[NEohioPAL]Another Rave Review of SUDS at Actors' Summit
Thackaberr at aol.com
Thackaberr at aol.com
Fri Jun 27 14:48:21 PDT 2003
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Think of what Ed Sullivan
could have done with this show
By David Ritchey HUDSON --
As good as the Sunday night "Ed Sullivan Show" -- that's the way I would
describe "SUDS," now playing in the Actors' Summit Theater in Hudson.
"SUDS" is essentially a soap opera set in a Laundromat.
The characters have stepped out of history -- one is a blonde, one a brunette
and one a redhead. The blonde looks like a Barbie doll, with bright yellow
hair adorned by a headband and a perfect dress, with plenty of ruffles. The
brunette dresses in big skirts (no poodles) and simple blouses. The redhead has
Capri pants and a clinging top.
As the drama opens, Cindy (of course, every 1950s group had a Cindy) is too
happy. It's her birthday, she has a boyfriend and her cat loves her. Of course,
in two minutes her boyfriend drops her and her cat is killed in an accident.
Cindy ties some clothing around her neck and around the agitator in the
Laundromat's washer. When she is completely upended (head in the washer and feet in
the air), she realizes she can't agitate herself to death.
In the meantime, two angels are sent from heaven to rescue Cindy. Those
angels are DeeDee (the blond Barbie look alike) and Marge (the redhead). When the
angels see Cindy agitating in the washer, they think she's doing a new dance
and attempt to learn the steps.
As angels, these two have a lot to learn. But as singers and dancers, these
angels are heavenly.
The four-person cast provides the audience with a first-rate ensemble
production. The plot is just the outline on which the playwrights have arranged
dozens of hit songs from the '50s and '60s. Also, this show is funny!
Sasha Thackaberry (Cindy), Jean Zarzour (Madge) and Pamela LaForce (DeeDee)
harmonize, dance and make the '60s more fun than they actually ever were.
The three singers/actresses are joined on stage by Joel Nunley who plays at
least six characters, all of whom he makes memorable. He plays a friendly
postman who gets to sing (what else?) "Mr. Postman." Later, as the washer
repairman, he is tied up by Madge as she sings "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." They give new meaning
to respect and to the song. As Mrs. Halo, Nunley plays the role as if it were a
merger between Mrs. Doubtfire and Dame Edna. Nunley has great stage presence
and has launched a successful career for himself.
When the four performers take the stage in a salute to Nancy Sinatra, they
pull on their boots. Cindy walks all over her boyfriend, wearing a man's pair of
big black boots. At the end of "Boots," one of the angels said to Cindy, "The
way to a man's heart isn't through your boots." The boyfriend then turns to
the audience and says, "This is one of those chick shows, ain't it?"
The two-person band -- Evie Morris (musical director) on piano and
synthesizer and Anthony Sterns on the electric bass -- keeps all of the on-stage
nonsense moving at a quick pace. Mary Jo Alexander (director and designer) directed
the production with affection for the '50s and '60s. Alexander's respect for
the music and for the era shows throughout the production and gives the show its
soul. Without an affection for the period, the production would be brittle
and less satisfying. Alexander made a pleasing production out of this campy
takeoff from a simpler, gentler time.
This is not great drama; it's summer entertainment and it's the music of your
life -- if you like Elvis Presley, Annette Funicello, Aretha Franklin, the
Supremes and all of those singers you watched on the "Ed Sullivan Show."
Only two things were missing from this production. First, the audience didn't
get to vote for the prom queen and king. And, second, we didn't get to go on
stage and join the cast and dance "The Locomotion."
"SUDS" only plays through July 27. Performances take place Thursdays, Fridays
and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $27.50 on Fridays
and Saturdays and $24.50 Thursdays and Sundays.
So, get those clothes out of the attic -- that poodle skirt and cool T-shirt
-- grab your steady and show up at Actors' Summit for a good time. Oh, you
might bring the grandchildren and let them know how the old folks lived when they
were teen-agers. To purchase tickets, call (330) 342-0800.
David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in communications and is a professor of
communications at The University of Akron. He is a member of the American Theatre Critics
Association.
