42nd St. at Interlakes Theatre

Hello Theatre audiences,

If you ever danced when you were younger or if you are a dancer now I strongly suggest you make your way to Interlakes Theatre in Meredith, NH and enjoy one of Broadways best dance musicals, 42^nd St! Last night as I sat awaiting the show I could hear the faint sound of tap shoes backstage. For a Tuesday evening the rather full audience was buzzing with anticipation. The footlights were glowing as the house lights came down and the audience hushed but not for long. From the very first number through the closing curtain, the company was high energy and full of smiles. Overall, the spectacular tap dancing was the highlight of the show. But there were a few other performances that really caught my attention. The first was the young man playing Billy Lawlor (Erik Joshua Clack) who was charming and charismatic. He danced with incredible ease and was vocally superb. Ellie Kahn, who played Maggie Jones, had me laughing with her witty one-liners throughout the show. The always amazing Ashley Landroche, who played Dorothy Brock, was a vocal powerhouse. Lastly, and my favorite performance of the evening, is the phenomenal Alexandra Fassler who played Peggy Sawyer. She was brilliant from the moment she stepped on the stage and delighted the audience with her fast foot work and beautiful voice. Last night’s audience loved this show and you will too! But you only have until Sunday July 13^th to catch 42^nd St. before it taps away!

Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to see my first ever live Cirque du Soleil show, Amaluna. Before the show began the audience was entertained by creatures and characters soon to be seen onstage. Cali, half human and half lizard, playfully interacted with the audience, especially those with popcorn. Amazons, Peacocks and even the drummer made their way through the audience for about ten minutes before the start of the show. As I was sitting in my aisle seat one of the Peacocks brushed their feathers on my shoulder and at that moment I knew that I would love this show. Though these pre-show interactions may seem insignificant, they really drew the audience into the world of the show. As the lights went down, the excitement and anticipation could be felt throughout the tent. The opening number introduced the audience to the inhabitants of the island (characters) including Prospera and her daughter Miranda. Over the next hour of the first act the audience was entranced by the music and performers both on stage and flying over it. Incredible acrobatic skills and flowing dance along with power and precision are just a few of the things to expect when seeing this production. One of my favorite numbers was when Miranda demonstrated unbelievable balance and grace on canes on the side of the waterbowl. She would be balancing in a one handed handstand while delicately moving her legs and the next moment she would be swimming around the waterbowl. She would go back and forth from balancing on one and two canes with such precision and beauty. At the end of the piece she is joined by Romeo, one of the men shipwrecked on the island, and they playfully splash in the waterbowl before submerging themselves as the lights dim. The first act concludes with the amazing Amazons and their uneven bar routine. The four uneven bars are in constant use as the women fly and flip in unified small groups. When the house lights came up for intermission my friend sitting next to me & I looked at each other in amazement at what we had just seen. As preparations began onstage for the second act we wondered what would be coming next. As the lights come up we saw one of the other men from the shipwreck fly up from behind a fenced area where they are being kept by the Amazons. And thus began the athletic and acrobatic all male Teeterboard routine. The fencing was moved away and I watched in awe as they soared into the air over the next few minutes. To say that the second act started on a high note is an understatement. Throughout the second act we continue to be astonished by acts such as the Chinese Pole and of course juggling. One of the final performances was Aerial Straps in which three Valkyries flew over both the stage and the audience with such power and strength. But what made this piece even more amazing was that all three were soaring through the air at the same time zigzagging through each other. The show concludes with all characters back on stage as the audience goes wild. This brilliant show comprised mostly of females is full of power and grace and is one of the best live theatrical shows I have ever seen. Cirque du Soleil’s production of Amaluna playing in Boston until July 6^th is not to be missed! If you can’t see it while it’s in Boston it’s headed to Washington, D.C. at the end of July and then opens in Atlanta, Georgia this October. But if you can’t see Amaluna definitely check out any of Cirque du Soleil’s productions either a resident show or touring. You won’t be disappointed, I wasn’t.

Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna

Jersey Boys...the film based on the musical

Jersey Boys, the movie based on the Tony award winning Broadway musical, is a must see! Whether you grew up with the Four Seasons or you are a fan of the musical, you have got to check out this film. John Lloyd Young plays Frankie Valli but not only does he play the part in the film but he made his Broadway debut in the role when the musical opened on Broadway in 2005.  He also won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for this role in 2006. Needless to say his voice was my favorite part of the film. I first saw the musical Jersey Boys in the West End in London. I thoroughly enjoyed the music so when I heard they were making a movie based the musical I knew I had to see it. Plus, with Clint Eastwood directing I knew it would be good. So last week on opening day I took my parents, who had never seen the musical but loved the music of the Four Seasons, to see the film. Though it seemed a bit long at over 2 hours it was incredible. The music was spectacular and the acting was right there with it. The actors were believable and played off each other well. But what really made the day special was that my dad really enjoyed it. He’s from that generation and hearing those songs again made him light up. This movie is definitely going under the tree for him this Christmas. This film is full of heart, heartbreak and music. So if you have not seen this movie you should. You will not be disappointed.

Maleficent

Maleficent, yes I know it’s a film and not a live stage production but I still wanted to talk about it. Firstly, let me state that I have always admired Angelina Jolie and think she is a wonderful actress. That being said, I loved this movie! From the opening scene all the way to the finale I was captivated. It was wonderful to see the back-story of Maleficent. The film had wonderful effects and the story moved along at a good pace. I was never once bored or wondering how much longer this film would last. Without giving anything away I will say that there were a few twists in this film but they added depth to the characters and I believe made the film better because it wasn’t so predictable.  I had been looking forward to this film for months and was worried that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations. But it not only lived up to them it surpassed them. Both my mother and I thoroughly enjoyed this film and look forward to watching it again at home when it comes out on DVD. I realize that this was a short commentary but I didn’t want to spoil it for those of you who haven’t seen it. So go out and see it on the big screen while you can. You won’t be disappointed.   

"Godspell" at Interlakes Theatre

Hello Theatre goers, 

Godspell, now playing through Sunday June 29^th at Interlakes Theatre in Meredith, NH is definitely worth checking out. It is a show based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew and is beautifully directed and choreographed by Kenney Green. As the show began, the actors entered behind a scrim and began their opening lines. Having not heard this show for quite a while as well as never having seen it live, it took me a few minutes to grasp what was occurring. However, it didn’t take long before I was thoroughly enjoying myself.  Though the whole show was wonderful, there were a few performances that really caught my attention. The first is the small but fierce Gabrielle Petrosino. She was the first actor on stage and her voice immediately drew me into the show. When it came time for her solo leading the group in “Learn Your Lessons Well” I was amazed at the power of her voice. As the show continued she continued to impress me with not only her singing but her dancing and spunky stage presence. Secondly, is an old favorite of mine, Mikey LoBalsamo. His performance of “Light of the World” was incredible. Last but certainly not least, is the performance given throughout the show from Shawn Smith who portrayed Jesus. His smooth yet powerful voice and wonderful portrayal of Jesus gave me chills. And of course I can’t discuss a musical without discussing the dancing. The show features a fun tap dance amongst the jazz numbers and the performers not only knew the dances but seemed to really enjoy performing them as well. Overall, this show is fun yet moving and should not be missed.  I’m certainly glad I saw it and I am looking forward to the rest of Interlakes summer season.