[NEohioPAL]Pete 'n' Keely earns PD rave

Tue Jul 13 09:11:57 PDT 2004

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Pete 'n Keely at Kalliope gets PD rave . . .

"It's a hoot and three-quarters," says Tony Brown of the Plain Dealer. Read the whole review unedited here:

Talented 2 on stage hit the right notes in musical production

Tony Brown, Plain Dealer Theater Critic

   The trousers in Pete's tuxedo are flared, and Keely's gowns sparkle with thousands of sequins. Both can be enjoyed up close and personal in Kalliope Stage's microscopic production of "Pete 'n' Keely," a pocket musical that revels in bad taste.

   While small, the results are big: big laughs, big talents, big success.

   It's a hoot and three-quarters.

   Next to Kalliope, located in a storefront on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, a postage stamp would look like a roomy place to stage a musical.

   The theater's founders, artistic director Paul Gurgol and executive director John Paul Boukis, have chosen to put their energy and resources into hiring top-drawer talent, and Christopher Vettel as Pete and Kathryn Kendall as Keely definitely qualify.

   Devised by James Hindman, the off-Broadway musical comedy imagines a Las Vegas-y pair of entertainers not unlike Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme doing a live telecast in 1968, sponsored by Swell (they put the "oo" in shampoo).

   The score is a mix of '50s and '60s golden oldies and songs, written by Patrick Brady and Mark Waldrop, that imitate golden oldies. The schtick is that Pete 'n' Keely, once married and now estranged, bicker and tease one another as they attempt to reconcile for the cameras.

   While not nearly as elaborate costume- or set-wise as the off-Broadway production, the Kalliope Stage version that opened over the weekend has many charms, including a tight little band and plenty of laughs.

   But its biggest assets remain Vettel and Kendall, polished singers and dandcers who have experience on touring Broadway shows and at regional theaters.

   Vettel, sporting sideburns, has a permanently goofy, slightly perplexed look on his face as the mischievous Pete. And Kendall expertly sends mixed signals with her "come hither" looks and her "get lost" attitude.

   Together, they perfect a cheesy banter and thoroughly entertain by singing nearly 20 numbers, including a whimsical version of "The Battle Hymm of the Republic" and "The Cross Country Tour"--a medley of 50 songs, one for every state of the union.

   There's not much more to it than that. But it says something true and hilarious about entertainers from a certain era. And at Kalliope, it says it very well.

NEXT SEASON
Kalliope Stage has announced four musicals for its second season in 2004-05: "Summer of '42," based on the movie, Oct. 1-Nov. 7; "The Christmas Carol RAg," a New York send-up of Charles Dickens, Nov. 26-Dec. 19; "A Little Night Music," Stephen Sondheim's tribute to Ingmar Bergman, April 8-May 8; and "Baby," about expectant parenthood, June 24-July 31, 2005.

PETE 'N' KEELY

Kalliope Stage

July 9 to August 8, Thursday-Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2:30 and 7pm

216-321-0870

www.KalliopeStage.com

Kathryn Kendall* is delighted to be a part of the Kalliope Stage inaugural season, and to reconnect with Paul Gurgol with whom she attended the Boston Conservatory of Music. Ms. Kendall was featured in the ill-fated Broadway musical, Paper Moon with Gregory Harrison, as Hildy, Mazeppa, Mr. Monotony Singer in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, as Mitzi in the Off-Broadway revival of Fiorello, Merman in Merman: Who Could Ask For Anything More?, and as a soloist with the Lyrics and Lyricists Series. She comes to Kalliope Stage directly from the National Tour of 42nd Street in which she appeared as both Dorothy Brock and Maggie Jones. Other tours include Showboat (Ellie) with Eddie Bracken, 42nd Street (Anytime Annie) with Jerry Orbach and Tammy Grimes, Kiss Me Kate (Bianca) and Shenandoah (Jenny), both with John Raitt, Oklahoma (Ado Annie), and Forbidden Hollywood. Extensive regional credits include the highly acclaimed Barrington Stage production of Mack and Mabel (Lottie) supervised by Jerry
 Herman. Television credits include The Edge of Night, and Loving. An accomplished choreographer, her credits include National Tours of Gigi with Louis Jourdan, Anything Goes, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Singin’ in the Rain, and the world premier of Ziegeld: A Night At The Follies. Ms. Kendall is a greaduate of the Boston Conservatory and is so pleased to be working at Kalliope with Mr. Gurgol.

