Posts Tagged ‘ellie schwetye’

Hilarious Remix from SATE is Theatrical, “Palpable” Fun

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »

This Palpable Gross Play
A Kind-Of Midsummer Night’s Dream
Adapted from Shakespeare by Ellie Schwetye, with Lucy Cashion and Jimmy Bernatowicz
Directed by Lucy Cashion
SATE Ensemble Theatre
August 17, 2023

Cast of This Palpable Gross Play
Photo by Joey Rumpell
SATE Ensemble Theatre

In considering the latest new production from SATE, the old adage “you write what you know” comes to mind, considering both the source material and the adaptation. It’s clear that this is a very “theatre-y” production, by theatre people, about theatre people, and probably best appreciated by theatre people. Still, even if you’re not an actor, director, or other theatre maker, this is a fun deconstruction that showcases its fine cast and is sure to provide much laughter and pondering. 

This show is more whimsical remixing from creatives who are known for this kind of thing, and they do it extremely well. Primary adaptor Ellie Schwetye and director Lucy Cashion (who also contributed to the adaptation) have both been involved with several productions that take established works and either re-examine them or turn them completely on their heads, and usually both. This one does both with an emphasis on the “turning on its head” element. Here, the characters and basic plot is taken from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but it’s not a straightforward telling of that story. Here, the story focuses mostly on Puck (Ross Rubright) and the “Mechanicals” (Kristen Strom, Andre Eslamian, Kayla Ailee Bush, Joshua Mayfield, and Anthony Kramer Moser)–the group of artisans and amateur actors who put on a play for a royal wedding. In this show, though, the play isn’t about Pyramus and Thisbe, but about the mixed-up lovers from the source play–Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena.  Puck is involved here as “Robin Starveling”, growing more and more frustrated with the various attempts at “acting” from the group–from the overzealous and opinionated Bottom (Eslamian), to the unenthusiastic Flute (Bush), to the self-doubting newcomer Snug (Kramer Moser), to overwhelmed director Peter Quince (Strom). Puck has ideas about what to do about this problem, though, that somehow involve a sleeping drug commercial from a few years ago. Meanwhile, Puck also has his fun with an ongoing feud between fairy Queen Titania (Victoria Thomas) and King Oberon (Spencer Lawton), with the anticipated  result being switched up in clever and hilarious manner. 

My description of the show seems woefully inadequate, since I would spoil too much if I went into too much detail. Let me just say that a lot goes on here, from “actor-y” in-jokes to clever staging, and hilarious “behind-the-scenes” moments, as the play rehearsal happens on one plane on the stage, with the Titania/Oberon/Puck hijinks happening mostly in the background. The cast is marvelous, as well, led by Rubright in a self-assured performance as the charming and somewhat smug Puck. Everyone is excellent though, so it’s difficult to single anyone else out. The ensemble chemistry is brilliant, and the staging is precise and well-timed. It looks great, too, with a fantastic set by Schwetye and Cashion, delightful costumes by Liz Henning and props by Rachel Tibbetts, and strikingly atmospheric lighting design by Erik Kuhn. There’s also a memorable music score and sound design by Joe Taylor. 

This is SATE, so I was expecting clever, unique, and unusual, and that’s what This Palpable Gross Play provides, with a lot of enthusiasm and personality. It’s one of those shows that might benefit even more from repeated viewings, considering how much is going on in one place. It’s another fun, thoughtful show from this excellent local company. 

 

Cast of This Palpable Gross Play
Photo by Joey Rumpell
SATE Ensemble Theatre

SATE Ensemble Theatre is presenting This Palpable Gross Play at The Chapel until September 2, 2023

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New Jewish Theatre’s Poignant, Hopeful “Brilliant Thing” Features Strong Central Performance

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on March 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Every Brilliant Thing
by Duncan Macmillan, with Jonny Donahoe
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
New Jewish Theatre
March 16, 2023

Will Bonfiglio
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre

Every Brilliant Thing is a popular show. The latest staging, from the New Jewish Theatre, is the third production of this show I’ve seen in St. Louis since it debuted here with another theatre company in 2018. I think it’s popularity stems from a few factors–its simple production values which don’t require a large budget, its relatable subject matter, and its ability to showcase a strong, personable central performer. While this current production, directed by Ellie Schwetye and starring the always excellent Will Bonfiglio, is certainly the most polished production I’ve seen from a technical standpoint, it still maintains that inherent simplicity, audience interaction, and focus on its lead character that makes it such a memorable–and, considering its sometimes heavy subject matter–an ultimately hopeful show. 

