Feb 03 2010
REVIEW
By Sharon Eberson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
I wish Pittsburgh Musical Theater's "Rent" could stand with some distance between the production now at the Byham Theater and
the national tour that came through the Cultural District in
April.
That show
brought the original Mark and Roger, Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, and
luckily, the PMT production has the next best thing: Peter Matthew
Smith, an original "Rent" cast member who was a replacement for Rapp's
Mark on Broadway and directs this show, which had roots in another
recent production. That Robert Morris University show,
under the direction of PMT founder Ken Gargaro, was selected as a
semifinalist in Region II of the Kennedy Center's American College
Theatre Festival.
The Robert Morris ties go deep: There's rocker David
Toole, who plays Roger and is an '08 grad with a degree in business
administration; Maria Mauti, a junior English major who plays Roger's love
interest, Mimi; Alysha Watson, a senior communication major who plays
Joanne; and Korey White, a junior communication major (Mr. Jefferson).
In PMT's way, the students join experienced actors such
as Smith, Brady Patsy (Tom Collins), Maureen Johnson (Maureen) and
Eddie Henry (Benny), along with other local collegians, including Point
Park's Cory Wade Hindorff (Angel).
The result is the mixed bag you'd expect, but that's not to say there's skimping.
Smith
was having a grand ol' time as Mark, Roger's roommate and an aspiring
filmmaker who narrates the show. They live as squatters in lower
Manhattan among a group of artsy friends grappling with relationships,
addictions and AIDS in 1989. He was giddily awkward in "The Tango
Maureen," dancing with lesbian lover of his ex-girlfriend, and the
driving force in numbers like "La Vie Boheme."
"Rent," the "La
Boheme"-inspired work by the late Jonathan Larson, inspired a cult of
Rentheads who travel near and far to see the original actors from the
1996 production, and some were here last spring to catch Pascal and
Rapp in the act.
The rock
musical touches a chord because of its feeling of intimacy and
immediacy. Lin-Manuel Miranda said it was seeing "Rent" that gave him
the impetus to create "In the Heights," because he realized that a show
could be about themes relevant to him and his generation.
"Rent" is
a showcase for voice work, with a few flamboyant roles featuring what
the character Maureen would call "performance art" to pick up the pace.
Toole
is more than capable of all of Roger's vocal gymnastics, but his
performance on a Sunday afternoon was almost too effortless, too pure
for a long-suffering ex-junkie with AIDS. I came home and went right to
YouTube to watch him with his band, Identity X, in the music
video "Archetype" and as an
RMU Idol contest singing "Sweet Child of Mine." His Roger could have used a
little more of that raw energy.
Brady Patsy, who played Tom Collins
for Robert Morris as well PMT, got to use his Equity card for the first
time with this show, and it's a role that
suits his deep voice. He's partnered well with the lithe
Hindorff, who's making his PMT debut as Angel, the drag queen who
teaches everyone about the true nature of love.
Roger and Mimi meet
cute and sexy in "Light My Candle," then launch a rocky relationship
clouded by jealousy and angst. That long scene, beginning with
Roger's solo on "Glory," in which he tries to write a song from "the
pretty boy frontman who wasted opportunity," was sailing along until
the very end, when Mimi is supposed to pull something from Roger's
pocket, but it didn't materialize. It was the only bothersome
glitch of the Sunday performance and it's a shame, because they deserved a big round of applause for everything that came before.
While we're talking about Roger and Mimi, it should be noted that there are reminders at the theater that the show features adult themes, and the PMT production doesn't shy from them.
I
couldn't help being reminded that the touring show was here just a few
months ago. Don't get me wrong. I was happy to spend some more time
with those artsy kids from "Rent." I just wish I had some more time to get the other voices out of my head.
Through Feb. 7 at the Byham Theater. Tickets: $12-$55; students $10-$27; www.pittsburghmusicals.com or 412-456-6666.
Jan 30 2010
Everyone knows the Marx Brothers, right? (Just think: in a few years that won't be true. Maybe it's not even true now . . . shudder .) Well, you and I know them, anyway, the guardian geniuses of American farce. That doesn't mean everyone knows Allen Boretz' and John Murray's "Room Service," though, which is not one of the triumphant Marx trio's (yeah, I know there were technically five) best-known achievements, either...