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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3D6 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=
=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"><BR>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><B>Think of what Ed Sullivan<BR>
could have done with this show <BR>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT></FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #=
ffffff" SIZE=3D2 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"></B> By D=
avid Ritchey HUDSON -- <BR>
As good as the Sunday night "Ed Sullivan Show" -- that's the way I would des=
cribe "SUDS," now playing in the Actors' Summit Theater in Hudson. <BR>
<BR>
"SUDS" is essentially a soap opera set in a Laundromat. <BR>
<BR>
The characters have stepped out of history -- one is a blonde, one a brunett=
e and one a redhead. The blonde looks like a Barbie doll, with bright yellow=
hair adorned by a headband and a perfect dress, with plenty of ruffles. The=
brunette dresses in big skirts (no poodles) and simple blouses. The redhead=
has Capri pants and a clinging top. <BR>
<BR>
As the drama opens, Cindy (of course, every 1950s group had a Cindy) is too=20=
happy. It's her birthday, she has a boyfriend and her cat loves her. Of cour=
se, in two minutes her boyfriend drops her and her cat is killed in an accid=
ent. Cindy ties some clothing around her neck and around the agitator in the=
Laundromat's washer. When she is completely upended (head in the washer and=
feet in the air), she realizes she can't agitate herself to death. <BR>
<BR>
In the meantime, two angels are sent from heaven to rescue Cindy. Those ange=
ls are DeeDee (the blond Barbie look alike) and Marge (the redhead). When th=
e angels see Cindy agitating in the washer, they think she's doing a new dan=
ce and attempt to learn the steps. <BR>
<BR>
As angels, these two have a lot to learn. But as singers and dancers, these=20=
angels are heavenly. <BR>
<BR>
The four-person cast provides the audience with a first-rate ensemble produc=
tion. The plot is just the outline on which the playwrights have arranged do=
zens of hit songs from the '50s and '60s. Also, this show is funny! <BR>
<BR>
Sasha Thackaberry (Cindy), Jean Zarzour (Madge) and Pamela LaForce (DeeDee)=20=
harmonize, dance and make the '60s more fun than they actually ever were. <B=
R>
<BR>
The three singers/actresses are joined on stage by Joel Nunley who plays at=20=
least six characters, all of whom he makes memorable. He plays a friendly po=
stman who gets to sing (what else?) "Mr. Postman." Later, as the washer repa=
irman, he is tied up by Madge as she sings "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." They give new me=
aning to respect and to the song. As Mrs. Halo, Nunley plays the role as if=20=
it were a merger between Mrs. Doubtfire and Dame Edna. Nunley has great stag=
e presence and has launched a successful career for himself. <BR>
<BR>
When the four performers take the stage in a salute to Nancy Sinatra, they p=
ull on their boots. Cindy walks all over her boyfriend, wearing a man's pair=
of big black boots. At the end of "Boots," one of the angels said to Cindy,=
"The way to a man's heart isn't through your boots." The boyfriend then tur=
ns to the audience and says, "This is one of those chick shows, ain't it?" <=
BR>
<BR>
The two-person band -- Evie Morris (musical director) on piano and synthesiz=
er and Anthony Sterns on the electric bass -- keeps all of the on-stage nons=
ense moving at a quick pace. Mary Jo Alexander (director and designer) direc=
ted the production with affection for the '50s and '60s. Alexander's respect=
for the music and for the era shows throughout the production and gives the=
show its soul. Without an affection for the period, the production would be=
brittle and less satisfying. Alexander made a pleasing production out of th=
is campy takeoff from a simpler, gentler time. <BR>
<BR>
This is not great drama; it's summer entertainment and it's the music of you=
r life -- if you like Elvis Presley, Annette Funicello, Aretha Franklin, the=
Supremes and all of those singers you watched on the "Ed Sullivan Show." <B=
R>
<BR>
Only two things were missing from this production. First, the audience didn'=
t get to vote for the prom queen and king. And, second, we didn't get to go=20=
on stage and join the cast and dance "The Locomotion." <BR>
<BR>
"SUDS" only plays through July 27. Performances take place Thursdays, Friday=
s and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $27.50 on Friday=
s and Saturdays and $24.50 Thursdays and Sundays. <BR>
<BR>
So, get those clothes out of the attic -- that poodle skirt and cool T-shirt=
-- grab your steady and show up at Actors' Summit for a good time. Oh, you=20=
might bring the grandchildren and let them know how the old folks lived when=
they were teen-agers. To purchase tickets, call (330) 342-0800.<BR>
<BR>
<I>David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in communications and is a professor of communi=
cations at The University of Akron. He is a member of the American Theatre C=
ritics Association.</I> <BR>
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>From jeff at jeffworks.com" <jeff at jeffworks.com Fri Jun 27 16:11:54 2003
From: jeff at jeffworks.com" <jeff at jeffworks.com (jeff at jeffworks.com)
Date: Fri Jun 27 15:11:54 2003
Subject: [NEohioPAL]Thank you!
Message-ID: <3EFC9D66.000005.02268 at Base>
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To all who responded to my cry for a choreographer...Thank you! =0D
=0D
=0D
Jeffrey Matthews=0D
Company Director, =0D
Live wire Acting Company=0D
www.livewireacting.org
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<DIV>To all who responded to my cry for a choreographer...<EM>Thank =
you!</EM> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><IMG src=3D"cid:384BE188-4D78-4EB8-92C9-2A4E1DD357A2"></DIV>
<DIV>Jeffrey Matthews</DIV>
<DIV>Company Director, </DIV>
<DIV>Live wire Acting Company</DIV>
<DIV><A href=3D"http://www.livewireacting.org/">www.livewireacting.org</A=
></DIV></TD></TR>
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