The setup here in NJT’s versatile space at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre is simply but elegantly appointed, designed by Bess Moynihan with a flair for setting an approachable, warm and inviting initial mood–and this atmosphere helps to provide balance in the show’s darker moments. Moynihan’s lighting is also especially effective, as Bonfiglio, suitably outfitted by costume designer Michele Friedman Siler in jeans, a casual button-down shirt and comfy sneakers, tells the story as a version of himself, as is the norm for this play. There’s a soft rug and a raised platform on one end of the stage where there’s a chair, and old-fashioned record player, and a box of records, which play into the story that is well-punctuated by various songs in the moments that call for them. Also, dangling from the ceiling is a collection of notecards suspended by wires, featuring various “brilliant” things about life, whether they be objects, people, experiences, etc. The audience members are given notecards, as well, and called upon to read items from Bonfiglio’s list as he calls their numbers.

The story, told as if it happened to Bonfiglio himself, recounts his childhood growing up with a chronically depressed mother, and the list of brilliant things starts out as his way to try to cheer her up. Over the years, as he grows up, the list gets longer and takes on new meanings, as Bonfiglio tells of his relationship with both of his parents, as well as meeting a romantic partner in college, and his on-and-off writing of the list as he struggles to deal with his own emotions and reactions to his mother’s condition as well as relating to the world around him. Bonfiglio gently calls on various audience members to participate in his story, playing a school teacher/counselor, his dad, a college professor, and his love interest, among others. Bonfiglio handles this aspect of the role especially well, and at least two of the “guest performers” I saw were notable local actors, which suggests that at least in some cases, Bonfiglio was choosing people he already knew to some degree, although I don’t think this was the case with everyone he chose. 

One of the most appealing aspects of this show is that it’s so easily tailored to the particular performer who stars, and with Bonfiglio, it works especially well. Director Schwetye, who has worked with Bonfiglio before with great success at NJT with Fully Committed in 2019, has paced this show ideally, allowing Bonfiglio’s warm, engaging and occasionally unpredictable personality to shine forth in moments of humor, sadness, reflection, and ultimately hope. Bonfiglio is especially adept as holding the audience’s attention, and encouraging participation while not seeming too pressuring. The arc of the story, while familiar to anyone who has seen other versions of this show, gains a degree of immediacy with Bonfiglio in the lead.

I have seen this show three times now, and each time I’ve seen something new and challenging, but the emphasis has always been on hope. At NJT, Bonfiglio, Schwetye, and the creative team have constructed an elegantly staged, dare I say brilliant production. It does contain difficult subject matter, including depression and suicide, but it is handled with great sensitivity and poignancy. It’s a superb showcase for an excellent and beloved local performer. It’s a brilliant thing, indeed. 

Will Bonfiglio
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre

The New Jewish Theatre is presenting Every Brilliant Thing at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre until April 2, 2023

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West End Players Guild’s “Christians” is a Thought-Provoking, Semi-Immersive Experience

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on December 5, 2022| Leave a Comment »

The Christians
by Lucas Hnath
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
West End Players Guild
December 4, 2022

Rachel Hanks, Joel Moses, Joseph Garner, Michael Byrd, Chrissie Watkins
Photo by John Lamb
West End Players Guild

The West End Players Guild has the ideal venue for their latest play. While their productions are usually presented in the basement of the Union Avenue Christian Church, their latest production is using the sanctuary. This is fitting, since Lucas Hnath’s The Christians is about a church, and the overall effect of this location creates something of an immersive experience for the audience, with the director, Ellie Schwetye acting as a greeter before the show, and taking “prayer requests” from attendees as they arrive. There’s also church music playing over the speakers before the show. It feels so much like a church service, in fact, that I accidentally referred to it as “the service” instead of “the play” to my husband after the show. The immersive quality adds a lot to he presentation, but the show itself–and especially this production with it’s excellent cast and direction–is compelling enough to stand on its own even without the extra “churchy” elements added by venue. 

The story begins in what appears to be a typical Sunday service at an unnamed non-denominational Evangelical megachurch. Pastor Paul (Joel Moses) is preaching a sermon that, at first, seems to mostly be about the history of the church and how much the congregation has grown over the past twenty years, and how the church has recently paid off the loan they took to build their current building. He then drops a bombshell, telling his congregation of a recent radical change in his theology, informing them that he no longer believes in the existence of hell, or that people with other religious beliefs can’t go to heaven. This causes something of an uproar in his congregation, first putting Paul at odds with Associate Pastor Joshua (Joseph Garner), and eventually with others in the church, represented by supportive but concerned Elder Jay (Michael Byrd), conflicted church member Jenny (Chrissie Watkins), and his own wife, Elizabeth (Rachel Hanks), who was surprised by the announcement and finds herself in a dilemma of her own as a result. 

