‘The Club’ Challenges Social Acceptance

‘The Club’ – A Review

The need to have friends and participate in activities with them is an essential part of feeling accepted. This starts when we are very young and continues throughout the lives of many people. This concept is at the heart of a new show premiering at George Street Playhouse. The Club, written by Chris Bohjalian, explores these ideas but in a unique way. Playwright Bohjalian sets the play in 1968. This becomes an interesting point of contention as the action unfolds. However, audiences will need to think about how far off the social issues of that time we are today.

The Club offers audiences a glance back to the 1960’s when life had a specific look about it. To carry this out, The Club has superb acting, dynamic sets, and a story sure to get you thinking. David Saint directs the production.

A Story of Three Families

The setting is the home of the Barrow family where the remnants of a party from the previous night are scattered though the living room. As Richard Barrows (Frederick Weller) and Anna Barrows (Ali Marsh) clean up, it becomes more evident that a lot of drinking took place. Insults are hurled between the two that an unnecessary amount of flirting took place. Their daughter, Olive Barrows (Skyler Hensley) observes all that goes on. But their conversation becomes heated as Anna accuses her husband of making out with Mrs. Willows at the party. Marion Willows (Grace Experience) and John Willows (Brendan Ryan) are friends who also attended the party.

But at the heart of the discussion is what happened to another couple who were at the party. Peter Kendricks (Ryan George) and his wife Angela Kendricks (Samaria Nixon-Fleming) are friends of both the Barrows and the Willows. They applied to the local club where both of the other couples are members. They are waiting to hear about their recently filed application for membership in the club. They are blacks in the midst of what appears to be a heavily white neighborhood. The year is 1968. Sometime during the party, the result of the vote is let out and it is not in their favor. But not everyone yet knows what happened.

What the Characters Discover

Anna Barrow decides to flush the entire situation out. She invites both the Willows and the Kendricks to come over for cocktails that evening. And it does all come out. There is great hurt and disappointment. Those moments in the play are tense and very well acted by this ensemble.

As is typical in these kinds of situations, everyone starts to look for someone to blame. The fact that it was one blackball that prevented the Kendricks from being accepted is even more distressful.

However, the revelation about what happened to the Letter of Recommendation that Richard wrote turns the situation in the most difficult direction of all. This is where audiences will have to look at what has occurred and determine was this just a happening of that time period or is it something that could occur now as well.

An Excellent Set and Side Video Displays

Important to the story is the set for The Club. It allows the audience to feel a part of the show by feeling like they are in the living room of a suburban house in 1968. This set is impressive and the care to details allows the upscale background of the characters to come through. And that is a critical element of better understanding the story.

High marks go to James Youmans for his set, projection, and media design. He has captured the spirit of that highly charged time in history so well. Unfortunately, the photo right below here does not show the screen monitors on the sides of the stage that show photos of houses that were popular during that time.

The lighting design comes from Tyler Micoleau and credit goes to Scott Killian for original music and sound design.

Additional nods go to Lisa Zinni for costume design so representative of that era and to Tommy Kurzman for wig and hair design.

See ‘The Club’ In Person and Live Stream

The Club is a play well worth going to see. It will give rise to conversation about how far we have come or not come from the situation in the 1968 play. Theater can inspire and educate when well done. That is exactly what happens here. If you feel uncomfortable watching it unfold, then you are allowing yourself to really look in as you attempt to better understand.

For more information about The Club, visit the George Street Playhouse website. This show runs through March 17.

The final performances, March 15 – March 17 are also available via Live Stream. For more information about going live stream. click this Live Stream: The Club link.

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‘After Midnight’ Dazzles with Music and Dance

A Look at After Midnight at the Paper Mill Playhouse

New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse continues their 2023 – 2024 season with a rousing production of After Midnight. This show ran on Broadway from 2013 – 2014. It utilized the talents of a number of different artists both as regulars and replacements including Wynton Marsalis, Fantasia Barrino, Patti LaBella, Toni Braxton, and Vanessa Williams. The production was conceived by Jack Viertel.

