“VELOUR… A DRAG SPECTACULAR”… AN EVENING OF GRAND ILLUSIONS.

 have seen drag shows in my past life. Ones with male impersonators looking and sounding like Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand,  and some dressed as can -can girls. Yes, I did. But none the likes of which Sasha Velours “A Drag Spectacular”, otherwise known as  “The Big Reveal”, which is now playing at the  La Jolla Playhouse through Sept. 15. 

Sasha

Co- produced by Tectonic Theatre Project and co -written by Moisés Kaufman, based on the book of the same name, Velour’s story unfolds, but  first with instructions from Velour that this is not a show that you sit on your hands. Clapping, hooting and noise making are part of the experience.

And we’re off with an entrance of a floating, beautifully coiffed woman dressed to the hilt, holding on to a long (what looked like) a fox tail floating to the ground. And with the descent of this beautiful person, Sasha Velour begins her story. 

It’s a history, a coming of age story of a young man who knew as a small child that he/she  was born into the wrong body. As a child her  grandmother would let her play dress-up with clothes she had in her closet. Along with actual early film clips we saw her transformation in her new dress up clothes. And so, as her life’s story unravels, we learn that these stories are conglomerations or illusions of bygone drag queens. 

Told in heartfelt and loving tones we learn to trust, feel affection for, relate to and feel for this very authentic person navigating her new world and never looking back.

Her costumes (Diego Montoya Studio) are simply gorgeous, sequence gowns, to lip syncing, to beautiful wigs ( all the  while floating through the air  (Angela Phillips) in David Rockwell’s designed set with several doll houses lit up (Amanda Zieve), sometimes exploding, sometimes opening up to show or just burning down,  the inside or turning into something else altogether sometimes with rockets shooting out from them.

Directed with expertise by Moisés Kaufman and paint art by Sasha Velour this “Drag Spectacular” has to be one of the most entertaining shows I have seen in some time, because she “Did It Her Way”.

If there was one detraction in this one hour thirty five intermission-less show it was that it went on too long. I know there is a story to tell; she told it “Her Way” (final tribute to Frank Sinatra) but sometimes we have to know when to take our final bow.

More credits include: Palmer Hefferan, sound design, Cosette “Ettie” Pin, projections, musical direction, Stephen Oremus, Video Creation, House of Velour. 

Enjoy and make noise.

See you at the theatre.  

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Sept. 15

Where: Potiker Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, UCSD, La Jolla

Tickets: $30-$63

Photo: Rich Soublet II

Phone: (858) 550-1010

Online: lajollaplayhouse.org

“CLEOPATRA” THRIVES AT MOXIE THEATRE

 Tucked away in a corner of a small shopping center in Rolando, Moxie Theatre, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, is presenting a one woman show, “Cleopatra”, written and conceived by Joy Yvonne Jones. How fitting that this one woman show is playing at the very theatre that was founded by women with a platform specifically for women playwrights, of and for women exploring women of interest. 

The show is dedicated to Dea Hurston, another mover and shaker of women in theatre and directed by Andréa Agosto in collaboration with Loud Fringe Theatre Group. 

Joy Yvonne Jones

Jones, no stranger to Moxie (“Voyeurs de Venus”) won the Craig Noel Award for outstanding Featured Performance on her acting journey across the country. Her interest and studies of Shakespeare presents a modern day take on the Bards fierce and captivating ‘Queen of Egypt’ and her two loves, and or lovers, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Carrying Caesar's child, her one and only wish was for him to marry her so he could become the rightful heir to the throne. 

Jones’ piece is interactive as members of the audience (5) were given short readings and on a musical cue, they stood and read their pieces. Never leaving character, Jones even had one of the readers who was supposed to bow, Bow! 

Using projections (Michael Wogulis) on a large screen behind her where De Andre Simmons “I have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him…” appears as Mark Antony. There other projections of sorts to move the story forward, but for the most part Jones is on the stage with only her maidservant, Charmain played my Kayla Adorno who has very little to do but move props(Finn Foster) around and on occasion help Jones change into one of her many colorful costumes (Zoë Trautmann).

Joy Yvonne Jones and Kayla Adorno

As a woman who knows her own mind, Cleopatra is one with which to be reckoned. She plots and plans to conquer the Romans and become Queen of the entire Roman Empire, manages to meet and fall in love with Mark Antony, realizing Caesar will never marry her with or without an heir. She even plans her own death. But I get ahead of myself. 

