[NEohioPAL] Mercury's 'Joseph' - a different perspective

[Christopher Fortunato]

I like the comment Staci made about the balloon popping, and the fact that the children would not necessarily know who Chaplin or Mae West were.  

 

Chaplin's comedy is timeless regardless of whether he is doing it, or someone as exceptional as Brian Marshall is executing it.  Lucille Ball used Chaplin as a source of material in her comedy as well.  

 

Good execution of the craft is what makes a good show.  All you have to do is set the context well and the take on such a performance will be fine.  

 

Mercury Summer Stock is known for tweaking a show from its original context a bit and Pierre and Brian usually succeed in doing so.

 

(Professional note:  I have appeared in several Mercury shows and am a member of the company this season appearingin Lil Abner.)

 

Christopher Fortunato (currently appearing as Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon)
 


From: SAVvystars1 at aol.com
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:59:50 -0400
To: neohiopal at listserve.com
Subject: [NEohioPAL] Mercury's 'Joseph' - a different perspective


I have been intrigued reading the comments about Mercury Summer Stock's production of "Joseph" for a number of reasons, mostly because I was holding tickets for tonight's production.   Now that I have seen it, I feel compelled to add my own two cents...with a bit of a unique perspective.
 
First of all, like so many of you, I have seen "Joseph" more than a dozen times...ranging from children's community theater to the 'Donny Osmond' version to performances at the National Theater in Washington, DC.  I happen to love the music...so although the productions varied in talent level, they all were pretty much equally enjoyable to me.   
 
Here's the unique perspective part -- I have long been an Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, and I, as a working broadcast journalist, was fortunate enough to dine with Sir Andrew at the National Press Club in Washington more than a decade or so ago.  He was asked many questions about his successes including "Joseph" and the surprising (to him) longevity it has had.  The one thing that stuck with me was when he was asked about variations of his creations and whether he ever tired of seeing his shows in performance.  With a smile, he noted that he wished there was more "creativity" out there...and loved when he saw a new "twist" on something or more "innovation" with existing productions.  
 
As I sat at the Brooks Theatre at the Cleveland Play House tonight watching the exceptional performance, I couldn't help but remember that conversation.  My nine-year-old son who accompanied me to tonight's performance wouldn't know Mae West from Charlie Chaplin...but that didn't stop him from laughing heartily and understanding the story that he was still reminiscing about an hour after the car ride home.   He was perhaps more intrigued by this production because of the beautifully created black and white costuming, the complexities of the set, props and moving camera, and the clever interplay by all of the cast members playing the narrators, rather than just having a single storyteller.   And as far as the "balloon-popping"....it was his favorite part...not just because he's a child and likes balloons (he has been on the stage since birth and appreciates good theater!)...but because of the 'new twist', the 'creativity', the 'innovation' of it all.  Sir Andrew would be proud.
 
Go for any of the aforementioned items; go for the amazing choreography by Director Pierre Jacques-Brault (how he is able to create such a visual masterpiece on such a small stage boggles the mind); go for the music re-created so masterfully by this wonderfully talented and effervescent cast and orchestra...just 'go, go, go see it'.....you'll leave with a smile on your face.
 
I have no doubt Sir Andrew would too.
 
###
 

Staci Vincent
 
  		 	   		  
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