For the presentation at the Paper Mill, press notes state that this is a “fresh, reimagined version, After Midnight intertwines the poetry of Langston Hughes with songs from big-band legends Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Harold Arlen, Dorothy Fields, and more.”

For the first time, this production features an all-Black design team, stage management team, music team, cast, and band. Music direction is by Sean Mayes. Scenic and lighting design is by Adam Honor. Azalea Fairly provides costume design. Sound design is by Sadah Espii Proctor. Hair and wig design is by Alfreda Howard.

This is a very enjoyable show to go to see. You will be dazzled by the music provided by a first class group of musicians in the band. The cast is superb. They sing and dance and allow those by gone years to bloom anew again.

What is After Midnight About?

After Midnight is a retrospective look back at the Harlem Renaissance. Running approximately from the 1910’s through the mid 1930’s, the Harlem Renaissance is considered to be a golden age in African American culture. This musical provides a chance to experience music and literature that would have been a part of that time.

The setting is the legendary Cotton Club where people knew to go to hear many of the greats of that era. Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong were among those who performed there. The patrons attending were white who gathered to see black artists perform. Yes, this was a time of segregation. One has to feel respect and admiration for the performers who played in the Club.

A unique feature of this show is that there is no overall story holding it all together. Instead, the audience experiences what someone might have experienced if they had gone to an actual show at the Cotton Club. So the songs and dancing give the show its content.

There is a good variety and a lot of it with 26 songs making up the score. Some are compositions by Duke Ellington and others come from Dorothy Fields, Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen and others as well.

However, even though there isn’t an overall story, there are still a number of smaller stories woven into the individual performances. You are invited to open your minds to what is said and done with songs and the music.

The opening and the closing of the show give one a chance to feel like they are actually arriving at and then leaving the Cotton Club. The stage is neatly set up as it represents the inside of a jazz club. However, it is pleasantly open so the dancers have plenty of room in which to perform.

Music

If you enjoy the era of music featured in the show, then you will be in music heaven. Under the direction of Sean Mayes, the on-stage orchestra plays brilliantly throughout the show.

The exquisite score features such hits as “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love,” “Stormy Weather,” “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” The Exit Music is “Take the ‘A’ Train” which is a great way to end a wonderful show.

And What a Cast this Show Has

An outstanding cast performs in this show. After Midnight stars Angela Birchett, Sasha Hutchings, Joshua Lamar, and James T. Lane. The cast also includes Stanley Martin, Aramie Payton, Destinee Rea, and Awa Sal Secka. Additionally, the cast includes Liv Symone, Harris Matthew Turner, Jasmine Pearl Villaroel, and Anthony Wayne.

The cast includes outstanding singers and dancers. The costumes are lovely including many gowns that sparkle and glow adding glamour to the setting.

Go to See After Midnight

Treat yourself this month and go to the Paper Mill Playhouse to see After Midnight. The show is an absolute joy to see. You will be tapping your feet as you watch the production unfold.

After Midnight runs at the Paper Mill Playhouse through February 25, 2024.

The show is 90 minutes and performed without an intermission.

For more information about the show, visit the Paper Mill’s website. You can locate the link for purchasing tickets on that site.

Visit the Gallery’s Exhibit about the Harlem Renaissance

 Be sure to take some time to visit the Paper Mill’s Gallery to see their exhibit Afrofuturism: 100 Years After the Harlem Renaissance. This exhibit runs concurrently with After Midnight and is a fine way to celebrate Black History Month.

This exhibition is curated by Atim Annette Oton of Calabar Gallery. It features the work of African, African American, and Caribbean artists. The focus is on the way they are using AfroFuturism to center reclamation, black liberation, and revisioning of the past and predictions of the future through a black cultural lens.

The Gallery at Paper Mill is free and open to the public daily 12:00–6:00 PM.