Whether you’re familiar with church services or not, this show provides a lot to think about beyond the basic presentation, and the playwright has admirably presented the various “sides” with a reasonable degree of fairness. The dilemmas presented are real ones, and they are treated with due seriousness here. I had been half-expecting a parody, but that’s not at all what this is. It’s a straightforward drama that presents fully realized characters that all have their flaws and virtues–there are no caricatures here, which is refreshing. The issues presented could be talked about in a much longer essay, but I will focus on the production itself for the sake of brevity. Still, no matter what you believe about God, Christianity, or the concept of hell, this story is compelling, and sure to provoke much thought and discussion. Also, beyond the theological issues, there are issues of ethics raised by various situations, such as Paul’s decision to surprise his congregation, his staff, his elder board, and even his family with his change in belief. It’s a multi-layered, fascinating play, and it would take too long to cover all the issues it raises, although one importance aspect of theatre is to make audiences think, and this play certainly does that.

It’s a well-paced, impeccably cast play, with no weak links in the cast. All the performers turn in memorable, nuanced performances, led by Moses as Pastor Paul, ably portraying the character’s personal charisma along with a degree of self-focus and smugness, as well as an obvious concern for his congregation, and for his wife. Garner as Joshua is also memorable, delivering an emotional performance that is intense but not over-the-top.  Hanks has little to do but sit and react for the first half of the play or so, but when she finally does have a conversation with Paul, it packs a credible emotional punch. There are also strong performances from Watkins as the conflicted Jenny and Byrd as the increasingly concerned Elder Jay.

Technically, there isn’t an elaborate production because of the venue, with the use of a real church sanctuary negating the need for a constructed set. This sanctuary is equipped with theatrical seats and lighting, though, since it’s also the home of Union Avenue Opera. The lighting by Catherine Adams, and sound and projection design by director Schwetye contribute well to the overall mood and tone of the production. 

This is a play that, overall, seems designed to get people thinking, and talking–and this production is ideally staged to do just that. The issues brought up here are timely and relevant, and the performances grounded and credible. It’s an impressive, semi-immersive production.

Chrissie Watkins, Rachel Hanks, Joel Moses
Photo by John Lamb
West End Players Guild

West End Players Guild is presenting The Christians at Union Avenue Christian Church until December 11, 2022

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Midnight’s “Tinsel Town” Takes an Entertaining Trip to Hollywood

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , on December 7, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Tinsel Town
by Joe Hanrahan
Directed by Rachel Tibbetts
The Midnight Company
December 2, 2021

Joe Hanrahan, Ellie Schwetye
Photo by Joey Rumpell
The Midnight Company

Los Angeles, California is like no other place on earth, both in its near-synonymous association with the entertainment business and with a specific form of quirkiness. The Midnight Company’s latest production, Tinsel Town, is a suite of interconnected short plays that highlight the unique aspects of this area and with entertainment culture in the age of the pandemic. Showcasing two excellent performers, the show is a fun, alternately hilarious, critical, and insightful look at showbiz personalities and the town in which they live, work, struggle and thrive.

The show is three plays in one, with its two performers, Joe Hanrahan and Ellie Schwetye, each playing a different role each time, although the stories are connected in that they are set in the same “world” representing a day in L.A. and various aspects of the entertainment industry, and through Schwetye’s three characters, who each mention the others and who are working on a film project together. Even with these connections, though, the plays vary sharply in tone, from the broad comedy of the first segment: “Late Lunch on Melrose 1:30pm”; to the more humor-tinged drama of the second segment: “Just Off Sunset 12:15am”; and finally to more lighthearted comedy with the third segment “Shoot in Santa Monica 12:40pm”. Each looks at “the business” from a different angle, highlighting both positive and negative aspects of the L.A. and showbiz life, particularly in the movie and music industries. The plays also all deal with artists experiencing various transitions in their careers, as Schwetye’s demanding movie star Beverly Montclair deals with maybe not being considered “A-list” anymore, and getting offered different roles than she’s used to by her longtime agent Bobby Daniels (Hanrahan) in the first segment; veteran singer Teenah Davis (Schwetye), who is trying to restart her career with a new band after some struggles, has a potentially fortuitous meeting with also struggling longtime session guitarist Hank Riley (Hanrahan) in an alley behind a club after a show in the second segment; and longtime British stage actor Richard Hoffman (Hanrahan) deals with nerves and cultural adjustment issues as he works on his first Hollywood film shoot–for a sci-fi epic featuring villainous “space vampires”–with aspiring director Susan Dmitri (Schwetye) in the third segment.

