Review: "The Lyons" -- Eclipse Theatre Company

   I think about the kinds of relationships depicted in a script like Nicky Silver’s dark comedy, “The Lyons”, and wonder if real people would actually be that blatantly outspoken in admitting their flaws and accusing each other of bad behavior. With a script this good, it really doesn’t seem to matter.

    Director Kathy Sturm has done an outstanding job in coaching her actors with their attitudes and characterizations in Eclipse Theatre Company’s current production.  Brooklyn native Marcella Balin begins somewhat haltingly, but once the audience starts laughing, she settles in and delivers the power and punch with the correct accent and demeanor of the Jewish matriarch who is annoyingly unflappable, even while everybody peppers her with angry invectives.  

   Jim McCullough is both compelling and convincing as the dying patriarch who no longer cares about courtesies,  constantly cursing at everybody, except his nurse (Danielle Filas) who is a dynamo of  professionalism.  I found myself thinking what a good sport McCullough is to stay in what seems like a very uncomfortable position, propped up in that hospital bed for almost an hour during the first act.  But then he’s supposed to be uncomfortable, because he’s dying. And he's a good actor doing what it takes to play the role effectively.

    Christopher Storer deftly displays pitiable and exasperating as the gay son, Curtis, whose imaginary friends, as well as his family, never seem to play nice with him.

   Meloney Buehl has good stage presence and commitment as the alcoholic Lisa who is equally incapable of having any kind of reasonable relationship.

   Donnie Lockwood is credible with good bearing in the many moods of Realtor Brian.

   The setting is simple and effective with furnishings of the hospital room that get covered over with drop cloths for the empty apartment scene.

   “The Lyons” premiered and ran in New York off Broadway for two months in 2011, then two months on Broadway in 2012 and for a three-month London run in 2013.  In its review of the off-Broadway premier, Variety wrote that the basic joke of this savage dark comedy is that characters are given license to speak their private thoughts out loud. 

  If/when people have behaved as badly with one another as the Lyons family apparently has for most of their lives, their callousness and the horrible things they say and do to each other don’t seem that outrageous. It frees the audience to laugh out loud in this very entertaining piece of theater.

Review: "A Grand Night For Singing -- Otterbein Summer Theatre

  Otterbein Summer Theatre closes its 50^th anniversary season with The Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical review “A Grand Night For Singing”.  This compilation features some of the best songs from the twelve-year collaboration (1945 to 1957), of this legendary duo, including pieces from “Carousel”, “Oklahoma”,  “Cinderella”, “The King And I”, “South Pacific” as well as melodies from some of their lesser known works such as “State Fair”, “Allegro” and “Flower Drum Song”.

   Otterbein students Aubree Tally, Daria Redus, Abigail Isom, Jordan T. Wood and Trey Plutnicki sing, dance and cavort across the stage with energy and style in their beautiful renderings of these great tunes.

    Director David Caldwell has done a great job of keeping a light mood and good pace as befits the occasion of this kind of beautiful summer evening’s entertainment. 

  Rob Johnson’s setting on the Riley Auditorium stage is reminiscent of a gazebo in a park with the band framed on a wooden platform against a starry backdrop. 

   Music Director Dennis Davenport and his four-piece orchestra provide just the right touches to support and enhance the outpouring of this delicious music.  Doc Davis’s sound is well-balanced.  Andy Baker’s mix of lighting over and around the gazebo, enhanced by follow spots, enhances and adds to beautiful stage pictures without overpowering the action. 

    Stella Hiatt Kane’s choreography adds to the energy, charm and grace of the various moments. 
   The costuming from Julia Ferreri features colorful, elegant cocktails dresses and evening gowns for the ladies and white dinner jackets, tux and tails for the gentlemen.

   There are many fun, beautiful, uplifting moments with the various songs. “Shall We Dance”, “Hello Young Lovers” and the funny, whimsical “Honey Bun” were highlights for me.  “Love Look Away” is a personal, sentimental favorite for me.  Wood’s strong, passionate rendering of it does not  disappoint.  
   The enthusiastic applause following almost every song indicated that others in the audience enjoyed this as much as I did.

