‘Garside’s Career’ Highlights a Big Talker

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Karen Nowosad
Daniel Marconi in a scene from Mint Theater Company’s New York Premiere of GARSIDE’S CAREER by Harold Brighouse, directed by Matt Dickson.
Photo credit: Maria Baranova

Garside’s Career – A Review

The Mint Theater Company is presenting the New York Premiere of Garside’s Career. Written by Harold Brighouse, the play has a limited engagement run at Theater Row through March 15.

Matt Dickson directs a splendid cast in a show that scores high marks for the acting and overall production. Written in the earlier part of the 1900’s, the play had an extended run in Boston in 1919. Shortly after, a New York production was announced, but never happened. Even in the U.K. this political satire seems to have completely disappeared.

But as the Mint Theater Company does so well, it identifies a play whose theme rings true today. As stated by the Company’s Artistic Director, Jonathan Bank,

One of the reasons I was drawn to producing older plays in the first place is they can show how today’s ‘alarming issues’ have usually been around for ages.  Working on them (or seeing them) helps put things in perspective.

Although Garside’s Career was written 110 years ago, the characters, story, and theme are remarkably visible today. The main character, Peter Garside ascends the society and class structure very rapidly. He does it with the substantial well earned university degree in engineering. But his secret weapon is his ability to do public speaking and have an impact on his audiences. He sees himself as a man on the rise due to his oratory skills. They later become part of his downfall.

The Story of a Man Aiming for Success

The play opens in the Midlanton cottage of Mrs. Garside (Amelia White) and her son Peter (Daniel Marconi). There is an air of anticipation as Mrs. Garside and Margaret Shawcross (Madeline Seidman) wait for Peter to bring news about a recent exam he took. Mrs. Garside is very enthusiastic about her son’s chances of success with this exam; Margaret not as much.

These two attitudes become important to the plot of the show because Margaret provides a very needed balance in Peter’s life. Mom keeps him well supplied with compliments and Margaret brings him back to real life.

The news they are waiting to hear is good. Peter arrives to tell the ladies that he is now an honors man of Midlanton University. As they celebrate, mom lets Peter know that Margaret doubted his abilities to pass but she never did. Such a good soul to pass that information along!

Daniel Marconi and Amelia White in a scene from Mint Theater Company’s New York Premiere of GARSIDE’S CAREER by Harold Brighouse, directed by Matt Dickson.
Photo credit: Maria Baranova

The Celebration Continues as More People Arrive

Good news gets to travel quickly as a group of men from a labor group arrive. The group includes Denis O’Callaghan (Erik Gratton), Karl Marx Jones (Michael Schantz), and Ned Applegarth (Paul Niebanck). They celebrate Peter’s success and ask him to run for Parliament to represent their Party.

Michael Schantz, Erik Gratton, Paul Niebanck, Daniel Marconi, Madeline Seidman and Amelia White GARSIDE’S CAREER Photo Credit: Maria Baranova

The men stress that Peter has a grand specking ability which is important to getting out with the public. And that speaking ability is already something that Margaret is concerned about as she previously urged Peter to do more writing rather than speaking.

However, Peter feels confident about his “silver tongue” which brings with it an insatiable fascination with his power to persuade: “You don’t know the glorious sensation of holding a crowd in the hollow of your hand, mastering it, doing what you like with it.” Margaret summarizes her concern “The itch to speak is like the itch to drink, except that it’s cheaper to talk yourself.”

As Peter wins his seat he moves to London. His ability to provide powerful orations is still a driving force inside of him.

London Brings New Opportunities and New Challenges

Arriving in London, Peter meets the Mottram family including somewhat flirtatious Gladys (Sara Hader), Freddie (Avery Whitted) and Lady Mottram (Melissa Maxwell). He makes visits out frequently earning money for his speeches. And this sits well with this new crowd in London.