The performers here adjust impressively to the shifts in tone between the pieces, with both–and especially Schwetye–gleefully hamming it up in the hilariously over-the-top first act, as Hanrahan’s fun script cleverly skewers the stereotypical “Hollywood” atmosphere and demonstrating the versatility of the word “darling”. Both performers also find much poignancy in the melancholy but hopeful second segment, and then deftly return to a slightly more gentle brand of comedy in the third vignette, as Hanrahan’s examination of the L.A. life trends back to the goofy side, but still maintaining a sense of hope. It’s a fun show, overall, showing off the considerable talents of its two leads, as well as their versatility and sense of timing.

The L.A. atmosphere and “Hollywood” vibe are well-maintained throughout by use of excellent mood-setting music in the interludes between shows, and by Erik Kuhn’s excellent lighting and minimalist set, as well as top-notch video design by Michael Musgrave-Perkins. The costumes by Elizabeth Henning are also impressive, and suit the characters especially well. Overall, this is a well-paced, superbly cast, especially memorable look at a day in the life of one of the more celebrated–and parodied–cities in the United States, and in the world. 

Ellie Schwetye, Joe Hanrahan
Photo by Joey Rumpell
The Midnight Company

The Midnight Company is presenting Tinsel Town at the .Zack Theatre until December 18, 2021

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Bonfiglio Gives “Fully Committed” Performance in New Jewish Theatre’s Hilarious Production

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , on December 12, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Fully Committed
by Becky Mode
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
New Jewish Theatre
December 5, 2019

Will Bonfliglio
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre

One person shows are difficult enough, I would think. Still, when that one person is playing a multitude of characters all in the course of approximately 80 minutes, that seems especially challenging. Will Bonfiglio, as a performer, is no stranger to one person shows, winning critical acclaim, but now he’s taking the challenge to the next level in New Jewish Theatre’s latest production, the quick-paced, multi-character comedy Fully Committed. In fact, that title is an apt description for Bonfliglio’s performance, as he shows off his comic and dramatic abilities with impressive versatility and timing.

Bonfiglio showed his versatility playing multiple characters a few years ago in Stray Dog Theatre’s production of Buyer and Cellar. This time, he’s in a differently structured show and playing a lot more characters, and he’s just as stellar. In fact, his feat might even be more impressive considering how quick-moving playwright Becky Mode’s script is, and just how fast the transitions are between the 40-ish different characters Bonfiglio plays. He’s not narrating here, as he was in the show at SDT. Here, the play throws us right into the action as out-of-work actor Sam (Bonfiglio) is working the reservations desk at a highly trendy New York restaurant. The play is structured as such that at first, we are “meeting” so many different characters–difficult customers, restaurant staff, the personal assistants of celebrities, Sam’s friends and family–that we don’t really get to know Sam very much, until his personality and goals are gradually revealed through his various phone conversations. We are allowed to become invested in Sam’s situation as we experience his difficult job along with him, and as he is “encouraged”/taunted by his acting friend/rival Jerry and too-politely avoided by his agent, we see what his real passion is–acting, as he waits to hear the outcome of a recent audition. We also learn of his desire to take a few days off to spend Christmas with his father and siblings, and how that hope is variously ignored and treated as an inconvenience by some of his co-workers. We also get to the see the contrast between how he is treated by co-workers, relatives, friends, and strangers alike, as his day gets busier and busier and occasional respites come in the form of conversation partners who actually listen, realizing the person they are talking to is an actual human being and not merely an obstacle to their own goals. It’s a cleverly structured play that starts out as a simple series of conversations and eventually becomes a story told through those conversations. It’s also hilarious, with fast-paced comedy and broadly drawn characters that give the excellent, versatile Bonfiglio a lot to work with, and he never ceases to impress as he conveys the story, reveals Sam’s distinct character, and manages to become a host of contrasting characters consistently throughout the production.

Although in a real sense, Bonfiglio is the show, he is also ably supported by the top-notch technical aspects of the production. David Blake’s detailed set brings the audience into a vividly realized restaurant basement, which becomes something of a symbol of Sam’s reluctant confinement. There’s also excellent lighting by Elizabeth Lund and sound by Kareem Deanes that contribute to the overall tone of the production. Director Ellie Schwetye’s staging makes excellent use of the whole performance space, as well.

This is one of those shows that provide a prime showcase for a talented performer, and Will Bonfiglio certainly makes the most of that showcase with his excellent timing and winning stage presence. It’s a hilarious show that introduces the audience to a variety of characters, from accepted “types”–the gruff, pompous celebrity chef, the overworked staff, the demanding celebrities, and more–but also reveals a fair amount of depth in the course of a relatively short intermissionless show. There are a lot of laughs here, certainly, but there’s also a clear glimpse of humanity. It’s a gift of a show for the holiday season.

