Act and Sip – An Enjoyable Experience

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Karen Nowosad
An acting class in action at Sip & Act – Photo used with permission

Introducing Act and Sip

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to stand on a stage and give a live acting performance? What if that stage was in the heart of the Broadway theater district? Wonder no more – Act and Sip is for you. You can be “the star in your story.”

Act and Sip provides classes that give everyone an opportunity to be on an actual stage in a famous Off-Broadway venue right in the heart of New York’s Theater District. With the fine coaching and relaxed atmosphere provided, you may find yourself wanting more.

Act and Sip is run by the Russell Acting Studio. It was developed after Catherine Russell sensed a new trend after she attended Paint & Sip classes. Ms. Russell’s Acting Studio already gives more conventional six week acting classes. However, this class is designed for people to come in for 90 minutes, see some of the basics of acting, and have some fun. You can also have a drink or not have one. You might also be able to sample some outstanding locally baked cookies.

How It Works

Act and Sip is held at the Theater Center on W. 50th Street. Be sure to stop for a moment to enjoy the fact that you are in a venue with has a long history of hosting very successful Off-Broadway shows. The gallery of photos on the walls on the 4th floor is worth taking the time to see. The longest running play in New York City, The Perfect Crime, performs here. The Fantasticks graced the stage for a number of years here as well.

You are ushered into the Jerry Orbach Theatre where you meet your instructors who instantly make you feel welcome. The team of Catherine Russell, owner of Russell Acting Studio, and Bradley Bemboom help to get you situated. Their enthusiasm for what they do is evident. Concerns about standing up in front of people to act out a scene will diminish after you meet them.

Over on the side of the stage a small bar is set up. Beer, some flavored shots, and water were available the day I visited. So there’s the sip part if you desire. But for someone like myself who loves sweets, the Pina Colada cookies were what I wanted. They are delicious and baked by Bradley who not only is an actor and coach, but also runs a small local baked goods operation.

After everyone is seated, a few introductions are made. Then the acting coaches pair the participants into groups of two. Each group receives a script from a known movie or television show. I was paired with a gentleman I did not know and we were given a scene from the movie Body Heat. Although we had never met before, we had no trouble getting into our scene as we did a first read. From there, we made decisions about how to stage the scene. And we were off to practice.

Mini Performances

The real meat of the activity arrives as each group takes their turn on stage to present their scenes. The acting coaches give feedback and suggestions for improvements. Then a second run through of the scene takes place. In some cases, a little more tweaking was suggested with another brief run through. The group was pleased with the results. I didn’t see Tony Awards being handed out but one never knows what the future holds! Yes, there were some very fine performances.

My companion that day has attended acting classes and also has done acting on some theater stages. She had positive remarks about the experience saying that the level of professional style coaching was impressive.

My own impression was to give high marks to Cathy and Bradley for the way they graciously critiqued each group. Their suggestions fit well with each person’s delivery style. Improvement noted! Improvement made and so quickly!

Why Go to Act and Sip

Act and Sip is billed as “a crash course in acting” and in a sense it is. However, it is a lot of fun especially for groups of people who attend together. The drinks and snacks are a nice touch, you feel like you are at a party. But you also get a chance to try out a new skill and develop some appreciation for what goes into acting.

The classes are designed for total beginners. It is a lot of fun for friends, family, coworkers or couples looking for a unique date night.  Work groups can use it as a team building activity. It can also be done solo with the chance to meet some creative people.

For more information, visit the Russell Acting Studios website at https://russellactingstudio.com/byob.

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Mike Super Gives a Crowd Pleasing Show

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Karen Nowosad
Mike Super wowed the crowsds at Avenel Performing Arts Center

Mike Super is a magician, an illusionist, and sometimes he’s called a mystifier.  His website says that he has pioneered a new form of magic that transcends the “trick.” He has the right stage name (he claims it is not his real name) because that describes how he gives a show. I was a part of the audience one evening at the Avenel Performing Arts Center where Mike performed from July 11 – 14. I was amazed and dazzled, and best of all, I had a lot of fun at his show. Judging from the conversations I had with other people and reactions I saw, the rest of the audience enjoyed the show too.

