|
||||
|
||||
|
Sunday, Sep 07, 2008
|
||||
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
|
 |
|
| Anne Frank a hit at Intiman, jazzy Cabaret delights | |
| by Milton W. Hamlin -
SGN A&E Writer It's another terrific week for Emerald City entertainment fans. Once again, in the rich diversity of Seattle's theater scene, there's the proverbial "something for everyone" on stage. There's the sweet and sentimental Little Women at Village Theatre, the caustic and sleazy Cabaret at the 5th Avenue, the chilling tale of a possible pederastic priest in Doubt at Taproot (read the review on page 29 of this week's SGN), and the moving, real-life-drama of The Diary Of Anne Frank at Intiman. What a wide range of possibilities. Read on: SENSATIONAL ANNE FRANK SCORES AT INTIMAN, CAST, DIRECTION: TOPS A loving, touching, sensitive production of The Diary Of Anne Frank opened Intiman's 2008 season last week with sensational performances from a large cast headed by Lucy DeVito, the talented daughter of Danny DeVito (who caused a sensation on opening night with his accessibility and genuine joy at seeing his 20-something daughter score as the adolescent Anne Frank). Intiman, wisely, chose the Pulitzer Prize winning "original" drama by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. That prize-winning mid-1950s script was unnecessarily revised for a recent Broadway revival starring Natalie (Star Wars) Portman. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival's recent production of the new edition gave Northwest theater fans a chance to see the revised version. This reviewer, and many others, found the revisions to be questionable. It is certainly unprecedented to revise such a recent, highly respected theater text. The new version did include a "Lesbian reference" from Anne's original diary - the young Anne ponders what it would be like to touch another young girl's body. That line and a few others are jarring and out of place with the overall drama, and Intiman deserves a very big "BRAVO" for selecting the original text. The casting of Lucy DeVito seemed questionable. Out-of-town, just out of drama school, a few off-Broadway parts - these were just a few concerns. Within seconds of her entrance, she showed the near-capacity season-opening crowd that she was Anne Frank. What is remarkable in this fine, fine production, sensitively directed by Sari Ketter, is that the whole cast is remarkable. Local actors - like Michael Winters as the bulling Mr. Van Dann, Shellie Shulkin, the once-glamorous, now tragic Mrs. Van Dann, Connor Toms as their charming-yet-sensitive adolescent son, Peter - are all sensational, often by underplaying a scene. Jim Gall, Carol Roscoe, Alban Dennis are other locals who are remarkable in creating vivid, honest characters in supporting roles. Matthew Boston, Amy Thorne, Lindsay Evans are all believable and thoroughly realistic as Anne's family. As usual for Intiman, the technical work is outstanding. The attic where the two families hide from the Nazis is on-target. (Quibble time: there are a few textual contradictions - there are two specific references to Peter's room being "too small even for Peter," but the space is very large and would easily accommodate the dentist-in-hiding who joins the two families several months later.) This Diary Of Anne Frank is a sensational opening for Intiman's 2008 summer season. Intiman offers various student/senior discounts, last-minute "rush" tickets, group rates, etc. Budget-minded theater fans should check out the options. The show is one of the finest productions Intiman has staged in recent years - check it out. Ticket and reservation information is available at (206) 269-1900. Be sure to ask about various related community forums and discussion groups. GLITZY CABARET OPENS AT 5TH AVENUE THEATRE; Q-CLUB MEETS TONIGHT There's another sensational production on a Seattle stage - Cabaret at the 5th Avenue Theatre. The Las Vegas-styled revival, all glitz and glitter, is heavy on glamour and short on grit, but it is sensational entertainment. It runs through April 13 with best seating for the show's last week. The 5th Avenue hosts Q-Club for every production - a night for GLBT theater fans to mix and mingle. Bits&Bytes was invited to attend the Cabaret Q-Club Night - and it's tonight before the production. Details - and a full, detailed review of Cabaret next week. Just one suggestion - GO! Tickets purchased at the box office - with an incredibly helpful box office staff - have no added service or handling fees (which can be a considerable savings). Next week, Bits&Bytes reports on what's hot and what's not on other Seattle stages: Little Women at Village, then Everett, Arnaldo! in New York. Right now, everything is hot. Go, go, go. Watch this space. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 post your own information onthe Seattle Gay Blog |
 |
copyright Seattle Gay News - DigitalTeamWorks 2007
USA Gay News American News American Gay News USA American Gay News United States American Lesbian News USA American Lesbian News United States USA News
USA Gay News American News American Gay News USA American Gay News United States American Lesbian News USA American Lesbian News United States USA News