Will Bonfiglio
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre

New Jewish Theatre is presenting Fully Committed at the Marvin & Harlene Wool Studio Theatre at the JCC’s Staenberg Family Complex until December 22, 2019

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Midnight’s Well-Cast “Model For Matisse” Educates, Entertains

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , on September 27, 2019| Leave a Comment »

A Model For Matisse
by Barbara F. Freed and Joe Hanrahan
Based on the Documentary Film Written and Directed by Barbara F. Freed
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
The Midnight Company
September 19. 2019

Rachel Hanks, Joe Hanrahan
Photo by Todd Davis
The Midnight Company

Joe Hanrahan’s Midnight Company has been known mostly for its one-man shows starring Hanrahan, although occasionally they have done some works with two or more performers. The company’s latest offering, A Model For Matisse, signifies a collaboration for Hanrahan in more ways than one, since he is not only the co-star but also the co-writer of the piece. It’s a fact-based exploration of an important relationship in the life of a well-known 20th Century artist, as well as other intriguing issues that arise from that friendship. It’s a well-cast production and a well-chosen subject, providing not just entertainment but also education for its audiences.

According to the press materials for the show, Hanrahan sought to create this play after seeing a documentary of the same name that was written and directed by Barbara F. Freed. After contacting Freed to get permission to adapt the film, Hanrahan not only got the rights; he ended up collaborating with Freed on the script, which has now had its world premiere with this production. It tells the story of the later years of famed French artist Henri Matisse (Hanrahan), and his significant friendship with the young nursing student Monique Bourgeois (Rachel Hanks), who modeled for several of his paintings and later joined a Dominican order of nuns and became Soeur Jacques-Marie. The play also covers the design and construction of the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, France, for Soeur Jacques-Marie’s order. The sister and the artist worked together on the project, with the sister serving as a significant consultant and source of inspiration. The story shows the development of the relationship and the conflict between both characters’ different outlooks on life, which serves as reflection of the overall conflict between the influences of traditional religious views and the increasing influences of modernism in Western culture in the mid-20th Century.

The show is a fascinating portrayal of two contrasting characters and the close bond they form. It also serves to highlight the work of Matisse for those for whom the artist’s work–and especially his later work–isn’t especially familiar. The casting is ideal, with Hanrahan bringing a warmth and thoughtfulness to his role as the ailing, occasionally disillusioned but increasingly determined Matisse, and Hanks bringing likable energy to her role and also providing compelling narration to the story as it unfolds. Their story is fascinating and informative, aided by an excellent technical production including stellar projection design by Michael B. Perkins, as well as excellent costumes by Liz Henning and sound design by director Ellie Schwetye, and evocative lighting by Tony Anselmo. Schwetye’s staging is well-paced and inventive, as well, making for a memorable, informative and relatable production.

Although I had heard of Henri Matisse before seeing this show, I didn’t know this particular story, and I suspect a lot of people seeing this play would be in the same position. This show, with an intelligent and lively script from Freed and Hanrahan, sheds light on a perhaps less-known aspect of the artist’s life, bringing to light an important friendship that had a profound influence on him. These two characters are brought to life with clarity by the show’s ideally cast lead performers, providing a fascinating look at art, artists, European life in the mid-20th Century, and more.

Rachel Hanks, Joe Hanrahan
Photo by Todd Davis
The Midnight Company

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WEPG’s “Photograph 51” is Witty, Fascinating

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on April 12, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Photograph 51
by Anna Ziegler
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
West End Players Guild
April 5, 2019

Alex Fyles, Ryan Lawson-Maeske, Ben Ritchie, Nicole Angeli, Will Bonfiglio, John Wolbers
Photo by John Lamb
West End Players Guild

West End Players Guild is revisiting a winning formula with its latest production. It’s a biographical show about an important but historically overlooked woman scientist, and it’s directed by Ellie Schwetye. This year, though, it’s not Silent Sky. This time, the play in question is Anna Ziegler’s Photograph 51, and the featured scientist is 20th century English chemist Rosalind Franklin. The resulting production, as before, is wondrous and illuminating.

