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Constellation: Demands of faith and fame come ‘Fast’

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By Wendy Carson

Last week, as I was looking over my work calendar I noticed that Ramadan began. Not being Muslim, I was only vaguely aware of what this meant to the sports world as a whole or the NCAA basketball tournaments specifically. In “American Fast,” on stage in Bloomington, playwright Kareem Fahmy brings us the story of a brilliant young player who has to deal with the ins and outs of this juxtaposition.

This is the tale of Khady (Victoria Nassif), the star player on her college team and a key reason that they have made the NCAA Women’s Tournament. Her Coach (TayLar) feels that while she is an amazing talent, she doesn’t acknowledge the rest of the team’s contributions because she is entirely focused on herself. Boyfriend Gabe (Austin Michael Young), a star on the men’s team, tries to support her but she is so self-obsessed that his will is about to break. Then there is Khady’s mother, Suzan (Haneen Arafat Murphy), who became more devoted to her faith in the past year and insists that Ramadan fasting happen regardless of the tournament.

NOTE: for those not familiar with Ramadan, followers are not to have any food or drink (including water) during the daylight hours of the month-long celebration.

Nassif brings a passionate drive to Khady, showing the struggles of a young woman trying to find herself in life without alienating everyone around her. She gives the character actual flaws and edges just as any college-aged girl would have, yet manages to keep her identifiable if not sympathetic.

Murphy gives Suzan a fiercely protective mama-bear vibe while still keeping herself oblivious to exactly how far her daughter has strayed from her hardline faith. Murphy is able to keep Suzan loving and identifiable without the overbearing bent the character could have.

TayLar gives Coach all the qualities that the position demands. She is fair but just, inspiring but realistic, and just distant enough to allow Khady to stand or fall on her own terms yet compassionate enough to support her when she does.

Young shows Gabe as a true friend, yet becoming tired of being used both as Khady’s personal cheerleader and figurative punching bag. He brings great love and devotion to his role but also the strength to stand up for himself and find his own self-worth.

Director Reena Dutt gives us a new story to help us to gain more knowledge of other religious traditions. The fact that it centers around basketball can aid in Hoosiers’ ability to better identify with the story. Dutt keeps the narrative honest especially in a story that is all about the true costs of winning.

I must note that, going in, I had no idea what the show was about or why it had such an odd title. But “fast” has many meanings – speed, like the play of our young point guard; holding tightly to something; doing without, especially to show devotion. All these come into play during this unique drama. So don’t let the odd title dissuade you from experiencing this tale, a beautiful peek into a different side of people’s “hoop dreams.”

Presented by Constellation Stage & Screen, performances run through April 8 at the Ted Jones Playhouse (formerly home of Bloomington Playwrights Project, now part of Constellation), 107 W. 9th St. Get info and tickets at SeeConstellation.org.

IRT: Shakespeare’s wife has her say

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By Wendy Carson

The title of the play, “Shakespeare’s Will,” by Vern Thiessen, is a turn of phrase that would impress the Bard himself, not only a twisting of William Shakespeare and describing the document of his estate, but also alluding to the willful nature of the man and his wife, Anne Hathaway.

Speaking of language, words overused in popular speech have lost their impact, still I feel the only way to describe this amazing one-woman show, at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, is “tour-de-force.” Thiessen has written a script that sweeps us through “Bill” and Anne’s first meeting, courtship, marriage, their children, his career, and the aftermath of his death. This reveals Hathaway as a remarkable woman in her own right.

Tracy Arnold takes us on a 90-minute ride through Hathaway’s complicated relationship with her husband. While we are taught incessantly about Shakespeare, little is ever told to us about the woman he married. We know her name, the names of her children, and if we are lucky, the actual terms of the titular will.

The show begins as Anne returns home following her husband’s funeral. She is sad, rain-soaked, tired, and carrying a copy of Shakespeare’s will which she hesitates to read. She turns instead within and reminisces of her time spent with (and often without) him.

Arnold uses a bench, chair, shawl, and a spectacular bed as her props to whisk us away to numerous points in time she reenacts. While going at a whirlwind pace, you never feel any scene is rushed or too brief. The various other characters she inhabits throughout are extremely well crafted, especially Hathaway’s father.

Director Brenda DeVita keeps the narrative guided on Hathaway’s path within the greater story of her connection to Shakespeare. History fails to record the lives of women, so we are left with far too few verifiable facts to work with in their remembrance (a mere nine in this case, according to DeVita).

A unique experience, this show is tender, defiant, tragic, and challenging, yet beautifully enjoyable. Happily, IRT has scheduled Student Matinees of the show to help bring youth a new and more accessible side of the history they are learning.

Performances run through April 16 on the Upperstage of the IRT, 140 W. Washington St. in Downtown Indianapolis. For information and tickets, visit irtlive.com.

Catalyst creates outstanding ‘Streetcar’

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By Wendy Carson and John Lyle Belden

With all of the winter weather we are having, it is satisfying to have Catalyst Repertory bring us a steamy trip to 1950s New Orleans with its imaginative production of Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

The first clue to the uniqueness of the show is the inventive set design of Nick Kilgore. He has basically cut apart the walls and rooms of an apartment house to make them easily flow into each other without losing each location’s identity. The actors enter, exit, and perform within the full 360 degrees of set as well as multiple levels available to them. With the size of the stage, you might think this is incredibly cramped, but it never feels claustrophobic. In fact, the layout causes a rare intimacy to occur between the troupe and audience, seated “in the round,” which makes the whole a more enjoyable evening. A couple of pieces – a bedroom vanity, a nearby bar piano – even extend into the audience space naturally. The concessions bar for patrons at intermission is even part of the set, suggesting a piece of nearby Bourbon Street.

For those unfamiliar with the tale: Fading Southern belle Blanche DuBois (Sara Castillo Dandurand) turns up on the shabby doorstep of her younger sister, Stella (Anna Himes) and Stella’s husband Stanley Kowalski (Ian McCabe). Blanche lives in a world of delusion she consistently concocts to keep her from realizing that she is desperate, alone, old, and without any other place to go. After months of living with her disdain and lying, Stanley is determined to send her packing.

This description, of course, doesn’t do justice to the genius of Williams’ drama, and in the practiced hands of director Casey Ross – herself an artisan of plot and dialogue – narrative richness and tension as thick as Louisiana humidity imbues the play from start to finish.  

Dandurand transforms into Blanche, wearing her pride like a fading flower, masking dysfunction with flirtatious charm so well it fools everyone – except Stanley. For his part, McCabe ably puts on Kowalski’s working-man swagger. He is devoted to Stella, but has issues (to put it mildly), complete with a low-simmering rage fed by a lifetime of being called a Pollack, among other things. Perhaps the fact he has to present a public mask helps him detect Blanche’s. The two circle each other throughout, like a pampered cat and a mangy dog, claws out, fangs in their smiles. Himes is also wonderful as a Stella who sees the good in Stanley, is eagerly the yin to his yang, and tries to be at peace with the fact her debutante days may be gone forever.

Making a stunning dramatic debut is Brian DeHeer as Mitch Mitchell, Stanley’s bowling and poker buddy who knew him since their WWII service together. Feeling lonely as he tends to his ailing mother, Mitch starts falling for Blanche – it won’t be a soft landing. 

In excellent support are Audrey Stonerock and Matt Kraft as neighbors Eunice and Steve Hubbell, as well as Tom Alvarez as poker buddy Pablo, Mitchell Wray as a boy who comes around, and Viviana Quinones as a local flower-seller. Alvarez’s partner in Magic Thread Cabaret (a co-producer), Dustin Klein, tickles the ivories at the corner piano, with old tunes and his new compositions to underscore the action. At the club microphone is the exquisite voice of Courtney Wiggins. David Mosedale and Wendy Brown complete the cast, mainly in the final scene.

For either those new to “Streetcar,” or Williams fanatics looking for something fresh, we cannot recommend this production enough. There are adult themes and herbal cigarettes (though perhaps the first-ever Ross-directed play without an F-bomb), yet if you can take the heat, you won’t regret the experience of this scorching masterpiece.

Performances run Fridays through Sundays, through March 19 at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair, Indianapolis. For tickets, go to IndyFringe.org.