   I have seen several productions of this show.  Though I must confess a certain bias, I believe that Otterbein’s production is the best. 

On The Failure To Indict Hillary Clinton

  As an enlisted soldier in the Army I often questioned why field grade officers, sergeants major and other "favorites" among the higher echelons could get away with things that someone of lesser status would be censured for.  The response was always "Rank Has Its privileges."

    I think that philosophy is represented in Catholics always having accepted and supported the doctrine that the Pope is infallible, though, being human, he often makes mistakes. 

   Please understand that I am not a Hillary supporter.  I think she and her philandering, rapist husband ought to be stripped of all their money and assets and sent to prison to do "hard time" away from society without being permitted any kind of communication to the outside world.  But I know that it is not going to happen. 

    Whether we agree with it or not; whether we like or not -- there have always been and will continue to be people among us who are given exceptions to the rules.  Who among us can say that we have not played favorites in our own lives?  Perhaps we have not held family members and friends to the same standards we expect from others.  Have there not been times when we ourselves were granted "favors" or exceptions by people who care about us? 

   Again, I am not defending what happened with Hillary.  I don't agree with it.  I don't like it.  But I do understand it.   

Reflections On Independence Day 2016

Among founders of our country – John Adams was a strong-willed, stubborn person as am I. 

    He was forced to give up one of his dearly held principles – the abolition of slavery—to get something greater – the unanimous consent of other congressional representatives for the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

   Watching the movie “1776” has long been a July 4^th tradition for me.  It never fails to uplift and inspire me.  In addition to being an outstanding piece of theater, it is a thoughtful presentation of history.

   I took the advice of Hillsdale College to read the declaration of Independence today as we celebrate the 240^th anniversary of its signing.  As I reviewed the grievances against King George and Great Britain that caused the colonies to separate from England, I noted that many of those grievances are among the same problems we have today with our Federal government and the personage of the current President – whom many radical conservatives have affectionately labeled “King Barack”.  He is indeed a dictator who has been permitted to do pretty much anything he wants with the country, in defiance of the Constitution and its separation of powers.  This has happened because Republicans in Congress do not have the courage to oppose him, much less impeach him – which he richly deserves in my opinion. 

   Liberalism has been allowed to spread and dominate, despite the fact that the majority of Americans don’t agree with or support things like the government’s sponsorship of crippling regulations that stifle the economy and diminish individual freedoms.

   I tend to rant and rave against this sort of oppression, but I know that this oppression will surely continue until enough people are sick and tired of it and rise up as one to overcome things like the liberal leaning press and lying, pocket-lining politicians and government officials. 

   Overcoming the current liberal oppression cannot be done with just one election.  It has to become a constant battle and a consistent attitude that will risk persecution and denunciation.   We need to re-establish things like education that teaches students how to think instead of telling them what to think.  We have to steel ourselves to constantly denounce, oppose, legislate against and wage war to defeat terrorism and overcome political oppression from lobbyists and opportunists on all sides of the issues who care more about themselves than they care about what’s best for the country and humanity as a whole.  But all of this must be done out of a sense of wisdom, love, patience and caring – not the angry, intolerance and unyielding stubbornness of people like Betty Peters -- who knows that anybody who disagrees with her or doesn’t do things her way is just wrong.   

    Even the pig-headed, self-righteous John Adams eventually realized he had to yield to those who supported the indecent cause of keeping slaves, in order to achieve the greater good of American independence.  

    Perhaps Adams and his fellow anti-slavery zealots throughout the newly formed United States realized that the issue of slavery would eventually have to be resolved.  The young country almost ripped itself in half fighting a Civil War to abolish slavery.  

     The country was angry and divided in those days, as it is now. 

    The issue of how we treat people of color is still debated.  It is one of the things that liberals throw in the face of conservatives today.  Though we have no slaves, we are told that we must make reparations for past offenses.  We are supposed to kowtow and think of people of color as oppressed.  It seems to me that following that illogic is what continues to oppress everybody.  It is what one of my favorite conservative icons describes as the soft bigotry of low expectations. We give in to the childish notion that government handouts and quotas for  Blacks and other so-called minorities will resolve all problems, rather than encouraging everybody  -- regardless of race, age, sexual preference, religious and social affiliation - to lift themselves up to the best they can be, to think and do for themselves, rather than expecting the government to do everything for them,   including thinking.  

