‘The Jag’ Gives Audiences a Good Ride

Posted on January 21, 2017 by Karen Nowosad

Now running at New Jersey Repertory Company

A car can play a very important role in a family’s life. It can be the vehicle that takes them places such as their daily work and errands or it can represent their opportunities to go to new places such as a family vacation. In a new play titled The Jag, a white 1967 Jaguar sedan is such a vehicle. However, what is represents to the Chicarella family is much more than transportation. This play that premiered at the New Jersey Repertory Company last weekend tells the story of the family’s hidden past and present struggles with each other. It uses a car as its focus to unravel the secrets held for years. The Jag has a well written script filled with great dialog, acting by a fine cast, and a real life, full-sized Jaguar on the stage to add lots of atmosphere to an old garage in which it is parked.

The Jag was written by Gino Dilario. Mr. Dilario is an award-winning playwright whose body of work includes several plays that were premiered at the NJ Rep including Release Point, Apostasy, Winterizing the Summer House and Dead Ringer. His plays have also been seen at numerous locations throughout the U.S. In March, 2017, his new play, Sam and Dede, will have its New York premiere at the 59 East 59 Theatre. Mr. Dilario’s play The Jag skillfully develops its story through a step-by- step revelation of who the story’s characters truly are. The dialog between the three characters is crisp and quick flowing as it brings out who these people really are. From my viewpoint, the character I liked in the beginning of the story was not the one I ended up caring up about at the end and the one I didn’t like in the beginning became the winner in the end. That’s how carefully the development is in this script. For those who like to watch personality evolution on stage, this play is for you.

The Jag is directed by Brendan Burke and stars Dan Grimaldi, known to many as the identical twin mobsters Patsy and Philly Parisi of The Sopranos, Christopher Daftsios and Estelle Bajou. The script is in fine hands with this cast acting jout the roles of Leo “Chick” Chicarella (Grimaldi), Donald “Bone” Chicarella ( Daftsios), and Carla Carr (Bajou).

Grimaldi plays Chick hard-nosed to open the play as he talks with his son, Donald, about the family car in need of repairs. The Jaguar has been sitting around Chick’s garage needing refurbishing for years. The garage was the business Chick ran but can no longer do because he is nearly blind. But we learn later in the play that the car belonged to Chick’s other son who is dead. Daftsios plays his part as Donald very firmly in the beginning trying to aid his father to try to get the car into good enough shape to sell. Chick can’t seem to let go of the car and Donald desperately wants to see it leave the garage. A third character, Carla, enters as someone who gets hired by Donald to complete the repairs needed so he can make good on a fine offer he has from someone who wants to buy the car. Carla’s character is the tipping point of the play. Bajou play Carla in a most delightful way as someone who is a bit naïve about life, but who knows everything there is to know about Jaguars. Her repair and refurbish skills are legendary and she comes through for the Chicarella family’s Jaguar. All is going well until the car’s refurbishing is nearly complete. And then, stories unravel, and all three characters need to decide how involved they can stay in this project. The end is a bit of a surprise, one that theater goers will have to decide whether they like or not because it represents a strong dose of reality that could likely occur with the dysfunctions of such a family.

The other “star” of this show is the Jaguar itself that is fully in tact at all times on the stage. It is a beautiful car to see and in many ways, it just doesn’t seem to fit in the setting it is in. Maybe that’s a clue to those coming to see this play. The ill fit of the car will give you clues as to what the outcome is. The Jag is well worth coming to see.

About the show

Running Time: approximately 90 minutes, no intermission

Location: New Jersey Repertory Company, 179 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ

Performances: Thursdays, Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm & 8pm; Sundays at 2pm.

Contact for Info and Tickets: Group and student rates are available to select performances. For tickets call 732-229-3166 or visit their website at www.njrep.org

Suggested Audience: Adult audiences due to some strong language. Theater goers who have an interest in Jaguars and vintage cars will really enjoy this show.

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‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ Brings Good Cheer to the Holiday Stage

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Karen Nowosad

A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, adapted for the stage by Jeremy Brooks and Adrian Mitchell. Directed by Joseph Discher. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 2016. Pictured left to right: Peter Simon Hilton, Greg Jackson, John Ahlin, Andy Paterson, Alison Weller, Clemmie Evans, and Carey Van Driest. Photo credit: Jerry Dalia.

