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THE WOMAN IN BLACK – Written by Stephen Mallatratt; directed by Selena A. Naumoff. Produced by Wheat Ridge Theatre Company (5455 West 38^th Avenue, Wheat Ridge) through October 29. Tickets available at wheatridgetheatre.com. 

Wheat Ridge Theatre Company is a relatively young company and has, until recently, been performing in various, often unexpected, places. They only moved into their new more permanent space a year ago and are learning to deal with its blessings and limitations. At this point, their productions have been a little hit or miss. But THE WOMAN IN BLACK is a solid hit. In the confident hands of Director Selena Naumoff who cast two competent and experienced actors, the script comes alive. 

Playwright Stephen Mallatratt, an actor himself, was commissioned by the theatre who employed him in 1987 to adapt a popular spooky short story written by Susan Hill for their Christmas play. It proved to be a popular and profitable production and slowly made its way to the West End in London in 1989. It became the second longest running non-musical production scaring patrons nightly until it closed 33 years later in March of this year. Because of its small cast, use of a minimalist set, and engrossing story, it has had multiple TV and movie adaptations and been a popular script for local theatres across the world. 

Mallatratt takes an unusual point of entry into the story. Kipps, a lawyer, has already gone through the episode with the Woman in Black years before and has hired an actor/director to help him understand and purge his unresolved memories. The two falteringly assume various roles with the actor taking Kipps place as Kipps himself tells the remembered story by assuming the other characters important to the telling. 

They proceed with acting out Kipps’ memories of an assignment that took him to an isolated village to close the estate of a deceased woman. Upon arriving at her mansion on a spit of land separated from the mainland at high tide, he begins to hear and experience unexplained phenomena. He is eventually driven to flee the countryside in fear. Together the two complete the tale and the exorcism of memories. It’s an engrossing story well told. 

Ronan Viard and Patrick Brownson are both talented and experienced local actors and brought their A game to this intimate production. In a theatre this small, there is an absolute necessity to be in the moment every moment. They tell this increasingly scary story with deadly seriousness. The script allows only occasional flashes of humor to ease the tension. The glimpses we are allowed of the Woman in Black played by Sina Hirsch startle by being unexpected and silent. Even when you begin anticipating her possible entrance, she continues to surprise by not being where you thought she was going to be. Brilliantly scary! 

The few but well used rehearsal boxes and small furniture pieces used for setting various locations within the story keep the action flowing. The costumes by Victoria Green are era authentic and versatile. A brilliant sound design by Rick Reid and a light design by Devan Meck establish and maintain the eerie quality of the whole production. 

A WOW factor of 8.5!! 

THE CHERRY ORCHARD – Written by Anton Chekhov; Directed by Len Matheo. Produced by Miners Alley Performing Arts Center (1224 Washington Avenue, Golden) through November 5. Tickets available at 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com. 

While Chekhov gets the credit for the original idea in 1904 of writing a play about the pre-Revolutionary decay of the aristocracy through the eyes of one family, this version was translated from the Russian by American playwright Stephen Karam. A success in his own right, Karam created a slightly Americanized version while retaining the deep-seated cultural markers of Chekhov’s original. While this version retains the Russian tongue-twisting names, it softens the mood by highlighting the humorous aspects of the family members and adding small changes such as moving the usual off-stage ball to an on-stage dance sequence. The family idiosyncracies and extended relationships retain their shape and purpose. 

A Russian family descends on the ancestral estate after a five-year absence in the hopes of a miracle to forestall the auction block. Somehow simply by the arrival of Lyubov, the matriarch (Mare Trevathan), and her brother Gaev (Brik Berkes), the angels are supposed to descend from the Heavens and save the homestead. The daughters are Varya (Jenna Moll Reyes) who has been keeping the home fires (barely) burning for these five years and Anya (Kira Wendland), the beauty of the family. The rest are needy neighbors and servants. Charlotta (Amy Arpan) is a former governess now turned into an amusing magician; Yasha (Brandon Billings) is a manservant accompanying Lyubov but anxious to return to the more civilized Paris; Dunyasha is a saucy maid at the estate who fancies herself an equal to the aristocracy she serves. Yepikhodov is the estate clerk who has asked Dunyasha to marry him, although she is more interested in Yasha for his urban sophistication and predatory ways. And Firs is the ever-faithful butler to Gaev and everyone’s “grandfather” figure. 