    God created us all equally, but we are not all the same. God gave us all a mind so that we could think and discern for ourselves rather than looking to the government, the press, the church to think for us.  We need to start thinking and doing for ourselves as we learn to understand, respect and celebrate our differences, instead of celebrating our insecurities and pettiness by getting in people's faces if they are different from us or disagree with us.

    Whether we understand it or not; whether we agree or not; whether we like it or not – it is the Spirit Of America which continues to guide this country.   Freedom is what God has designed and ordained.   Most certainly all groups and individuals in this country can and should be participants in America and freedom while realizing that it is not the exclusive province of any individual or group. 

      Freedom and The Spirit of America don’t take orders from individuals like Betty Peters, John Adams, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Rush Limbaugh, Oprah Winfrey or any other individual you care to name. 

    Freedom and The Spirit Of America will not be controlled or dictated to by The New York Times, CNN, Fox News, Labor unions, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Radical Jihadists, Buddhists, The European Union,  heterosexuals, homosexuals, environmentalists, teachers, lawyers, news reporters, doctors, scientists, members of the clergy, coal miners, shop keepers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Washington Red Skins, Cleveland Cavaliers, or any other group -- not even the mighty New England Patriots.   Of course the Spirit of America needs patriots, but not necessarily patriots who are little more than fanatics -- whether their passion be football or some other popular pastime. 

   It has been a rainy, cloudy Independence Day here in Columbus, Ohio.   I hope the rain passes by and holds off long enough so that we can have fireworks.  I can see our local fireworks from my window. 

   I can see freedom and the Spirit of America from my window and in my mind's eye.  It is always looking forward.   The cause of freedom is constantly bursting forth like fireworks overhead, because the Spirit of America formed this country for that purpose. 

Review: "Picasso At The Lapin Agile", Columbus Civic Theater

  Author Steve Martin takes a light-hearted look at the possibilities of art meeting science when Painter Pablo Picasso encounters Albert Einstein in a Paris bar – the Lapin Agile (Nimble Rabbit) in 1904, as both men are on the threshold of their greatest works. Columbus Civic Theater’s current offering of this adult classic features Galen Roth (Einstein). Roth is confident and comfortable in his characterization and line delivery. I like the look he achieves with just the right amount of gray in his hair.  Ben Turner (Picasso) is assured and cocky with excellent stage presence.  The contrast between the two that the author gives us – Einstein’s intellectualism vice Picasso’s emotional investment in art -- is well-played by both Turner and Roth.  The conversations and interactions with and between other bar patrons is stimulating and entertaining with Ryan Heitkamp (Barkeeper Freddy), Kenneth Barnett (Gaston), Britt Kline (Freddy’s girlfriend and assistant barkeeper Germaine), Stefan Langer (Sagot the art dealer), Stephen Hanna (Schmendiman the inventor), Jordan Davis (Suzanne) and Julia Cannel (countess/female admirer).

  Davis is sparkling and provocative as Picasso’s girl of the moment – or should we say his current model. 

   Everybody seems to find their moment – event Hanna who has less than five minutes on stage as well as Chance Landers who enters with panache at the end to enunciate and demonstrate his own distinction as a prominent 20^th century influence. Landers character is listed simply as “Visitor” but audiences will recognize him immediately.  I won’t give away his identity here because it’s supposed to be a surprise.  But he is thoroughly entertaining and audiences will recognize him immediately.

   Richard Albert’s set design with red décor, sparse furnishings and interesting paintings works well on the tiny Civic stage. 

   Dayton Willison’s costumes are pleasant and effective – especially the women’s attire as the intended sexual innuendo is successfully achieved.

   This is a fun, well-paced show at 90 minutes.  The lesson it teaches is that all of us humans -- whether famous, infamous or obscure—should never take ourselves too seriously.