Mike is known to many because he appeared on several television shows. He was a finalist on America’s Got Talent, and he won NBC’s Magic Competition on the show Phenomenon. If you have seen him on television, you know how amazing he is. But seeing him do a live show takes it to an entirely different level. He is truly a performer who knows how to impress a crowd with his incredible feats. Add in a warm personality, good storytelling, and the ability to get the audience involved with the show and you have qualities that truly are magic.

Tricks, Magic, and Illusions

Right from the start, Mike tells the crowd that he does tricks, magic, and illusions. He also provides some background about how young he was when he started with magic. He introduces Desmond, his imaginary friend, who he claims has been in his life since childhood. Is he just a figment of his imagination? The audience was not so sure after he does an amazing demonstration of the energy Desmond brings with him. This involved an audience member wearing a plastic glove holding a fairly heavy glass pitcher while the audience pushes their energy towards it. When the pitcher shatters into many small pieces right in front of our eyes, we are amazed in wonder. It’s looking better and better that Desmond is really with us. And so Mike Super makes his point and we believe!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=favax5zMTSQ
Mike Super introduces Desmond on America’s Got Talent

The show is filled with a variety of feats, one more amazing than another. The audience was especially taken with a trick that involved playing card selections used to predict what will appear on papers and chalkboards. Another was collecting three rings from three different people. The three rings end up being entwined into one connected piece which Mike eventually separates and returns to the owners. For certain parts of the show, a projection screen is used to give a close up view of something being done particularly the card tricks. This adds a lot to the audience feeling more a part of the show.

How does he do it? Frankly, I don’t really want to know. I want to sit back and enjoy and believe that maybe it really is magic.

Mike Super Makes the Show Special for All Attending

Part of the charm of going to a live show is the sensation of seeing things as they happen right before your eyes. Mike Super adds to that by making the audience a part of the show. He walks frequently into the audience and establishes a rapport with them. This allows people to feel more comfortable about volunteering to go up on stage. It also allows them to share in the magic of the production. Mike is able to make it feel like it is the audience’s show and not just him performing on stage. A nice talent to be able to this.

He has also very cleverly come up with his own word, “lavenous.” In Avenel, he related how he ordered a steak in their onsite restaurant, Curtains, and when the waitress asked how it was, he responded with “it’s lavenous.” He said she smiled but he wasn’t sure if she knew what it meant but it seemed to relay something. He then inserts the word at various points in the show, the audience knows what it represents and its as if we all have a little secret code uniting us in this show.

Not only is Mike Super good at this relationship building, but he also is an excellent storyteller. His style is likable with a light sprinkling of humor and very down to earth. His storytelling includes good descriptions of what is taking place during a set piece and his openness has you hanging on every word he says.

The Finale

The show is well designed, well paced, and runs about a two hours with an intermission. The finale is particularly poignant when Mike does a tribute to his late mother as he produces snow on stage. He uses this as an opportunity to thank the crowd and we get to enjoy the music and sensation of snow falling.

Mike Super says he doesn’t do magic, that he uses illusions and devices to carry out his actions. Frankly, after seeing this show, I want to believe that it was magic that took place there. The opportunity to totally escape from reality for a few hours and see a gifted performer working his craft is magic for me.

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‘Buried’ Explores Lives of Serial Killers

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Karen Nowosad
Lindsay Manion and Sebastian Belli in a scene from Buried at the 2019 New York Musical Festival
Photo Credit – William Dey

Buried – A Review

Fresh from a run in Edinburgh, the musical Buried makes its American debut at the 2019 New York Musical Festival. It comes into NYMF as a polished production which explores the relationship between two serial killers who meet one night in a bar. Yes, it is a strange topic for a musical and the story has its highs and lows. In many ways, it is a study of the mind of serial killers. However, about two thirds of the way in, the story loses its way and doesn’t evoke enough sympathy for the lead characters or anyone else. In spite of that, the music and the vocal performances are so well done that the play succeeds in those areas. There is a promising future for the creative book and music writing team as well as the performers from this show.