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Applause for Ibsen’s Ghost

The legendary playwright Henrik Ibsen wrote some great stories about women. Were they all his or did someone get in and contribute to the writing? This concept serves as the basis for a new show premiering at George Street Playhouse. Ibsen’s Ghost is billed as “An Irresponsible Biographical Fantasy.” Written by Tony Award nominee Charles Busch, the play provides a story loaded with comedy, interesting characters with actors who are outstanding in their roles. Mr. Busch also stars in the lead role. Carl Andress, who has a long history of working with Mr. Busch directs the show.

Ibsen’s Ghost is enjoying its world premiere at the New Brunswick theater. This play is done in association with Primary Stages at 59E 59 theaters in New York City. It will run at 59E59 Theater March 02 – April 14, 2024. For more information about this New York run, visit their website

This is the final week of performances at George Street Playhouse because the show closes Sunday, Feb. 4. Be prepared to laugh, and also be amazed at the fabulous acting that this show provides. It is very enjoyable to see characters so well developed on stage like you will see in Ibsen’s Ghost.

Now, about the Story

The setting of the play is in Oslo, Norway, June, 1906. We meet Playwright Ibsen’s wife, Suzannah Thoresen Ibsen, the week after he died. After going through her husband‘s state funeral, Suzannah has to deal with a number of situations. Many of them involve the reputation of her husband and his writing.

Someone breaks into Suzannah’s home and steals something that creates concern for her. She also has papers that appear to be letters Ibsen wrote to her. Suddenly, her husband‘s long lost illegitimate son, Wolf, appears. They are instantly attracted to each other making for some funny scenes as they indulge in a May/December romance. Another comical entrance is from Ibsen’s former protégé, Hannah, who is coming through trying to pedal a libelous diary. She claims that the playwright based one of his most important female characters on her.

In addition to some other colorful characters, the plot moves towards trying to determine what is really something Ibsen wrote. Suzannah, who had an early career writing, appears to be able to imitate her husband’s writing style. In fact, the play ends humorously as they realize anything missing from the great playwright’s portfolio can probably be reproduced by one of the women.

Be aware that this is the first run on a show, and there are some rough edges that will undoubted be straightened out. I found the first act to be a little confusing. In fact, it was kind of humorous at intermission. A number of people were standing around talking about what was actually occurring. However, much to the credit of the writer, it does get resolved by the end. In fact, I would call it a happy ending. 

But Oh, the Acting and Character Development

There are a lot of over the top character traits on display making for a totally entertaining show. This is one of the best features of this play.

Charles Busch plays the female part of Suzannah Thoresen Ibsen. This part allows his drag background to be put to good use. He dresses in a very matronly black dress costume significant to the time being right after her husband’s funeral. The interplay between Suzannah and the other characters brings the action into focus especially when dealing with Ibsen’s son, Wolf Dahiquist played by Thomas Gibson. There is a large age gap between the two but they become lovers. If it is supposed to be a case of Suzannah missing her departed husband, well that never really comes through. But it is all done with good humor.

Jen Cody plays Gerda, a servant in the Ibsen household. Gerda’s physical disability is very odd and it isn’t nice to laugh at that. But again, the presentation is set in a light tone with Gerda gathering many laughs. Eventually she is miraculously cured. One of the more balanced characters is Magdalene Kragh Thoresen played by Judy Kaye.

Hanna Solberg is played by Jennifer Van Dyck. Hanna is loud and very active. She was a protegee of Ibsen and claims he modeled one of his most important female characters after her. We are never sure but she certainly talks a good game about it. Finally, Christopher Borg plays two roles. The first is that of George Elstad, a family advisor. But the second one is called the Rat Wife where he plays a woman who comes in to the household to provide extermination services. His demeanor in this part is very amusing from his costume to his lines.

Go to see Ibsen’s Ghost

Ibsen’s Ghost is running now through Sunday, February 4, 2024 at George Street Playhouse.

To get tickets, go to the George Street Playhouse website: https://www.georgestreetplayhouse.org/events/detail/ibsens-ghost.

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