The lone outsider is Lopakhin who grew up on the estate with his father who was a farmer for Lyubov’s father. A sensible and clever businessman who has made a success of his financial life (to his own surprise), he offers suggestions to the family for getting out of their monetary difficulties. But since his bright idea calls for saving the estate by destroying it (cutting down the cherry orchard and parceling the land out to developers of vacation homes), his ideas are soundly rejected. But no one else has a better idea, so they decide to have a party and ignore the problem. They must finally say goodbye to the home they have loved but not treasured and go back to Paris. 

This first class cast zips through the scenario with enthusiasm. Mare Trevathan as Lyubov creates a woman joyful at being at home but unwilling to accept the reality of this last trip. She is giddy with delight at times; then thrown in the despair of futility. Brik Berkes plays her talkative pompous brother who hasn’t a serious thought in his head. Everyone is always telling him not to talk anymore. He just loves the sound of his own voice. Jenna Moll Reyes as the stay-at-home daughter with her ring of important keys, matronly manner, and tightly wound nerves, also seems to think the arrival of her mother and uncle will signal the end of her futile efforts at keeping the farms and house going. Her disappointment only makes her angrier. She is more than a little fond of Lopakhim (Rob Payo) who could be the answer to her prayers if only he weren’t too shy or felt unworthy to act on his feelings.  

Dunyasha is given a bouncy breezy portrayal by Samantha Piel who is unwilling to consider the slow and steady Yepikhodov (Matthew Murry) as a suitor in favor of Yasha, the much more handsome and worldly candidate as played by Brandon Billings. Tannis Joaquin Gonzales is the everlasting student Trofimov is “above love” with his grandiose philosophies ground in unreality. Anya (Kira Wnedland) is enamored by his high-blown ideas and will probably find a way to support his on-going “studies.” 

Rob Payo does a great job at highlighting these idle dreamers who have NO idea of the surprises around the corner in 1917. His own work ethic and common-sense approach is tempered by his desire to be accepted by these people. He cannot believe that his financial position has changed everything . . . and nothing. 

Comic relief abounds throughout. Logan Ernstthal is the needy neighbor who always manages to lead the conversation back to the subject of a loan of 240 or maybe 320 rubles. Amy Arpan jumps into the scene occasionally with a card trick or a little ventriloquism to be the court jester because they have nothing else for her to do as a governess. And the ever-faithful Firs the butler wins smiles with his unending delivery of drinks and coats for Gaev, his pseudo-son. 

THE CHERRY ORCHARD was deemed a comedy by its author. Although the actors could have donned present day clothing and Americanized their names to connect its themes of societal decay to present day life, I choose instead to enjoy it as intended, a look at a family in distress who somehow survive. And go on as we all must. 

Director Len Matheo and Scenic Designer Jonathan Scott-McKean chose not to surround the stage with cherry references and give the players a clean minimalist playing area. John Houser’s sound design give us subtle ominous echoes of chopping trees and rousing Russian music. The dance sequence grounded in Russian folk steps was choreographed by Angie Simmons. Steffani Bolmer-Day’s costumes – both elaborate and plain – kept us firmly planted in the era, class and locale. 

A WOW factor of 8.5!! 

NAUGHTY BITS – Written and Directed by Buntport Theatre Company Members.  Produced by Buntport Theatre Co (717 Lipan, Denver) through October 22.  Tickets available at 720/946-1388 or buntport.com. 

You can always count on the wacky crew at Buntport to provide its audiences with a good time.  They make you laugh, first and foremost, but they also make you think and, in spite of yourself, learn something about some subject in which you previously had no interest whatsoever.  Art history is a big one – they seem to love exploring art. What immediately comes to mind whenever I contemplate art history (which I do often . . . . right!!) is THE REMBRANDT ROOM in which company member Erin Rollman became a museum security guard in front of a Rembrandt painting so long she knew every little thing there was to know about it.   Literature is another – MOBY DICK UNREAD, THE ODYSSEY WALKING TOUR, MY SIGNIFICANT BOTHER (about James Thurber’s short stories), PAPER MONSTERS (reviewing the cliff notes on BEOWULF), KAFKA ON ICE, and QUIXOTE  – the very first Buntport script.  Not to be overlooked are their homages to Shakespeare oft repeated because they are favorites of so many patrons:  TITUS ANDRONICUS THE MUSICAL (done at least four times and could be repeated each year), MACBLANK, SOMETHING IS ROTTEN (their version of HAMLET long before the Broadway musical) and WAKE (a take on THE TEMPEST). 