Background

Buried was written by students Cordelia O’Driscoll and Tom Williams while they were completing their studies at University in Sheffield in 2017. Buried premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to wide acclaim that summer, selling out all performances during their month-long run. The production went on to win the Sunday Times National Student Drama Festival Edinburgh Award, which led to further sell-out runs at the Leicester Curve and the Pleasance Theatre in London. It also won the Cameron Mackintosh Award at the 2018 National Student Drama Festival.

Cordelia O’Driscoll is the composer and lyrics writer. Tom Williams is the book and lyrics writer.  He also serves as Director of this production. Perhaps his degree in Psychology gave rise to parts of this show because it examines what happens in the mind of a serial killer.  Studies show they may have a difficult upbringing, they get excitement and pleasure watching their victims die, and they rarely have any remorse. This all comes through in Buried; but it can be uncomfortable to watch. Wisely, the action of a victim’s death is not shown on stage. Instead, the message of a killing taking place is implied as victims are led off stage.

The Story

The story begins with Rosie and Harry meeting people in a bar who become their victims. The first song, “When You Know, You Know” could easily be construed as a dating song. As she sits down with a man, Rosie sings:

This feeling never changes, Anticipation running through your head, You wonder what they’ll be like, you wonder who will walk through that door, You never know who you might find, Will they know what’s on your mind?

But there is a another meaning here. What is on her mind is actually this is my next victim. Excitement mounts from that connection. The same with Harry. Their methods of killing are different: Rosie uses poison while Harry kills with a knife.

One day, these two meet in the bar. After they discover each was trying to kill the other, they discuss their feelings. The song “Another Me” describes how difficult their early lives were and how they each felt different from other people. But then, they realize something else:

Just like me, In another body A dream Where I have been calling for someone And I’ve never gotten a reply – Your story in line with my life, just memories of always living on the outside I don’t think I’ve ever met another me before…

“I’ve never met another me before” expresses the surprise that they have met a fellow serial killer. They are amazed and fascinated. This might be a great opening for them to want to start new lives together. But that killer psyche is at work and they cannot do it. The show gets a little cloudy as they try to come to terms with their situation but never once do you sense remorse for what they have done. Also, there is a lack of feeling that these two are in love. You get the sense that they have a connection and that they are trying to figure how to use it to their advantage to become a team for their killings.

Photo credit William Dey

And thus the dilemma of serial killer and the problem with a show on this subject. You don’t feel sympathy for either one of them. Suddenly the comedy isn’t funny anymore. This is serious. Parts of it are uncomfortable to watch. And yet, it also conveys the whole concept of the serial killer mentality. Clever in making its point but not easy to digest as a musical.

Running along side of the relationship between Rose and Harry are ensemble members who act out playing on a television show that deals with psychopaths. The information that they playfully provide gives more insight into the serial killer psyche. It is a clever way to bring some research and insight into the show.

The ending may or may not surprise audiences. Seeing no way out of getting captured, Rose and Harry decide to end their lives. The song “Yesterday Forever” allows some feeling to creep through about having met someone just like themselves, “another me.” The loneliness of being what they are has at least been shared. For that, there is some gratitude.

The Music and Performers

The music is very well done in this show. Songs like “When You Know, You Know” and “Then I Released” are well written and the melodies flow nicely. “Something Ordinary” sung by Harry is a good solo number. And the music used in “The Psychopath Next Door” scenes gets the message across well.

Lindsay Manion is outstanding in the role of Rose. Her voice is strong and clear. Listening to her sing is a high point of the show. Sebastian Belli plays Harry. His characterization is well thought out and well delivered. He also has a good, strong singing voice and adds much to the musical aspect of the show.

Ensemble players are used in a variety of roles in this show and they deserve their own set of applause. This includes Niamh Finan, Laurence Hunt, Wilf Walsworth and Rebecca Yau.

Final Thoughts

Run time for this show is 90 minutes and there is no intermission.

Buried is a mixed bag. There are redeeming features such as the music and performers, but there is a problem with the tone of the story.

However, this work shows that O’Driscoll has a good future ahead of her writing music. And if she chooses to remain teamed with Williams for lyrics, then I would look forward to hearing more from then.

Visit NYMF 2019 now through August 4, 2019. For more information visit their website at nymf.org.

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