Houston-inspired musical at Footlite

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By Wendy Carson         

 I’ll begin by noting that neither John nor myself have seen the movie, “The Bodyguard,” which is the source for the musical of the same name, now on stage at Footlite. That said, this review will focus solely on the merits of the stage show, and not be complicated by comparisons that film fans will make. I was told that there were a few changes made for the story flow, but those are for others to examine and recount.

The overall plot is basic: Obsessed fan threatens pop star and experienced bodyguard is hired to protect her. Add to this a few ambition issues and romantic subplots, and the whole thing could easily boil down to a cheesy “Hallmark Movie” – yet somehow it all works together quite well. I found myself actually charmed by the spectacle.

No matter your personal opinion of Whitney Houston, she had a fierce voice. With the majority of the songs presented being what might be considered personal anthems, the show’s success or failure heavily lands on the actress/singer playing her role. Fortunately, Angela Nichols-Manlove fills those shoes almost effortlessly. She fully brings out the headstrong sassiness of Houston’s character Rachel while still showing her vulnerable side.

RC Thorne gives the titular character the firm determination of the profession but manages to highlight the fear that drives him in this endeavor. He brings believable life to the hard-boiled exterior with a soft heart archetype.

JB Scoble as The Stalker was appropriately creepy. I was quite impressed with the choreography of his interactions with various characters during the scenes he shared. However, I never felt as though the script tried to adequately explain his motivation and backstory. This weakness of the source material aside, Scoble and director Bradley Allan Lowe made our mystery man appropriately menacing.

Young Cairo Graves as Rachel’s precocious son, Fletcher, is the breakout star of the show. His talent at not stealing every scene he is a part of (which he could quite easily do) was as impressive as his scope of abilities. He is a true triple-threat who we could see delighting us for many years to come.

Melissa Urquhart is also sharp as Rachel’s sister, Nicki, around whom much of the plot twists. Additionally, she provides a powerful voice on a couple of numbers.

At our performance, Lowe ably stepped in for a supporting actor Shalmon Radford, who fell ill. (Hopefully, Radford will return this weekend.) The cast also includes Sam Hill, Robert Dooley, Carolyn Lynch, and Miranda Nehrig. Backing singers and dancers were Anya Andrews, Damaris Burgin, Kaylee Johnson Bradley, Kendell Crenshaw, Azia Ellis-Singleton (Nicki understudy), Suzana Marmolejo (Rachel U/S), DeSean McLucas, Jada Radford, and Ryley Trottier.

Whether you are a fan of the movie, or of Whitney, or just want to see something different and upbeat, this is a show that will bring you laughs, possibly tears, and make you sing along in joy.

For “All the Man That I Need” (and other hits), see “The Bodyguard,” by Alexander Dinelaris (based on a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan), playing through March 19 at Footlite Musicals, 1847 N. Alabama St., Indianapolis. Get tickets and info at Footlite.org.

Ancient tragedy an IRT triumph

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By Wendy Carson

First, let me say that Greek mythology is my forte and “Oedipus Rex” is a favorite of the tragedies, so I had very high hopes for this production. That said, David Daniel’s recent adaptation of Sophocles’ script, called simply “Oedipus,” exceeded anything I could have imagined.

This timeless drama, superbly directed by Indiana Repertory Theatre playwright-in-residence James Still, is on the IRT mainstage through March 18.

The play begins near the end of the legend and slowly recounts the events that will lead to its tragic conclusion. Oedipus has been doomed to kill his father and marry his mother. Fearing this prophesy, he flees his kingdom for neighboring Thebes, which he saves by solving the riddle of the Sphinx. He becomes King, and the land prospers for many years under his reign.

However, as we come to the start of the play the land is again struggling. Oedipus and his Queen, Jocasta, send her brother, Creon, to the Oracle to tell them the will of the Gods to end their plague. From there, much drama ensues.

Scenic designer Carey Wong gives us a barren stage with the brown hues bearing out the dusty death throes Thebes is suffering. Costume designer Sara Ryung Clement opts for flowing garments that hearken to a desert lifestyle showing what the land has become. The subtle ombre tones highlight their downtrodden plight while also touching on some of the character’s roles. I particularly liked her take on Creon’s garb, showing him as a statesman with an altered modern dress shirt but still a man of leisure with the rest of the ensemble.

