Reviews: Part Two

Reviews: Part One

Bright Star

National Tour - Pioneer Theatre Company

Saturday, January 13, 2018

I have heard so much about this musical from friends and about the spellbinding performance by its leading lady, Carmen Cusack, that when it was announced that Pioneer Theatre Company was going to host the national tour and that Carmen Cusack was going to reprise her role for the tour that I had to leap at the opportunity to see this show at last. My life is changed forever!

Carmen Cusack. What a phenomenal actress! She broke my heart and made it whole again with her spectacular performance as the leading lady, Alice Murphy. From the moment she walked out on stage and the spotlight came up on her and she sang the opening number, "If You Knew My Story" I was hooked and mesmerized by this incredible lady! Suffice it to say, this story is nothing short of a miracle. I have to admit at intermission I was so shocked by what took place that I wasn't sure if I wanted to come back for Act Two, but the performer in me couldn't resist. I am so glad I did. I was moved to tears so many times in this musical and was deeply touched by it's story of loss, redemption, and hope, even in the darkest moments of our lives. Through the character of Alice Murphy and the incredible performance by Carmen Cusack, we personally go through what she goes through and feel every single hurt and triumph. I am so shocked that this musical didn't stay longer on Broadway. It's sad that it was overshadowed by the likes of "Hamilton," "Waitress," and the other big hits of the 2016 season. Not to demean those shows, I haven't seen them yet, but hope to. But from this performance, I would have voted for this show to sweep the Tony Awards including the Tony award for Best Actress for Carmen Cusack, hands down! This was a true ensemble piece, and what an ensemble! Not a weak link in the chain!!! Every performance impeccable and at the highest level possible professionally and emotionally! I am so glad this wonderful musical has come into my life! It plays until the end of this week! Don't miss it!

Golden Globe Nominees (My Picks) - 2018 Edition

Emboldened: My Picks
Italicized: Actual Winner

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Call Me By Your Name
Dunkirk
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

I, Tonya
Lady Bird
The Disaster Artist
Get Out
The Greatest Showman

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Sally Hawkins - The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Meryl Streep - The Post
Michelle Williams - All the Money in the World
Jessica Chastain - Molly's Game

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Timothée Chalamet - Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis - The Phantom Thread
Tom Hanks - The Post
Gary Oldman - Darkest Hour
Denzel Washington - Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Judi Dench - Victoria & Abdul
Helen Mirren - The Lesiure Seeker
Margot Robbie - I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan - Lady Bird
Emma Stone - Battle of the Sexes

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Daniel Kaluuya - Get Out
Steve Carell - Battle of the Sexes
Ansel Elgort - Baby Driver
James Franco - The Disaster Artist
Hugh Jackman - The Greatest Showman

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

Mary J. Blige - Mudbound
Hong Chau - Downsizing
Allison Janey - I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf - Ladybird
Octavia Spencer - The Shape of Water

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

Willem Dafoe - The Florida Project
Armie Hammer - Call Me By Your Name
Richard Jenkins - The Shape of Water
Christopher Plummer - All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Director - Motion Picture

Martin McDonagh - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Christopher Nolan - Dunkirk
Ridley Scott - All the Money in the World
Steven Spielberg - The Post
Guillermo del Toro - The Shape of Water

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

Liz Hannah & Josh Singer, The Post
Martin McDonagh - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Aaron Sorkin - Molly's Game
Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor, The Shape of Water
Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird

Best Motion Picture - Animated

The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent

Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language

Loveless (Russia)
The Square (Sweden, Germany & France)
A Fantastic Woman (Chile)
First They Killed My Father (Cambodia)
In The Fade (Germany, France)

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Carter Burwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Alexander Desplat - The Shape of Water
Jonny Greenwood - The Phantom Thread
John Williams - The Post
Hans Zimer - Dunkirk

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

"Mighty River" - Mudbound
"Remember Me" - Coco
"The Star" - The Star
"This is Me" - The Greatest Showman
"Home" - Ferdinand

Best Television Series - Drama

The Crown
Game of Thrones
The Handmaids Tale
Stranger Things
This Is Us

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy

`black·ish
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Master of None
SMILF
Will & Grace

Best Television Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Big Little Lies
Fargo
Feud: Bette and Joan
The Sinner
Top of the Lake: China Girl

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Jessica Biel - The Sinner
Nicole Kidman - Big Little Lies
Jessica Lange - Feud: Bette and Joan
Susan Sarandon - Feud: Bette and Joan
Reese Witherspoon - Big Little Lies

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Robert DeNiro - The Wizard of Lies
Jude Law - The Young Pope
Kyle MacLachlan - Twin Peaks
Ewan McGregor - Fargo
Geoffrey Rush - Genius

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Drama

Caitriona Balfe - Outlander
Claire Foy - The Crown
Maggie Gyllenhaal - The Deuce
Katherine Langford - 13 Reasons Why
Elisabeth Moss - The Handmaids Tale

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Drama

Jason Bateman - Ozark
Sterling K. Brown - This is Us
Freddie Highmore - The Good Doctor
Bob Odenkirk - Better Call Saul
Liev Schreiber - Ray Donovan

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Alison Brie - Glow
Rachel Brosnahan - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Issa Rae - Insecure
Frankie Shaw - SMILF
Pamela Adlon - Better Things

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Anthony Anderson - `black·ish
Aziz Ansari - Master of None
Kevin Bacon - I Love Dick
William H. Macy - Shameless
Eric McCormack - Will & Grace

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television

Laura Dern - Big Little Lies
Ann Dowd - The Handmaids Tale
Chrissy Metz - This is Us
Michelle Pfeiffer - The Wizard of Lies
Shailene Woodley - Big Little Lies

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television

Christian Slater - Mr. Robot
Alexander Skarsgård - Big Little Lies
David Thewlis - Fargo
David Harbour - Stranger Things
Alfred Molina - Feud: Bette and Joan

Cecil B. DeMille Award
Oprah Winfrey

My Favorites : 2017 Edition

My Top Ten Films of 2017

1. Star Wars : The Last Jedi
2. It
3. Netflix' The Discovery
4. Beauty and the Beast
5. Guardians of the Galaxy : Volume 2
6. Netflix' Our Souls at Night
7. Netflix' Gerald's Game
8. Netflix' Death Note
9. Noel*
10. Wild Oats*

*2017 Discovery but released prior to 2017

2017 Television Favorites

1. Will & Grace
2. The Ranch
3. Baby Daddy
4. One Day at a Time (2017)
5. Disjointed
6. Grace and Frankie
7. Riverdale
8. Beaches (Lifetime Network)
9. Days of our Lives
10. Stranger Things

My Top Ten Favorite Theatrical Experiences of 2017

1. Vanya and Sonia and Masha & Spike (An Other Theatre Company)
2. Betty Blue Eyes (Hale Center Theatre - Orem)
3. Peter and the Starcatcher (Hale Center Theatre - Orem)
4. Hello, Dolly! (Hale Center Theatre - Orem)
5. Tarzan (Hale Center Theatre - Orem)
6. Matilda : The Musical (R.S.C. National Tour)
7. Noises, Off! (SCERA)
8. Hairspray (SCERA)
9. My Fair Lady (SCERA)
10. Buried Child (Broadway HD)

Hairspray

This was also published for the Front Row Reviewers Website, click here.

SCERA’s current production of “Hairspray” proves once again that comedy has great power to enrich an audience when approached from a serious position but allowing the rich comedy to entertain and leave an audience with sheer joy but also leaving it with sense of enrichment and their lives made better by experiencing it.

                

As director Jan Shelton Hunsaker states in her director’s notes that back in 1962, America was in the midst of a great civil rights struggle and today we are fighting an even greater one. 

Muslims, immigration, the LGBTQ community, modern society’s views of beauty, obesity, and the list goes on and on. It seems that in every way, this country is polarizing and people are becoming more distant from one another. Hairspray celebrates love, life, family, community and through the heroic and optimistic eyes of the shows heroine, Tracy, we see that we are all alike and that diversity, acceptance, tolerance are traits that should be admired and encouraged not ridiculed and discouraged.

Jan Shelton Hunsaker’s production of “Hairspray” soars onto the stage with this background and message but taking the wonderful book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, the fantastic score by March Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and relishing the wonderful comedy that is this show at its heart. An audience is much more receptive to soul searching and looking at itself when presented through the rose colored glasses of musical comedy. All great musical comedies throughout the history of theater have done this, and “Hairspray” is no exception.

Jan and her brother Brad’s scenic design captured the heart of the 60’s but with a great musical theater style and was simple in its presentation. Deborah Bowman’s wonderful costumes were bright, colorful and a feast for the eyes as well as a great way to distinguish between characters which helps on the Shell’s large stage and Deborah is a master at this and her designs never disappoint! Elizabeth Griffiths lighting was the most elaborate I’ve ever seen on the Shell stage but helped to convey the energy and excitement of this show. 