Buntport also has a gift for destroying time – often working in several dimensions or eras simultaneously. They enjoy moving characters out of their true historical era and placing them in unfamiliar territory. Or putting invisible shields between characters to allow multiple stories to be told all at the same time. Sounds complicated – but when you see the shows, you understand. 

NAUGHTY BITS is also a take on art history, art owners, and art writers (if romance novels are considered art). It uses three eras and three points of view to investigate the history of a statue of Hericles (or Hercules, if you prefer) who has inexplicably lost his largest naughty bit. We first meet the nouveau riche couple (Brian Colonna and Erin Rollman) who have moved into the mansion currently housing the artwork. By their costumes and dialogue, they are obviously from somewhere in the 20’s or 30’s. It’s the first time she has been in the ‘new’ house and is being mildly reprimanded for her propensity to vandalize the artwork in previous rentals. She is an overly dramatic actress of sorts; he is a loving husband who can seemingly deny her nothing; together they enjoy a frisky and loving relationship. 

The second to arrive with his projection equipment is a nerdy art history professor (Erik Edborg) delivering a lecture regarding the same statue’s origins and dimensions (or lack thereof) complete with what looks like the first ever slide projector. Thirdly, we meet a modern-day author (Hannah Duggan) who is using the statue as a character in her latest romance novel. In a prolonged phone conversation with her publisher, she explains her Pygmalion-type plot. In great detail.  

All three conversations are happening simultaneously one at a time. When one character speaks, the other two (or three) mime silently their own conversations. It becomes a jigsaw of a revelation during which we learn facets of art we’ve probably never contemplated. It’s only in the last few minutes that the three conversations collide into a nervous breakdown. 

It’s difficult to praise these players enough and what to praise them for most. You must remember that not only are these folk acting these complicated sets of dialogue overlapping each other, they also wrote what you are watching. They have conceived the idea, created the characters, researched the subject, written the words, directed themselves, built the set, found the costumes and devised the accompanying lights and sound. The four on stage are supported technically every step of the way by the fifth brilliant member of the troupe, SamAnTha Schmitz. Is there another company in Denver – nay, in Colorado – who does this? I think not! Their class, intelligence and confidence shows through every moment of every production. 

A WOW factor of 9.5!! 

WOLF AT THE DOOR – Written by Marisela Trevino Orta; Directed by Micaela Garcia De Benevidez. Produced by Su Teatro (721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver) through October 29. Tickets available at 303/296-0219 or Suteatro.org. 

Playwright Trevino Orta has taken the theme from traditional Latinx folk tales about shape-changers such as La Lechuza (in which a woman turns into an owl) and has created a trilogy of theatrical scripts humanizing the concept. During the first play, THE RIVER BRIDE, a dolphin turned human pursues a bride to retain his human shape, but his efforts do not end with a “happy ever after.” In WOLF AT THE DOOR, there is a more satisfying ending where everyone gets what they want except the villain – who gets what he deserves. A cautionary tale exceedingly well done by the company at Su Teatro. 

The very pregnant Isadora and her sister, Rocio are bound together by guilt and the circumstances of Isadora’s marriage to the vicious Septimo. He has brutalized his wife in the latter stages of her pregnancy resulting in an unsuccessful birth of the son he has built his future on. When another pregnant woman, Yolot, shows up in his barn, he suddenly sees another way to get a son. Isadora and Rocio do everything they can to dissuade him from his scheme but must finally take things into their own hands to protect Yolot and the new baby. Of all the endings I had mentally visualized for this scenario as the play progressed, the one illustrated was not one I had anticipated. I love being surprised by a plot turn. 

The sisters portrayed by Paola Miranda and Magally Luna have the easy familiarity of family members who have been through good and bad together. Rocio’s guilt over not warning her sister of Septimo’s brutality before she married him binds her to her sister as a protective angel. Magally imbues her every act of servitude with this shame and devotion. Paola plays the wife who, at one time, was deeply in love with her husband and saw a gentle soul in him. She, in typical fashion, thinks she can change him and get him back to how he was during their courting. Septimo is given a brutal reality by Camilo Luera based on being an unloved seventh son in his family growing up. He has great hope for a new life with his own son who he will raise “right.” Camilo walks a fine line between a craven coward who beats women when they do not do as he wishes and the unloved son of a cruel family. How difficult it must be for an actor to be so consistently unliked throughout the whole production when, in reality, he’s a good guy. Natalie Fuentes brings an authentic feral character to her Yolot who is ferocious in her efforts at escape and in her protection of her child. Complications in Yolot’s existence create the necessity for drastic actions on the part of the three women to protect the newborn and allow her to return to her wolf brothers. A riveting and surprising tale. 