Lindsay Jones (sound design) and Mariel Greenlee (movement) choreograph our characters’ actions to help translate the stylizations of the ancient time as well as the religious devotions of the ancient Greeks. Utilizing only percussion instruments, played by Chorus member Jed Feder, the soundscape is both lovely and demanding as the narrative drives it to be.

As for the cast, every performance was sheer perfection. Highlights for me were: Ryan Artzberger’s turn as the Corinthian perfectly brings a much needed touch of light humor to an otherwise grim story. Lisa Wolpe as Tiresias the seer highlights Oedipus’s fatal flaws of hubris and obliviousness. Trieu Tran’s Creon artfully walks the fine line between loving relative, potential suspect, and distant observer. All the rest – Olivia D. Dawson, Jan Lucas, Sola Thompson, and Mary Beth Fisher as Jocasta – beautifully flexed their acting muscles to the height of their skills.

Regarding David Alan Anderson’s role as Oedipus, a man of good heart but doomed by fate and pride, it is so good to see him commanding the stage again. I have been a fan of his acting talents since we first saw him around 20 years ago. My delight in his name being a part of this production was enormous. I am thrilled to say that he brought forth what is his greatest performance that I have ever witnessed. He flawlessly inhabited the character, sparking every emotional note such that he drew the audience into the story as witnesses, not merely observers.

I spoke with some people afterwards; they were all quite moved by this production. Even those who had no prior knowledge of the story felt later that they had known it all their life. This is what great theater is about, and I am proud to have witnessed such a thing of beauty as is being given to us here.

To attend “Oedipus” at the IRT, 140 W. Washington in the heart of Downtown Indianapolis, find tickets and information at irtlive.com.

Civic ‘Anne Frank’ stirs young audience

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By Wendy Carson 

This past Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to be allowed to attend one of the special student showings of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” at the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre. It was eye-opening for all, to say the least. Overhearing their comments both during and after the show helped drive home how important theatrical productions of Holocaust stories are in our world.

With most of the audience being of roughly the same age as Anne, the tragedy of her life and situation really resonated with the students. While they were aware of World War II as history, seeing the images in context really drove these horrors home. After the performance, most were busy wiping tears from their eyes, even those who had read Anne’s “Diary of a Young Girl” prior to attendance.

The power of the show begins with the spectacular set design of Ryan Koharchik. The multi-level set reflects the spaces these souls were forced to inhabit during their two years in hiding but the grim truth of the situation comes from the high, chain-link fence topped with razor wire that serves at the back wall to the show. This also allows for Michael J. Lasley to project timely background photos to further the message beginning with the initial one of Anne’s photograph and actual pages of writing from her diary. Lasley also has a short moment on stage near the end of the show.

While Wendy Kesselman’s new adaption of the play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett is stirring, nothing would ring true without the amazing skills of the actors here, under the direction of versatile theatre artist Claire Wilcher. Especially since many regular theater goers will know several of them for their numerous comedic roles and will be delighted to see their incredible range highlighted here.

Rebecca Piñero brings the shy stoicism of Anne’s older sister Edith to light, keeping her character from being overlooked and fading into the background.

Kevin Caraher as Mr. Kraler, who keeps the doors to the Franks’ business open and running while ensuring no one else is aware of the eight souls above, shows both the hopefulness and fear of his role.

Mookie Harris as the dentist Mr. Dussel keeps his character cold and very removed from the others he is with, but also hints that this is the character’s way of shielding himself from the devastation of losing more people he cares about.

Jay Hemphill and Carrie Reiberg as Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan bring the elitist pomposity out in their characters, yet still show us the struggles of a couple terrified of the situation they have been put into.

Garrett Rowe, as Peter Van Daan, brings his character’s growth from fear at being thrown into a new situation with unbearable co-inhabitants, delicately budding into happiness and growing romance throughout their time together.

David Wood as Otto Frank keeps the optimistic outlook as the leader of this group of survivors. Brittany Magee’s maternal turn as Edith Frank is perfection indeed. She enacts the struggles and sorrows of a mother fighting to keep control of her family and situation so well you might think she has raised a slew of teenagers herself.