Here, in Ziegler’s intelligent, thoughtful, and surprisingly witty play, the emphasis is on efforts to discover the structure of DNA, in which Franklin (Nicole Angeli) played a significant but–until recently–largely uncredited role. The play follows Franklin as she comes to work at Kings College, Cambridge in the early 1950s, and shows her utmost devotion to her work and her often rocky relationships with her colleagues, including the socially awkward and initially dismissive Maurice Wilkins (Ben Ritchie) and doctoral student Ray Gosling (Ryan Lawson-Maeske). As Franklin sets out using x-ray photography to get a clear picture of the structure of DNA, other scientists around the world are using various methods to achieve the same goal, and most notably the team of American James Watson (WIll Bonfiglio) and the English Francis Crick (John Wolbers), who are working together in London and become especially interested in Franklin’s work. Meanwhile, Franklin corresponds with admiring American doctoral student Don Caspar (Alex Fyles), with whom Franklin forms a bond of mutual understanding. While this synopsis seems fairly basic, the structure of the play is anything but basic. It’s especially clever in the way it reveals the events and the personalities of the characters through it’s semi-linear structure and frequent fourth-wall breaking, having the characters narrate parts of the story in turn but also occasionally talk about their observations in an “after-the-fact” way. It’s a fascinating play, in its depiction of events but also in its personalization of those events and vivid portrayal of the characters involved. It shines a light on the continuing issue of women being overshadowed by men in professional settings, as well as examining interpersonal communication, connection, scientists’ relationships with their work, and the pressure to succeed and find the next big discovery first.

West End Player’s Guild’s space in the basement of Union Avenue Christian Church is being well-utilized by this production, with a traditional stage setup and a remarkably detailed set by Kristin Cassidy, who also designed the props. The period setting and specific laboratory atmosphere is well-realized, with the two main lab spaces–Franklin/Wilkins and Watson/Crick, being the focal point but with the whole stage space being put to full use.  Tracey Newcomb’s excellent costumes also contribute to the authenticity of the tone and setting, as do Elizabeth Lund’s lighting and director Ellie Schwetye’s sound design.

The staging is smooth and dynamic, and the cast is simply ideal, with top-notch local performers led by the outstanding Angeli in a compelling performance as the determined, complex Franklin. She’s tough, snarky, and determined, but she’s also vulnerable and awkward at times, and her chemistry with her co-stars–particularly the also excellent Ritchie and Fyles–is excellent. Lawson-Maeske is also a standout as the opinionated and often overlooked Gosling, and there are also outstanding performances from Bonfiglio as the fiercely determined Watson and Wolbers the equally determined but more diplomatic Crick. It’s a truly stellar cast with no weak links, and the witty interplay between the characters is among the best features of this smartly staged production.

West End Players Guild has another winner with Photgraph 51. With an impressive cast and a thoughtful, often philosophical approach to its subject, it’s a show that manages to be surprisingly funny and poignant in equal measures. There’s one more weekend to see it. Don’t miss this one.

Ryan Lawson-Maeske, Will Bonfiglio, John Wolbes, Nicole Angeli, Ben Ritchie
Photo by John Lamb
West End Players Guild

West End Players Guild is presenting Photograph 51 at Union Avenue Christian Church until April 14, 2019

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SATE takes FAUSTIVAL to the Next Level with Outstanding “Doctor Faustus”

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 15, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Doctor Faustus, or The Modern Prometheus
by John Wolbers… and Kit Marlowe
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
SATE Ensemble Theatre
November 8, 2018

Joe Hanrahan, Ashley Bauman, Talessha Caturah, Nicole Angeli
Photo by Joey Rumpell
SATE Ensemble Theatre

There’s a whole lot of “Faust” happening in St. Louis this year. The collaborative FAUSTival is continuing this month, and now it’s SATE’s turn to offer their own approach to this legendary tale. This is the fourth entry in the series, and if you thought you might start feeling a little bit of “Faust” fatigue by this point, there’s no need to worry, as SATE’s take on the oft-told tale is bold, fresh, challenging, and thoroughly compelling.

With this production, playwright John Wolbers takes Christopher (Kit) Marlowe’s version of the story and significantly tweaks it to give it a modern spin. The title character is now a woman (Ashley Baumann), and although the play is still in verse and uses Early Modern English and Elizabethan-inspired costumes for the most part, the setting is modern, with present-day cultural references included, and modern issues–or actually, age-old issues in the context of how they have manifested in modern times. The story emphasizes the temptation of Faustus and her relationships with those close to her, especially her college boyfriend Wagner (Michael Pierce) and roommate Val (Lex Ronan), as well as her business role model and mentor Carol Hapsburg (Taleesha Caturah). There’s also the various incarnations of Mephistophilis, the demon who is supposed to serve her after she makes a pact with the devil. Mephistophilis is played in turn by almost all of the remaining cast members in the show, with the exception of Nicole Angeli, who plays “The Seven”, a personification of the Seven Deadly Sins, which play a major role in Faustus’s journey of temptation and ascent to power. The play incisively deals with important issues such as the struggles for equality of women in academia and business, as well as sexual harassment, the corruption of power, and more.