The sets here are more lavish and Peter’s quarters are also more elaborate than his home area. When his mother arrives, the differences of class and status are on display. Peter’s preference for a higher life cause him to go out on these more frequent speaking engagements. Is it the money he makes or the thrill of igniting the crowd? Perhaps both.

Sara Haider, Avery Whitted, and Melissa Maxwell in a scene from GARSIDE’S CAREER by Harold Brighouse, directed by Matt Dickson.
Photo credit: Maria Baranova

It backfires on him when he is confronted by the group who backed his run for the Parliament seat. His lack of attendance in Parliament due to these speaking engagements does not sit well. He resigns his seat and returns home and back to Margaret.

Mint Theater Company’s Superb Production Brings the Story Home

The design and execution of the production of this play by Mint Theater Company adds much to the story. Their sets, acting, and even the way they move the scenery allow audience members to see the plot unfolding very carefully.

Several songs are used to emphasize what is happening. One very strong one is a song about Solidarity which the group who is backing Peter sings with great vigor.

Casting for this play brings together a strong ensemble of actors. Leading is Daniel Marconi who provides a very convincing depiction of Peter Garside, a man who wants it all and loves to ignite a crowd. Amelia White’s portrayal of Mrs. Garside provides many amusing moments throughout the play. Madeline Seidman plays Margaret Shawcross as a sensible and level headed individual throughout the entire play. She gives that stability that Peter needs.

Go to See Garside’s Career

If you are a theater lover who enjoys well produced and well acted plays, then make it a point to attend a performance of Garside’s Career. The play runs until March 15, 2025.

Tickets may be purchased online at minttheater.org, by phone by calling 212/714-2442, ext. 45 (Tuesday – Sunday from 12 noon to 5PM), or in person at Theatre Row Box Office (located at 410 West 42nd Street). Service fees will apply for online or phone orders.

Performances will be Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings at 7pm with matinees Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2pm. Added performances Wednesday evenings 2/19 & 3/12 at 7pm and Thursday matinee 3/13 at 2pm. No performance on 2/21; no evening performance on 3/15.

Theatre Row, is located at 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues),

For more information, visit the Mint Theater Company website.

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Mystic Pizza is a Delicious Slice of Theater at Paper Mill Playhouse

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Karen Nowosad

Mystic Pizza Review

Photo Credit – Jeremy Daniel 2025

A new musical, Mystic Pizza, is giving theater goers very enjoyable entertainment at the Paper Mill Playhouse. At the performance I attended, people were singing along to some familiar tunes, smiling and applauding enthusiastically. Mystic Pizza is based on the classic 1988 movie of the same name starring Julia Roberts. This production adapts from that movie with a book written by Sandy Rustin. If you are a fan of the movie, you will see some changes, but the basic story remains intact.

Casey Hushion directs an outstanding cast who give high energy performances as they sing and dance their way into your heart. The spirited dance numbers use choreography by Connor Gallagher. Well designed sets by Nate Bertone have good details which help them transform easily throughout the performance. The band is located on an elevated platform where the music arranged by Carmel Dean receives direction by Kristin Stowell.

Mystic Pizza celebrates the 80s and 90s. The music and costumes are all relatable to that time. But this show is a lot more than that. It is a beautiful salute to friendships and all the joys they can bring. It also salutes small town life and the happiness of having a community come together and support each other. Additionally, it provides a nice acknowledgment from that community to a small business which is also a part of the fabric of the town.

Stories of Life in Small Town Mystic, Connecticut

Three long time girlfriends come together to celebrate the wedding of one of their own. We are introduced to Josephine “JoJo” (Deánna Giulietti), Katherine “Kat” (Alaina Anderson), and Daisy (Krystina Alabado). Theses three main characters have superb chemistry together as they work to figure out what life is all about and what they want to do. Their singing voices are strong and their harmonies are lovely to listen to.

