Thursday, September 26, 2019


IN CIRCLES by Carol Kaufman Segal

The OdysseyTheatre in Los Angeles has been featuring plays going back 50 years celebrating their 50th season!  An unusual and very different production playing at the theatre now is a musical entitled In Circles adapted by composer Al Carmines from A Circular Play by Gertrude Stein.
           
In Circles has no plot, does not try to tell a story, but instead takes Stein’s words based on how they sound together and puts them to a musical score in the various styles of ragtime, tango, waltz, opera, barbershop quartet, jazz and other musical styles.  When it premiered in New York in the ‘60’s, it was described by the Burns Mantle Yearbook as “a complete arrangement of word and song and dance effects, each one conceived as if describing its own circle, without convention, story, or subject line.”
           
I couldn’t describe the show any better myself (maybe not even at all).  I can only tell anyone seeing the production not to try to figure out what is going on, but to enjoy the performances by the wonderful talented singers and dancers, the diverse music styles and dancing, and the wonderful staging of it all, directed by David Schweizer.
           
The very talented cast members include Henry Arber, Shelby Corley, Ashlee Dutson, Kenneth G. Grimes (piano player), Kyle G. Fuller, Chloe Haven, Aaron Jung, P.T. Mahoney, and Jacque Lynn Colton as Gertrude Stein.  Jacque Lynn Colton was in the original 1968 off-Broadway production of In Circles.
            
The beautiful stage setting in all red and white by Mark Guirguis, the all white costumes by Ann Closs-Farley, the choreography by Kate Coleman, and the musical direction by Kenneth J. Grimes, the libretto by Gertrude Stein, all add up to make the production an extraordinary presentation.
           

In Circles is playing Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through Nov. 10, at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles.  Tickets are available online at www.OdysseyTheatre.com, or by phone at (310) 477-2055, ext.2          

Thursday, September 19, 2019


SKINTIGHT by Carol Kaufman Segal
            
Skintight is a fairly new play by Joshua Harman (Bad Jews, Significant Other) that made its debut Off-Broadway in 2017.   It is playing in Los Angeles at the Geffen Playhouse to sold-out audiences and rave revues.  The play has no plot as such, but still offers an interesting insight into its characters performed by a cast of outstanding actors.     
            
Jodi Isaac (Idina Menzel), a successful attorney, arrives without notice at her father’s upscale home, seemingly to celebrate his 70th birthday.  But to be honest, her true reason for her visit is to find some comfort from him.  Immediately and hysterically, she begins to rant on and on about the fact that her husband has left her for a 24-year old woman.
            
As it turns out, Elliot (Harry Groener), is not about to placate his daughter.  When her 20-year old son, Benjamin (Eli Gelb) shows up for his grandfather’s birthday celebration, they are both stunned to meet Trey (Will Brittain), also 20-years old, and a former porn actor who Elliott calls his “partner”.  It is obvious that Trey already feels like part of the family and is every bit at home and at ease in Elliott’s lavish home. 
            
Jodi is extremely annoyed by Trey and his stance.  She tells him that she and Benjamin are planning a family weekend with Elliot to celebrate his birthday and that it would be a good idea for him to stay at his own place while they are there.  Is she really oblivious to his and her father’s circumstances, or is she faking naivety?  He lets her know in no uncertain terms that, as Elliot’s partner, he lives there - with him!  Unfortunately, Jodi’s desire for some kind of familial tenderness will not be coming from her father.
            
Benjamin, unlike Jodi, is in a quandary about Trey who often walks around the house nearly nude  On the one hand, he is as troubled by him as is his mother is while sharing some of his Grandfather’s feelings.  He almost forgets that he is thinking about his Grandfather’s lover.  It is no secret about the fact that Benjamin is gay as opposed to the circumstances Elliot lived through in his younger years.  Though the play deals with serious situations, it is very much a comedy as well, with lots of funny lines and, for the most part, fast- paced.  The heart of the play is about aging, youth, beauty, and relationships.
            
Daniel Aukin directs this phenomenal cast that also includes Kimberly Jurgen (Orsolya) and Jeff Skowron (Jeff), Elliot’s household staff.  Idina Menzel, Will Brittain, and Eli Gelb are reprising their roles performed Off-Broadway.  The beautiful stage design is by Lauren Helper, and costume designs are by China Lee.
           
Skintight plays Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM., and  Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM, through October 12, in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Cont Ave., Los Angeles.  For tickets call (310) 208-5454, go online at www.geffenplayhoouse.org, or go in person to the theater box office.
           
