love

‘…Now Change’ has changed!

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By Wendy Carson

Mud Creek Players brings us the delightful relationship-based musical comedy, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” However, after casting the production with scripts from a previous version, director Kevin Bell discovered that the “perfect” script had itself changed, thanks to updates by the creators, Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts.

Therefore, if you’ve seen a past version of this show, get ready for a few new twists and takes on some of its classic skits.

This production’s expanded cast keeps the laughter rolling throughout, deftly moving from one scene to the next. Highlights include: Alex Bast’s sweet desire to be more of a ‘Stud” while Kennedy Wilson yearns to be more of a “Babe”; Lauren Werne’s poignant dating video; Kristin Hilger & Logan Laflin sharing a movie date; and Jeremy Crouch and Derek Sumpter just being “Guys”. It’s impossible to pick just one scene to highlight the talents of Onis Dean, Yolanda Valdivia, and Nicole Crabtree, as each remembered role is just as fantastic as the next. I also loved the inclusion of stagehand Meriah Reynolds as an extra included in parts of the show.

If this isn’t familiar, know that the musical is a very funny and at times touching tribute to relationships, from dating to marriage and family to finding yourself single and seeking again.

So, head out this Valentine’s weekend (Feb. 14-15) for a lot of love and laughs at Mud Creek, 9740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis. Get tickets at mudcreekplayers.org.

Footlite celebrates love on ‘This Island’

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By John Lyle Belden

Footlite Musicals provides a taste of the tropics with its young artists production of “Once on This Island,” the Broadway hit by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, based on Rosa Guy’s “My Love, My Love,” a Caribbean retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid.” It copies the original mostly in theme and a few plot elements, standing as its own as a story of love, sacrifice and the forces that work around – and often against – us.

Sometimes it takes a village to tell a story. Aside from the named characters, we meet a chorus of 21 Storytellers who introduce the tale and carry it along. They relate that on this island, a small French possession in the Antilles, they honor the local Afro-Caribbean gods including Asaka (Imani Ruffin), Mother of the Earth; Agwe (Kori Smith), lord of Water; Erzulie (Caileigh Jones), goddess of Love; and Papa Ge (Noah Lee), spirit of Death.

The story centers on Ti Moune (Lauren Blackwood), an orphan found in a tree after a storm. Sensing the gods saved her for a reason, an old couple – Mama Euralie (Plezzance Lawrence) and Tonton Julian (Jalen Breiley) – take her in and raise her. Events transpire that Ti Moune encounters and saves Daniel (Colton Woods), son of the nobleman Armand (Edward Rayhill) whose family has governed the island for generations. She even makes her way to Daniel’s side of the island, where he lives in a luxury hotel. But she is not the only woman in his life; enter his lifelong friend Andrea (Rebecca Pinero). Ti Moune finds herself tested by both the trickery of Papa Ge and the discrimination of high society. What is her destiny?

Directed by Dennis Jones and Edward Trout, and excellently choreographed by Kevin Bell, with the island beat of an ensemble led by Gisele Dollinger, this Caribbean fairy tale flows beautifully as all the cast contribute, with Blackwood’s voice sailing through sun and storm. The gods get their due, with Ruffin shining in the song “Mama Will Provide,” and Lee embracing his role as trickster as well as Reaper.

This story with its ring of familiarity set in an exotic locale reminds us that love is noble and real in all cultures. The energy of its telling sweeps us along and makes us root for the girl in the tree.

Performances of “Once on This Island” run through Sunday, Aug. 18, at Hedback Theater, 1847 N. Alabama, Indianapolis. Get info and tickets at footlite.org.

Powerful forces at work in ‘Moon and Sea’

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By John Lyle Belden

Parts of what are now the Moon and Earth’s ocean bed once existed together, but a long-ago calamity separated them forever. Though the Moon and the Sea pull at each other, their yearning doesn’t stop the ever-increasing distance (1.5 inches a year, according to astronomers) between them.

This love story is the literal backdrop for “The Moon and the Sea,” a new musical by Douglas Lyons, with songs by Creighton Irons, presented live by Constellation Stage and Screen in Bloomington.

Singer-songwriters Charlie (Rico Lebron) and Erin (Naree Asherian) were solidly in each others’ orbit. He planned to make a visit to a seaside hideaway memorable for her, but that moment was usurped by the lovelorn spirits of Moon (Alexa Green) and Sea (Demetrio Alomar) communing in song and light.

Later, a moment of uncertainty divides our human lovers, leaving Charlie’s personal satellites – best friend Elijah (Scott Van Wye) and mother (Green) – to try to help him over the loss. Then, an open-mike night with amateur singer and “finance-bro” Doug (Jesse Townes) leads to a revelation of how much things have changed.

The pain of all-important choices reflects back and forth in song among the mortals, Moon, and the tides in an exceptional yet relatable love story.

Lebron gives us a great portrayal of a young man who confuses what he wants with what he needs, as we follow his rocky path of personal growth. Asherian’s aspirational young woman also has some learning to do, and the lessons come hard. Together in beautiful moments of song, we hear and see how wonderfully Charlie and Erin fit together, at least on stage. Townes gives us a man more noble than he would be portrayed in the Hallmark Movie version of this story; his aging frat-boy has feelings and perspective, too.

For their parts, Alomar and Green communicate passion and longing with operatic power. Under the direction of Josh Rhodes, the human and supernatural sides of this production mesh perfectly.