Read the complete post at http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/onstage/archive/2010/01/30/point-park-s-quot-room-service-quot-a-romp-at-the-playhouse.aspx
Jan 25 2010
PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural
Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America, announces the
return of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" to the Benedum Center from Aug. 25 through Sept. 19, as a 2010-11 Season Special.
Single ticket prices will soon be announced and will go on sale May
10, at the Box Office at Theater Square, online at www.pgharts.org or by calling 412-456-6666.
Adapted from Gaston Leroux's
classic novel of mystery and suspense, Phantom has been performed in more than 100 cities worldwide and
is now longest running show in Broadway history. PHANTOM returns to the Benedum
Center to take your breath away.
The full 2010-11 PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series, presented
by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across
America, will be announced in the coming months.
Jan 22 2010
It isn't usual for me to get to shows by the CMU Music School (as opposed to Drama), but the current "Mikado" offered three attractions: it's Gilbert and Sullivan, and I'm an addict; it's directed by Gregory Lehane, an inventive director of comedy (disclosure: we work together on the annual "Off the Record" spoofs); and it's designed by Peter Cooke, the new head of CMU drama, in what I'm pretty sure is his...
Read the complete post at http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/onstage/archive/2010/01/22/stage-review-a-lively-contemporary-mikado-at-cmu.aspx
Jan 20 2010
My end-of-year wrap-ups occasioned a small flurry of emails. Here's a few. First, on the choice of Robin Abramson as Performer of the Year : We saw Ms. Abramson perform as Maria Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" in Israel. Her performance was so enchanting that, after the opening night, the run of the show rapidly sold out. We saw it three times because we were stunned at the job she did. Audience members felt that she simply elevated...
Read the complete post at http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/onstage/archive/2010/01/20/end-of-year-readers-respond-to-chris-rawson.aspx
Jan 19 2010
by Robin Abramson and Carlyn Aquiline, City Theatre Literary Manager and Dramaturg
Less than two weeks ago, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette printed critic Christopher Rawson’s annual designation of Pittsburgh’s “Performer of the Year.” To our great thrill, actress Robin Abramson received that top honor, and for her performances in two plays presented by City Theatre: Mary’s Wedding [...]...( read more ) Read More...
Read the complete post at http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/citytheatre/archive/2010/01/19/performer-of-the-year.aspx
Jan 19 2010
I've been gearing up for January 22 and my third Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District since last fall. The Gallery Crawl is a quarterly event presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust that features free admission to more than 15 different art galleries and performance venues in the Cultural District. The crawl runs from 5:30 to 9pm on Friday January 22. While all of the events are sure to be engaging, here are my top 3 things not to miss on...
Read the complete post at http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/showblog/archive/2010/01/19/top-three-new-things-at-this-friday-s-gallery-crawl.aspx
Jan 17 2010
Some cats, your average domestic housecat say, communicates with other cats, maybe even with you, in a number of ways. A sweet meow, for example. Perhaps a gentle trilling in exchange for a particularly good scratch. They could hiss, growl, squeak or chirp. Alternately, a cat could plié, arabesque or piroutte on graceful hind paws. They could stand upright with one five-toed paw clasped to furry breast and belt out "Memory" at the...
Read the complete post at http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/showblog/archive/2010/01/17/dancing-whisker-to-whisker-with-mr-mistoffelees.aspx
Jan 14 2010
The Air Traffic Controller of the Production
by Rachel Enck, City Theatre Literary Intern
Have you ever wondered what all those titles on City Theatre’s staff list at the back page of the program mean? What’s a Technical Director? How about a Draper? What’s the division between the Managing Director’s job and the Artistic Director’s? Audience members [...]...( read more ) Read More...
Read the complete post at http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/citytheatre/archive/2010/01/14/behind-the-scenes-with-patti-kelly-production-stage-manager.aspx
Jan 14 2010
There is an army of people at work inside the O’Reilly Theater this week. Their common goal is turning Ted Pappas’ vision of A Midsummer Night’s Dream into stunning reality. The Public’s big production of Shakespeare’s magical comedy begins on January 21. Outside in the alley, not one, not two, but three trucks were needed to transport the magnificent scenery that was created at The Public’s shop in Point Breeze...
Read the complete post at http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/ppt/archive/2010/01/14/pittsburgh-public-theater-publog-making-the-dream-come-true.aspx