Williamstown Theatre Festival and ‘The Legend of a Romance’ – A Marvelous Stop on Summer Road Trip

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Karen Nowosad

Photo by K Nowosad

Part 2 of my little theater road trip took me from Bennington, Vermont into Massachusetts to the Williamstown Theatre Festival to see A Legendary Romance. Bennington proved to be a great little spot to stay since it is close driving distance to the Dorset Festival Theatre and about 20 minutes driving time to Williamstown.

Arriving early was a good thing since the building that houses Williamstown Theatre Festival is magnificent. There are several theaters, unique seating, and inspiring artwork.  There are also many photos on the hallway walls from previous seasons and the many shows performed over the years. Especially impressive is the actual layout of the building which allows easy access from the large parking facility through a back entrance way. Once in, the stairs are in wide slabs which makes walking up quite easy. Rest rooms are more than adequate and well kept. The box office is in the main lobby where a snack bar sells a good variety of items. The doors to the outside were open so easy access in and out of the theater became available. It was relaxing to sit outdoors and take in the gorgeous scenery that surrounds the building.

A Legendary Romance

Playing at the afternoon matinee was a new musical titled A Legendary Romance. Music is by Geoff Morrow with a book by Timothy Prager. Lonnie Price directed a cast which included Jeff McCarthy, Lora Lee Gayer, Roe Hartampf, and Jose-Maria Aguila. The play combines scenes from black and white film and live action on stage to tell the story. The plot involves a Hollywood film director who falls in love with his leading lady. They plan to marry but problems arise as the McCarthy era takes victim after victim. Through a series of misunderstands and unspoken conversations, another man steps in and claims the lady. One person dies and one person appears to be guilty. But the director and his lady part never to see each other again. Years pass and the director begins to have dreams and recollections of the events as he attempts to come to some sort of peace.

The play has some very fine music and the actors gave very good performances. The interaction between live acting and the film works well. What needs some work is the clarity of what time period a few of the scenes are in. It was a bit confusing at times. It does come together in the end in a rather surprising way, but a few areas could be smoothed out.

In addition to seeing an enjoyable show, I also enjoyed seeing the Main Stage theater. The seating design, the light colored woodwork, and comfortable seating make this one of the best theaters I have been in.

Final thoughts on Williamstown – fantastic! And it’s less than a 3 hour drive for this theater goer. Looking forward to another trip there next year!

Posted in On the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’ at Dorset Festival Theatre Wows the Crowd

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Karen Nowosad

Joey Taranto as Georgia McBride – Photo by Gerry Goodstein

It was time for a summer theater road trip a few weeks ago.  First stop was the Dorset Theatre Festival to see The Legend of Georgia McBride.  I hit gold!  This play is well-written with a lot of laughs but it also has a serious side.  It is a fun show and very entertaining.  High marks go to the Dorset Theatre Festival for this production which is first rate.  There are gorgeous costumes, a set designed to keep the action flowing, and a marvelous cast that got the audience cheering for the characters.

Written by Matthew Lopez and directed by Stephen Brackett, The Legend of Georgia McBride opens with an Elvis impersonator, Casey, performing at a little club in Panama City, Florida. Casey is bound and determined to be a success onstage. But he is not making enough money to pay the rent for the little apartment he and his wife, Jo, live in. When things look their worst, the club owner, Eddie, tells Casey he has to let him go. The club is near bankruptcy. In an attempt to save it, Eddie brings in Miss Tracy Mills and side kick performer Rexy.  They are drag queens and his hope is that their show will bring in a new audience to save the club from going under.

As the two new club performers take over Casey’s dressing room, he reluctantly accepts a position to be a bartender at the club. But when Rexy passes out right before a performance, Tracy quickly recruits Casey to take the spot.  Only one problem: he’s never been a drag performer.  Although he is nervous, he takes a chance. Those scenes where Casey gets dressed in drag for the first time and takes his first steps onstage are worth the price of admission alone.

