Review: ‘High Society’ at The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (Meredith, NH)

This musical farce with book by Arthur Kopit and music and lyrics by Cole Porter is full of romance, family drama and amusing situations. The musical is based on the movie musical of the same name, which starred Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Grace Kelly, as well as the play turned movie ‘The Philadelphia Story’. The film version starred Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Katharine Hepburn. With legends like those to live up to, the cast of The Winnipesaukee Playhouse production of ‘High Society’ took on the challenge and in some ways delivered.

For those of you not familiar with the aforementioned films or the musical, the story takes place over one weekend at the Oyster Bay estate of the Lord family in 1938. Tracy Lord, a wealthy socialite, is set to marry, for the second time, but her wedding weekend doesn’t turn out the way she expected it to. When unplanned guests arrive things begin to unravel and confusion and conflict ensue. Personalities clash, lies are told, truths are discovered and temptations have Tracy second-guessing her choice of second-husband.

Because the musical is a farce, it is meant to be light and fun with a sizeable dose of zaniness. Keeping that mind, the cast seemed to embrace those qualities and go all in on having a good time. While I did not care for some of the character choices made by some actors, there were a few admirable performances that stood out amongst the rest. First, the most consistent while also being the youngest actor in the cast was Sophie Pankhurst who played Dinah Lord, the precocious younger sister of Tracy. Her portrayal of the smart and conniving Dinah was superb. With a sweet demeanor and snappy comebacks, she quickly became an audience favorite.

The most believable and genuinely charismatic pair in the show was writer Mike Connor, played by TJ Lamando, and photographer Liz Imbrie, played by Rebecca Tucker. Their mannerisms, vocal inflections and facial expressions were balanced just right. Their attraction to one another, while at times a bit one sided, was sweet and sincere. Lamando made Mike such a likeable guy and his performance of “You’re Sensational” was charming and strongly sung. Tucker’s heartfelt and emotional rendition of “He’s A Right Guy” was perfection and easily my favorite of the night. They were a true delight to watch.

C. K. Dexter Haven was portrayed by Jay Wilkinson, who was quite believable as the attractive and wealthy yacht designer. He seemed very comfortable in his character’s skin and his vocals were wonderfully showcased in numbers such as “What Is This Thing Called Love?” and “Just One Of Those Things”. The cast also includes Haley Jones as Tracy Samantha Lord, Sebastian Ryder as Mother Lord, Richard Brundage as Seth Lord, Mark Stephen Woods as Uncle Willie, Wayne Shuker as George Kittredge, John-Michael Breen, Thomas Doelger and Chris Hendricks as Butlers and Sandia Ahlers, Kelley Davies and Candice Shedd-Thompson as Maids.

Cast of 'High Society'. Photo courtesy The Winnipesaukee Playhouse.

This production is directed by Clayton Phillips, music directed by Judy Hayward, choreographed by Bryan Knowlton and features a seven-piece orchestra. Though the orchestra was often too loud during the first act, they balanced better with the vocalists during the second half. The set design by Melissa Shakun featured two rotating walls that transformed the estate from the spacious indoors to the vast grounds outdoors. Unfortunately, some overhead lights reflected off the glass panes in the four doors of the set which sent a bit of a glare into the eyes of some audience members. Despite a few strong performances, many others were mediocre and in the end fell flat. So while this production was enjoyed by the audience overall, it was not one of my favorites. ©

The show runs just about two and a half hours including intermission. It plays at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse until July 15^th with performances Mondays through Saturdays at 7:30pm, 2pm Matinees on July 6^th & July 10^th. No Sunday performances or performances on Monday, July 3^rd and Tuesday, July 4^th.  Tickets range from $20-$34. For additional information and tickets visit www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org 

Special Events from the Education Department:
Wednesday, July 5^th- Talk-back: Following the performance, you’re invited for an informal discussion with the cast and creative team.

Tuesday, July 11^th at 6pm – Symposium: Pre-show presentation offering insight into the play.

