‘Cellino v. Barnes’ A Legal Story

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Karen Nowosad

This is called catching up on posts I have not finished. This is a little late, but the show was enjoyable enough that I felt it deserved to get finished and posted. In May, I had an opportunity to see the play Cellino v. Barnes. It is about the building and break-up of a legal firm. Yes, it is based on a true story. But for those who remember Cellino and Barnes, the jingle created to advertise the firm stands out. Take a listen:

Cellino and Barnes – Injury Attorneys – (800) 888-8888.

Years ago, advertising for lawyers who wanted to represent clients with cases involving accidents might be called ambulance chasers. But that little jingle changed how the legal field viewed advertising. So the play is about how the two lawyers came together to form their firm, how different they were, and how the jingle/advertising came to be. It also shows the expansion they enjoined for many years and eventually their break up.

The play is written and performed by Mike B. Breen (Ross Cellino) and David Rafailedes (Steve Barnes). Both of these actors do an outstanding job of portraying their characters and giving the audience a look at some of the behind the scenes thinking that went into their working together.

Cellino v. Barnes Development as a Play

The play Cellino v. Barnes premiered in the basement theater at Union Hall, July 2018. It ran at the same time as the firm’s prinicples, Cellino and Barnes were actually dissolving the firm. From there, performances were at locations in Brooklyn, Buffalo, and Los Angeles. This run, which ran from April 13 – May 7, 2023 classified as Off-Off Broadway which is always fun to go to.

Very impressive was the crowd attending the show. It appeared to be sold out. It was a 5:00 show just perfect for a little something to do before going to dinner. The make shift bar set up on the side of the room was doing a brisk business and people enjoyed a little something during the traditional happy hour while watching the show.

A Very Cool Location and Venue

A chance to see Cellino v. Barnes reminded me that one of the exciting parts of theater in New York City is the variety of venues. There is an element of hidden excitement that awaits one when attending an Off-Off Broadway production. You never quite know what kind of venue you will get. And this one turned out to be a very pleasant surprise.

Front door to enter the area in front of the actual theater – Photo = K. Nowosad

W. 23rd Street in a Commercial Building

I come in from New Jersey so after coming out of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, I took the M011 bus down to W. 23rd Street and strolled down the street. Nothing really signaled to me where the show was at. And not being the best at following numbers on some city blocks, I had to stop to ask where the address was. It was right across the street from the residential building I had stopped at. As i got closer I saw this sign posted outside and there was a friendly person opening the door for people to enter.

When I got word about this show being in an office building, I was impressed. Post CoVid shutdown, there are a lot of reports of how many NYC office buildings are not fully in use. From the first time I heard about this, I though why not convert some of that space into theaters space. And finally it was here.

The entrance was bright and clean. It also was a storefront for selling clothing.

There were some nice looking items hanging in the store. A person was sitting there looking to provide help as needed.

But I’m not a very active shopper so I didn’t really pause that long in the entrance area. Besides, I was intrigued with the way that this theater space was set up so I wanted to get into the actual venue portion.

There were a few restrooms to pass by first and then a small concession stand was available.

Clever Stage Setting

The stage – Photo by K. Nowosad

These photos give you an idea of how the stage was set. It was on the same level as the seating so the audience feels like they are right in the offices of the lawyers.

Another view of the stage – K. Nowosad

As the play ran, the entire office space was utilized. Modern office equipment for that time period was on stage. It was interesting to watch in the play as the interaction between the two partners grew to see how different they were. These differences might have been a good reason why the firm broke apart. Good chance there was more to it than that. This play focuses more on the early years and how the firm grew to become quite large.

Follow Where Cellino v. Barnes is Next

Cellino v. Barnes is more than just a legal story. Instead it looks at the personalities of the partners and how their work together influenced the legal field.

Good chance this show will appear somewhere again. For more details about the show, visit the website.

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Tales from the Guttenberg Bible Premieres at George Street Playhouse

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Karen Nowosad
Steve Guttenberg in Tales From the Guttenberg Bible T Charles Erickson Photography Photograph © T Charles Erickson

Tales from the Guttenberg Bible is the final offering in what has been a fabulous season at the George Street Playhouse. The show is the autobiographical story of Steve Guttenberg‘s life as an actor. It is cleverly performed on a set that allows four actors to play 90 different roles. The rapid change of time periods and characters helps this show move quickly yet tell a story that is fun to watch with an underlying poignant theme.

