Category: Milwaukee Repertory Theater

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A Christmas Carol

This is a reprint of my remarks about “A Christmas Carol” at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater presented in the historic Pabst Theater during the 2019 – 2020 season. This originally appeared on my Facebook timeline November 30, 2019.

Wow, it barely feels like a year since our last visit to Mr. Scrooge. But this past week I attended a preview presentation of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s 44th production of “A Christmas Carol”. And again this year, the Rep will be featuring artistic director Mark Clements’ adaptation of the Charles Dickens story. And Mr. Clements is also directing, so we will get a good look at how he interprets the story.

No, the story hasn’t changed…but it’s never really the same every time either. Each adaptation, each director, each set, and each cast brings out different views that lay on new subtleties for the rest of us to savor. And this year’s production is no different.

We have smoke and smog and bright lights, ensemble singing and foul, scary sounds, happy conversations and bah humbug mutterings, elegant interiors and the crowded rambling streets of London. And what a London it is, ever changing, ever twisting, and cleverly represented on sets continually moving on turntables to change our sense of place while we remain in place. At once and ever, a remarkable spectacle. AND it snows in the Pabst Theater!

And of course we have the transformation of Mr. Scrooge…through the endeavors of his community, both real and ephemeral. We have the interventions of the Ghost of Mr. Marley and the three Ghosts of Christmas who finally make the progress than his family and friends attempt but never master. But these good people of London engage him on their own terms and after being rebuffed, they go about celebrating life in their own ways and with their own means…but always leaving the door open…and welcoming him with open hearts and open arms when he finally senses the life that he’s cast aside.

A universal story…an epic happy ending.

Yes, I know we’ve all seen at least one presentation of “A Christmas Carol” at some point in our lives. But this is live theater and truly magical and believe me, the environs of the Pabst Theater is just the place to see it! It runs through December 24th, 2019 and don’t wait to get tickets!  AND it snows in the Pabst Theater!

And just one strange interlude for Mark Clements: find another vehicle or two to bring Mark Corkins back to Milwaukee, he is sorely missed in these quarters!

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The Nerd

This is a reprint of my remarks about “The Nerd” at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater presented in their Quadracci Powerhouse main stage theater during the 2019 – 2020 season. This originally appeared on my Facebook timeline November 14, 2019.

The comedies of Larry Shue are now part of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s DNA, so it is no surprise the Mark Clements brought The Nerd back as part of his 10th anniversary season. The Nerd is a completely balanced combination of slap stick, absurdism, one liners, and situational comedy to please every funny bone.

Since this play has been around for 30 years, I won’t be giving away too many things here. The basic premise is a couple of friends are throwing a small birthday party for an up and coming architect in of all places, Terre Haute IN. And he invited a client, who is building a hotel. AND a man who saved the architect’s life in Viet Nam…a man the principle has communicated with via letter but has never met…is also coming to the party. The initial anticipation vs. resulting reality are totally different strokes.

So there are misunderstandings. Partly generational, partly class, and some totally intentional! And the play is set in the late 1970s and has become a period piece…in a good way. And it is amazing how simple life was in the late ‘70s. The set gives that perfect feel…simple mid-century furnishings…a stereo system we, boomers, all lusted after…and a simple tape operated answering machine…the ones that always gave us fits. No other devices getting in the way.

And an interesting view into the social structures at the time. Women are definitely second class citizens here…children an afterthought…monied men are powerful men…women do all of the domestic work.  And heaven forbid a man should follow a woman who is pursuing their employment dream…even when your location could be fluid.

The slap stick is hilarious. The absurdities provoke belly laughs. The one liners are still funny, even for someone who was seeing this for the fourth time. Although I anticipated some of the situations and some of the punchlines, it was still a completely entertaining evening. I will happily revisit this again, the next time the Rep offers it.

The cast is amazing…director JC Clementz made sure all of the comedy potential written in the text made it to the stage. There are two young men playing Thor, the only child character in the play. We got to see Damon McCoy on Tuesday night, and he nailed it.

Only two small quibbles. Sometimes the characters couldn’t be heard or were a bit garbled. Slowing down a bit and speaking up would help. But given the story and dialogue it has got to be really hard to keep on track without laughing out loud yourself. And I thought that Mr. and Mrs. Waldgrave were made up as older individuals than I would expect for someone with an 8 to 10 year old child. Shrug.

Special congrats to Michael Doherty and his portrayal of The Nerd, Rick Steadman. That role has got to have a tour de force actor!

But do go…it will be one of the funniest evenings of live theater that you will ever experience!

And it’s too bad that I am over the hill for the role but I would love to try Axel Hammond, the self-defined snooty theater critic!

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Nunsense

This is a reprint of my remarks about “Nunsense” at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater presented in their Stackner Cabaret during the 2019 – 2020 season. This originally appeared on my Facebook timeline November 11, 2019.

The Milwaukee Repertory Theater opened their production of Nunsense in the Stackner Cabaret this past weekend. And the musical presents just what you’d expect from Nunsense. A ton of music and some silly connecting banter and storytelling in between. And the Stackner is a perfect venue. But the text has gotten a bit dated and some of the jokes don’t work as well as in 1985…even for a former Catholic of the target demographic age…but don’t let that stop you from seeing this!

Director Malkia Stampley has the perfect ensemble and she has them playing to type and against type marvelously. And the ensemble singing as well as solos are just a lot of fun. My favorite character is Sister Mary Amnesia. She is played by Veronica Garza….with the right amount of confusion, enthusiasm, and whimsy to represent a nun who has forgotten who she is. And her voice can just hit all of the highest note and fill the room at the same time.

Melody Betts plays Mother Superior, Sister Mary Regina. And you never quite know if she is trying to remain the stern Mother Superior or at times is wishing she could be just one of the girls. Ms. Betts gets it absolutely right and when she gets to play against her character, it’s a lot of fun!

Sister Mary Hubert? Down to earth and something of a stabilizing influence without really intending to be is perfectly played by Lachrisa Grandberry. And she just rocks the whole center stage with her rendition of the gospel music inspired “Holier Than Thou”. For me it was the highlight of the evening.

And then we have Sisters Robert Anne and Mary Leo. Two aspiring artists…with unlimited energy. Robert Anne, Kelley Falkner is pushing and pushing to have a solo in the nuns fundraiser show…and finally Sister Mary Regina relents. And of course it is perfect and even the Mother Superior has to admit it. And Candace Thomas’ portrayal of a ‘dying nun’ is hilarious. Part flying nun, part dying swan, Ms. Thomas just makes it…well just Nunsense!

A wonderful time was had by all!

Now for a commercial: The Stackner Cabaret has a full dinner menu so make a reservation or get there early and enjoy an outstanding meal before your show. And I have it on good authority that the hot adult coffee selections are pretty darn good.