May 2007 Archives

A bunch of months ago, I blathered on in this space about a buncha productions of "Hamlet." One in Ventura has come and gone. Another in San Diego is upcoming. South Coast Rep's production in Costa Mesa is about to open.

I'll get back to that last one in a jiffy.

You can add another rendition of the "To be or not to be" spouting Dane, this one even more local.

On June 22 ,the first annual production of Shakespeare in the Cemetery will open its production of "Hamlet" at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. I don't know how exactly they plan to stage it, but since the HF Cemetery is the regular activity hub for things like screenings and parties, why not stage a play that has death oozing from every pore. Heck, the probably won't have any difficulty finding a spot for the Ophelia's burial scene (oops, did I give something away?).

Now, "Hamlet" isn't something one should just throw up on a stage _ or on a bier _ just Here's hoping Dean Chekvala, whoever he may be, has the goods to play the Prince.

The production plays through July 22 at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood, 800-595-4849 or online at www.shakespeareinthecemetery.com. The company promises a second Bard production this summer, but isn't specifying what that might be.

OK, as for "Hamlet" in Costa Mesa...

I only saw the first preview. I'm not supposed to review it, and am not gonna write it up. There are ethics here. My brother Matthew is in the cast. In my admittedly biased opinion, I think he's about the best darned Voltemand you're likely to see.

Since this is my blog, and MY RULES, I'll encourage people to check out this production anyway, partly out of brotherly loyalty, and partly because what I saw was worth seeing. Hamish Linklater -- of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" fame represents himself quite well as Hamlet. Plus you've got a couple of old pros _ Robert Foxworth and Dakin Matthews _ as Claudius and Polonius who are seriously fun to watch, if "fun to watch" can appropriately be applied to this play.

Daniel Sullivan is one of the better directors working today; I've seen his productions of "Proof," "Morning's at Seven," "The Heidi Chronicles," "Dinner with Friends", etc. etc.

I've also seen his work with Shakespeare: very memorable productions of "Romeo and Juliet," "Cymbeline," and "Julius Caesar." He goes from Costa Mesa to stage "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in Central Park.

Nuff said. Good "Hamlets" are rare. This one qualifies.

Looked back at my review of "Jersey Boys" at the La Jolla Playhouse back in 2004. Hey, I liked it, gave it 3.5 stars. And I finished it with an astounding lack of foresight.

My closing paragraph:

``Jersey Boys'' has Broadway hopes. If it moves, McAnuff should make every effort to keep this ensemble together. The Four Seasons may have survived a breakup. Without this foursome - (David) Norona in particular - ``Jersey Boys'' may not be nearly so fortunate.

Well, David Norona _ who played Frankie Valle in that production _ did not stay with the production. TV beckoned. He had a wife and a new baby on the West Coast. John Lloyd Young took over the role.

"Jersey Boys" proceeded to storm Broadway, spawn a couple of road companies (one of which is at the Ahmanson Theatre) and will doubtless end up a movie.

Clearly, it's a case of a show being bigger than the sum of any individual falsetto singing part.

And I wonder what David Norona is up to now.

To date I've only seen this item published on the Fountain Theatre Website, http://www.fountaintheatre.com/whatcoming.html.

If it comes to fruition, it's bigger news than that.

The U.S. premiere of Athol Fugard's latest play will, once again, happen at the Fountain. "Victory," is described thusly:

"The new South Africa meets the old when a bungled robbery leads to a confrontation between the present and the past. And a haunting tale of loss and hope reminds us of the mastery of Athol Fugard.

The Fountain, and director Stephen Sachs, also premiered Fugard's last play, "Exits and Entrances," to much acclaim a few years back. Fugard -- who I believe should win the Nobel Prize for literature -- is the author of "The Road to Mecca," "My Children! My Africa!" "Master Harold...and the Boys," "Valley Song," "A Lesson from Aloes." The list goes on and on.

I've seen many of Fugard's plays. I've seen him ACT in many of his plays. And I've had the pleasure/privilege of interviewing him when his "Sorrows and Rejoicings" played the Mark Taper Forum in 2002. Fugard _ who if I recall divides his time between South Africa and Del Mar -- ultimately quit acting to concentrate primarily on playwriting. Then he dropped directing his plays as well.

He'll turn 75 in June. That the man is still writing plays is everyone's gift. That the Fountain gets the first crack at his latest is L.A.'s. A victory, indeed.

I hope they do something.

I hope I'm not being scammed.

Got the following e-mail from a reader in the Canadian Rockies about a week ago, and I spent the better part of the day trying to do something about it.

