'Head over Heels' in love at Prince William Little Theatre

 

From left: Pamela (Brittany Washington), King Basilius (Chris Anderson), Queen Gynecia (Jolene Vettese), Dametus (Andrew Morin), Mopsa (Meredith Kilmartin), and Philoclea (Grace Miller) in Prince William Little Theatre's Head Over Heels, on stage through Sunday night/Heather Regen Photography

It’s quite a combo to mix 500-year-old characters with today's hipsters, but that what the Prince William Little Theatre has done with its latest show, Head Over Heels, an adult comedy on stage through Sunday night at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.

It's all about the royal family of Arcadia on a musical journey to save its "beat" as the Oracle Pythio has warned the nobility to act now or forever forget their kingdom.

What's love got to do with it? 

Why it makes the world go 'round, of course, especially when the King and Queen of Arcadia (Chris Anderson and Jolene Vettese) have two daughters they're just itching to get hitched.

In a gentle but authentic performance, Grace Miller is Princess Philoclea, the younger daughter, who is smitten by Musidorus (Nathan Peck), a mere shepherd boy and not good enough for his offspring, thinks the king.

The older daughter, Pamela (Brittany Washington), is the more beautiful child (she says so herself), with so many suitors, what's a poor girl to do? 

(She eventually wakes up to love in the most conspicuous of places. Thank you, handmaid Mopsa [Meredith Kilmartin].)

The Royal Couple isn't the happiest of married couples, it soon becomes obvious. To be kind: They tolerate each other but they got the beat and shout out "This Old Feeling" when the king's eyes shut so tightly I thought they were permanently glued. 

It was a stunning delivery (the king also doubles as music director) like the queen's exasperations and wifely responses known to too many wives throughout Arcadia. (Make that, the world.)

Pythio (Clayton Alex Jones) comes on scene (an absolute killer whenever they make an appearance with sweeping gestures and exaggerated slow talk), surrounded by aides wearing head dresses of rhinestoned snakes.  

The non-binary oracle adds to their allure that that "heaven is a place on earth" if we become more tolerant and generous to those around us. 

 

Clayton Alex Jones is the Oracle in Prince William Little Theatre's Head Over Heels on stage through Sunday night/Heather Regen Photography

Although language in the show is rated "g," it's got the best simulated sex scene I've seen, moving to the audience's whoops and whistles.  (Wowsers! "Love with a Stranger" is not sung.)

Also in the cast is Andrew Morin as Dametas, the king's courtier and Mopsa's father.

This show has lots of action and great duets, particularly when Princess Pamela and Mopsa sing duets and harmonize.  

A big painting in the middle of the stage announces scene changes to show exactly where on their trip the Royal Family is. (Joey Olson, set designer.) 

It's no surprise to learn the costumes (by Susy Moorstein and Riley Leonhardt) are a mix of yesterday and today.

The welcome six-member band, under the baton of Matthew Scarborough, is mostly unseen on an elevated platform. 

Members of the creative team include Melanie McGuin, director and choreographer; Laura Mills and Melissa Jo York-Tilley, producers; Cristina Casais, assistant choreographer; Kasey Moore and Esther Wells, stage managers; Leonhardt and York-Tilley, hair and makeup; Draconia Craig and Melanie McCleerey, properties.

Also, Ken and Patti Crowley, lighting; Tim McCleerey, sound; and Lanny Warkentien, lion tamer.

With adaptation by James Magruder, Jeff Whitty wrote this "jukebox musical" of mostly popular tunes from the past, like those by the "Go-Gos" featured at the show. 

With fees included, tickets are $35 for adults; $29, seniors and students; $24, military and children The Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110. Ticket office, ph. 703-993-7759.

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'Elvis in Concert,' yes, he is!

Elvis is alive and well up on the big screen and the surround sound music takes you there!

 It’s a must see at IMAX!

 Let the foot tapping and stomping begin!

Many times I caught myself smiling, laughing, and I had to exercise restraint to keep from clapping at the end of some songs because I forgot I wasn’t at a concert! 

It’s a first-person experience!

The movie is all Elvis talking and singing, with backstage interviewers asking questions and other than that, the only voice is mostly his. 

His biggest hits are, natch, here and not just snippets but most with close to full versions and some, new to me.

He often, many times (!) kissed women in the audience who literally threw themselves at him, some even making it to the stage, hard to consider in our security-conscious world today.

His Army career from 1958 to 1960 didn't deter Elvis long, and after formulaic movies, he returned to the venue he loved the most: in front of a live audience which is what we were at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville on April 8, 1972.

I must say it wasn’t a great show then: too short, he didn’t come back to the stage to sing one last song and from our vantage point (near the ceiling), he was no bigger than the size of the tip of my little finger. 

Readers: This film is much, much better than our personal experience!  This is live!  This is solid entertainment!

In Las Vegas he performed to constant sold-out shows, sometimes twice a day, losing four to five pounds.

His huge orchestra was much bigger than I ever envisioned. Elvis seemed to love joking around with his backup singers and crew, loved by all. 

He was such a sexually hunk of man, so appealing with those beautiful blue eyes, long eyelashes, and mannerisms.

Except for an accompanying song, his marriage to Priscilla (b. 1945) is treated wordlessly with videos of his daughter, Lisa Marie (1968-2023) as an infant and toddler.

Nearing the end of the film, I wondered how his death would be handled:  respectfully, as it was.  

Epic: Elvis in Concert is a great escape from the world today.

A note near the end says between 1969 and 1977 Elvis gave 1,100 concerts, sometimes three a day including the year he died, 1977.

It’s been years (say, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? Waaay back in 1969 ) that I’ve wanted to see a movie twice. 

I be goin’ back to Elvis! 

And if you don't like Elvis (1935-1977), you'll like Elvis!

Congratulations to Baz Luhrmann for the Best Documentary and a rockin' good time at the movies!

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