Jones is captivating, stoic, in charge (except when she can’t calm her crying baby), and she does it with the strength of a woman who knows will succeed. But for the men who will try to stop her, Cleopatra’s story is told from her point of view. Unfortunately, up until the present, we as women let men define us (need I mention the political atmosphere today),  and a Black one at that, but no more. Cleopatra was a woman way ahead of herself and Jones held the torch for us all.  

Eleanor Williams designed the set, Sammy Webster, the lighting, Choreographed by Lesa M. Green, with Tori Jones as stage mgr. 

As usual, the one act, without intermission, went on a bit to long but it was worth it seeing the regal Jones in her element. As to her death, some say she was bitten by an asp. Other interpretations claim she poisoned herself so she could die next to Mark Antony. After all, she was a master planner of her own fate. Do your homework.

Hat’s off to both Moxie and Joy Yvonne Jones. 

Enjoy.

See you at the theatre.

When: Through Sept. 7. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Rolando, San Diego

Photo: Daren Scott

Tickets: $47-$53, general; $20, students

Phone: (858) 598-7620

Online: moxietheatre.com

“DERECHO” PART OT THE 2022 DNA SERIES IN FULL SWING AT LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE.

“A derecho is a rare, long-lasting wind storm that's associated with a band of thunderstorms or showers that move quickly”. 

The La Jolla Playhouse , Mandell Weiss Forum Theatre, is currently showing Noelle Viñas world premiere production of “Derecho” with Delicia Turner Sonnenberg directing. 

Perfect storms don’t always happen when you expect them, but when you see one coming, beware. 

Ashley Alvarez and Caro Guzman

Half - sisters Eugenia Silva (Ashley Alvarez) and Mercedes Silva (Caro Guzmán)were brought up as siblings. Both took care of their ailing mother, were proud of their Uruguayan -American heritage and as close as could be, Eugenia had to be perfect in everything she did. She went to the best schools, married an up and coming lawyer Gabe (Luis Vega) and has turned her home in an upscale neighborhood into a showplace. 

Jorge Sanchez Diaz  and Carla Navarro

Mercedes, on the other hand lived the life of a musician away from the family homestead until she ran out of gigs and money and moved back to live with Eugenia and Gabe. She seemed, always to be in her sister’s shadow, but never forgot her roots. 

When we meet up with Eugenia she is getting ready to entertain some friends whom she hopes will be on her committee to run for office in her local district of Northern Virginia. She has invited her very best friends José (Jorge Sánchez Díaz) and Soledad (Carla Navarro) and new baby, from the Hispanic community over with the intention of having Jose , a community leader in his own right and political know all with a long list of on line supporters, to be her campaign manager. Each would balance the ticket with both Latino and White votes. 

In the meantime, husband Gabe invited his rich white school friend Eric, (Andrew Gallop) to join in the party and perhaps throw in some big bucks as well; not Eugenia kind of greedy money, but money all the same according to Gabe. While all this is going on, a storm is brewing outside (Germán Martínez). Winds and rain, thunder and lightning can be heard while they all look out the large window to see a fallen tree caused by the storm.  

                                              Caro Guzman and Andrew Gallop

We soon find out that Eric and Eugenia were once lovers and that she has been carrying around a secret for years that was harmful to her sister and best friend. 

And there is much more in this 95 minute stormy picture.

Politics and family rivalries, unspoken secrets,  guilt and pride, trust issues, unrealized dreams, poverty and racism, social stature and more overflow in conversation and in so doing, the storm within grows, secrets are revealed that can never be taken back. With all that’s going on, it’s difficult to focus on any one issue. Every now and then the sisters break through the fourth wall and find their once lost rhythm and reconnect.

Jorge Sanchez Diaz, Luis Vega and Ashley Alvarez 

No novice at difficult and complicated stories, Turner Sonnenberg has tackled these issues in many of the plays she directed at Moxie theatre. (“Bluest Eye”, “Trouble in Mind”) She found here stride with each character in Viñas’ play from the determined Alvarez’ Eugenia to the more nuanced Guzmán’s Mercedes to the opinionated Díaz as José to the loving and understanding of Vega’s Gabe.

Scenic designer Tanya Orellana makes Eugenia and Gabe’s upscale house easy to move around in. Costume designer Dominique Fawn Hill’s clothes fit the personalities of each character. Eugenia’s conservative outfit was in direct opposition to Mercedes somewhat hippie looking garb. The guys clothes also fit the personalities. 