Christopher Vettel* is at home on the musical theatre, operatic, and concert stages. Chris is happy to be making his Cleveland debut as one of “America’s Swingin’ Sweethearts”. He has appeared in both the US National Tour and Frankfurt productions (Joe Gillis) of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard. Overseas he was seen in the European tours of Cabaret (Cliff Bradshaw) and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Back home, his regional credits include: West Virginia Public Theatre (Camelot-Lancelot), Westchester Broadway Theatre (Phantom-Phillipe), Walnut St. Theatre (Love Life-Leffcourt/Quartet), Fireside Playhouse (Titanic-Andrews), Barrington Stage Co. (A Little Night Music-Carl Magnus), and Papermill Playhouse (Jekyll & Hyde-Rowdy/Hyde Cover), to name a few. As soloist Chris has sung with the Opera Company of Boston, Encompass New Opera Theatre, Opera New England, Utica Symphony and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the final concert conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Love to Beth, (his
 own swingin’ sweetheart).

*Member of Actors' Equity Association

Kalliope Stage is the new professional music theater at Cedar & Lee in Cleveland Heights. Subscriptions are now available for our 2004-2005 season of great American musicals. Order online at www.KalliopeStage.com or cal 216-321-0870 to reserve your seats today!

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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Pete 'n Keely at Kalliope gets PD rave . . .</SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"></SPAN></STRONG></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">"It's a hoot and three-quarters," says Tony Brown of the Plain Dealer. Read the whole review unedited here:</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Talented 2 on stage hit the right notes in musical production</SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Tony Brown, Plain Dealer Theater Critic</SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   The trousers in Pete's tuxedo are flared, and Keely's gowns sparkle with thousands of sequins. Both can be enjoyed up close and personal in Kalliope Stage's microscopic production of "Pete 'n' Keely," a pocket musical that revels in bad taste.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   While small, the results are big: big laughs, big talents, big success.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   It's a hoot and three-quarters.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   Next to Kalliope, located in a storefront on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, a postage stamp would look like a roomy place to stage a musical.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   The theater's founders, artistic director Paul Gurgol and executive director John Paul Boukis, have chosen to put their energy and resources into hiring top-drawer talent, and Christopher Vettel as Pete and Kathryn Kendall as Keely definitely qualify.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   Devised by James Hindman, the off-Broadway musical comedy imagines a Las Vegas-y pair of entertainers not unlike Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme doing a live telecast in 1968, sponsored by Swell (they put the "oo" in shampoo).</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   The score is a mix of '50s and '60s golden oldies and songs, written by Patrick Brady and Mark Waldrop, that imitate golden oldies. The schtick is that Pete 'n' Keely, once married and now estranged, bicker and tease one another as they attempt to reconcile for the cameras.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   While not nearly as elaborate costume- or set-wise as the off-Broadway production, the Kalliope Stage version that opened over the weekend has many charms, including a tight little band and plenty of laughs.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   But its biggest assets remain Vettel and Kendall, polished singers and dandcers who have experience on touring Broadway shows and at regional theaters.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   Vettel, sporting sideburns, has a permanently goofy, slightly perplexed look on his face as the mischievous Pete. And Kendall expertly sends mixed signals with her "come hither" looks and her "get lost" attitude.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   Together, they perfect a cheesy banter and thoroughly entertain by singing nearly 20 numbers, including a whimsical version of "The Battle Hymm of the Republic" and "The Cross Country Tour"--a medley of 50 songs, one for every state of the union.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">   There's not much more to it than that. But it says something true and hilarious about entertainers from a certain era. And at Kalliope, it says it very well.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><STRONG>NEXT SEASON</STRONG><BR>Kalliope Stage has announced four musicals for its second season in 2004-05: "Summer of '42," based on the movie, Oct. 1-Nov. 7; "The Christmas Carol RAg," a New York send-up of Charles Dickens, Nov. 26-Dec. 19; "A Little Night Music," Stephen Sondheim's tribute to Ingmar Bergman, April 8-May 8; and "Baby," about expectant parenthood, June 24-July 31, 2005.