The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
The review will be published by The Oklahoman soon. It should also be posted on newsok.com in the arts & entertainment section or the mood section — maybe both? In the meantime I’ll quote myself with the following excerpt: “Rosemary Orwig Rodgers succeeds in presenting a perfect night at Ghostlight Theatre Club. …” Please comment, and once again revisit the excellent article Emily Etherton wrote in this section of the blog for actors to comment. Her words carry a truth she displays in the show.
Wow!
Coming this week: Review for “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” . In the meantime… “wow” says it all.
Arvel Bird jammin’ with some local musicians at Rollins Creek Ranch
Rollins Creek Ranch is one of the favorite hangouts for local musicians to jam. This evening Arvel Bird appeared for a concert with a jam with everyone after the show. Photos soon. Looking for him to come back to Rollins Creek! And….Arvel Bird has a show coming up on 02/27/2011 at 07:00 PM @ The Norman Train D… in Norman, OK http://www.reverbnation.com/c.
Stereo Deck!!!!!
Coming soon: Review for The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis
February 25 – March 19, 2011
Set in a time-bending, seriocomically imagined world between Heaven and Hell, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a philosophical meditation on the conflict between divine mercy and human free will that takes a close look at the eternal damnation of the Bible’s most notorious sinner.
Ghostlight Theatre Club is located in the Paseo District at 3110 N. Walker and reservations can be made by calling 405.286.9412. Look for the review a week from today — and don’t hesitate to let me and everyone know what you think!
“The Nerd”: Pretty funny stuff!
Due to an error on the part of critic: Elizabeth Hurd, the actor portraying Thor was incorrectly identified in this review. Please note that the actor mentioned should be Fulmer and not Tabor. My profound apologies to both of them.
Pollard Theatre Company continues the 24th Seasons of Laughter with Larry Shue’s “he Nerd.” This is one of two modern farcical comedies written by Mr. Shue whose untimely death in 1985 prevented further development as a playwright.
The cast stars Robert Matson as Rick Steadman, whose character is not only rather nerdy, but extremely annoying. Steadman is on vacation from his job as an inspector in a chalk factory when he descends upon Willum Cubbert (Craig Pruitt) and becomes the nightmare uninvited guest crashing a birthday dinner party (Act 1) and then moving in with the host indefinitely (Act 2). His job is appropriate as he is as annoying as scratchy chalk screaming on a blackboard. Rick Steadman gets away with this behaviour because he saved the unconscious Willum Cubbert in Viet Nam. So although they are meeting for the first time the debt should be paid.
The role of Steadman is clearly tailor made for Robert Matson. Rick must be so unbelievably annoying to his reluctant host and friends that getting rid of him is essential to sanity. Yet Matson must walk the line between achieving this standard without irritating the audience to the extent that the play is difficult to watch. Matson achieves this, but just barely. This production is well received by an audience who loves sophomoric humor. Otherwise the interpretation may seem contrived.
The performances of Pruitt, Crystal Ecker as girlfriend Tansy, James A. Hughes as Warnock Waldgrave, and Dana Poulson as Celia Waldgrave are outstanding. Those who are not fans of this type of one-dimensional farce can still appreciate fully the humor and talent these three characters portray. However, the performance of Timothy Stewart as friend and critic Axel Hammond is beyond outstanding. Stewart’s superb timing and delivery allow him to bring universality to the humor transcending limitations presented by the premise in the script. Some natural prejudice may occur from critics who empathize with the character, yet on reviewing the written script, it does seem as if the best lines are written for Hammond. Stewart is definitely up to the task!
The role of Thor Waldgrave, the mischievous son of Cubbert’s boss and his wife is played alternately by Ryne Tabor and Alex Fulmer. Opening night performance (Cast A: Tabor) indicates that some work needs to be done with Tabor. His performance is weak, yet he appears to have the same abilities that child actors at the Pollard usually display.
Director Doobie Potter handles the staging very well, and overall the show is well presented. The set design by James A. Hughes is visually challenging as it seems that the furniture is a little low for the sightlines. Potter compensates well, however a raised stage or even simply a slightly taller coffee table and higher seating on the couch would be a bit more comfortable for the audience seated in the middle rows and back.
Now that opening night jitters are behind, Potter would do well to spend just a little more time with the child actors, and Matson should revisit the final scene. Greater contrast in the last few minutes of this production could do much to validate the previous 2 hours. “The Nerd” serves simply to entertain and this production is a great choice for lovers of farce for the sake of farce.
“The Nerd” is presented through March 5, 2011 at the Pollard Theatre Company in historic downtown Guthrie. Reservations and information are available at www.thepollard.org or at the box office, 405.282.2800.
“The Nerd”
- Robert Matson: “The Nerd”
To quote myself: “……he is as annoying as scratchy chalk screaming on a blackboard.”
The review for “The Nerd” will appear in The Oklahoman sometime this week. Look for the posting on this blog at that time. “The Nerd” is playing at The Pollard Theatre in historic downtown Guthrie through March 5, 2011.
The review hasn’t appeared yet. I am awaiting confirmation of publication date from opubco, and should be posting this evening! Look for it soon!