There is a lot more to the story as it unfolds and Casey finds he loves his new found persona. However, he is a straight man with a wife, a new baby on the way, and a reputation as a former football player. So he decides not to tell Jo. He lives a double life for awhile and all goes well. He makes good money, the club thrives, and everyone starts to get along. Yes, all is well until his wife learns that he is not working as a bartender. Her reaction and his need to decide how to live his life make for some interesting theater.  Poignant moments occur when Rexy and Tracy each tell Casey their own story. Painful as it is, they are both survivors and that inspires Casey to allow his alter ego, now known onstage as Georgia McBride, to continue performing.

Joey Taranto plays Casey.  Mr. Taranto impressively struts across the stage as he first impersonates Elvis and then a phenomenally talented drag queen.  With a fine sensitivity, he moves Casey through  a series of life changes which would rock anyone’s soul and makes it all believable. Vasthy Mompoint brings a sweetness to the role of Casey’s wife, Jo, that becomes necessary for a woman who suddenly finds herself married to a man quite different from what she thought he was. She also changes quite a bit from the first scenes in the show to the final scene.

David Turner gives a strong performance as Miss Tracy Mills. He creates a character who is determined to make the most of what might be his final chance to make a success of himself.  Jon Norman Schneider does a very fine job in a difficult role, Rexy. The character’s substance abuse issues are part of a complex person who struggles to keep going on. Denny Dale Bess plays Eddie, the club owner. He is basically a good guy and Bess gets that aspect to show through as he strives to keep the business going.

The Theater at Dorset, Vermont

Photo taken by K. Nowosad Opening Night – ‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’

The Legend of Georgia McBride plays through August 20, 2017. If you are in the area and looking for an enjoyable theater outing, visit the Dorset Theater, 104 Cheney Road, Dorset, Vermont.

The building that houses the theater is rustic with a beautiful design. Visit their café for a little snack before the show and weather permitting, take in that clean, Vermont air with a seat in their outdoor area.

For this theater goer from the New York/New Jersey area, I loved the fact that the theater sits on a quiet little road.  Parking was free, plenty of it, and really close by! This theater will be on my list for visits in the future.

Check the Dorset Festival Theater website for more information.

Posted in On the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘F Theory’ Looks at Lifelong Friendship

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Karen Nowosad

A scene from ‘F Theory’ now playing at NJ Repertory Company – Photo credit: SuzAnne Barabas

A new play, F Theory, begins today at the NJ Repertory Company.  F Theory is a funny yet poignant play about the power and complexity of lifelong friendship. This new production runs through September 24, 2017 at 179 Broadway, Long Branch, New Jersey.

Co-written by and starring Megan Loughran and Alex Trow, F Theory is directed by Ethan Heard. Press notes about the play include the following description:

When we first meet them, Marianne (Trow) and Ellie (Loughran) are bright, charming college roommates prone to break out in spontaneous tap dance routines in the middle of study sessions. They come from very different backgrounds and are headed into very different futures—wealth, marriage, and anthropological adventures for one; family troubles, solo living, and a career as a musician for the other. But the bond they forged on meeting is that rare sort that transcends all circumstance and thrives across time; even across several continents in their case. Or does it? What happens when you realize that the friendship you have valued on the merit of its fortitude through decades, means something else entirely to the person on the other end? F Theory gives center stage to friendship, a relationship often sidelined in both art and life to family, romance, and marriage, though it is often stronger than them all.

Megan Loughran and Alex Trow are actors and writers based in New York City. They met at Yale University from which they both graduated. Director Ethan Heard is also a graduate of Yale. Also featured in the cast is Pheonix Vaughn, a regular at NJ Rep, who will be performing the role of Marianne, September 16 – 17.

About the Show

It’s always fun to go to NJ Repertory Company to see a show but especially when the beach and ocean are a mere two blocks away!  Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 2pm beginning August 17. Tickets are $46 and are available at 732-229-3166 or online at njrep.org. Early bird discounts are available to select performances. Check with the NJ Rep for more information.

Posted in New Jersey Theater | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment