Fat Pig is Phat

Neil LaBute has the uncanny ability to express what people often think (but never ever say) in his plays. He explores a dark, cold & shallow side of people that most never see. I saw Fat Pig at Dominion Stage over the weekend. It came as no surprise to me that the show was outstanding...besides the strength of the script, I've also seen the work of all four cast members (Erin DeCaprio, Christopher Holbert, Chuck Dluhy, & Allyson Harkey) and have worked with director Sara Joy Lebowitz. There wasn't a weak link in the cast. All four created characters that we know in real life...stereotypes that exist...the heavyset but terrific woman that everyone wants to see happy; the handsome hero with everything going for him; the obnoxious and superficial friend that everyone hates; and the neurotic office gal who is attractive and fun but who can't seem to hold on to a man.

The play is extremely well-written, with such natural dialogue that you always feel as though you're hearing a real conversation and not a performance. But in the hands of the wrong director, or less than stellar actors, it can fail miserably as it doesn't have the "high drama" or the glamour of other shows. Fortunately for Dominion Stage, they've got all the magical ingredients.

DeCaprio as Helen is luminous. If the play didn't center around her weight, it wouldn't be noticed; she absolutely radiates beauty, energy, and charisma. She gives a heartfelt performance that never allows for self pity or exaggeration. It's just an eloquent testimony to the strength of her character. She's a role model for being happy with who you are, and refusing to accept anything less than she deserves.

Holbert as Tom gives us the hero with a flaw. We'd love to think he's above peer pressure and caring about what anyone thinks, but he's just as fallible as the rest of us. His Tom is sweet and sensitive, but lacks more self-confidence than even he realized. He gives us an internal picture that's not nearly as pretty as his outsides, and ultimately disappoints everyone he's seduced with his charm...Helen and the audience. It's a brilliant, vulnerable portrayal.

Chuck Dluhy has to be one of the nicest guys in theatre...which is why his depiction of an asshole the size of, well, his character's mother, is so fantastic. He creates the role of Carter, Tom's friend and officemate , and keeps the audience riveted. He spews disdain and mocking so well that it's impossible not to watch him every time he takes the stage...it's like rubbernecking on the side of the highway! There are layers to his audacity...and Dluhy has painted each one beautifully.

Allyson Harkey makes Jeannie nagging, shrill, nervy and sarcastic...totally perfect for her role. One can see why Tom is constantly putting off her advances and finding it so difficult to be honest with her...she is a character without being a caricature. She's done a terrific job of being unlikeable, and yet gives enough of her character's weakness that one finds sympathy for her.

Pacing, set, sound design...everything worked in perfect harmony. It's a show that will leave you thinking long after you've left the theatre. It's a show you don't want to miss. There are two weekends left...

www.dominionstage.org for more info

On Golden Pond at PWLT!

Last night, I saw a dress rehearsal for On Golden Pond, put on by Prince William Little Theatre (PWLT) in Manassas, VA. The classic Ernest Thompson play really hasn't lost its lustre, brought to life by the two leading characters of Ethel (Elissa Hudson) and Norman Thayer (George Kitchen). With a believable and charmingly rustic set by Dave Warner, the actors create a true picture of cabin living in the 1980s. Melissa Jo York-Tilley, in her directorial debut, scores a hit. The play moved very well, with no superfluous blocking and no forced moments. Hudson had a straightforward, to the point way of delivering her lines that was reminscent of Katharine Hepburn, and yet she managed to make the role her own. She was alternately funny and highly emotional, and always very real. Kitchen was a superb Norman. A former dancer, Kitchen elegantly and ably transformed his 50 year old body/face/voice into a realistic 80 year old man. He captured all the charm and cool detachment needed to portray the character.

In the supporting roles, Lori Muhlstein as estranged daughter Chelsea was wonderfully disagreeable, spoiled, and believable . August Kruesi as her dentist-boyfriend gave a nicely understated performance, and Caelan Ryberg as his young teenaged son gave us effervescence. Kevin Kirby as the quirky Maine mailman with a torch for Chelsea added a nice comic touch to the overall cast. The costumes were well done (true 80s feel from the David Bowie jacket to the Miami Vice outfit for Bill) and the lighting was well thought out.

I only had one major criticism...the "mood music" added to two highly emotional scenes...it over-dramatized what would have been two beautifully poignant moments. I felt that they were completely unnecessary and detracted rather than enhanced the show. The sound design in general was very good, with a lot of fun 80s tunes and old fashioned radio elements.