A set encompassing both the rooms they live in and a barn for the animals designed by Steve Nash gave us a look both inside and outside the house. Costumes were designed by Mica Garcia De Benevidez with shifts for the pregnant women. An uncredited sound designer did a great job of creating wolves in the hills and a horse in the stable. Technically, one of the best shows I’ve seen at Su Teatro AND one of the best acted. 

A WOW factor of 8.5!! 

YOU ENJOY MYSELF – Written by Topher Payne; Directed by Betty Hart. Produced by Local Theatre Company (Presented at the Dairy Center, 2590 Walnut St, Boulder) through October 14. Tickets available at 303/444-7328 or the dairy.org. 

What a delightful script! Topher Payne is a genius at creating the strings of a plot, revealing them in a series of unrelated scenes, and then pulling them all together to create an Act I final scene full of shock and awe. At least in this play, Act II is then spent sorting out all the problems/relationships unleashed in Act I. All of which creates a funny yet thoughtful story about the many ways people can win love, lose love, and just fool around a little. He’s a playwright we should be seeing more of; his bio reports that he has more than 20 scripts published. Local is lucky to have scored the world premiere of this one.  

But, of course, the most clever and witty script would be nothing without the strong hand of a knowing director and a sterling cast. Luckily, Local Theatre has both. Betty Hart oversaw the creation of this fun piece of theatre, found a way of using the set to accommodate a variety of settings, and drew strong performances out of her cast of six. It helps that she has perfectly cast the show. 

Eden Lane, a beloved individual in the community for the work she has done on behalf of advancing theatre as an art form, makes her Colorado debut in this piece. As the Narrator of the story and a participant in the action, Judith’s steady calm demeanor belies the heady romantic story she begins. But after her short exposition about Phish, their phans, and the part they have played in her history, the next scene starts with a bang as we find an attractive older woman in bed wondering “what the heck did I do at that concert?” as an attractive younger man finishes his shower and returns to her side. 

The fun builds from there on. A pair of lovers (Isabel and Jasper) argue over his misinterpretation of a “hall pass.” A tour musician, he leaves for an extended trip, so she decides to travel with her best friend Cory to an origin source for all Phish phans, a cottage in the woods of Vermont to visit the author of the definitive book about Phish. They don’t meet who they anticipated but are invited to stay. Because of Cory’s incessant posting on social media, Jasper can track down where Isabel is; he and his tour buddy Archie make a side trip to Vermont in an effort at reconciliation. The sixth member of this sextet (pun intended) arrives to set up the most convoluted coincidental gathering of Phish Phanery you’ve ever seen. It takes another whole act to sort out the connections that work, those that don’t and those that have possibilities. Including one of the cutest and (probably) most authentic gay seductions written for the stage to date. 

But wrapped around the fun of this production are equally meaningful conversations about the nature of love, the need to care and be cared for, and the pain of becoming convinced that it isn’t going to work, no matter how fond you are of each other. References to interpretations of Phish songs abound throughout including an impromptu jam session led by guitarist Joe Mazza who sits on the sidelines throughout the performance chiming in with background music when appropriate. The other actors join in on harmonica, tambourine, guitar and vocally with a few random “heys” thrown in for good measure (a signature call by Phish in performance inviting the audience to join in the music). As one not familiar with this particular band or type of music, I don’t feel qualified to comment on this groups devotion to the music and the lifestyle it engendered, but I’m staggered by their commitment and knowledge. “What was the encore?” becomes a rallying cry. 

Bobby Bennett as the droll gay best friend Cory is fast becoming one of my favorite actors. His recent turn in THE INHERITANCE was unforgettable; now he follows it up with this lighter role with equal skill. You believe every word that comes out of his mouth; he’s not saying dialogue that someone else wrote, he’s simply talking. He is the master of the eye roll. His scene with Archie as played with Ryan Omar Stack is a model of well written dialogue delivered with ease and authenticity. Iliana Lucero Barron is a beautiful young woman who is confused by her boyfriend’s actions and feels the need to reconnect with something solid. Her confusion and hurt are well translated. Jihad Milhem, always a force to be reckoned with on stage, plays an equally hurt and confused boyfriend who tries desperately to make things right before everything goes wrong. Anne Sandoe bravely plays Eileen, the older woman from the first scene. Anne is a long-time playmaker in theatres all over the Front Range and brings a steadiness and naturalness born of experience in addition to talent to her role as a long lost lover. Eden in her debut role holds her own with this crew with a sensitive poignant performance of the one who waits.  

