Shows from September 2011 to Present Part 14

 

27. Twelve Angry Men – December 7^th 2012 (Blue Cast)

                In 1954 Reginald Rose wrote a teleplay called Twelve Angry Men for CBS’ Studio One.  The Broadway debut of Rose’s famous play came 50 years after the telecast.  A lot can change in the courtroom setting of this dynamic play.  Gender dynamics with the additions of women in the jury.  For those getting ready to go on jury duty this is a what I call an into to what you might have to do.  This one production was done at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts presented by the Junior Drama class under the direction of Robert Frisch.

                Twelve Angry Men takes place in a jury room on a late Summer afternoon after closing arguments of a homicidal trail of young man is accused of murdering his father and the jurors are made to decide on the verdict of guilty (with a sentence of the death penalty), not guilty or hung jury.  They all think its an open and shut case with eleven voting guilty and one voting not guilty due to reasonable doubt.  Several of the jurors have reasons for saying guilty like race, background, relationship with the father, etc.  One juror questions their reasoning by the reliability of the evidence. 

                I have seen a production of Twelve Angry Men in the past (from FSSA back when I was a sophomore in 2008 in their old building in Long Island City).  Its very good show to be done at any age range from high school to adult of course.  It’s a great ensemble show.  Everyone did a great job.   

 

28.    The Mystery of Edwin Drood – December 30, 2012

                Audiences love a show when there is audience participation.  What about a show where the audience can choose a different ending?  That is the case of the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood.  It was an unusual concept when the musical premiered on Broadway in 1985 that ultimately won the Tony triple crown (Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score).  Roundabout Theatre Company produced this new all-star revival (slated for a limited run) at Studio 54 and audiences are loving it. 

                The Mystery of Edwin Drood takes us to the walls of the British troupe, The Music Hall Royale, as the troupe attempts to put up a musical production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel (Dickens died before he had a chance to complete his murder mystery).  The story within the show takes us to the fictional world of Cloisterham, where a young man, Edwin Drood’s (played by Stephanie J. Block as in traditional musical hall tendencies where a woman played a man) disappearance hits the town into a frenzy.  Everyone is trying to figure out who is responsible for Drood disappearing?  Could it be his jealous uncle, John Jasper (Will Chase)?  His fiancé Rosa Bud (Betsy Wolfe)?  Opium den proprietor Princess Puffer (Chita Rivera)?  Or the twins from Ceylon, Neville and Helena Landless (Andy Karl and Jessie Mueller)?  How will this show end?  The results…may surprise you. 

                Once it stops when Charles Dickens wrote no more, the actors turn to the audience and its up to them to decide how will the show end.  The audience decides who will be the detective Dick Datchery (important character later), the murderer, and which two characters will end up in a happy ending.  It’s a fun concept as the audience votes for their pick to be a selected role of the show (They really count all the votes). 

                This show is so much fun, the music, the story, the concept.  It makes wonder why can’t shows be like this where the ending is up to the audience.  The set, so elegant.  Choreography…Perfection.  The music, toe tapping and really help move the story forward.  I might as well reveal what my ending was at this performance: Detective Dick Datchery – Helena Landless, Lovers – Princess Puffer and Deputy (Nicholas Barasch) and Murderer – Rosa Bud. 

                The cast…A+.  Stephanie J. Block definitely puts her stamp on this role.  She’s funny, has outstanding vocals, comedic timing.  Will Chase as John Jasper, deliciously evil and that is good.  Jessie Mueller and Andy Karl as the Landless Twins worked really well together.  Betsy Wolfe amazing comedic timing, and wonderful soprano.  It’s a treat to see a legend like Chita Rivera take the stage and rouse the audience to sing along with her in a chorus in “Wages of Sin”.  Other standouts include Jim Norton as the Chairman, William Cartwright, our guide for the evening, Gregg Edelman as the comedic and serious Reverend Mr. Crisparkle, The fantastic duo of Robert Creighton and Nicholas Barasch as Durdles and Deputy and Peter Benson as the surprising Bazzard.  The whole cast works so well together they play well opposite each other. 

                I highly recommend this show.  Also don’t see it once, see it more than once.  You are going to get so many different endings.  It is a theatrical treat.