Overall, the production was excellent. There wasn't a dull or weak moment, and a lot of care and love has gone into the show. I encourage everyone to see it!

Jennie Dean Elementary School on Prince William Street in Manassas, VA. Show dates: 9/26-10/11, 2008. Please visit: www.pwlt.org for more info.

TGT...Truly Great Theater

Over our almost 3 years together, my husband and I have seen a LOT of theater. Some good, some bad, some outstanding. We've seen grade school shows, professional shows, and lots and lots of community theater. We were chatting the other day about the outstanding ones...these are our picks. You'll notice that two theaters in particular seem to be synonymous with excellence...Port City Playhouse & Silver Spring Stage.

Anton in Show Business...put on in January of 2007 by Port City Playhouse...directed by Chuck Dluhy...the fantastic all female cast featured Leta Hall, Amy Miharu-Hard, & Caitlin Brodnick. All three leading ladies were wonderful, and the ensemble cast was just amazing. The direction was impeccable, the acting terrific, and the storyline fresh & creative. Everything about the show worked.

Never the Sinner...summer of 2007 at Silver Spring Stage...most people are familiar with the heinous crime committed by Leopold & Loeb in the 1920s...and while the show itself is well written, it's easy to make something like a true crime story boring or dry. But not when its in the hands of Michael Kharfen, an area actor & director so talented that having him associated with any show is guaranteed gold. His show was fast-paced, dark, and absolutely chilling. The fabulous Craig Miller as Clarence Darrow and David Gorsline as Attorney Robert Crowe were a great team, and Ryan Manning & Sam Ludwig as Leopold & Loeb were utterly phenomenal. Their depiction of pure teenaged evil was scarier than any horror film I've seen since Silence of the Lambs. It was a perfect show.

Wonder of the World...(Feb 2008)...brings us back to both Port City Playhouse & Chuck Dluhy! Apparently they make a marvelous pair. Pulitzer Prize winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire writes a totally bizarre yet enjoyable script about going over Niagara Falls in a barrel (among other things!) and had a cast that just worked on all levels. Especially delightful was Margaret "Maggie" Bush portraying the best drunk I've seen in years, and Annette Kalicki & Andy Wright as the central hubby/wife were also downright hilarious. It's a dysfunctional show about dysfunction and I loved it.

Incorruptible...August 2008...Silver Spring Stage. Director Leta Hall did the near impossible and found a uniformly perfect cast for an unusual (and hysterical) show. Ted Schneider, Craig Miller, John Stange, Robin Covington, Jose Guzman...amazing. An irreverent play about the Middle Ages was outrageously funny, well paced, with a beautiful set (courtesy of the always stellar Andy Greenleaf)...and was one of the best comedies I've seen in years. It was a wonderful surprise.

Glass Menagerie...May 2007...Port Tobacco Players. Director Randy Tusing is one of the most versatile & insightful directors in this area. He handles timeless classics like this show with panache, and then deftly switches to directing something like Mamet's Oleanna (Hard Bargain Players-2006) and meets with the same success. Along with his remarkable cast, he presented the show in a totally different manner: a real mobile carousel onstage for the set. It gave the actors new concepts in blocking, and the audience could feel the intimacy of their lives entwining with the small space allowed for the action.

That's all I can think of for now...please feel free to write in and tell me about your favorite area shows over the last few years!

-McCall :)

The Standing O...vation ;)

Lately, I have noticed a plethora of standing ovations at shows I've been attending. And in my opinion, many haven't been warranted. Just as I was wondering if maybe *I* was being too critical, I came across this Dear Abby column today...


DEAR ABBY: I was taught that a performance receives a standing ovation when it is truly spectacular. When you are especially moved or inspired, you show your appreciation by standing. Abby, every show I go to now receives a standing ovation. I don't always join in. I feel it should mean something, not just be expected at the end of every show.

I'm tired of getting the "evil eye" from people standing around me because I didn't feel an ovation was warranted. Don't get me wrong, I'm still generous with my applause and take into consideration all the aspects of the show. (For example, I wouldn't expect a play featuring 5-year-olds to be held to the same standard as a Broadway show.)

Am I wrong? Should I stand with everyone else, and am I confused about the meaning of standing ovations? Or should I remain seated? -- RELUCTANT IN MADISON, WIS.

DEAR RELUCTANT: If you don't feel a performance merits a standing ovation, stay in your seat. Do not let the reaction of other audience members intimidate you. It's possible they may be related to someone in the show, or even be the producers.