Unless one is living under a rock these days, it’s difficult not to feel the turbulence  of the political climate before this election. As much of the play’s center is  directed at the political, economic and racial issues of the day as we are witnessing this moment in time, the stormy relationship between the sisters, we hope, will work its way through.  

Me thinks the storm has just begun. 

On another note, the playwright might have cut back some of the issues and shorten the play by fifteen or so minutes. 

You be the judge.

 Enjoy.

See you at the theatre.  

Through Aug. 18. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays

Where: Mandell Weiss Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, UCSD La Jolla

Tickets: $29-$74

Photo: Rich Soublet II.

Phone: (858) 550-1010

Online: lajollaplayhouse.org

 

“MS. HOLMES AND MS. WATSON-APT. 2B”. A FUN WAY TO SPEND A SUMMER’S EVE.

 I have always been a mystery buff. I love the idea that I can sit in the audience and pick out the ‘who dunit’ from my seat in the theatre or home. But Kate Hamill’s current production of “Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson-Apt 2B” is in a league of its own; there is no second guessing because, well it’s elementary. There’s nothing to second guess, ‘cause most of it is smoke and mirrors.  

Natalie  Woolams-Torres and Ruibo Qian

Hamill’s new piece, now playing on the stage of the Cheryl and Harvey White stage through Sept. 1st with James Vásquezs Globe's resident artist directing, has a bit of everything out of a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s  playbook with one big exception…both characters are women. Yes. How does that work? Strange as it might seem, they are as different as day is from night but through it all, it works (at times) and other times it’s a crap shoot. The time is 2021. 

Ms. Sherlock Holmes (Ruibo Qian) and Ms.  (Joan, I’m not a Dr.) Watson (Natalie Woolams-Torres) are the main sleuths. Some of the characters will be familiar if you are a fan. If not, no mind. 

Ruibo Qian, Nehal Joshi, Jenn Harris, Natalie Woolams-Torres

Jenn Harris takes on the roles of landlady Ms. Hudson and others, along with “Hello Gorgeous”, the stunning Irene Adler. Nehal Joshi is all the male characters including the corrupt Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard. Nehal is perfect as the many characters (Eliot Monk) he plays all with different accents and costumes (Shirley Pierson). 

Nehal Joshi and Natalie Woolams-Torres 

Zany stuff  going on and that might just be the fun of it as when they are looking for clues on a dead man in a bathtub and both crawl in with him to inspect the clues, like a ring that has a thumb print on it.  Or when they dress up as Irish Nuns in disguise. But the most fun is watching the two banter with each other and finally come to the conclusion that they might be able to live with each other as roommates. Don’t believe it. 

Natalie Woolams-Torres, Jenn Harris, Ruibo Qian (standing in background)

Both women are funny to watch but of the two Natalie Woolams-Torres is the most believable and well suited for this role. She is much more grounded than Ms. Qian who was over the top hysterical, and at times very difficult to understand. Her reasoning, or as some might call her thinking is on an intellectual level without feelings. As Dr. Watson,  Woolams-Torres character is more appealing to watch. She is going through an identity crisis of her own that makes her more human.  In turn, she watches Holmes go almost mad when she cannot find a clue. And so, it goes.

Jenn Harris, Natalie Woolams-Torres, Ruibo Qian, Nehal Joshi

Hamill has most fun when she is reimaging some of the classics: “Emma”, “Sense and “Sensibility”, “Pride and Prejudice”, "The Little Fellow or The Queen of Tarts Tells All at Cygnet and of course this San Diego premiere. You get the picture. 

 Sean Fanning, Scenic Design, Amanda Ziev, , Lighting Design, Melanie Chen Cole, Sound Design, Ka’imi Kuoha, Fight Choreography and Marie Jahelka, Production Stage Manager all specialize in making this a wonderful production for any summer night.

Alas, as much fun as was watching the dynamic duo of “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson-Apt. 2B” solving its myriad of crimes, a good 30 + minutes could have been shaved off the production and it would still appeal. 

Elementary Mr. Watson.   

Enjoey.

See you at the theatre.

Opens Aug. 1 and runs through Sept. 1. 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays

Where: Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, the Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego.

Tickets: $49 and up

Photo: Jim Cox

Phone: (619) 234-5623

Online: theoldglobe.org

"PETER PAN" : A SHADOW OF ITSELF

           

“Peter Pan” opened on Broadway in 1954. In that year Mary Martin and Cyril Richard (Captain Hook) earned Tony’s for their leads in the show.  Mary Martin, whose name is synonymous with “Peter Pan”, will always be a show stopper. 

