Alexandria's 'Young Frankenstein,' the hit of the season!

 

Dr. "Fronkensteen" (Noah Mutterperl) and Inga (Claire Jeffrey) take a buggy ride in Young Frankenstein at Little Theatre of Alexandria/Photo by Matt Liptak

Attention, theater lovers and others: rush, do not tarry, but go straight to the Little Theatre of Alexandria‘s website for tickets for Young Frankenstein, if there are any tickets left. You can send me thanks later.

It's a hoot!

A delight!

Lots of fun throughout the night! 

Love makes the hair of Elizabeth (Liz Colandene) stand on end when she mixes it up with the Monster (Joshua Nettinga) in Young Frankenstein at Little Theatre of Alexandria/Photo by Matt Liptak

Although billed as an adult comedy, the matters at hand go by so swiftly, youngsters of all ages will enjoy the music, the action, the costumes without getting too caught up in the fast-paced adult themes.

It's the work, music and lyrics of Mel Brooks (still kickin') just so you know you're in for a good time.

The story centers on the inheritance of a spooky castle in Transylvania by Frederick Frankenstein (Noah Mutterperl), the grandson of the celebrated monster scientist of the same last name (Joshua Nettinga).

Frederick (who insists on being called Dr. "Fronkensteen" to separate himself as much as possible from his famous ancestor), needs to sell his new castle quickly so he can return home to the arms of his fiancee, the gifted (in real life) singer, Elizabeth (Liz Colandene).

Off he ventures to see his grandfather's castle and find out just what his grandfather did.

Along the way he meets a humpback, Igor (Joshua Redford) and a lab assistant, Inga (Claire Jeffrey), no relation (we don't think) a young lass who yodels and whose presence, alas, takes Dr. Fronkensteen's mind from Elizabeth as much as he tries to keep the faithful.

Together they all recreate his grandfather's monster who comes alive, escapes into the town and later meets up with Elizabeth who has suddenly arrived in town to find her fiance mixing it up with Inga. 

Alass!

Meanwhile, the townspeople are going  mad.

That Redford was able to maintain his stooped back and moving hump through the show is a marvel. Inga's playful innocence and gestures are perfect for the role and hear! hear! to those ninnying horses who don't care too much for she "vas his girlfriend," the grandfather's totally serious amour (Judy Lewis) who was able to make the good doctor rise from the dead.

Nettinga's stalk and enormous height with his makeup (by Natalie Turkevich) match all the visuals you may have mentally stored for decades.

The rich sounds of music from the hidden 10-member orchestra under the direction of Francine Krasowska and Christopher A. Tomasino make the show all the more enjoyable.

There's lots more to make the evening one of solid entertainment.

Give me laughs!

Make me smile and let's talk about the show to all who'll lend me an ear!

Other cast members are: James Maxted (the Hermit), Brian Ash (the Inspector), and ensemble members,
Daria Butler, Emily Carbone, Andrew Edwards, Louis, Eggleston, Odette Gutierrez del Arroyo, Patrick Kearney, Evie Korovesis (also dance captain), Luke Martin, James Nugent, and Lourdes Turnblom.

Congratulations to director Frank D. Shutts II who has outdone himself!

Additional crew members are Sherry Clark and Rob Cork, stage managers; Robert S. Barr, Jr., set design; Mike Taister, set decoration; Donna Reynolds, properties; Ken and Patti Crowley, lighting and special effects; Allan Wray, sound; Jean Schlichting and Kit Sibley, costumes; Robert Worthington, wardrobe coordinator; Kadira, Coley, hair and wigs; and Kathy Murphy, set painting and design. 

Music and lyrics by Mel Brooks who co-wrote the book with Thomas Meehan.
Rachel Alberts and Russell M. Wyland, producers. Stefan Sittig, choreographer

When: Now through Nov. 11, 2023, Wednesday - Saturday nights, 8 p.m.

Where: Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Tickets: $29 (Wed.- Fri.), $37 (Sat.). Prices includes fees.

Audience: General

Duration: About 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission

Public transportation: Check the Metro and Dash bus websites. Dash is free to ride and has routes which are close to LTA.

Parking: is free on streets and at Capital One Bank at Wilkes and Washington streets, a block away. Paid parking is available at nearby garages.


For more information: 

 Box Office: 703-683-0496; Main Office, 703-683-5778 or boxoffice@thelittletheatre.com.

patricialesli@gmail.com

'Producers' deliver huge hit in Alexandria

Leo (Ryan Phillips) and Follies Girls (from left) Taegan Chirinos, Cheryl Bolt, Erin Pugh, Kathleen West, Shannon Robichaud, Colleen Kleveno) in Little Theatre of Alexandria's The Producers/photo by Matthew Randall

If any seats remain for The Producers by the time you read this, it will raise my eyebrows since words on the street travel faster than the digital or printed kind.