Special kudos to Susan Crabtree, Benjamin Smith, Mandy Kay Heath and Cipriano Orgeta who designed the set, lights and props and worked together to create this charming little cottage in the woods complete with a porch outlined in colored lights, a headboard made out of branches, a living room you can’t even see into that looks fully furnished, a whimsical Barbie masthead over the house, and a background painting of a green lush bower that wraps around the house. Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry provided the semi-hippy clothing for Judith and Eileen and the contemporary clothing for the others, including a donut dress which is obviously emblematic of a Phish song. 

While not exactly providing a happy ending for everyone, this script and this cast provides a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon or evening for their audiences. Unfortunately, there’s only one more weekend to this run – so grab some tickets while you can. 

A WOW factor of 8.75!! 

MIDGE AND THE BUTCHER – Written by Quinn Smola; Directed by Sarah Sheppard Shaver. Produced by Springs Ensemble Theatre (Presented at the Fifty-Niner Speakeasy, 2409 West Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs) through October 15. Tickets available at 719/357-3080 or SpringsEnsembleTheatre.org. 

Quinn Smola who wrote this monstrous missive is a college student, not far from the age of his high school heroine himself. This undoubtedly explains his ease with the teen vocabulary prevalent throughout the script. And his familiarity with the monsters that hide under the bed, in the closet, and in the halls of your high school. This is not his first play, but he shows a lot of promise, having a firm grasp on the character, the dialogue and a talent for telling a story with a minimum of diversions. In addition, apparently, he made the truly terrifying mask for his monster Xantheus.  

A skulls head adorned with a skeletal bird’s beak and goat’s horns. It was cleverly devised that you couldn’t see any of the face behind it, its mouth moved when he talked, and his eyes were invisible until he turned them on you and stared. The monster, known as the Butcher, was performed with great gusto by Isaiah Culling. While the rest of the costume included padding to create Popeye arms and Sumo wrestler legs, the bulk of his fearfulness came through his ferocious voice and ability to snap into cruelty mode without warning when upset. The Butcher was aptly named. Conversely, he became more like a Baker when bored with waiting for the “right time” to strike and showed great understanding and compassion for Midge’s dilemma. 

The Midge of the story is just entering high school, problems enough. But at the same time, he is transitioning into she, much to the dismay of her best friend. Rose Mitchell used the nervous mannerisms (uncontrollable hands, fussing with her hair, hesitation in her speech) of a teenager in turmoil to create a character on the edge of a breakdown. Calling forth a monster from Hell was a last resort. Little by little, the consequences became evident – both comic and horrific. 

In the second act, we finally meet her tormentor, a fellow student named Hunter (appropriate) whose own journey into puberty is upset and confused by the changes in his friend. Instead of trying to understand, he lashes out with anger and confusion. His cruelty is rewarded by a session with the Butcher during which his fear and pain is palpable. Gabriel Meadows brings a believable nastiness and reluctant repentance to his character. 

The acting space at the new Speakeasy space is tiny, just big enough to realistically portray the treehouse room in which the play takes place. SET will have to choose carefully their future shows to fit the space. Each of their upcoming plays this season fit into a single room or backyard set. The Fifty-Niner, when it’s not being a theatre, is a small restaurant/bar behind the Dice Guys Game Store. You kinda have to know it’s there because there’s limited street side signage and you go through a door at the back of the game store to get there. They are planning live concerts with solo performers and small bands when SET is not using the space for theatre. A real find with good pizza. 

A WOW factor of 8! 

THE REVOLUTIONISTS – Written by Lauren Gunderson; Directed by Matthew Schultz.  Produced by 11 Minutes Theatre Company (presented at the People’s Building, 9995 East Colfax, Aurora) through October 21.  Tickets available at 11MinutesTheatre.com.

Lauren Gunderson is fast becoming one of my favorite playwrights after having seen at least five of her scripts performed in the last two years.  She continues to be the most performed playwright in the country since 2016.  She currently has at least 25 scripts published that are being performed on a regular basis.  She takes historical events and people (mostly women) and makes them come alive in a contemporary world.  The language and humor of the four women from the French Revolution imbue them with a modernity that makes their story meaningful to an audience of today.  They become women who are more than just a picture or a paragraph in a history book.  They are women who love both deeply and casually, who have children they care about, who have affection and concern for each other and their cause.  They are, in some cases, vain; in some cases, arrogant and self-important; in other cases, shallow at the same time as being fierce in their efforts on behalf of the Revolution. 