Although it takes a few minutes to really get going, it soon becomes a riveting drama, with impressive performances all around. Bauman’s Faustus goes on a credible emotional journey, and her initial idealism and growing sense of ambition are well portrayed. There’s strong chemistry between her and Pierce as the devoted but eventually disillusioned Wagner and also with Ronan as her close friend, the also idealistic and magically curious Val. Ronan is also strong in her role as legendary mythological Helen of Troy and one of the incarnations of Mephistophilis. There’s also a strong performances from Caturah in three roles, including the original version of the crafty Mephistophilis, as well as the authoritavie Hapsburg and, in a memorable scene, as an elderly lady who makes an impression on Faustus. Joe Hanrahan, as a smarmy college professor and the second Mephistophilus, and Erik Kuhn and Kareem Deanes in multiple roles are also excellent. Special mention needs to go to Angeli, who deftly shifts back and forth between seven distinct personalities as The Seven. It’s a dynamic, impressive, chilling, and thoroughly memorable performance that stands out in an already excellent ensemble.

The technical aspects of this show don’t fail to impress, either. Bess Moynihan’s set is distinctive, as a series of seven columns–decorated to represent the Deadly Sins–serve as an effective backdrop for the action. The lighting design by Dominick Ehling coordinates well with the set and with the acting in a clever way that I won’t spoil here, but will make itself apparent as the story plays out. There’s also excellent use of sound, designed by Kareem Deanes, and vividly realized modern-Elizabethan fusion-style costumes by Liz Henning.

This is a Doctor Faustus for the ages, both ancient and modern, employing some modern sensibilities to communicate timeless truths about the human condition, ambition, and temptation as well as the importance of empathy and compassion. It’s another excellent FAUSTival presentation, serving also in various ways to point out the common themes the various productions have had, beyond the fact that they’re all about Faust in their own unique ways. In this production, SATE continues to challenge, impress, and provoke much thought. It’s another strong production from this excellent company.

Cast of Doctor Faustus
Photo by Anne Genovese
SATE Ensemble Theatre

SATE Ensemble Theatre is presenting Doctor Faustus, or The Modern Prometheus at The Chapel until November 17, 2018

 

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Midnight Company’s “Judgment at Nuremberg” Makes a Memorable Impression at the Missouri History Museum

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , on May 5, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Judgment at Nuremberg
by Abby Mann
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
The Midnight Company at the Missouri History Museum
April 27, 2018

Cast of Judgment at Nuremberg
Photo by Joey Rumpell
The Midnight Company

Joe Hanrahan’s Midnight Company usually puts on plays with small casts–often just Hanrahan himself and maybe one other cast member. The company’s latest production, though, is anything but small. Presented at the Missouri History Museum from April 25-29th, Abby Mann’s Judgment at Nuremberg recalls an important time in world history that is essential to remember. With a large cast and excellent staging, this production is one I wish had been given a longer run.

The play is a fictionalized version of one of the historic Nuremberg Trials that took place in Germany after World War II. Various defendents involved in different ways in the Nazi regime and the Holocaust were put on trial, with those convicted being sentenced to prison or death.  The trial represented in this play involves three German judges (Terry TenBroek as Emil Hahn, Hal Morgan as Frederick Hoffstetter, and Steve Callahan as Ernst Janning), who are charged with playing various roles in supporting the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazi government from the bench, including ordering sterilizations of political dissidents and sending Jewish defendants and others to concentration camps. The cast of 16 is led by Hanrahan as Judge Dan Haywood, a North Carolina jurist who has been brought in to preside over the trial along with Judge Curtis Ives (Jack Corey) and Judge Ken Norris (Charles Heuvelman). The story centers largely on Haywood as he learns about the cases and defendants and other issues involved, such as international and national pressures trying to influence the outcome. Other key players include the passionate American prosecutor Colonel Tad Parker (Chuck Winning) and determined German defense attorney Oscar Rolfe (Cassidy Flynn). There’s also Frau Margarete Bertholt (Rachel Tibbetts), a widow who used to live in the house in which Haywood is staying, and who is soon revealed to have a highly personal connection to the trials.  Through the course of the play, issues of  personal and corporate responsibility, and national loyalty vs. conscience are raised, among other issues, as the German judges are brought face-to-face with witnesses to their actions and reacting in different ways, from self-justification to acknowledging guilt.