HIGHLY RECOMENDED

Monday, September 16, 2019


TO DAD WITH LOVE: A TRIUTE TO BUDDY EBSEN by Carol Kaufman Segal

 Buddy Ebsen (April 2 1908- July 6, 2003), was an American actor and dancer whose career spanned seven decades.  Most people would remember him as Jed Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971) and as Barnaby Jones in the television drama of the same name (1973-1980).

After Ebsen’s death, his daughter, Kiki Ebsen, discovered an old trunk in her parent’s attic years after they had both passed away.  The truck was full with her father’s past -  memories she could not get out of her mind.  After two years, she began to envision a show in which she could pay tribute to her father by telling the story of his life..  Thus, To Dad With Love: A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen, created by Kiki Ebsen and her brother, Dustin Ebsen, playing at Theatre West. 
           
The tribute is told via full-size pictures on the stage as she relates the events that occurred during his lifetime.  She intersperses with singing as she accompanies herself on the piano, as well as sometimes being accompanied by a four piece jazz ensemble (Jeff Colella {piano}, Kendall Kay {drums}, Kim Richmond {woodwinds}, Granville “Danny” Young {bass}).  Kiki has a beautiful voice as well as an exceptional stage presence. 
           
I loved seeing the pictures that made me recall times past such as the very tall Buddy Ebsen tap dancing with little 6-year old Shirley Temple.  They were both fantastic!  The scenes from Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Audrey Hepburn proved his acting prowess.  I loved seeing the films from The Wizard of Oz.  However, the story about how Buddy Ebsen was supposed to have been the Tin Man in the movie, but due to a health issue, had to be replaced with Jack Haley, had to be a bitter pill.
           
The entire production is wonderful and gratifying, but the most emotional part comes at the end when, behind a screen, a silhouette appears in the mode of Buddy Ebsen.  When the silhouette emerges from behind the screen in the form of Buddy Epsen (Gregory Gast), he and Kiki Ebsen performe a duet tap dance number that can only bring tears to one’s eyes.  This wonderful, as well as delightful and informative, production is directed by S.E.Feinberg.  Special effects are by Dustin Ebsen.                
           
To Dad With Love: A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen, plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, through September 22, at Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Los Angeles.  Tickets are available online at buddyebsentribute.com, theatrewest.org, or by calling (323) 851-7977.

            HIGHLY RECOMMENDED





Saturday, September 7, 2019


WITCH  by Carol Kaufman Segal
           
The Geffen Playhouse is featuring the West Coast premier of Witch, an excellent new play by Jen Silverman, inspired by The Witch of Edmonton written by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker, and John Ford in 1621.
           
A stranger named Scratch (Evan Jonigkeit) has arrived in Edmonton with the purpose of convincing the townspeople to sell their souls to him in return for gaining their life ambitions.  You see, Scratch is a Devil of a man who is trying to make his quota.  He finds two people with whom he has little trouble convincing them to sell their souls to the Devil to gain what they want in their lives   
            
He is aware of the wealthy Sir Arthur Banks (Brian George) a widower who hopes to see his only son Cuddy (Will Von Vogt) take his place when he is gone.  Unfortunately, Cuddy doesn’t show much interest and is quite peevish.  On the other hand Frank (Ruy Iskandar), a young man with little future, has wormed his way into Sir Arthur’s life and is determined to become his heir.  One complication on his side, however, is that he is secretly married to Sir Arthur’s housemaid Winnifred (Vella Lovell).  Cuddy and Frank are patsies!
            
He seeks out his next victim who he believes will be an easier conquest to acquire than either Cuddy or Frank since the people of Edmonton have labeled her a witch.  Elizabeth Sawyer (Maura Tierney) is an outcast living alone.  However, he is in for quite a surprise the more times he sees her in his failure to convince her to sell her soul. 
            
Audiences, as well, are surprised by the outcome of this exceptionally intriguing play under the perceptive direction of Marti Lyons.  A marvelous cast creates each character they play to perfection.   The unusual scenic design by Dane Laffrey adds a great deal to the feel of the play.  A fight scene, choreographed by Steve Rankin, is absolutely breath taking.
            
Witch plays Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM and 8 PM, in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles.  Tickets are available online at www.geffenplayhouse.org, by phone at (310) 208-5454, or in person at the Geffen Playhouse box office.
            

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.