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"></SPAN></STRONG></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">PETE 'N' KEELY</SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Kalliope Stage</SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">July 9 to August 8, Thursday-Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2:30 and 7pm</SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">216-321-0870</SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><A href="http://www.KalliopeStage.com">www.KalliopeStage.com</A></SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Kathryn Kendall*</SPAN></STRONG><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> </SPAN></STRONG><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">is delighted to be a part of the Kalliope Stage inaugural season, and to reconnect with Paul Gurgol with whom she attended the Boston Conservatory of Music. Ms. Kendall was featured in the ill-fated Broadway musical, <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Paper Moon</SPAN> with Gregory Harrison, as Hildy, Mazeppa, Mr. Monotony Singer in <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Jerome Robbins’ Broadway,</SPAN> as Mitzi in the Off-Broadway revival of <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Fiorello</SPAN>, Merman in <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Merman: Who Could Ask For Anything More?,</SPAN> and as a soloist with the Lyrics and Lyricists Series. She comes to Kalliope Stage directly
 from the National Tour of <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">42<SUP>nd</SUP> Street </SPAN>in which she appeared as both Dorothy Brock and Maggie Jones. Other tours include <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Showboat</SPAN> (Ellie) with Eddie Bracken, <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">42<SUP>nd</SUP> Street</SPAN> (Anytime Annie) with Jerry Orbach and Tammy Grimes, <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Kiss Me Kate</SPAN> (Bianca) and <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Shenandoah</SPAN> (Jenny), both with John Raitt, <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Oklahoma</SPAN> (Ado Annie), and <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Forbidden Hollywood</SPAN>. Extensive regional credits include the highly acclaimed Barrington Stage production of <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Mack and Mabel</SPAN> (Lottie) supervised by Jerry Herman. Television credits include <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">The Edge of Night</SPAN>, and <SPAN
 style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Loving</SPAN>. An accomplished choreographer, her credits include National Tours of <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Gigi</SPAN> with Louis Jourdan, <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Anything Goes</SPAN>, <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Seven Brides For Seven Brothers</SPAN>, <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Singin’ in the Rain</SPAN>, and the world premier of <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Ziegeld: A Night At The Follies</SPAN>. Ms. Kendall is a greaduate of the Boston Conservatory and is so pleased to be working at Kalliope with Mr. Gurgol.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 36.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Christopher Vettel*</SPAN></STRONG><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 36.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> is at home on the musical theatre, operatic, and concert stages. Chris is happy to be making his Cleveland debut as one of “America’s Swingin’ Sweethearts”. He has appeared in both the US National Tour and Frankfurt productions (Joe Gillis) of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard. Overseas he was seen in the European tours of Cabaret (Cliff Bradshaw) and The Music of Andrew Lloyd
 Webber. Back home, his regional credits include: West Virginia Public Theatre (Camelot-Lancelot), Westchester Broadway Theatre (Phantom-Phillipe), Walnut St. Theatre (Love Life-Leffcourt/Quartet), Fireside Playhouse (Titanic-Andrews), Barrington Stage Co. (A Little Night Music-Carl Magnus), and Papermill Playhouse (Jekyll & Hyde-Rowdy/Hyde Cover), to name a few. As soloist Chris has sung with the Opera Company of Boston, Encompass New Opera Theatre, Opera New England, Utica Symphony and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the final concert conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Love to Beth, (his own swingin’ sweetheart).</SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 36.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></STRONG> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 36.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT size=2>*Member of Actors' Equity Association</FONT></SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 36.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT size=2></FONT></SPAN></STRONG> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 36.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><STRONG>Kalliope Stage is the new professional music theater at Cedar & Lee in Cleveland Heights. Subscriptions are now available for our 2004-2005 season of great American musicals. Order online at </STRONG><A href="http://www.kalliopestage.com/"><STRONG>www.KalliopeStage.com</STRONG></A><STRONG> or cal 216-321-0870 to reserve your seats today!</STRONG></SPAN></SPAN></STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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