Theater
Tom Titus
* EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of four columns
reviewing the year 2001 in local theater.
When all the elements of a stage production -- acting, directing, set
design, costumes and sound -- come together in splendid synchronization,
the result is a memorable theatrical experience.
Local community theater had a number of fine examples of
nonprofessional excellence in 2001, but the production that stood head
and shoulders above them all was “The Lion in Winter,” James Goldman’s
historical drama, produced at the Newport Theater Arts Center under the
superb direction of Stan Wlasick.
To quote this column’s opinion: “Director Wlasick has mounted a
powerful and highly intelligent production, balancing the intellectual
and visceral elements of Goldman’s script masterfully. And his choice of
background music (the soundtrack from the 1968 movie version) could not
be better -- the sounds set the stage with a commanding flourish.”
Runner-up among local theater productions for 2001 was “Into the
Woods,” the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse’s interpretation of the Stephen
Sondheim fairy tale musical. Of this show, directed by Damien Lorton, we
observed that the playhouse’s “production of the imaginative Sondheim
fantasy is indeed a dessert, both tunefully tasty and intellectually
fulfilling.”
Rounding out the top 10 community theater productions are at No. 3,
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at the Costa Mesa Civic
Playhouse; No. 4, “Ruthless,” Trilogy Playhouse; No. 5, “The Winslow
Boy,” Newport Theater Arts Center; No. 6, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,”
Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse; No. 7, “The Secret Garden,” Trilogy
Playhouse; No. 8, “Not Now, Darling,” Newport Theater Arts Center; No. 9,
“The 1940s Radio Hour,” Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse, and No. 10, “Arsenic
and Old Lace,” Trilogy Playhouse.
Turning to individual performances, the two most outstanding examples
of community theater excellence in 2001 were delivered by Gregory
Michaels in “The Secret Garden” at the Trilogy and Teri Ciranna in “The
Lion in Winter” at Newport. Quoting the Pilot’s reviews, Michaels
“injects enormous emotional power” into his role, while Ciranna “attacks
both elements of her role with superb character shadings.”
Runners-up in the best actor and actress department were Brandon
Ibanez in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at the Costa
Mesa Civic Playhouse and Adriana Sanchez in both “Joseph” and “Into the
Woods,” also at Costa Mesa.
Honorable mention goes to Howard Patterson for “Not Now Darling” and
Beverly Turner for “Light Up the Sky,” both at Newport; David Colley for
“Not Now Darling” at Newport; Christine Cummings for “A Midsummer Night’s
Dream” at Costa Mesa; Graham Barnard for “The Winslow Boy” at Newport,
and Kelly Nitkin for “Anne of Green Gables” at the Trilogy Playhouse.
That’s a wrap for community theater in 2001. Our next stop will be the
college theater programs in Costa Mesa and Irvine, followed by the
unveiling of the Daily Pilot’s man and woman of the year in theater.
* TOM TITUS writes about and reviews local theater for the Daily
Pilot. His stories appear Thursdays and Saturdays.
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