Take my words for it:  This is a sizzler of a comedy which will make you happy you came and enjoyed a good time at the theatre.

Leo (Ryan Phillips), left, and Max (Steve Cairns)  in Little Theatre of Alexandria's The Producers/photo by Matthew Randall

Just the name Mel Brooks (still kicking at age 93; he's Jewish - keep reading) is enough to drive me anywhere to whatever of his is on stage, and fortunately for us locals, that means the Little Theatre of Alexandria to see the show that was such a movie hit, Brooks turned it into a Broadway musical which ran six years and won 12 Tonys. (Now, that's a reversal of the process.)


From start to finish, it's full of action and laughs with Steve Cairns as Max Bialystock, the once famous Broadway producer, who convinces a naive accountant to join him and produce a terrible play so they can collect big losses from their big flop. (Be careful what you wish for.)


Ryan Phillips is the accountant, Leo Bloom (and he does) whose sophistication throughout the show increases to match his growing awareness of the theatre world and how it operates. (His education in theatre performance at George Mason University is quite evident.)

 
       "You've mistaken me for somebody 
           with a spine." 

"There's a lot more to me than me."

Enter the playwright, a German named Franz Liebkind (Chad Ramsey), appropriately clothed throughout the show in lederhosen and wearing a mad Hitler helmet and a black beard, to take over and star in his masterpiece, Springtime for Hitler.

What's a play without sex? Not a fun play. Here comes the girly, flirty Ulla (Sirena Dib) who hypnotizes Leo and weaves her "magic."

And not to forget the director of the "loser of a play," Roger (Brian Lyons-Burke), always assisted by his able fairy, Carmen Ghia (Timothy R. Kingboth) who produce regales of laughter and whose sparkling diamond lapels can be seen from the rear of the theatre.

Costumers Jean Schlicting and Kit Sibley, assisted by wardrobe coordinator Robin Worthington, had their hands full, fashioning outfits for 21 cast members whose female ensemble wear sexy scanty designs as members of a chorus line before they are clad as little old ladies in flowered dresses (just below the knees, please) with white collars, gloves, hats, and, natch, pearls. 

The ladies' walkers become dance partners, and sounds emanate from the taps of their shoes clicking on the floors. (Ditto the accountants in these two memorable scenes. Stefan Sittig, choreographer, and Alan Wray, sound designer, exceed expectations.)

In addition to the heavyweights, the ensemble are the stars who carry the show and work to make it the "worst show" with the "worst directors and worst actors" (say, what?) because a flop which is not a flop but flips is a flop of a plan. (Huh?  You have to be there.) 

Dan Remmers has designed almost minimalist sets to avoid interference with the dialogue, and that's a good thing. 


Conductor Colin Taylor leads an orchestra of 22 members critical to the show's success. They play "upstairs," mostly hidden from view.

In 2015 I saw The Producers at the Olney Theatre and was happy to see it starting up in Alexandria because the "second-time around" is just as good and merry. 

Attention:  PC Police: It is not. But, why can't we still have fun?  Is it such a dastard world that we can't get off and enjoy a good time?

"Stop the world!  I want to get on!"

To quote Director Kristina Friedgen: Let's "laugh at ourselves more and allow others to laugh with us," or as Max puts it to Leo: "Smile and the world smiles with you."

Now, that's entertainment!
 
Members of the ensemble act in several different roles.  They are Drake Leach, Cheryl Bolt, Taegan Chirinos, Brian Delp, Chad Friedman, Rachel Hogan, Colleen Kleveno, Derek Marsh, Anne McPherson, Erin Pugh, Mike Sarisky, Brandon Steele, and Kathleen West.

Also, Courtney M. Caliendo and Shannon Robichaud who are dance captains.

Other crew members are David Correia and Mary Beth Smith-Toomey, producers; Haley Dandreaux, assistant director; Steven McBride, vocal director; Rob Cork and Nick Friedlander, stage managers; Tom O'Reilly, set construction; De Nicholson-Lamb, set painting; Russell J. Wyland, set decoration; Kirsten Apker, properties; Ken and Patti Crowley, lighting; Larissa Norris, makeup; and Susan Boyd, hair and wig designs.

What: The Producers by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
 
When: Now through August 17, 2019. Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.

Where: Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Tickets: $29 to $34

Rating: PG-13. Language: "R" A few contemporary slang words are uttered infrequently. Adult themes.

