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.