When all the preparations are done for the holiday season, it’s time to enjoy all that comes along with this glorious time of year. If theater is your pleasure of choice, a good choice is to go see A Child’s Christmas in Wales which is currently running at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.  The production is based on the classic story by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and adapted for the stage by Jeremy Brooks and Adrian Mitchell. It has a story line that is timeless and classic. It incorporates music and singing along with colorful, humorous dialog.

This festive show is being revived for the first time since it last appeared on the Shakespeare Theatre New Jersey stage in 2003.  While attending a talk back with Director Joseph Discher and cast after the Dec. 5 performance, questions were asked if this was the same show as presented back then. Discher said it basically was but there have been a few changes made. Also, the addition of new actors gives the show a fresh, new look.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales is a composite account of Dylan Thomas’ childhood holidays in Wales in the early 1900s. It features Greg Jackson as Dylan Thomas who lives with his mother and father in a simple but comfortable home. Jackson does an incredible job moving between the roles of grown up narrator and the child he once was. His transformation into young Thomas is so well done it allows the audience to imagine a child onstage even though he is an adult still dressed in the costume of the narrator. We see him become excited as Christmas morning opens with his family sharing breakfast. Father is played by Peter Simon Hilton and Mother by Tina Stafford. They receive a visit from the Postman for Cwmdonkin Drive played by John Ahlin.  He brings young Dylan a parcel which will be opened later.

Next, young Dylan meets his friends played by Thomas Daniels, Julian Blake Gordan, and Seamus Mulcahy in the local park where they play all sorts of imaginative games that we watch and remember what life was like before video games! The Park Keeper, Patrick Toon, keeps the boys orderly and also add to their adventures of trying to get away with something.

The time arrives for the friends to depart and go to their respective family gatherings. This was an especially enjoyable part of the show because we watch as the relatives and friends arrive at the Thomas house. They carry with them gifts for young Dylan and we see the gratitude for some lovely thoughtful items. The train set is especially a revelation to watch being put together and used reminding us of how this tradition continues on to this very day in many homes at the holidays. Each person who arrives has a back story that is told and they add to the light humor of the show. A bit of a calamity occurs when the gas oven backfires on Mother and burns the turkey. However, an unexpected solution arrives at the home to salvage the meal and the mood of the group.

There are other scenes that keep the story line moving at a fine pace. This show has a warm feeling that is created by an exceptional cast who in some cases play several roles in the production. In addition to the names mentioned above, the cast includes Alison Weiler, Clemmie Evans, Andy Paterson, Cassandra Cushman, Alycia Kunkle, Tess Ammerman, Carey Van Driest, Benjamin Hajek, and Ian Zane.

Make sure to add this to your list of holiday shows to see and enjoy.  It has been logged in my book of favorites to be seen again.

About the Show

Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes plus one 15 intermission

Location: F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ

Performances: Through Jan. 1, 2017

Contact for Info and Tickets: Call the Box Office 973-408-5600 or online at ShakespeareNJ.org. Prices range from $25 – $75. This season, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is initiating their 30 UNDER 30 Program, which offers $30 tickets for patrons aged 30 and under, with valid ID, tickets subject to availability. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey offers various cost-saving opportunities, including $15 student rush tickets, which are available 30 minutes prior to each performance, with a valid student ID, and a limited number of Pay What You Can tickets for every performance on a first come, first serve basis.

Suggested Audience: Appropriate for all ages

 

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‘The Bodyguard’ Premieres at the Paper Mill Playhouse

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Karen Nowosad

Photo by Matthew Murphy; Judson Mills (Frank Farmer) and Deborah Cox (Rachel Marron)

A new show in the U.S. is enjoying its pre-tour run at Millburn’s Paper Mill Playhouse. The show, a musical called The Bodyguard, is based on the Warner Brothers film of the same name that was written by Lawrence Kasdan. The 1992 film starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Cosner. The film delighted fans of Jersey Girl Whitney Houston and Cosner fans too. With the casting for this new musical, it could be headed in that same direction as the film only this time it will delight fans of Deborah Cox and Judson Mills who fill the leading roles. The Bodyguard comes to the U.S. directly from the United Kingdom where it first ran in London in 2012. It has since toured the U.K., Ireland, and parts of Europe. It is now back onstage in London for a short run. This run at the Paper Mill precedes the start of a national tour due to begin in January, 2017 in Minnesota.

