole in the wall black box-ish theatre and was thoroughly enjoyable. Tina, the title character, was played on Broadway by Lindsay Ridgeway. Shortly after this, she went on to voice America’s sweetheart Darla Dimple in Mark Dindal(CHICKEN LITTLE!!!!)’s CATS DON’T DANCE, which is admittedly my favorite film EVER.

This is a script. See? “Diamond In The Rough”. Do you even know how to read? Oh yes sahib. I can even say big words like condescending and pretentious. …the honest poor of Bombay. The honest poor? You found some? These quotes were part of what I enjoyed so much about this show. It is a fantastic portrayal of the Bollywood culture, the Hollywood like culture that has evolved in India as a result of the introduction of Western culture, but it’s also a modern deus ex machina. The ending is so fantastically contrived. Guy: You can’t marry him he’s evil. Girl: Judo chop! Hooray! Guy: You can’t tear down this village! I’m a movie star. See? That’s me on the poster. Construction Worker: Oh, I see. Can I get your autograph? Thanks! Have a nice day! Hooray! It’s just so funny. It’s also got some really cool pop music. … Continue reading →

The Last Five Years Having thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack, the show could offer little surprise in the form of plot twists. So the only thing that could surprise me about the Chance Theatre’s production of the show is how the show actually flows…because the soundtrack is never enough. Their decision to stage it around a hexagon raised portion of the stage brings different aspects of the performance to prominence, highlighting the ups and downs that Jamie and Cathy’s relationship goes through. Another really cool bit was the use of the “boxes.” The stage was bare most of the time except for two boxes that move toward the front and then back to the rear of the stage as the show progresses, mirroring the relationship as it comes back together and shatters apart. Because I don’t like to be extremely judgmental with material that I mostly enjoy, I am very hesitant … Continue reading →

IT CAME FROM BEYOND (click for the homepage) If you love the 50’s as much as I do, you have to see this show. It is a hilarious send-up of that classic age with fantastic music and lyrics. Taking place at a high school in the 1950’s, Harold has a new comic book that will make or break his science project due tomorrow. However, slacker Steve is paired with Harold by their teacher, Mr. Fielding during a two-hour detention session in…the Twilight Zone. For you see, Harold’s new comic book doesn’t just tell a story, it affects and reflects the world around him as everything goes wrong and aliens invade from…BEYOND! Biggest selling point for me was Kevin Earley, whom I saw as Terry in the Colony Theatre’s production of Sideshow and as Sherriff Joe in the Laguna Beach Playhouse production of Spitfire Grill. But when I get there, I … Continue reading →