Van Wye makes a solid friend and gives appropriate moments of humor, as does Green as Mom and Rhonda the bartender.

The ending may surprise some, but I found it satisfying, and feel this truly new musical is worth experiencing. Performances run through June 25 at Waldron Auditorium, 122 S. Walnut St., Bloomington. For info and tickets visit seeconstellation.org.

CAT’s ‘Almost’ is certainly entertaining

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By John Lyle Belden

When you consider that the Carmel Apprentice Theatre, resident company at The Cat, involves those with limited (or no) experience taking the stage with the aid of mentors, it’s tempting to lower expectations. No need, though, with the CAT production of “Almost, Maine,” by John Cariani.

The northern edge of the United States has an exceptionally weird atmosphere, judging by TV shows like “Northern Exposure” or “Twin Peaks,” or the Maine-set novels of Stephen King. However, likely due to it being “almost” in good-natured Canada, the weirdness in our little township (they almost incorporated into a town) is more bent towards the sublime than the spooky.

Directed by first-timer Zach Kreinbrink with Jayda Glynn, this set of comedy scenes finds love in the air on a winter night.

Pete and Ginette (Tim West and Amelie Thibodeau) test how “close” they can get to each other. Glory (Caroline Ryker) carries her broken heart with her as she looks for the Northern Lights in East’s (Jake Williams) back yard. At the MoosePaddy Pub (“Drink Free If You’re Sad”), Jimmy (West) feels like the bad guy for losing Sandrine (Hannah Vaught), but a cheery waitress (Deanna Larkin) is on hand with her freebie flask.

Can love get through to Steve (Malcolm Marshall), who literally can’t feel pain? Marvalyn (Emma Leary) understands being hurt too well. Lendall (Brandt Ryan) is confronted by sweetheart Gayle (Allison Hermann) who is tired of all their love piling up, just sitting there. Out at frozen Echo Pond, a skating date isn’t going well for Phil (Brian Thibodeau) and Marci (Larkin). All this and more in a gently aburdist world where “falling in love” can literally involve gravity.

An excellent display of budding and hidden talents, this cast charms throughout. Hopefully we’ll see a bit more of these folks on area stages in the future.

For now, visit “Almost, Maine,” Thursday through Sunday, May 4-7, at 254 Veterans Way, Carmel (just south of Main Street downtown). Tickets and info at thecat.biz.

Ankh at Storefront: Taking knife in hand to dissect ‘Love’

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By John Lyle Belden

Sometimes, being reckless pays off.

Ankh Productions was bold enough to inquire about a residency at the relatively new Storefront Theater in Broad Ripple. Local actor Jamaal McCray was brave enough to explore the dynamics of relationships, writing “Love You Reckless” in 2017, then to dust it off, polish it and present it on stage with Chandra Lynch, Friday through Sunday, April 15-17.

And hopefully, you are curious enough to brave this examination of Yin/Yang, Power/Compassion, Man/Woman, presented raw in nearly a dozen thought-provoking scenes.

McCray and Lynch stand before us, serving up moments of aggression, fear, mischief, compassion, all as off-balance as life itself. Friends, countrymen, lend them your ears – they wield curved blades with which to collect. Other notable moments include the coming stampede(!); the consequence of control; “1,000 pieces of silver in the trash;” the longings of a lonely “sit-izen;” hard promises kept; the glitch; and an exchange of “vows and truths” that are uncomfortably honest.

The stage is decorated with just a pair of altars, to the Masculine/Sun and Feminine/Moon, featuring artworks by Kristin Stepp that are available via silent auction. McCray said that in developing this play, he looked toward old African folktale traditions. Hip-Hop is a binding ingredient, as well, but the themes are universal. Anyone in any kind of relationship can see echoes in these character pairings.

“Love You Reckless” is the kind of experience that works best — maybe only — in an intimate theatre setting. It is similar to a Fringe show but runs a bit over an hour (no intermission). Find the Storefront at 717 Broad Ripple Ave., Indianapolis. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. For information, visit AnkhProductions.org or Facebook/ankhproductions.

IndyFringe: What They Said About Love

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This show is part of the 15th Annual Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival, a/k/a IndyFringe, Aug. 15-25, 2019 on Mass Ave downtown. Info, etc., at www.IndyFringe.org.

By Wendy Carson

Actor Steven Budd gives us a look into his personal journey of self-discovery regarding his ability to understand love and relationships.

We start with a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, for his 50th birthday. He is set up on a blind date with the woman of his dreams and they proceed to fall madly in love with each other. Could she be “The One”?

After he reluctantly returns home they spend a month on Skype learning more about each other. Finally, it is time for her to visit him, but she is persistent about her desire for him to give her a ring to wear once she gets there. Are they moving too fast? Is he ready for this step? Needless to say, he is overwhelmed by it all. He loves her, but doesn’t know if he can adjust to her idiosyncrasies.

Interspersed within this narrative are clips of various couples he has recorded relating their own stories of finding their mates. These anecdotes are touching, gritty, and sometimes just a bit zany, but they offer endless insight into all the work and love that goes into making a relationship.

Can he overcome his Neurosis and make it all work? Does he know how or even have the capability to be in a commitment? Find out for yourself before Steve and the show are gone: performances are 7:30 tonight and 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Aug. 17-18) at the Indy Eleven theater (719 E. St. Clair).