PARADISE BLUE by Stan Mazin  (Guest Reviewer)

 

I fell in love with “Paradise Blue”, the production on the MainStage at the Geffen Playhouse, which I saw Friday, November 19th.  This beautiful piece of theatre has everything going for it… Wonderful Set by Edward E. Haynes, jr., Great Lighting by Alan C. Edwards, Luscious Costumes by Wendell C. Carmichael, and some lovely Original Music by David “Preach” Balfour.  Even the sound Designer, Jeff Gardner worked in some Thunder in the final act to emphasize dramatic moments, although I did hear some people say the actors were not loud enough to be heard in the back of the theatre.  The Fight Direction was by Steve Rankin, and they even had an Intimacy Choreographer, Nedra Constance Gallegos.  The Director Stori Ayers kept the action going and the play never got boring or ordinary.  This interesting play was written by Dominique Morisseau, and every scene was packed with LIFE, drama,  and even some humor.  The play takes place in the late ’40s in the Black Bottom jazz section of Detroit, in a less than successful jazz club called Paradise.  Each of the 5 characters in the piece is etched out brilliantly, and the actors are nothing but exquisite in their performances.  Blue, the owner of the club is played by Wendell B. Franklin.  Blue is probably the most troubled character in the play due to his background.  His female interest is Pumpkin, innocently played by Shayna Small… a terrific performance who changes dramatically at the end of the play.  Corn is played with great strength by John Earl Jelks, who is also in the jazz group with Blue and P-Sam, who is probably my favorite character if I had to choose one, brilliantly played by Alani Ilongwe.  It was difficult to take my eyes off him.  Finally, there is Silver,  a ‘worldly’ woman who comes to stay in one of the rooms above the club.  Tyla Abercrumbie plays this complicated woman to the hilt.  All in all a fantastic cast well directed on this superb multi-level set.  The story captured me from the first moment of the play.  Although every seat was taken, we all felt completely safe since the playhouse did a complete screening so no one could enter without showing his or her proof of vaccination, and everyone except the actors had to keep their masks on.  Again, this play is being performed at the Geffen Playhouse in the Gil Cates Theatre.  I hope you love it as much as I did.

 

 BLUES IN THE NIGHT by Carol Segal

            If you love the blues, you can’t help but love this wonderful production, Blues In The Night, playing at the Nate Holden Performing Art Center in Los Angeles.  This Tony and Olivier Award-nominated musical revue was conceived by Sheldon Epps. 

            Set in 1948 in a Chicago Hotel, the show features Vivian Reed, Karole Foreman, Jenna Byrd, wonderful and super talented singers and performers with stunning voices, and one male, Parris D. Mann, who shows his talent as a dancer, as well.  Add to all of that, the terrific live band directed by William Foster McDaniel on piano, Del Atkins on bass, Clayton Cameron on drums, Scott Mayo playing wind instruments, and Fernando Pullum on trumpet, and you have a fabulous show featuring fabulous music.         

            The production was directed by Wren T. Brown.  The lovely scenic design is by Edward Haynes, Jr.  Beautiful costume designs are by Kim Deshazo, lighting design by Donna Ruzika, sound design by John Feinstein, musical director William Foster McDaniel, production stage manager, Mary Michele Miner, property designers, Gordon & Patty Briles, hair and wig designer, Anthony Gagliardi, and casting director, Michael Donovan, CSA. 

            I enjoyed Blues In The Night, so much I didn’t want it to end.  It plays from now to December 5, 2021, at the Nate Holden Performing Art Center, 4718 West Washington Blvd., Los Angeles.  The performance schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 3 PM.  Regular tickets range from $40 to $50 and are available online at ebonyrep.org or by phone at 323-964-9766.  Groups of 15 or more are available at groups@ebony.rep.org, or 323-964-9766                    

            HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

           

                                                                                                                  

 

 A PERFECT GANESH by Carol Kaufman Segal

            A Perfect Ganesh, a play written by the late Terrence McNally, is playing at The Pico in Los Angeles.  It takes place during a two-week period in India that includes the time that two friends spend time together getting there and coming home.

            You might want to know first, what is a Ganesh?  So I will tell you that “Ganesh is a Hindu god and the son of Shiva and Parvati.  He is the god of wisdom, the lord of good fortune, and is also regarded as the remover of obstacles. Ganesh is depicted as a short fat man with the head of an elephant.  He is one of the most popular and widely worshiped deities.  Worship of Ganesh is thought to bring prosperity, success, and protection.” In this production, Ganesh is performed by Mueen Jahan, elephant head and all!

            Margaret (Mary Allwright) and Katharine (Kathleen Gray) two middle-aged ladies have traveled together before, but this is a trip unlike any other they have ventured upon, a trip to India in the hopes of ridding themselves of longtime problems in their lives.  Katharine has been haunted for years by the loss of her son.  Margaret is hiding the fact that she has a lump on her breast.  Needless to say, both ladies need the help of Ganesh.  Will they have chosen the right vacation to take together this time?  After some moments of doubt about whether their friendship will continue, due to moments of stress between the two ladies, all ends happily ever after.

            In some ways, much of this play feels as if it is a dream rather than a real happening, but the performances by the entire cast is very well done.  They included Dancers (Svetlana Tulasi, Pavia Sidhu), Man #2 (Delio Eswar), Man #1 (Cameron Gregg), and Walter (Judd Yort).  David W. Callander directed.  Scenic Design is by David Goldstein, and costume design by Michael Mullen,

            A Perfect Ganesh is playing at the Pico, 10508 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles.  Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 7 PM through November 21.  (Dark Nov. 14).  Admission is $35.  Reservations are available at http//onstage411.com/ganesh.  No one under 12 admitted.