This is a somewhat sprawling play, with a lot going on at once and a large cast to keep track of. Structure-wise, it’s reminscent of a lot of other mid-century courtroom dramas, and the play’s program design (graphic design by Dottie Quick) even has a look and style suggestive of this time period. The drama has a lot of players, but the focus is mostly on the courtroom, and the staging here is engaging and energetic, with a cast of excellent performers that bring dimension and energy to their roles. Hanrahan is a good focus figure as Heywood, who functions in many ways as a surrogate for the audience, learning about the events and the people involved, and the history of the city of Nuremberg itself, as the story unfolds. Hanrahan’s Haywood has a kind of easy forthrightness about him that works very well in this role. He is surrounded by an excellent cast as well, including Callahan as the most introspective and remorseful of the defendents, Janning; and also Winning and Flynn as the equally fiery and determined opposing attorneys. There are also excellent turns from Tibbetts as the proud, grieving and somewhat enigmatic Frau Berthtolt, and Micahel B. Perkins, Francesca Ferrari, and Steve Garrett as key witnesses in the trial. The entire ensemble (also including Mark Abels, Jaz Tucker, Charlotte Dougherty, and Alex Fyles) is strong, with memorable performances all around, calling attention to the important and weighty issues brought up in this play–issues that are still relevant today.

The production design serves the play well, with Jonah Sheckler’s fairly simple set impressively augmented by Michael B. Perkins’s excellent video projections. There’s also crisp, focused lighting from Bess Moynihan as well as clear sound by Ellie Schwetye and well-suited period specific costumes by Sarah Porter. The overall atmosphere of a 1940’s military trial is well maintained in this fascinating production.

This is a show that could have run a little longer. I’m assuming the Missouri History Museum had limited availability, but it’s a shame that such a well-staged, powerful production like this couldn’t have had more performances. A production like this deserves to be seen by a larger audience.

Chuck Winning, Cassidy Flynn and cast
Photo by Joey Rumpell
The Midnight Company

 

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Visually Impressive, Well-Cast “Silent Sky” Illuminates at West End Players Guild

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on February 18, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Silent Sky
by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
West End Players Guild
February 10, 2018

Michelle Hand, Jamie PItt, Rachel Tibbetts
Photo by John Lamb
West End Players Guild

Henrietta Leavitt isn’t exactly a household name, but her contributions to astronomy are important still. In Silent Sky, the latest production from West End Players Guild, playwright Lauren Gunderson shines a light on Leavitt and her colleagues and the struggles of women in the male-dominated field of astronomy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Led by a strong cast and with some impressive visual elements, this is an illuminating production.

The story follows Leavitt (Rachel Tibbetts) as she moves from rural Wisconsin to take a job as a “computer” at Harvard, alongside fellow computers Annie Cannon (Jamie Pitt) and Williamina Fleming (Michelle Hand). Leavitt leaves her family, including sister Margaret (Colleen Backer), with whom she is close but whose life’s ambition is vastly different than her own. While Margaret stays home, marries, and has children while playing music in her church, Henrietta, along with her colleagues, strives to gain recognition for her work and engages in a flirtation with Peter Shaw (Graham Emmons), the assistant to the astronomy professor for whom Henrietta works. While Peter is initially skeptical of Henrietta’s abilities, he grows to admire her, as she also gains the admiration of her coworkers, and she becomes engrossed in a project that eventually leads to a remarkable breakthrough in astronomy, and in the very perception of the universe, While Henrietta’s closest relationships with people are highlighted, it’s also made clear that to her, her most important relationship is with her work. It’s an insightful, imaginitive look at figures from history that might not be household names, but whose stories are important to remember. It’s also a somewhat jarring depiction of views about women in science in the not-too-distant past.

The roles are cast well, from Tibbetts’s intrepid, inquisitive, determined Henrietta to Emmons’s sincere but often bewildered Peter, and the excellent chemistry these two display, to Backer’s loyal but exasperated Margaret, who also has excellent rapport with Tibbetts in their scenes together. There are also memorable performances from Hand as the witty Scottish former housekeeper Williamina, and Pitt as the sometimes brash, activist Annie. There’s a great sense of chemistry among all the players, in fact, and an overall spirit of boldness, wonder and passion for discovery that underlies the whole story.

Visually, this show is a stunner, with excellent lighting designed by Nathan Schroeder and clever video designs by Ben Lewis and sound design by director Ellie Schwetye, whose staging is inventive and dynamic, as well. Tracy Newcomb’s costumes are detailed and period-appropriate, as well. The overall sense of time and place, as well as the overall atmosphere of wonder and exploration, are evoked well in the technical elements as well as in the performances.

This play is about astronomy, but it does an excellent job of portraying the subject with passion and even a sense of poetry. The dedication to learning more and more about the universe is clearly portrayed in the story of Henrietta and her colleagues. These women were true pioneers, and this play brings their story to life in a somewhat stylized way, but also in a way that inspires. Silent Sky is the title, but there’s a lot to be said here, and West End Players Guild’s production says it well.

Colleen Backer, Rachel Tibbetts
Photo by John Lamb
West End Players Guild

West End Players Guild is presenting Silent Sky at Union Avenue Christian Church until February 18, 2018.

 

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