Deánna Giulietti (Josephine “JoJo” Barboza), Alaina Anderson (Katherine “Kat” Arujo), and Krystina Alabado (Daisy Arujo)

But the wedding between JoJo and longtime boyfriend Bill (F. Michael Hayne) does not go as planned. At the ceremony, the priest gives great emphasis to the union of the two being forever, eternal, etc. These “forever” messages are delivered in a loud voice with a humorous twist by James Hindman. The reality of entering marriage hits JoJo at the altar and she passes out and cancels the rest of the ceremony. It’s not that she doesn’t love Bill. She does, But she is conflicted with wanting to feel that her life will be her own and not just one of being Bill’s wife.

Now in a small town, news of the unfulfilled nuptials spreads fast. The community introduces itself by singing John Mellencamp”s “Small Town” as scenes of activities unfold. And this song is cleverly used with two Reprises in this first act as new emphasis on life of the community unfolds.

Romance Enters Each of the Friends’ Lives

An interesting part of the story is the way each of the three friends have romances enter their lives. These romances are significant because they change each of them.

JoJo and Bill work on their situation even as Bill’s band, the Lobster Rolls, perform at the Peg Leg Club. This band doesn’t do much to develop the plot but it does provide good chances to include some songs and dance number. Bill has a fishing boat business and that does develop the plot more than the band does.

Kat works for a management group that rents out properties. This is how she meets Tim Travers (Ben Fankhauser). Kat works several jobs to get enough money to go to Yale where she has been accepted. But her meeting Tim throws her off balance and suddenly she’s in a relationship. Fankhauser does a fine job creating Tim as a character. He includes some little signs right from the start about him being a cad. So when Kat ends up heartbroken, its not a total surprise.

Daisy is the sexy one of the three friends. She isn’t pleased with her life but isn’t sure of how to change it. It is only after she meets Charles “Charlie” Gordon Windsor, Jr. (Vincent Michael) that more focus comes in. This is one area of the show that delves into social and class structure and Daisy learns much from it. There is a fine outcome in all of this for Daisy at the end and she finishes with new dreams and hopes.

The Mystic Pizza Shop

All three of the girls work as waitresses at the Mystic Pizza Shop owned and run by Leona Silvia (Jennifer Fouché). The character Leona is warm and nurturing also with a great voice. She has a big secret: she will not disclose the ingredients of the sauce she uses on the pizza. And that keeps it special and it gives Mystic Pizza its distinctive flair.

However, the shop is in trouble. In the off season, business is very slow and Leona is having a difficult time making a living. So the three girls devise a plan to get the local television restaurant critic, the Fireside Gourmet, to come and review the pizza. Eventually, their plan works and the critic comes to the shop for a pizza. Again we get to see some humorous acting from James Hindman in his second role in the show. His visit and later his commentary on tv delivered directly to the audience provide some very funny moments in the show. The results of his review make major changes for Leona and the three friends.

Alaina Anderson (Katherine “Kat” Arujo), Krystina Alabado (Daisy Arujo), Jennifer Fouché (Leona Silvia), and Deánna Giulietti (Josephine “JoJo” Barboza)

The scenes in the pizza shop are amongst the best parts of the show. Would like to have seen even more.

Music Abounds

If you are a fan of pop music from the 1980s and 90s, you will have a great time listening to all the music this show uses to tell its story. In addition to “Small Town,” audiences are treated to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Addicted to Love,” and a unique version of “Into the Mystic.” All of these are in the first act.

The second act opens with “Manic Monday” sung by The Lobster Rolls. As things get more serious for the Mystic Pizza Shop the song “All I Need is a Miracle” comes in. The show ends on a strong positive note with “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.”

There are other songs that add to the enjoyment of seeing this show provided by the band.

To Go to the Show

This is one you don’t want to miss so grab your tickets now! Get them at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office or online at papermill.org

Mystic Pizza runs 2 hours, 20 minutes which includes one intermission.