Anyone who has ever witnessed her on stage before obviously knows the spectacular comic whirlwind that is Kelsey VanVoorst. Now we are a party to the depth of her pathos as she portrays Miep Gies, the character most at risk of tragedy for her part in this endeavor. VenVoorst keeps Miep as upbeat as possible as she bravely smuggles in the supplies to keep the group alive during their time in hiding. The strength and resolve that keeps her going are evident as she forces herself to find the happiest news she can find to share with the families.

Finally, we arrive at the cornerstone role of the play, Gemma Rollison as Anne Frank (alternately played by Sydney Pinchouck on Feb. 28 and 24). Known as a brave girl who fought through so much to keep herself optimistic through her lifetime, this side of Anne is presented perfectly, yet Rollinson also brings the girl’s precocious and obnoxious spirit also noted in her writing and memories of her surviving father. Beginning as an oblivious 13-year-old who thinks teasing her companions is the height of joy, Rollinson exquisitely brings out Anne’s changes into a budding young woman by the show’s end.

As this country has recently experienced fear and confinement from a life-threatening disease, it feels like we can identify somewhat with the desperation and anxiety faced here. However, the fatalities of the Coronavirus are nothing in comparison to the horrors of the Holocaust. This grave, terrible reality is precisely why these stories must be told and retold. As the years pass and memories begin to fade, we must ensure that this dark chapter of the past is never forgotten or allowed to recur. The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council is on hand in the lobby to provide information of how to participate in continuing this vital effort.

After seeing the reactions of the young people in the audience, I urge you to get as many of them to this show as you can (as well as yourselves). While the subject matter is rather intense and is probably not suitable for all ages, anyone 13 and up really needs to see what life could have been like for themselves if they had been born during this time. Performances run through Feb. 25 (public showtimes at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays) at the Tarkington theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Carmel. Get info and tickets at civictheatre.org or thecenterpresents.org.

Unflinching, uncompromising ‘Road Trip’

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By Wendy Carson

As you can guess by the title, “Abortion Road Trip,” Fonseca Theater Company’s latest offering deals with one of the most polarizing subjects of the last fifty-plus years. Rachel Lynett’s script delves into the reasons and reasoning behind the choice to have, or not have, an abortion. Nothing is sugar-coated here, which is why it is important for women especially to see and hear this story. I’m not saying it will change your opinion, but it will open some eyes as to what access to this single procedure actually means for the female gender.

Set in 2016, just after Texas made abortion access illegal, sisters Minnie (Leona Jones) and Lexa (Viviana Quinones) hire a cab to take them from their home in Houston to the nearest clinic in Albuquerque, N.M. (nearly 885 miles, according to Google). Lexa’s aversion to flying, she says, is the reason behind this strange mode of travel.

While on the road, Lexa, Minnie and their Driver (Carrie Ann Schlatter) talk through the incidents and choices that have brought them all together in this “adventure.” While Lexa is unwavering in her decision to have the abortion, her manic questioning and need for them all to “get heavy” hints at her anxiety over her entire situation.

These vignettes are acted out with the help of Megan Ann Jacobs, who portrays both Taylor (Driver’s wife) and Quinn (Lexa’s best friend and Minnie’s girlfriend), and Paige Scott as the sisters’ loving Mom. I would like to note that for anyone who thinks the stories are absurdist propaganda, I have either experienced or been a party to every one of these scenarios. They are far from uncommon or false.

The sets and props are sparse but road trips and memories need little to be portrayed, making the minimalist approach of Bernie Killian (scenic design) and Rebekah Radloff (props) a fitting lack of distraction. Mad Brown’s costuming skills are highlighted in the change of wigs and clothing to differentiate Quinn from Taylor.

Under the delicate guidance of director Abby Scharbrough, the cast brings this story together beautifully, leavened with dark yet appropriate humor. Jones shows Minnie’s courage and determination in finding her own way without ever feeling diminished in spirit. Quinones shows Lexa as a female who is realizing that she’s no longer a carefree child and now must make adult decisions and deal with their ramifications to everyone else in her life. Schlatter also balances her own character’s change from impartial non-observer to somewhat-willing participant by baring her own scars but holding back enough detail to keep their origins her own.             