Then Cathy Rigby picked up the baton and the 1991 Broadway production was nominated for Best Revival of a Musical. She returned to Broadway in 1998 and sometime between then and now, yours truly saw her flying through the rafters at the Civic Theatre. It was still an awesome sight. 

It will be playing there through Aug. 4th

Nolan Almeida,  Kenny Ramos  (center) Raye Zaragoza and cast 

No doubt “Peter Pan” the musical is one for the kids and there were kids the night I attended, tons of them. After all who wouldn’t want to fly, be a kid for the rest of his/her life, live on an island, dance and sing, sing and dance mingle with bumbling pirates and watch as Tick Tock the Crocodile goes after Captain Hook to get another bite of the hooked madman, which it did. (Flight and visuals by David Dabbon and Rick  Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet.)

The musical is based on the play by Sir J. M. Barrie with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Morris (Moose) Charlap. In some circles it is considered a child’s classic, but what we saw on opening night was a shadow of the original.

Peter and the Darling children

(“The Pow Wow Polka”, “What Makes the Red Man Red?”) were but some of the songs omitted from the original as they were offensive, politically incorrect and just did not fit into today’s vernacular. ‘A new song called “Friends Forever” with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Amanda Green, daughter of Adolph Green, the original lyricists now made what we saw politically correct, compliant and ready to roll. 

The production boiled down to a singing and dancing( Lorin Latarro)  show that ran for about 2+ hours. Everyone in the cast had beautiful voices (even the young un’s) and the dancing was terrific) Was it lively? Yes. But! OH! was it loud!!! The orchestra under the baton of Jonathan Marro played right into the deafening acoustics of the age old sound system of the Civic. (Kai Harada)

Did Peter (Nolan Almeida) lose his shadow? Yes. And did he find it again? Of course, yes. Actually, I can’t say enough about how perfect Almeida played into Peter. Nimble, fun living and on the move all the time). Was Tinkerbell there?(Paul Kieve designed the lighting for it) Yes. Lost Boys? Yes. Captain Hook?(Cody Garcia)  Yes. Darling Family? Yes. Tiger Lily? (Raye Zaragoza) Yes. Tick Tock? Yes. So almost every character from the original was there, their roles were different making this "Peter Pan" a different show. 

This new adaptation by playwright Larissa FastHorse is directed by Emmy Award winner Lonny Price and features choreography by Lorin Latarro which is fine, but the ending was changed. 

Cast

No spoiler this: Peter always was committed to staying young and returned to Neverland after dropping Wendy and her brothers to the Darling home (Anna Louizos). The rest you will have to see for yourselves what happens after that.  As for yours truly, well she’s still looking for Neverland. 

What the hell. 

Enjoy the music, singing and dancing.

See you at the theatre. 

 

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 4

Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown

Photo: Matthew Murphy

Tickets: $43 and up

Online: ticketmaster.com

 

Old Globe’s “Duel Reality”… Shakespeare or Cirque du Soleil?

After returning home from seeing the Globe’s “Duel Reality” I went rummaging through all my press kits and souvenir books (yes,  I saved them all) of all the Cirque shows I’ve seen over the years. Funny thing, both shows originated in Canada. “Duel Reality” a production by Les 7 Doigts La Main ( The 7 Fingers) with direction by Shana Carroll (originally produced and created with Virgin Voyages and commissioned partner Artsemerson), is a 75 minute piece of theatre combining Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailley circus acts with a Shakespearean twist. It will be showing through  August 4th on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage. 

Michelle Hernandez and Gerardo Gutiérrez

There is no lack of talent as each of the twelve member cast outperform themselves as practiced and versatile acrobats effortlessly twisting turning, spinning hula hoops, juggling balls, bowling pins and any other device you might see in a circus act or circus type show. 

There is evidence of a Capulets and Montagues riff and several passages posted on a screen in the background taken from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, but for the most part, it’s the athletics that stand out i.e.; trapeze acts, pole climbing,  precision jumping through hoops, you name it.