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‘A Christmas Carol’ is Festive and Fun at Shakespeare Theatre NJ

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Karen Nowosad
A scene from A Christmas Carol at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

A Christmas Carol at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey – A Review

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) enjoys a reputation of producing outstanding shows during the holiday season. This year brings another offering to that fine reputation with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This is one of the best productions you will see of old Scrooge’s journey from being a miser of a man into one who knows how to keep Christmas well.

Paul Mullins directs this production which includes many touches that add both interest and fun to the story. Add to that a well written script from Neil Bartlett delivered by a superb cast as well as excellent staging, lighting, sound, and costumes and you get a play that you will long remember.

A Time Honored Classic Story

England’s great writer Charles Dickens wrote the text of “A Christmas Carol.” It was published on December 19, 1843. According to information found on arts.gov, it was written in in just six weeks, under financial pressure. It has been reported that Dickens wrote the story while taking hours-long nighttime walks around London. No doubt, those evening walks helped to set the mood of the tale.

The characters in A Christmas Carol all revolve around the actions of one man: Ebeneezer Scrooge. He’s very tight with his wealth of money and not a joy to be around. He scrimps on supplying the coal needed for heat in his office, and his workers are always cold during the winter. He begrudges having to give them off on Christmas Day. Included in this group of three is the kind man Bob Cratchit, played with distinction by Andy Paterson.

Anthony Marble plays the role of Scrooge. He delivers a performance that captures the essence of a man who has neglected his own personal life in order to be successful. He is cold-hearted and not interested in warming up to people. However, that all changes after he meets the three ghosts on Christmas Eve led by his deceased business partner Jacob Marley.

The arrivals of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future all bring out incidents related directly to Scrooge. There are some very fine staging effects used as each arrive. For example, the Ghost of Christmas Past appears to come up from the floor through the bed. And the arrival of the ghost of Christmas Future brings a very tall frightening figure to the stage.

Scrooge’s Transformation

If you know the story, you will recall when Scrooge awakens on Christmas morning, he is very thankful that he has survived. He becomes a changed man. He goes out to visit his nephew and his wife and spends Christmas with them. The next day at the office, he gives Bob Cratchit a raise. Scrooge learns about the health of Cratchit’s son, Tiny Tim, and his time with the ghosts convinces him he has to help. And he also starts to donate money to causes that he had turned away before.

The play ends, assuring those listening that Scrooge became a man who honored Christmas from that day forward.

The Multi-role Playing Cast

Helping to get to that wonderful ending, is an outstanding cast. With the exception of Anthony Marble who plays Scrooge, the other seven actors play one role listed in the program but then have et al next to their names. This means they play more than one role in the play. In the After Talk held last week, they disclosed that there are some quick costume changes that take place backstage in order to cover all parts. Yet they look delightfully prepared for their parts.

Ghost of Christmas Present, et al – Jeffery M. Bender

Ghost of Christmas Past, et al – Emily S. Chang

Marley, et al – Celeste Ciulla

Mrs. Cratchit, et al – Gina Lamparella

Fred, et al – Ty Lane

Bob Cratchit – et al – Andy Paterson

Belle – et al – Fiona Robberson

Clever Stage Techniques

A Christmas Carol can be a rather dark play. But here at the STNJ, there are numerous stage techniques incorporated into the play to overcome that darkness.

For example, there is a light on a table close to where Scrooge is at. Every time it goes on, an actor is seen holding it and he gives out a singing type sound.

One of the favorites of the night is in the opening scene when Scrooge and his employees are seen in the office. Every time the door opens, one actor throws snow in through the door opening. Yes, it does represent a snow storm outside but it got everyone laughing in the audience.

There are many other clever stage techniques that audiences can enjoy in this play.

To Go to the Show

To learn more about A Christmas Carol or to buy tickets, visit the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey website at this location.

The show is running now through December 29, 2024.

A Christmas Carol runs a little over 2 hours with one 15 intermission.

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