First and foremost, the ensemble work in this show was great. The energy was there and I know will continue to expand and increase in energy each night of the run, which is the nature of theater itself, and the energy of the ensemble was infectious. Yes, for opening night the ensemble was not as energetic as they could be, but that’s understandable for opening night and I know will get better throughout the course of the run. I saw it in each and every one of them. Chelsea Lindsay’s Tracy Turnblad was unique and was the first time I had seen an actress play this role with equal optimism but also realistic expectations and she ended up being the true heroine of the piece because of the approach Chelsea took towards the role. From the opening number, I was hooked and rooting for her the entire evening! Her infectious laugh was endearing and I just wanted to be up on stage with her taking the journey with her.  Tearza Foyston’s Penny Pingleton was the surprise of the evening. Anyone who knows me is aware of my feelings towards the recent NBC’s production of this show and the horrible portrayal that was done with this character; Tearza’s was bright, funny, endearing and together, she and Tracy were a force to be reckoned with. Her journey from innocence to allowing herself to have fun and take more risks was believable and a joy to watch. What can I say about Andrew Lloyd Hunsaker and his incredible, hilarious and moving portrayal of Tracy’s mother, Edna? Andrew is an actor I’ve admired and loved for a very long time! He embodies each of his roles with professionalism and a love for each character he portrays; Edna is no exception. He took command of the stage every time he was on and I fell in love with Edna and Tracy’s relationship from the start and Andrew played this role as it should be, a complex and beautiful wife and mother, who would do anything for her family. There were many times throughout the evening I forgot Andrew was playing the role, I only saw Edna! The male leads, Dennis Wright (Wilbur Turnblad), Jaxon Dayton (Link Larkin), Kristian Huff (Corny Collins), and Michael Thomas (Seaweed J. Stubbs) were all fun to watch and each portrayed their characters with integrity and honesty. Our villains: Leslie Preator-Keckley (Velma Von Tussle) and Sasha Sloan (Amber Von Tussle) were hilarious and fun and I loved the fact they didn’t portray them as cardboard villains; they are human, a product of their time, and in the end join the community and there is some hope for them. Last but not least, the incredible Luseane Pasa as Motormouth Maybelle. What a shining star! This is my favorite character in the show and Luseane brought such integrity and compassion to the role and is the one that brings the message of the show to the audience, the great 11 o’clock number, “I Know Where I’ve Been.” A final compliment to Daisy Allred as Little Inez; what a wonderful character and her energy was infectious the entire evening; thank you for making a small character so big and full of life.

Finally, to Tiffany Winkel Nutter. You did such a wonderful job with the music and your choreography was unique and added so much to the production. There was dance in portions that I have never seen dance in before, and it added so much to those scenes and to the portrayal of the story. It’s a big job to handle such a large ensemble, and you did it with professionalism and great style. Welcome back to Utah! I missed you!

Thank you to SCERA for producing this great piece of musical theater. This is a show not to be missed! If you’ve never seen it before, get yourself down to Orem and experience what is “Hairspray.” You will not regret it! I had a great evening!

Favorites (By Category): Part One

Most Hated Movie of All-Time: Boxing Helena Movie I Think Is Overrated: Out of Africa Movie I Think Is Underrated: A Passage to India Movie I Love: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Movie I Secretly Love: On Golden Pond Favorite Action Movie: Speed Favorite Drama: Steel Magnolias Favorite Horror: Silver Bullet Favorite Comedy: The Private Eyes Favorite Disney Movie: Happiest Millionaire Favorite Sci-Fi Movie: Empire Strikes Back Favorite Animated Movie: The Fantastic Mr. Fox Favorite Super Hero Movie: Dr. Strange Favorite Movie Musical: Nine Favorite Western: McLintock Favorite Martial Arts: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Favorite Indie: Juno Favorite Movie Made Before 1950: The Best Years of Our Lives Favorite Bad Movie: Grease 2 Favorite Documentary: Shakespeare High Childhood Favorite: E.T. Favorite Franchise: Star Wars Best Trilogy: Lord of the Rings Favorite Director: David Lean Favorite Actor: Jimmy Stewart Favorite Actress: Meryl Streep Favorite Foreign Film: Life is Beautiful Favorite Movie This Year So Far: Split Favorite Movie of Last Year: Collateral Beauty Movie I Have Seen Recently: Beauty and the Beast What I Thought of It: Sick of remakes Most Anticipated Film of This Year: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Favorite Movie of All-Time: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Favorite TV Show of All-Time: As Time Goes By (BBC) Favorite Video Game of All-Time: Dragon's Lair Favorite Book of All-Time: Interview with the Vampire