On Opening Night, George Street’s Artistic Director, David Saint, told the audience that several years ago, producer Julian Schlossberg approached him to see if he had an interest in working on a new stage script by Steve Guttenberg. He was intrigued about the project so work began. What started as a 320 page manuscript is now approximately 62 pages. It certainly seems like the right length as the show runs just about 90 minutes with no intermission.

Mr. Saint is also the Director of this production. He graciously shared some information about the star, Steve Guttenberg, who he said is a regular, nice guy. And that down to earth attitude makes this show so enjoyable to watch. Guttenberg’s stage presence is warm and welcoming as he tells his story. There’s a sincerity that shine through from him to the audience that makes you feel like he’s telling his story directly to you. Using the term professional life is limiting here because he really does go into more than that. It’s a portrait of how important family is to him as well.

From Long Island to Hollywood

The story begins when Steve graduates high school in his Long Island hometown and decides to fulfill his dream of becoming an actor. So two days after graduation he’s on a plane, flying out to Hollywood with somewhat of a blessing from his parents.

A scene showing Steve Guttenberg and actors playing his parents. T Charles Erickson Photography Photograph © T Charles Erickson

The blessing is in the form of giving him two weeks to make it out there. He’s agreeable to that concept until at the end of two weeks, he is just getting started so the two weeks gets extended to two months and it goes on and on from there. 

Upon arriving in Hollywood, Steve stays with a family friend who arranges for him to meet an agent. He immediately lands work in commercials. This allows the calls to his parents to be a bit more reassuring. Yes, he has work, yes it is acting. Maybe not big work but work that leads to some small acting parts. Was he just at the right place at the right time? It appears to be a lot more than that. He’s definitely a talent and the talent is seen and developed. He is encouraged and his work continues.  

Steve tells some funny stories about the early times in his career. One story is about how he figured a way to break into the Paramount Studios Lot. Once in, he locates a vacant office space and he claims it as his own. Then there is the first time he was on the Merv Griffin show – he was tense and perspired a lot. This reference to the tension comes up quite a bit in the early years and it is done with a grain of humor to it.

Many Agents, Managers, and Hollywood Life

As the story progresses, we learn that Steve had a number of agents and managers at various points in his career. He also meets some very interesting Hollywood characters along the way. To help illustrate that, the other three cast members play a variety of roles. The notes from the show indicate 90 characters are in this show. I didn’t try to count them as they were running through but there were an amazing amount of small costume changes that took place. These numerous roles are delightfully played by Arnie Burton, Dan Domingues, and Carine Montbertrand.

Some characters are only on for one quick walk on and then they go off, but others remain throughout the entire show, including, Mr. Guttenberg‘s mother and father. They are consistent throughout the production. In many ways, Tales from the Guttenberg Bible is a love letter to his family particularly to his father. It is extremely touching at the end, when he pays tribute to his father, who passed away  a few years ago. The closeness between father and son is evident. This is one of the most touching scenes in the show.

Major Success Arrives

We see when Steve made it into a major motion picture, The Boys From Brazil with Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck. From that recognition, he attracted a variety of leading roles including the film classic Diner (1983). Next came Police Academy (1984) which turned into a series of sequels and continues to be one of the highest earning film franchises ever.

Another major moment came in 1985 Guttenberg appeared in the heart warming story, Cocoon. Agents are still coming and going but by 1987, the Disney film Three Men and a Baby sees Steve as one of the three leads.

If it seems like he was a busy actor, you are right. In fact, Guttenberg has the record for most original films to go to franchises in film history, and appearing in the most films in The Screen Actors Guild from 1980-1990. This is reflected in the play by this scurry of constant activity and people in and out. Eventually, he decides that he has to go home for awhile and reunite with his family.

Set Design for Tales from the Guttenberg Bible

The set is cleverly designed so that there are two prominent pieces of scenery that form an upside down type triangle. Behind it is the screen that displays scenes from some of the movies that Guttenberg has made.

Oddly, though there is a type of gauze material that hangs in front of that screen, and it kind of defers some of the ability to see some of the pictures. However one of the most clever parts of the set are small windows that open on each of these side pieces.

This allows the actors to poke their heads out and present moments from his life.  This is another device that plays uses to allow the action to continue at a very good pace. There’s not a sluggish moment in the show at all. It moves at a very fast pace and keeps the audience interested.

Final Thoughts on Tales from the Guttenberg Bible

For anyone who is a fan of Steve Guttenberg, this is a must see. You will learn a lot about him and how he views his work and his life. It is a pleasure to see how important family is to him. Although he is a megastar, he remains true to himself and his ideals. This is a joy to see.