The first woman we meet is the playwright Olympe de Gouge.  A true feminist, de Gouge at first supported the Revolution, but soon retraced her steps when she realized that the principle of “egalite” was not going to be extended to women.  Her awareness of the direction of the Revolution and her declarations against it brought her to the attention of Robespierre and put her life in immediate danger. As portrayed by Janine Ann Kahlenbach, she is passionate, stubborn, and unafraid (up to a point).  

Next to appear is Marianne Angelle, a composite character who stands for all the people fighting for the rights of the enslaved residents of the Caribbean French colonies. As played by Tiya Trent, she epitomizes fraternity – one of the supposed values of the Revolution – more than the others. Less ego than anyone and more genuinely caring about her sisters. Her gentle counseling and obvious concern for her compatriots is moving and genuine. 

Charlotte Corday is the next semi-familiar name to appear. The woman who is plotting to murder Marat in his bathtub appears at de Gouge’s door demanding some great exit lines. She knows she’s not going to get away with this infamous murder but wants some really memorable words to shout as they carry her away. Alison Talavacchio brings a street smart coarseness to the role that feels authentic. She is fed up with Marat’s cruelty and murderous ways and is ready to give up her own life to keep him from killing others. She’s loud, unrelenting and got a knife in her pocket. Tell her what to say and get out of the way!! 

The last surprising guest is none other than Marie Antoinette herself. By this time, her husband, Louis XVI, had faced Madame Guillotine and she knew they would be coming for her soon. She shows up because of de Gouge’s writings about the rights of women, the possibility of a constitutional monarchy that might possibly save her life, and because she had nowhere else to go. This part is written to steal the show. And steal it Dallas Slankard did. Her down-to-earth attitude about the fun and fear of being Queen and her personal vanity give her the opportunity for giggle-inducing one-liners and throw away personal putdowns. She’s aware that compared to the efforts of the others, she’s a joke. But an important joke, nevertheless. She just doesn’t want to die. Dallas nails the attitude and the unexpected humility perfectly. 

Is it possible that these three real life characters would have ever met? Corday did have several days in Paris in which to organize her plan to kill Marat. It could be possible that she would have sought out someone to assist her with some dramatic words to shout while she did the deed. De Gouge did speak against the beheading of the King and the possibility of a compromise government that would encompass both a royal house and a moderate citizen government. It is not impossible that Marie would have sought out an educated outspoken woman as a comrade. Charlotte Corday was beheaded on July 17^{th; Marie} Antoinette was guillotined on October 16; de Gouge on November 3. But it’s about as possible as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis (MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET) all getting together in one room to sing to each other. Nevertheless, Gunderson’s creating this episode is not dependent on fact and gives us a backstage look at the clouds around Paris during the 1790’s.  

The playing space at the People’s Building rarely allows for walls in a set. 11 Minutes has compensated and blocked the view of the back wall with a giant scaffold and a huge guillotine which looms over every word and deed. The ominous whoosh of the falling blade punctuates the evening with regularity. The simple set was enhanced by the dramatic lighting of Kevin Taylor and the beautiful costumes of an unnamed costumer. 

A short run but definitely worth the trip to Aurora to enjoy this accomplished telling of a delightful script. 

A WOW factor of 8.5! 

PS: Another play will be opening soon that takes another four women on a dangerous journey on behalf of equality for women. CADILLAC CREW opening at Vintage Theatre on October 20^th continues the never-ending story of women fighting the good fight for equal rights. 

THE LARAMIE PROJECT – Written by Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project; Directed by Kate Gleason and Rodney Lizcano. Produced by the Arvada Center (6901 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada) through November 5. Tickets available at 720/898-7200 or arvadacenter.org. 

Entering the theatre, you observe a set as wide open and breezy as Wyoming itself. A field of wheat is projected on the back wall blowing in the wind, immediately taking us to a place reminiscent of the location of Matthew Shepard’s last hours. A solemnity envelopes you with a sense that something significant is going to happen here tonight. It does. 

This cast of eight bring to life the crew of the Tectonic Theatre Company who traveled to Laramie to do their own research on how a community recovers from a horrendous event that garnered international attention. Brought to the scene as neutral observers, they soon fell under the charm of the citizens with whom they interact. The cast portrays not only the ones asking the questions, but the local citizens who are answering. Tectonic is pleaded with to “get the story right.” Not to portray the people of Wyoming as homophobic or unaware. Most of Wyoming has a “live and let live” attitude toward everything, including their gay population. As the discussion continues, there is a universal realization that there is still work to be done toward understanding and acceptance. Some characters portrayed change over the course of the interviews; some remain the same, good and not so good. 