Duration: Two hours with one 15-minute intermission

Public transportation: Check the Metro website which supplies information to LTA during Metro station improvements.

Parking: On the streets and in many garages nearby. If Capital One Bank at Wilkes and Washington streets is closed, the bank's lot is open to LTA patrons at no charge.
 

For more information: 703-683-0496

patricialesli@gmail.com

Olney's 'The Producers,' a super smash hit

Leo Bloom (Michael Di Liberto) with his Showgirls in Olney Theatre Center's production of THE PRODUCERS. (Photo: Stan Barouh)

 

The Olney Theatre Center has outdone itself with the most entertaining area performance in memory.

From the get-go, The Producers rockets off the stage and doesn't stop until the end. You say "Mel Brooks," and I say "hilarious!"

Stage and television star (The Wire) Michael Kostroff plays the main character, Max Bialystock (with the emphasis on "stock"), a producer who adopts an accountant (Leo Bloom played by Michael Di Liberto) to be his co-producer of the worst performance on Broadway so they can take advantage of "creative accounting" and rake in the bucks when the show quickly dies.

"A man can make a fortune with a flop," Max realizes.

Max and Leo set out to find the worst title (what could go right with Springtime for Hitler?), hire the worst director (Jason Graae as Roger de Bris), and the worst actors to join the terrible team. It becomes as garish and awful a show as the title suggests, but the costuming by Seth M. Gilbert is oh, la, la.

To secure "creative financing," Max calls upon his retinue of "little ole ladies" with deep pockets who still like to frolic, and, imagine...they look and dress alike. (In identical costumes and hair styles, they dance later on with their walkers which become props which become tap shoes.)

Michael Kostroff as Max Bialystock, Jessica Jaros as Ulla, and Michael Di Liberto as Leo Bloom in Olney Theatre Center's production of THE PRODUCERS. (Photo: Stan Barouh)

A blonde bombshell a la MM, "Ulla" (with a faithful rendition by Jessica Jaros), joins the duo to "help out," and add more hilarity.

I loved!  loved!  loved!  (and so did the audience) the fairy queen/king, Carmen Ghia (Robert Mintz) the director's assistant who flitted, who floated, and flew around the stage like Tinkerbelle in lilac.

With the exception of two off-key horns for a few seconds, the orchestra (under the direction of  Darius Smith with assistance from Christopher Youstra) seemed sharper and more polished than usual.

While it is true that you won't walk out humming or singing any of the songs, The Producers (introduced to Broadway in 2001) still holds the record for winning the most Tonys (12). (In another funny scene--heck, they all are--Max and his team stop and move in slow motion when the name "Tony" pops up.  "You say Tony?" Max whispers slowly.)

On opening night the actors skillfully handled some improv (the trip), which happened fast, but the audience quickly grabbed on, increasing the pleasure.

James Fouchard, scenic designer, must have gotten an early look at the new exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, Gustave Caillebotte:  The Painter's Eye anchored by Caillebotte's Paris Street, Rainy Day, for the likeness becomes The Producers' set anchor, too. 

Andrew F. Griffin's excellent lighting design works the entire night, from a single spotlight on a prisoner to lights changing the sky and the city scenes.

One word in the lights at the end made me wince, however: moron. Don't they know?

Others in the cast are Stephen F. Schmidt as Franz, and in the ensemble, Brandon Ambrosino, Kurt Boehm, Jennifer Cameron, Jennifer Cordiner, Gabriella DeLuca, Lance E. Hayes, John Jeffords, Amanda Kaplan, Ethan Kasnett, Emily Madden, Nurney, Natalie Perez-Duel, Derek John Tatum, and Vicky Winter.

This is a production I believe will earn Helen Hayes nominations, as in:

Outstanding Resident Musical

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical

Outstanding Director of a Musical: Mark Waldrop

Outstanding Choreography in a Musical: Tara Jean Valley

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Michael Kostroff

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical: Jessica Jaros

Outstanding Supporting Actor: in a Musical:  Robert Mintz

What: The Producers, a new Mel Brooks Musical

Age recommendation: For 13 and up

When: Now through July 26, 2015 (look for an extension) at 8 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays, with weekend matinees at 2 p.m., and Wednesday matinees, July 15 and July 22, at 2 p.m.

Where: Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832

How much: Tickets start at $38, with discounts for military, groups, seniors, and students. 

Duration:  About 2.5 hours with one intermission.

Refreshments: Available for purchase and may be taken to seats.

Parking: Abundant, free, and on-site

For more information: 301-924-3400

For more reviews of The Producers and other plays, go to DC Metro Theater Arts.

patricialesli@gmail.com