For people who are interested in what happens to actors and all they go through then this is a definite must see for you also. The highs, the lows, they are all shown in Tales from the Guttenberg Bible.

This show runs now through May 21, 2023.

Tickets begin at $25 and  are now on sale.  For subscriptions and group discount information visit www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org or call 732-246-7717. 

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“The Shot” – A Stunning Theatrical Experience

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Karen Nowosad

Sharon Lawrence in “The Shot” at New Jersey Repertory Company production

Review of “The Shot”

The New Jersey Repertory Company produces many new plays some of which enjoy a world premiere and then go on to other theaters. Although this show is not a world premiere, it appears they have again struck gold with their current offering, The Shot. This show should be one that is seen in other theaters and by many people. It is that good.

The play, written by Robin Gerber is directed by Michelle Joyner. It tells the story of the early life of Washington Post Publisher Katherine Graham. It is a one person play with the role of Graham brilliantly portrayed by popular award winning actress Sharon Lawrence. The Shot is a look back at the woman who achieves great heights with the Post but who suffers abuse at the hands of her husband culminating in his suicide.

But what makes the play that good? Look for how the story is told, the staging, and Sharon Lawrence’s performance as the storyteller.

Background

The Shot received its first public reading in Los Angeles in March of 2020. But then COVID hit, shutting down the performance. Over a period of months, the creative team continued working on the script and produced a video reading of The Shot which also stared Sharon Lawrence. This reading raised over $25K for participating domestic violence non-profits.

In October 2021 it received a developmental workshop at Santa Barbara’s Center Stage Theater. This past June, The Shot premiered at Great Barrington Public Theatre receiving critical praise.

How the Story is Told

The story in this play is about the early life of Katherine Graham. As we hear about how she grew up, we start to see the beginnings of a very traditional background for women of that era. However, her interest in journalism and her studies in college start to dispel that traditional mindset. She has an interest in covering stories that make an impact such as covering a strike. But her father who now is the owner of the Washington Post does not see it the same way. He is more pleased to see his daughter do less important roles on a newspaper.

A significant event occurs when she meets the man who becomes her husband, Philip Graham.The fine writing of this script comes into play as Katherine describes the moment she met Philip and how impressive he was. Many glowing adjectives explain the wonderful feelings she experienced. However, those wonderful feelings are not present when she and Philip have their first sexual encounter. Her description of that painful event shows the early signs of a man who is self centered. But being a woman of that time, she accepts it and thinks that’s the way it is.

After she and Philip marry, her father hands over the role of publisher of the Washington Post to his new son-in-law. Not a mention is made of Katherine taking it on even though she has a journalism background compared to Philip’s background as a lawyer. Would that fly today? Probably not. But in that post World War II time period, it was the custom of the day. Thus begins her life as a housewife soon to become a mother to four children. She also has the task and a very large one of taking care of her husband whose alcoholism and lack of confidence make her life difficult. This gives way to some very tragic parts of The Shot eventually leading to Philip’s suicide.

The Staging

The Shot was not on the official season listing for The NJ Rep. They were planning to be in production for their next show Our Shrinking, Shrinking World. However, when the opportunity became available for them to produce The Shot, they took it. In order to accommodate both shows, the lobby is now a studio theater. This smaller, more intimate seating and stage area add a special intimacy to the play.

The set is a basic desk and chair which allows the scene to change quickly and without scenery changes. A warning is in the playbill and announced before the show begins that there is a gun representation in the show. The gun is not real. Instead it is a stage prop specifically made to look like a rifle. Wisely, it is behind a wall on one side of the stage until it is used in the play.

Sharon Lawrence as Katherine Graham

One person plays are not easy to perform. All the action and dialog rests on the one performer. Sharon Lawrence is that one performer as she becomes the storyteller. Her transformation into Katherine Graham is very well done. She wears a wig to represent hairstyles of the time and one dress serves as the costume throughout the play.

Outstanding is the actual verbal delivery and the pacing needed to emphasize emotions of the scenes. Her explanations of how she tried to take care of her husband and bolster his confidence are heartbreaking at time. The reflections of the abuse, both mental and physical, are difficult moments in the show.

The experience of handling guns and hearing the fatal shot that kills Philip climaxes the show to a tragic level. Ms. Lawrence does a superb performance of a woman who must accept what has happened and try to move on from there.

Tickets for The Shot

This show runs through April 23.

Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. To purchase tickets, call 732-229-3166 or visit the NJ Rep website.

NJ Repertory Company is located at 179 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ.

The running time is 75 minutes with no intermission.

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