I cannot say enough about the amazing work this cast of eight brilliant actors accomplish. These eight – Jada Suzanne Dixon, Chrys Duran, Torsten Hillhouse, Christopher Hudson, Rodney Lizcano, Susannah McLeod, Anne Oberbroeckling and Warren Sherrill – portray a combined total of 84 named characters during the two-hour production. With the addition of a scarf, a jacket, a hand crocheted vest, a head band, a cowboy hat and the like, they slide easily into the next character and continue the story. They are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that come together to form a picture of both Matthew and Laramie recovering from grief. You’d think this would be confusing to watch, but the audience is NEVER confused about the identity of who is speaking and their place in the story. As an ensemble, the actors are flawless. 

It’s hard to explain how deeply you as an audience member can get involved in the narrative. The story moves so quickly, is so complete from every angle, is told with such conviction, the characters so finely drawn, you are compelled to constant attention and emotional empathy.  

I feel a strong personal connection to this story. I was working at the Denver Center when this play was in development by Tectonic and their host company. Once they moved from the rehearsal room to the theatre, I used to sit in the back of the house during rehearsal and watch them put it together, moving scenes into different places, deciding what to cut. Attending again on opening night, I was dismayed to learn that they had cut one of my favorite scenes – a grandmother with a gay grandson putting two redneck cowboys in their place in a laundromat. 

Dennis and Judy Shepard will be conducting talkback conversations on October 28^th and 29^th for those who would like to attend. Call the theatre for more information about tickets for this special event. 

A WOW factor of 9.5!! 

PS: Six years after Matthew’s murder, 20/20, the TV news magazine, did a follow up story that tried to downplay the hate crime aspect of the event and blame it instead on drugs. McKinney, one of the murderers now serving a life sentence, was a known meth dealer. 20/20 believed that both McKinney and Henderson, the other participant in the beating, were hopped up on meth and were looking for someone to beat up, gay or not. This resulted in Tectonic returning to Laramie for another round of interviews with the same citizens to discover what had changed in Laramie in the interim – if anything – and how the citizens responded to the 20/20 charges. The result was a second look at the event in THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER. It opened in simultaneous readings in October of 2009 in over a hundred theatres around the country. 

THE PASTISSERIE – Written by Tiffany Ogburn, Buba Basishvili, Meghan Frank, Nicole Dietz; Music by David Rynhart. Produced by Theatre Artibus (Present at the Savoy Event Center, 2700 Arapahoe, Denver) through October 15. Tickets available at 303-476-5902 or Savoydenver.com. 

How refreshing to see something so new and original! This is a sparkling little petit four of a statement about the importance of our memories and how much they make up of our personalities. The plot concerns a soldier blown out of WWI and into an unusual candy factory. The two candy makers welcome him as they have apparently welcomed others before him. Using a number of guiles, they persuade him to share his memories and then convert them into candy which tastes like Grandma’s cooking, snow on a winter’s afternoon, and other nostalgic thoughts. How many of his memories is he willing to share? How long will they be able to keep him with them? What happens if he leaves? Does he get his memories back? 

An introductory section instructs the audience on their role in a call and response that echoes throughout the performance. We are to follow instructions or we would be “pelted by candy.” We also get to sample the candy to convince us that all this effort is worth the finished product. 

Put together in the manner of a Commedia Del Arte piece touched with mime and a little burlesque clowning, the production has a old-fashioned charm rarely seen in modern original productions. It is no surprise to see in the performer’s bios that all three – Buba Basishvili, Tiffany Ogburn, and Meghan Frank – have done considerable international study and work. Additionally, all three move effortlessly with the grace of dancers. They do choreography with their candy factory desks, chairs and equipment that is nothing short of amazing. 

Original and adapted music was created for the piece by David Rynhart; just listen to how he changes the whole mood of “Singing in the Rain” from joyful to questioning. The music is integral to the piece; it wouldn’t have succeeded without it. And succeed it did. 

Theatre Artibus doesn’t perform for the public often but when they do, it’s worth the effort of trying to find a parking place at the Savoy to attend. And those who haven’t visited the newly remodeled Savoy with its vaudeville filled lobby and swank bar need to find an excuse. 

A WOW factor of 8.75!! 