Jacobs manages to craft her “accessory” characters into real beings. She shows Taylor’s journey through betrayal and tragedy, ending in a loving hopefulness for the future. Meanwhile, she gives Quinn a kindly sweetness that manages to belie her personal beliefs until they reach their ultimate conclusion.

Perhaps the most effective and stunning turn is Scott as Mom. She brings the love, understanding and warmth that we have all craved from our own mothers but they could never quite equal to the unconditional love and support shown here.

Whatever means of transportation you personally choose, use it to get you to the Fonseca Theater and watch this curious road trip unfold, through Feb. 26 at 2508 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis. Get tickets at FonsecaTheatre.org. (Note: The regular Saturday performance time is now 4 p.m., allowing audiences the evening free for other activities – maybe another play!)

GHDT reflects recent changes in ‘New World’

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By Wendy Carson

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s first offering of the new year showcases the newly renovated Florence performance space. Named in memory of founder/director/choreographer Gregory Glade Hancock’s beloved mother, the intimate space is ideal for the audience to more vividly experience the efforts of all involved. “New World Dances” is an appropriately powerful choice to christen the space.

The show highlights dances created during the recent pandemic years, previously presented as “Dances for a New World” on stage and online, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster experienced by everyone during that time. Except for one notable exception, the dancers are not touching each other, enhancing the sense of isolation they each felt (and reflecting the fact each had to work alone during quarantine). Hancock noted that this collection of dance works is not his typical visual storytelling. While there is some discernable narrative, the emphasis is more on expressing the emotions felt as the entire planet entered today’s “new” world.

 From the very start, you’re aware this is going to be an experience that you won’t soon forget, with movement open to numerous interpretations. I highlight just a few pieces here along with what they conveyed to me (your results may vary).

The opening number, Isolation, has each dancer wearing a rubber “Plague Doctor” mask (think giant crow head with goggles) and performing the same choreography in staggered succession. The angst and desperation I felt made me think of the various locations worldwide dealing with the unknowns of the Corona virus. They all came to the same conclusion but each in their own time.

Also highlighting this era: Casualties hearkens to the riots and civil unrest throughout our country; Denial shows those who never took any of this seriously until it came into their own lives; and Media has individual dancers weighed down by huge tangles of video tape, engaging our search for truth through the lies flooding in from everywhere.

There are four solo dances in the show. One is performed by the lone male in the group, Thomas Mason, while the others are performed by one of a pair in that slot. Who each is and the dance they perform will depend on the date you attend. 

The first of these, performed by Abigail Lessaris during our show (Josie Moody alternates) seemed to convey our search for normalcy in our new situations while keeping yourself optimistic. Chloe Holzman (Hannah Brown alternates) gave us a celebration of our new skills learned and paths taken during this time (think all that sourdough bread we made). Camden Lancaster gives us the final solo (Olivia Payton alternates) in which her bubbly joy seems to reflect the hope for a return to normalcy with the rise of vaccines and lessening of cases and restrictions.

The final two numbers, You Can’t Stop Love and A New World show not only the fear and awkwardness of our return to “normalcy”, but also our resolve, determination, and strength to conquer all future problems whether we be physically together or separate.

The “G2” student dancers – Zoe Hacker, Allie Hanning, Audrey Holloway, Audrey Springer, Rebecca Zigmond – also display their talents in two superb numbers.

With costumes also designed by Hancock, the dances are a visual spectacle of color and movement. Hancock’s style does reflect his love of Southern Asia, but other influences emerge, with the finale more resembling classic ballet.

We are happy to add that, unlike the one-weekend dates at the Tarkington, this show continues for two more, through Feb. 26. The Florence is contained within the Academy of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, 329 Gradle Drive, Carmel. Get information and tickets at GregoryHancockDanceTheatre.org.

Time tick, tick, ticking forward

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By John Lyle Belden

As I post this, 2022 has recently come to a close. And you might wonder, what were our favorite shows of this last year? Well, I just did a rough count of more than 150 reviews we posted, so – yeah, hard question.