Cast

To make it more interesting teams were created; red and blue audience wrist bands  handed out as we walked in to the theatre. A referee calls the shots and we cheer for our side. Some participate, others do not. But the rivalry seems real following the play on a more serious side. Star crossed lovers Gerardo Gutiérrez and Michelle Hernandez (playing Romeo and Juliet) find their connection without saying a word. The chemistry between the two needs no words. They are just beautiful together as they sway on a magical swing high above the wrangling to the musical soundtrack of jazz, rap and dance music (Colin Gagné) 

Andreas De Ryck and Danny Vrijsen

On the rivalry side Danny Vrijsen (as Tybalt) and Einar Kling-Odencrants (Mercutio) make an explosive duo mounting their actions and family anger on a Korean Plank (an apparatus that requires two acrobats jumping on something that looks like a see-saw). But the ending will surprise. In an effort to create harmony and change, in  the end, both sides remove their blue and red tops creating a unified front. Nothing like changing the ending of a Shakespearean play. This is theatre after all. 

Lighting Designer Alexander Nichols creates the atmosphere changing the lighting, Costume Designer Camille Thibault-Bédard created the circus like costumes and Francisco Cruz coached the performers in acrobatics.

Soen Geirnaert and the cast of Duel Reality. Photo by Liza Heinrichs.

It’s a family show especially the circus part. The kids will never get the Shakespeare inferences. Yours truly had to struggle enough with that and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen “Romeo and Juliet”. As for being a “circus lover”, take me to a Cirque show and I’ll be a happy camper. No juggling please. 

Have fun.

See you at the theatre.

Nicolas Jelmoni and Soen Geirnaert. Photo by Jean-Francois Savaria.

When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. 8 p.m. Fridays. 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays. 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through 2 p.m. Aug. 4

Where: Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego

Photo: Jim Cox and others.

Tickets: $39 and up

Phone: (619) 234-5623

Online: theoldglobe.org

“tick, tick… BOOM!” CYGNET’S LATEST FARE.

 Cygnet’s latest fare, “tick, tick …Boom!” with book, music and lyrics by  Jonathan Larson and directed by Katie Banville,  takes us back to the 1990’s in a small apartment in New York City (Yi Chen Lee) where Jon (AJ Rafael) is about to turn 30 and is racing with the clock to write a successful play before that happens. He is also racing with the clock and shares his anxiety about it with us all.

Jim Croce died in a plane crash before he would know the success of his hit song “Time in a Bottle”. Buddy Holly, pioneer of Rock n’ Roll died at age 22. Jonathan Larson would die suddenly of an aortic dissection, or tear in the inner layer of the aorta, at age 35, the night before “Rent” officially opened. Life is so short. Time on this earth doesn’t always cooperate with our own time table; things like success and heartbreak come, ready or not.

Emma Nossal and AJ Rafael

But for Jon, it mattered not. He was bound and determined to be a success before turning 30. His friends and off and on roommates Susan and Michael (Emma Nossal and Leo Ebanks) try to encourage him to move on.

Thirteen or so musical numbers under the conductor, keyboards, of Dr. Randi Rudolph, drive the show sung alternatively, but not in any order, by each of the actors. Michael and Susan (Leo Ebanks and Emma Nossal) move in and out of scenes as well as the apartment they shared. Susan teaches dance to wealthy kids and wants to move to the Cape as in Cape Cod and Michael  took a job in the financial world to make money. He tools around in a BMW.

Emma Nossel, AJ Rafael and Leo Ebanks

Before his 30th birthday, Jon spends time on what he will consider his successful musical, Superbia. He has been working on it for five years. He worries that no one will come to his presentation but  all the seats are filled including one with his idol Stephen Sondheim. But no one commits to the project and Jon is feeling rejected again. When he tells his best friend Michael that he's quitting show business, Michael shares with him  that he is dying from HIV. 

Both Ebanks and Nossal make use of the whole stage as well as the aisles. Rafael, who is on stage for the entire 90+ minute show and is making his Cygnet Theatre debut, anchors the show. Both Nossal and Ebanks add a certain degree of versatility and charm.  Unfortunately, Rafael lacked the charisma, appeal magnetism call it what you will, to carry off this overwhelming task. His emotional range lacked depth and he was short on that convincing pull to thoroughly engage us. Something more was needed to feel his angst. 

 Joshua Heming’s lighting design is perfect atmospheric lighting for Jon’s apartment. Peter Herman’s wigs are always perfect, Yi-Chien Lees set design meets the standard of his Soho apartment and Salvador Zamora’s sound was too loud. 

AJ Rafael

However, when all is said and done, we know who Jonathan Larson was a great artist. At least he had time to compose “Rent”,  but died before it opened. 

See you at the theatre.

When: July 6 and runs through Aug. 4. 7 p.m. 

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town San Diego

Tickets: $30 and up

Photo: Karli Cadel

Phone: (619) 337-1525

Online: cygnettheatre.com