ALL SHOOK UP – Music written for Elvis Presley; Book by Joe Pietro; Directed by Kris Graves and Rebekah Ortiz; Musical Direction by Andrew Fischer; Choreographed by Christopher Languich.  Produced by Town Hall Arts Center (2450 West Main St, Littleton) through October 15.  Tickets available at 303/794-2787 or townhallartscenter.org. 

A memory:  In 1956, one Saturday night, I was in a drive-in theatre (remember those?) in Champaign, Illinois watching a new movie, LOVE ME TENDER.  When an actor made a quiet entrance walking across a field to greet his returning Confederate soldier brother, the whole place erupted in a cacophony of screams, yells, and horns honking welcoming Elvis Presley to his cinematic life – be that as it may.  It was given that if you grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, you were fans of Elvis and the Beatles.  The closest I ever got to him – closer than a lot, but not close enough – was watchng one of his Vegas shows sitting quietly on a stool backstage as the guest of one of his back up dancers.  Must have been in the mid-60’s because he still looked good and sounded great.  Then he had the audacity to pass away three days before my birthday – forever casting a pall pre-birthday for me every year since. 

So you can only imagine the anticipation of my excursion to see ALL SHOOK UP knowing it was going to feature the music of Elvis.  Even with that heightened anticipation, I was not disappointed.  This whole cast pulls together to bring this sweet look at the 50’s in a small town – which could be where I grew up in rural Illinois.  They caught the optimism, the fun, the music, the hope, and the need for change.  All the while, singing and dancing their little booties off. 

It’s even a stronger book than most jukebox–type shows.  Kind of a mid-America HAIRSPRAY in 1956 with a male lead, its story explores the same social issues with the same tongue-in-cheek humor and teenage angst.  A mysterious stranger named Chad rides into town on his motorcycle, bursting the balloon of anyone in this small town who thought they were hot.  He is the epitome of cool, immediately creating a ripple of hope through the female population, both young and older.  Nick Rogers (is that a movie star name or what?) plays Chad with the requisite tight jeans and swagger.  He even captures the surprise of new love with charm and innocence.  In his first professional job in town, he is definitely making a splash. 

The women in question include Natalie (Megan Schraeder), a tomboyish mechanic who falls hard, and most of the girls in the ensemble.  Even Matilda (Jennifer Burnett), the hard-nosed Mayor, seems impressed.  But then the Shakespearean twists and turns start happening.  Dennis (Michael Spahn) loves Natalie – Natalie loves Chad – Chad loves Miss Sandra (Faith Siobahn Ford) – Miss Sandra’s not having any of it.  Sylvia (Arabella Beaubrun), the local bar owner, loves Jim (Damon Guerrasio), Natalie’s father, who thinks he too loves Miss Sandra . . . and it goes on and on like this for the better part of an hour.  Natalie even disguises herself (not very well) as a guy for a time to get close to Chad.   

Even as convoluted as all this sounds, in the hands of this talented cast, it’s all crystal clear and fun for their audience to watch unfold.  And, of course, everyone ends up with who they should end up with at the end.  It’s fun to see familiar faces in new roles.  Arabella knocks her second act solo – a sultry and mournful “There’s Always Me” from a 1961 album – completely out of the ballpark.  The same can be said about Michael Spahn who broke our hearts as the sidekick friend left behind singing “It Hurts Me.”  Megan Schraeder took her place at the top of the playlist with multiple songs – most notably “One Night With You” which, with a light flicker, became the signal for erotic thoughts surfacing.  It got repeated a lot!  Elton Tanega comes back to Town Hall to play Dean, sent to military school to keep him out of harm’s way by Mother Mayor Matilda, an action that proved to be too little too late.  His girlfriend Lorraine, played with great energy by Nicole Siegler, taught him that “It’s Now or Never.”   

All in all, it’s very encouraging to see the talent and training of this young cast come forth.  It means that Denver is guaranteed musicals for decades to come.  It’s also great to see the familiar faces go from show to show demonstrating the versatility of their talent.  Damon Guerrasio can play nearly everything, including musical instruments and parts, and never fails to delight.  Speaking of delight, keep your eye on Brian Watson playing Earl the Sheriff, under the thumb of Mayor Matilda.  Supposedly. 

This whole evening was great fun and it’s easy to encourage readers to go see it.  Just keep in mind – for the sake of transparency – that Elvis, though he made them famous – didn’t actually write any of these songs.  In most cases they were written for him or his movies by other people.  He once said, “I’ve never even had an idea for a song.  Just once, maybe.  I went to bed one night, had quite a dream, and woke up all shook up.  I phoned a pal and told him about it.  By morning, he had a new song.” 

A WOW factor of 9!!