My name is James Holmes and live in the Canadian Rockies. I realize your
>probably not the exact person i should be contacting, But i thought you
>may know the right person to forward this too or i could email. I
>noticed your interview with Mr.Platt about the Production "Wicked".

>
>My girlfriends little sister (Kahlee) is a Dramatic arts student in
>Windsor, Ont canada. She attends Walkerville High. Kahlee is devoted to
>the dramatic arts and lives and breathes it. Kahlee also plays for a
>Boys baseball team. Last week while playing and running the bases, she
>took a ball to the temple. She has been in and out of the hospital since
>last week. She has formed a twitch on one side of her body, which they
>are saying is a form of (Epilepsy). The evening that it happened,
>she was released from the Hospital at 6am and was determined to attended a
>play she was going to be in that day. She did go and pulled it off.
>Myself i am a chef and em passionate about my art. So to see a girl at
>16 being that devoted is just amazing.
>
>The reason im trying to get a hold of the right person is that. Kahlee
>was supposed to travel from Windsor to Chicago to attended with her
>classmates. The Broadway show "Wicked". She has saved $600.00 of her own
>money and now can not attended, because she has to be at home for more
>testing etc etc.This deposit is none refundable and she will never see
>that money. She is devastated and is really upset that she can't go.
>She's very worried that this will effect the rest of her life as she has
>every right too. I am wondering if this email got to the right person.
>That maybe they could send her something as small as a poster to cheer
>her up.
>
>This is not a charity asking. Her family doesn't even know I'm doing this.
>There is no one benefiting from this except to cheer a girl up and take
>her mind off of what is going on in her life. I know if i was 16 and
>developed something like this, it would be driving me nuts. So I ’m hoping
>that maybe you could either get this email to the right person or let me
>know the right person to contact, that maybe would be able to get her a
>poster or something....

The author, one James Holmes, asked me to send his e-mail to someone who might be able to do something. I ended up contacting both "Wicked" composer Stephen Schwartz's assistant and the show's publicist, forwarding the e-mail twice. Both assured me that Kahlee would be getting something in the mail.

Schwartz was in L.A. last week, and could easily have signed a poster (or lobby card as they're sometimes called). at the Pantages to be shipped off to Kahlee. A poster would be a nice gesture. An even nicer gesture would be someone from the production assuring Kahlee that the next time she is in a city where "Wicked" is playing, that she would get an orchestra seat to make up for the time she didn't get to go with her class.

I told Mr Holmes to write me back when he or Kahlee heard of received anything. In my books, it's the mark of a mensch to reach out on behalf of a child like he did. I'm very much hoping his effort will be rewarded.

Catch the Tony Award nominations? OK, so you had to be in New York to See most of the nominated plays -- notably the Duncan Sheik musical "Spring Awakening" (which led the field with 11 nominations) and Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia."

A couple of the multiple awardees, however, began life out here on the West Coast before they went to east.

"Curtains" (8 noms)-- the last Kander and Ebb musical (with help from Rupert Homes) at the Ahmanson last summer.
"Radio Golf" (4 noms)-- August Wilson's last play, which played the Mark Taper Forum way back in 2005.

Congrats to acting nominees David Hyde Pierce and Debra Monk (of "Curtains) and John Earl Jelks and Anthony Chisholm (of "Radio Golf"), all four of whom were seen on our stages.

"Jay Johnson- The Two and Only," which played the Brentwood Theatre and the Colony, took a nomination for Best Theatrical Event.

We can't really claim it, but the musical of "Legally Blonde" bowed out of town in San Francisco.

You'll perhaps be wondering _ or at least I will _ when we might get a look at "Spring Awakening," "The Coast of Utopia" and the other big hits (and likely winners).

"Spring Awakening" -- concerning hot and bothered young Germans based on the Frank Wendekin play _ won't launch its national tour till fall of 2008, and who knows what stop L.A. will be.

"The Coast of Utopia?" Again, don't hold your breath. The man who directed the Broadway production, Jack O'Brien, happens to run the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Except you risk bankrupting your theater if you book an eight hour, three play cycle about Russian intellectuals. Even if the playwright is Tom Stoppard.

"Utopia" might have been the kind of thing Center Theatre Group would attempt back in the day when big event pieces like "Angels and America," "The Cider House Rules" and "The Kentucky Cycle" passed through the Taper.

Times have changed. The Taper is undergoing renovation from summer's end until the end of the year, and the Ahmanson is booked with musicals through 07-08.

Utopia, alas, figures to be a long way off.