Like an actor who never forgets that line he stumbled on at opening night, I can’t help but think about the reviews we didn’t do. Aside from scheduling and illness having us miss shows outright, there were a couple of performances that we caught at the ends of their run and didn’t get around to the writeup.

And like Jon in “Tick, Tick… Boom!” I feel the march of time.

There were actually two productions of that Jonathan Larson musical in central Indiana this last year – running practically simultaneously. We managed to get a review in of the well-done Phoenix Theatre production, but circumstances had us nearly miss the Carmel Community Players edition, which had its differences and was excellent in its own way.

Wendy and I would like to go on the record as saying we also enjoyed the CCP “TTB,” directed by Kathleen Horrigan, performed at the Switch Theatre in Fishers.

As is easier to do in volunteer community theatre, there was, in addition to Dominic Piedmonte as Jon, Ervin Gainer as his roommate Michael, and Margaret Smith as his girlfriend Susan, an ensemble of B.K. Bady-Kaye, Onis Dean, Abby Morris, and Ryley Trottier to portray other roles. This also helped distinguish the production from the stripped-down Phoenix show.

Piedmonte was great as Larson’s stand-in character, and Gainer is frankly one of those actors I can’t get enough of. Smith also did well as a character that is tricky as you don’t want to find yourself disliking Susan or Jon too much as their relationship falters. Having the full cast helped in letting Trottier play “Superbia” star (and potential “other woman”) Karessa, leading to a brilliant moment with both women singing “Come to Your Senses.”

Wendy found this version of the show really gave the feel of Larson’s dilemma of the world changing around him – not all for the better – as he turned 30 years old. And as he somehow feared and we have come to know, his life would end a few short years later.

A big thanks again to Carmel Community Players (hat tip to Lori Raffel), and all the local stages who let us come in and see what they have to show us. We look forward to another big year of theatre in 2023.

Unique ‘Holiday’ story seeks to heal family

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By Wendy Carson

As bright and sparkly as they appear to be, for a large number of us the Holidays ramp up our depression and sorrow. Such is the situation with the Abrams clan in “A (Happy) Holiday,” presented by Theatre Unchained.

Grandmother Bunny (Wendy Brown), mother Busy (Jenni White) and daughter Leigh (Wilhelmena Dreyer) are not only dealing with the death of son-in-law/husband/father Owen (Bradley Lowe), but also their lack of connection with each other. Into this mess enters the gloriously anthropomorphized chemical compound, Sarah Tonin (Ariel Laukins) along with the ever-perky duo of Elf 1 (Anja Willis) and Elf 2 (Thomas Sebald) to deliver a present to make their Christmakkah (being a blended family, they have a blended holiday) complete.

Reluctantly the ladies work their way through a giant magical book with 12 chapters of Holiday memories, forcing them to face their past – no matter how good, bad, or ugly. Leigh just wants to move forward and find her true self regardless of what her mom or society demand of her. Busy wants Owen back and will settle for nothing else. Bunny, who just wants everyone to be happy and get along, seems to down a lot of “holiday cheer” to keep her distracted.

This show has numerous parodies of holiday movies and TV shows as well as other pop culture touchstones to keep the laughs coming. However, the story pulls no punches in showing the sadness and sorrow of these women. Each comes to terms with pivotal moments of their past that damaged them, yet taught them to grow and carry on, to be their true selves.

This show is a true ensemble piece, executed with sheer perfection. Each performer being great on their own, together they will move you to tears of sorrow and joy. Speaking of ensemble, this play is a special project of Theatre Unchained, co-written by Karina Cochran, Kaya Dorsch, J.E. Hibbard, and director Max McCreary. They initially set out create a series of distinct holiday scenes, but found they fit together in a single theme, focused on this relatable yet unique family.

As you can tell, this show is not a typical Holiday story. Still, it is moving, touching, endearing, and entirely affirming for all. This should be at the top of your list of shows to see this month, especially since there are only three performances left, this Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 8-10, hosted by Arts for Lawrence at Theater at the Fort, 8920 Otis Ave.

Good for teens and older, grab up those members of your family and come together for an uplifting story – maybe start an important dialogue to help make your own holiday complete. Get tickets at ArtsForLawrence.org.