With a book by Alexander Dinelaris, direction by Thea Sharrock and choreography by Karen Bruce The Bodyguard is a big, high volume show. What is the biggest appeal of this show? Without a doubt it is the musical performances and especially those by Deborah Cox. Just as the film was a showcase for Whitney Houston, this musical allows Ms. Cox to perform well known and very popular songs for the audience. The songs are hits that Whitney Houston made famous. However, make no mistake about it, Ms. Cox puts her own distinctive sound on each and every note. She is not a Whitney Houston imitator; she is an artist in her own right and her style is firmly on the nine solo songs and the group and ensemble numbers she performs. To listen to her sing is to hear a velvet tone voice in action. She also is a darn good actor as well as she plays her character, Rachael Marron. Another excellent singer is Jasmin Richardson who plays Nicki Marron, Rachael’s sister. Their duet, “Run to You” is one of the highlights of the show.

There is the singing part of this show and then the acting portion where the story gets told. It starts with a very loud bang (which knocked the audience off their seats Opening Night) when a gun is fired at a person whom Frank Farmer is guarding. Farmer, played by Judson Mills, is seen standing by the injured man but unfortunately, we only learn by chance later in the play that the incident led to his taking on the duties of protecting Rachael Marron. He is hired for that job because someone is stalking her and threatening to do her great harm. That stalker, played by Jorge Paniagua, shows up unexpectedly and in a very creepy fashion throughout the show. His appearances are well entered into the story leaving the audience uneasy at times. As the story progresses, we learn that Rachael’s sister, Nicki, has an interest in Frank; but we don’t how it began or why. Rachael and Frank battle at times but eventually become lovers. However, as Frank realizes this affair could jeopardize the way he does his job to protect her, he breaks it off with Rachael. The remainder of the story leads up to a scene at the Academy Awards where the stalker is apprehended and finally the ending where Rachael’s song “I Will Always Love You” has a very definite meaning. The story line is thin in parts but there is enough good acting to carry it off very well.

In addition to Cox and Mills, the principal cast includes Alex Corrado as Tony Scibelli, Rachel’s personal security guard, Charles Gray, as manager Bill Devaney, Jonathan Hadley, as publicist Sy Spector, Jorge Paniagua as the Stalker, Jasmin Richardson as Rachel’s sister Nicki Marron, and Douglas Baldeo and Kevelin B. Jones III alternating in the role of Rachel’s son Fletcher.

The ensemble includes Arielle Campbell, Brendon Chan, Jarid Faubel, Megan Elyse Fulmer, Emily Jenda, Alejandra Matos, Bradford Rahmlow, Benjamin Rivera, Matthew Schmidt, Maria Christina Slye, Jacquez Andre Sims, Lauren Tanner, and Naomi C. Walley.

There are a lot of good things about this show. It is worth going to see for the musical numbers alone. They are exquisitely choreographed with a strong dance ensemble and singers. Debra Cox is fabulous in all she does and her fans will enjoy coming to see her in this role.

Those who have issues with loud sounds or bright lighting will have to be cautious while watching the opening number and one other ensemble presentation.

The Bodyguard will play at the Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, in Millburn, NJ through Jan. 1, 2017. Several additional matinee performances were recently added so be sure to check their website, papermill.org for availability of tickets.

Free Audience Enrichment Activities for The Bodyguard:

Conversation Club: Thursday evenings, Dec. 1, 8, 15. 22 one hour before the curtain. This is an informal, informative gathering where you can learn more about the performance and perhaps catch a glimpse of the stage being set.

Audio-Described Performances – Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. Free Sensory Seminars are offered at noon before these performances.

Sign-Interpreted and Open-Captioned Performance – Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

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