‘The Whipping Man’ opens Peterborough Players Summer Season (Peterborough, NH)

Written by Matthew Lopez, ‘The Whipping Man’ is set in Richmond, Virginia in April of 1865, just as the Civil War is coming to an end. It is the story of a Jewish Confederate officer named Caleb, who returns from war to find his family home in shambles. He arrives late one night having suffered severe injury, to find two former servants, Simon and John, to be the only ones at the home; with all the others having fled to safety elsewhere. The moments and conversations that take place between the three men, over the following few days, will forever change their lives and how they view one another.

With a detailed scenic design by Charles Morgan, the play takes place in the foyer of a once grand home. What the audience sees however, is a room with broken windows and exposed walls with little left to indicate its’ once vibrant interior. The lighting design by Kevin Frazier was pleasingly done and played off the set beautifully, casting shadows and allowing light to find its way into the home in a seemingly natural way. The music selections used before each act and during the scene changes were strong choices by sound designer Christopher Colucci and featured a mix of instrumental and sung spirituals.

From left to right: Taurean Blacque, Robb Douglas, Will Howell. Photo Credit Tyler Richardson.

While this dramatic play deals with some serious themes, there are many moments of light humor and genuine human interactions that keep the audience engaged. Directed by Howard Millman, the cast features Taurean Blacque as Simon, Robb Douglas as John, and Will Howell as Caleb. Though there were some line flubs, some points of mumbling and variations in the strength of their Southern accents, overall the trio gave compelling and often emotionally driven performances. The men had believable chemistry between them and displayed the wide range of intense emotions their characters had to deal with over the course of the play.

This play and its story are unlike any I’ve seen before, even though their themes of freedom and forgiveness have often been used. Watching this play was both an interesting and thought-provoking experience. “Powerful” and “Wow” were both words I overheard from multiple audience members opening night as they trickled out of the theatre. Having giving the production a standing ovation, it is clear they were moved by not only the incredible story but the strong performances. ©

This production is rated R due to adult language and intense images. ‘The Whipping Man’ runs two hours including intermission and plays on the Peterborough Players stage, 55 Hadley Road, Peterborough, NH, through July 2^nd. For tickets call the box office at 603-924-7585 or check out www.PeterboroughPlayers.org.

‘The Rocky Horror Show’ opens the summer season at The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (Meredith, NH)

‘The Rocky Horror Show’, with book, music and lyrics by Richard O’Brien, has gathered quite the following since its premiere in London in 1973. This dark but humorous rock musical was also made into a film entitled ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ in 1975. As the years went on the show’s popularity grew as obsessed fans would crowd into theaters for midnight showings. Even today, fans will dress up, bring props and enthusiastically participate using the many “shout-out” lines throughout the production. Seeing the musical live is truly a wild theatrical experience.

The Winnipesaukee Playhouse opens their summer season with this cult classic and it surpassed all my expectations! Directed by Timothy L’Ecuyer and choreographed by Bryan Knowlton, this production grabs a hold of the audience during the pre-show as cast members guide audience members to their seats. Music directed by Shoshana Seid-Green, it features a lively five-piece band. The detailed, multi-level set was designed by Dan Daly and housed the band up stage under the open stairs. The intricate lighting was designed by Matthew Guminski and featured multiple chandeliers and strings of colored lights hanging over the stage. The set and lights paired together wonderfully, each accentuating the other. The costumes were nicely designed by Chelsea Kerl and of course included heels & fishnets. The hair and make-up designs by Nick Cochran further enhanced the costumes and the uniqueness of the characters themselves.  


While the entire cast, which featured Playhouse veterans as well as newcomers, was fully immersed in their characters, singing and dancing up a storm, there were a few stand-out performances that took this show to the next level of professional, high-quality theatre. Rebecca Tucker, as Janet Weiss, and Michael Luongo, as Brad Majors, were perfect together. They had great chemistry and demonstrated strong vocals and character choices. John-Michael Breen, as Riff Raff, showcased stellar vocals throughout and perfect characterization. His, is the best portrayal of Riff Raff I have seen. I loved every minute of it! Last, but certainly not least, was the phenomenal portrayal of Frank-N-Furter played by Mark Stephen Woods. His characterization was, thankfully, unlike the others I have seen and his vocals were on point. I really enjoyed his diva fierceness that was always ready with snappy comebacks not only shot at the other characters, but towards the audience as well. Woods was amazing and the audience clearly loved his performance as noted by the standing ovation they gave.


The only problem I found with this production was the sound quality. There were many instances where the microphones either were not working for an actor’s vocal lines or they were not leveled properly against the volume of the band. Other times there was feedback or static in the speakers making it difficult to hear certain performers. That being said, the technical difficulties within the performance were minor and didn’t inhibit the audiences’ ability to enjoy the production. Overall, this was a fantastic show and for fans of the musical, it is a must see! ©


The show runs 2 hours including intermission. It plays at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse until June 24^th with performances Mondays through Saturdays at 7:30pm, a 2pm Matinee on Monday, June 19^th and a special Midnight performance on Saturday, June 17^th. Tickets range from $20-$34. For additional information and tickets visit www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org

Please Note: ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ is recommended for mature audiences as it contains graphic language, sexual content and adult situations.

Special Events from the Education Department:
Tuesday, June 20th at 6pm – Symposium
Join us for an enlightening conversation led by an expert in a field connected to the production. Wednesday, June 21st - Talk-back
Following the performance, you’re invited for an informal discussion with the cast and creative team.

'I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti' closes out the season at Stoneham Theatre (Stoneham, MA)

Kerri Jill Garbis*. Courtesy Nile Hawver/Nile Scott Shots.​

Based on the memoir ‘I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti’ by Giulia Melucci and adapted by Jacques Lamarre, this one-woman play stars Kerri Jill Garbis as Giulia and was directed by Ilyse Robbins. Giulia, invites the audience into her kitchen as she prepares a three course meal and shares stories of past loves, life lessons and of course food. With a scenic design by Erik D. Diaz, the fully functional kitchen set included ample counter space, working sink, refrigerator, and stove top. The audience got a kick out of watching her prepare her Bolognese sauce and fresh, hand-made pasta. Eight audience members, who were seated on the sides of the stage, got to enjoy everything she made, while the rest of us merely watched the steam rise from the pots on the stove and enjoyed the smell of what looked like a delicious Italian meal.

Garbis was wonderful as Giulia. She was able to easily keep the audience engaged with her great story-telling all while creating a three-course Italian meal. She was believable, funny and a delight to watch. It truly felt like we were just old friends sitting in her kitchen, listening to her stories, and watching her cook. This light hearted and fun play was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience who spent much of their time chuckling at Melucci and Lamarre’s clever writing. ©

‘I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti’ runs about 2 hours including intermission and plays at Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main St. Stoneham, until June 25^th. Tickets range $50- $55 Adults, $45-$50 Seniors and $20 Students (with valid ID). For tickets or more information visit www.stonehamtheatre.org or call the box office at 781-279-2200.

‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at Reagle Music Theatre (Waltham, MA)

Peter Mill as JOSEPH and male ensemble perform “Joseph’s Coat.”

Courtesy Reagle Music Theatre/©Herb Philpott

Reagle Music Theatre opens their forty-ninth season with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s classic pop musical ‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’. Based on a biblical story, this family friendly production is once again delighting Reagle audiences with its fun music, bright costumes, and story of family, faith and forgiveness. Director and choreographer Susan M. Chebookjian skillfully incorporated the talents of the cast into the choreography, which featured a number of turns, jumps, and lifts. While this production had its standout moments, it was not without a few unfortunate and consequential mishaps.

The cast was very energetic and their enthusiasm clearly showed in their dancing. That being said, it seemed as though this production leaned heavily towards the hokey and, at many times, overacted side, as noticed by the casts’ substantial “face acting”. While most of the audience seemed to enjoy it, I found it a bit too overdone and disingenuous.

Ayla Brown (center) as NARRATOR with children’s

chorus performing “A Pharaoh’s Story”.

Courtesy Reagle Music Theatre/©Herb Philpott

Thankfully, the cast featured three charismatic and incredibly talented performers in the roles of the Narrator, Joseph, and Pharaoh. Country music singer Ayla Brown guided the show along as the Narrator. Her stage presence was cool and collected, moving easily from telling the story to singing and dancing along with the characters. Her stellar vocals and charming demeanor quickly made her an audience favorite. As Joseph, Peter Mill was incredible. His rendition of “Any Dream Will Do” was genuine and meaningfully sung; while his performance of “Close Every Door” was chilling and powerful. It was easily one of my favorite numbers. He played Joseph with truth and conviction, which really had the audience rooting for him during his many trials and tribulations. Andrew Giordano was amazing as the Pharaoh. Though he was only on stage a short time in act two, he quickly captured the audience’s attention with his smooth vocals and Elvis-like dance moves. It didn’t take long before the audience was happily applauding.

Andrew Giordano (center) as PHARAOH performing “Song of the King”.

Courtesy Reagle Music Theatre/©Herb Philpott

My major concern with this production was the number of sound problems it had throughout the performance. Microphones were cutting in and out, full lines of songs were missed and there was a surplus of crackling and static which was difficult to ignore. Thankfully the microphones of the Narrator, Joseph and Pharaoh had the least amount of problems so their voices could be heard and more fully enjoyed. The ensemble, however, was very difficult to hear at times and it noticeably effected how the audience responded. Nonetheless, the audience, overall, seemed to enjoy this production giving it hearty applause during the curtain call. ©

‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ plays until June 18^th at the Robinson Theatre (617 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA). For information and tickets visit www.reaglemusictheatre.com.  

‘4000 Miles’ opens Shakespeare & Company’s 40th Anniversary Season (Lenox, MA)

Opening their 40^th Anniversary Season, Shakespeare & Company presents Amy Herzog’s award-winning dramatic comedy ‘4000 Miles’. Exhausted physically, emotionally, and mentally, Leo rolls his bike into his grandmothers’ New York apartment early one morning, both shocking and confusing her. His grueling and traumatizing experience on his 4,000 mile bike trip across the country has led him to her door hoping for sanctuary. They struggle to understand one another, often times irritating and baffling each other; after a while they learn to communicate and appreciate one another in such a way that it helps them not only to heal, but to grow.

Herzog’s sharp and witty writing realistically demonstrates a generational divide, one we all will find ourselves in at some point, and how it can make communicating and empathizing difficult and seemingly impossible. While this play will resonate with baby boomers and millennials alike, at its’ core is something audience members of any age and background can understand and appreciate, and that is the complexity of making real human connections and experiencing honest and truthful dialog.

Gregory Boover & Annette Miller in 4000 Miles. Photo Credit Christopher Duggan.

Directed by Nicole Ricciardi, the four-person cast, led by Annette Miller and Gregory Boover with Emma Geer and Zoë Laiz, immediately grasped the audience’s attention and kept them engrossed for the entirety of the production. The humorous, often bantering, conversations between Vera (Annette Miller) and Leo (Gregory Boover) were realistic and reflected real-life struggles and emotions that the audience, based on their reactions, clearly related to. The genuine performances by Miller and Boover paired with impeccable comedic timing and chemistry made their relationship as grandmother and grandson entirely believable. They were perfectly cast and I couldn’t help but smile during many of their scenes as they quibbled back and forth.

Delightful as Vera, Annette Miller’s characterization embodies both the lovable and the exasperating traits of an aging grandmother who isn’t so fond getting older. Miller ideally portrayed the confusion that comes with old age, the wittiness of a young at heart mind, the concern and sympathy a grandmother has for her grandchildren and the feistiness of a strong-willed woman. Gregory Boover gives a powerful and emotionally dynamic portrayal of a heartbroken and lost young man struggling to deal with tragedy. As Leo, he delivers an intense and heart wrenching performance with characterizations and quirks that were meticulously well placed and often subtly executed. Their masterful performances are not to be missed! 

The production features a detailed set design by John McDermott, lighting design by James W. Bilnoski, costume design by Stella Schwartz, and sound design by Amy Altadonna. This play is an amusing and heartening look at real life and the relationships that guide us to be who we are. According to audience members, this play will make you laugh, make you cry and make you think and reflect on your own life. ‘4000 Miles’ perfectly demonstrates the high quality, professional performances audiences have come to expect and enjoy from Shakespeare & Company and was a fantastic opening to their 40^th season. ©

‘4000 Miles’ plays through July 16^th in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre on the Shakespeare & Company campus located at 70 Kemble Street in Lenox, Massachusetts. Tickets and more information about this play as well as Shakespeare & Company’s full season can be found at www.shakespeare.org.