So that Michael York starring in "Camelot" I went on about in previous blog entries? Well, when it comes back to L.A. in September, it will feature not Michael York as King Arthur, but Lou Diamond Phillips (formerly of "24" and, a long time ago, "La Bamba"). He was nominated for a Tony award for playing the King of Siam in "The King and I." Which, if I recall, may have been the first time someone other than Yul Brynner played the role.

Color blind casting at its finest. That bumps out York who wasn't exactly in the finest of voice when I saw the show, and bumps in a guy 20 years his junior. Which could possibly spice up the Arthur-Jenny-Lance triangle. No word on whether Rachel York and James Barbour -- the other two sides of the triangle -- will still be here with the tour or whether they're jumping "Camelot" as well.

"Camelot" plays UCLA's Royce Hall Sept. 11-23. See www.Broadwayla.org.

It's not quite the return to stage that some of us would like to see, but screen legend Kirk Douglas will be on the stage that bears his name Monday, interviewed by Dennis Miller.

The topic is Douglas's latest book "LET’S FACE IT: 90 years of living, loving, and learning." 6 p.m. Monday at 9820 Washington Blvd., in Culver City,

I interviewed Douglas shortly before he turned 90. At his home no less (yes, I thought it was cool). He indicated that, in addition to book writing, he's still up for doing an occasional movie or TV piece. Stage? Less likely, although I reminded him with a theater that carries his name (He and wife Ann Douglas contributed the initial $1 million seed money to Center Theatre Group) he probably knows people who know people.

I get inspired by people like James Whitmore, the twice Oscar nominated actor who I saw in a two character play in Washington D.C. back in early 2006. He was 85 years old at the time, and the man didn't flub a line.

It wouldn't surprise me if Spartacus doesn't still have those kinds of chops as well.

They're looking for A Shrek and Donkey for the new "Shrek" Broadway musical.

I'd sneer here for any number of reasons, but if I had the wherewithal, I'd probably produce the thing myself.

And I don't expect there are too many thespians out there who came across the following casting notice (below) and scoffed "What! But I played Richard III. Never shall I debase myself in this manner!"

Pile one: Shrek audition tapes. Pile two: Donkey.

So it goes.
I Want to Be Shrek (and Donkey) on Broadway!
http://iwanttobeshrek.com/
NEW YORK, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- SHREK, the new Broadway-bound
musical, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Pulitzer
Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire, and directed by Jason Moore, is
looking for a Shrek and a Donkey to star on Broadway! Produced by DreamWorks Animation and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling), the SHREK creative team
is planning a two-week reading this summer (July 23- August 3rd)
in New York which will be followed by a Broadway opening in
2008!

The creative team is male seeking performers of all cultural
backgrounds for these roles.

SHREK: 20s - 30s. An ogre. His imposing physical appearance disguises a warm heart. A lonely outsider with soul, strength, and wit. Values his peaceful solitary life in the swamp. Seeking actors with a powerful presence and strength with true Rock or R&B voices. Preferably a baritone.

DONKEY: 20s - 30s. A performer with a contemporary, urban edge and great humor. Joins Shrek on his journey to capture Princess Fiona. Seeking unique performers especially from slam poetry, comedy, Hip Hop worlds or clever actors with great comic skill. Anyone, no matter how Far Far Away, can try and audition for these roles! If you or a friend think you have what it takes to play Shrek or Donkey, follow the directions below:

1. Make a video recording of yourself singing one song and copy it on to a DVD. (No lip-syncing please -- must be live!) Please clearly label the DVD with your name and contact information.

2. Take a photograph of yourself and print it out, or if you have one, send a copy of your headshot.

3. Put together a resume or list of background experience and,VERY IMPORTANT, your contact information -- including address, phone and e-mail.

4. BY SNAIL MAIL send items 1, 2 and 3 to: DreamWorks Animation I Want To Be Shrek
PO Box 2693 New York, NY 10108

YOU MUST SUBMIT THIS MATERIAL BY FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2007 KEEP COPIES OF ANYTHING YOU SEND. The DVD and any other materials you send in will be retained by and will become the sole property of the Producers, and will not be returned to you whether or not you are considered for a role. The Producers are not responsible
for lost, stolen, or incorrectly mailed materials. The Producers will not be able to answer questions about the receipt or status of any materials.

For updated information please go to: http://iwanttobeshrek.com/

For those living under a rock in a swamp: Based on a children’s book by William Steig, the character of Shrek has been featured in two major animated films to date. The first Shrek feature film hit theaters in the Summer of 2001, and went on to win the first-ever Academy Award(R) for Best Animated Feature. In 2004, DreamWorks released a sequel, Shrek 2, which went on to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time. The next chapter of the Shrek story, Shrek the Third, hits theaters this May 18, 2007.

SOURCE Boneau/Bryan-Brown