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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Beck production
offers an intimate ‘Grey Gardens’<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Chagrin Valley
Times </I>3/12/09</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Upon its opening on
Broadway in 2006, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The New York Times
</I>dubbed <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Grey Gardens</I> an
“irritatingly mixed blessing of a musical.” And so it is.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Part
celebrity sideshow and part psychological drama, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Grey Gardens</I> explores the lives of two
fallen socialites—real-world relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis—from their
glory days in the East Hamptons to their self-induced squalor and isolation in
the now-dilapidated Long Island mansion thirty years later.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Edith Bouvier Beale
and her daughter “Little” Edie Beale became notorious when, in the 1970s, the
local community sought to evict the two from their eye-sore of a sanctuary.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The ladies and their dysfunctional
lifestyle became the subject of a documentary by Albert and David Maysles, and
the film became the essence of Act 2 of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Grey Gardens</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It depicts the true tragedy of the
Beales’ bizarre co-dependence, warts and all, and is a moving, disturbing piece
of theatre set to haunting and occasionally amusing musical numbers by Cleveland
native Scott Frankel and Michael Korie.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Act 1 is a piece of
frothy Cole Porteresque musical fiction designed to capture the lavishness of
the Beales’ former existence and reveal hints of the budding psychosis.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Here we see </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">quirky
Edith</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">’s
penchant for public performance and her favorite pet, a flamingly gay pianist,
which alienated her husband, infuriated her aristocratic father and embarrassed
her seemingly perfect daughter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Here we see </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Edith</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">’s early efforts to
unravel her daughter’s future happiness for her own selfish and increasingly
neurotic needs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Here we see the
beginning of the end of a family dynasty.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The
“mixed blessing” is the disjointed and nearly irreconcilable parts of this
play.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is, in fact, little
connective tissue between these two acts and the eccentric personalities each
display.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The leap from this
family’s distinction to its decay is quantum and left
unexplained.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Fortunately,
the Beck Center for the Arts’ production of this play, under the keen direction
of Victoria Bussert, nicely off-sets much of this.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It does so by placing the show within
the intimate confines of the Studio Theatre and filling the stage with a very
talented ensemble.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">What
is lost by condensing the grandeur of a big-stage production onto a small space
is made up for by offering delicate moments. One such moment is when “Little”
Edie, on the verge of escaping her mother’s intoxicating madness, gives into
fear, painfully surrenders her own aspirations, and is slowly drawn back into
her nightmare.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What is missing from
the script in terms of exposition is reconciled by being able to look into an
actor’s eyes and seeing what is not said by playwright Doug Wright.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Each actor in this
professional production gives an interesting, authentic performance, led by
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Maryann Nagel in the dual
role of Act 1’s Edith and Act 2’s “Little” Edie.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She brings a palatable richness to each
character in both dialogue and song, and is never better than in the number
“<SPAN style="COLOR: black">Another Winter in a Summer Town.”</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Jullian Kates Bumpas, as “Little” Edie
in Act 1, and Lenne Snively, as the aged Edith in Act 2, are also wonderful
performers who give it their all in this intriguing production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Inconsistent accents adorned by these
three women adds to the lack of continuity inherent in this play, but this is a
minor distraction amidst otherwise fine work. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The very strong
supporting cast, who also double in scenes of delusion and fantasy, includes an
excellent Patrick Janson as pianist George Strong, Darryl Lewis at the
manservant Brooks, George Roth as the family patriarch, and Jonathan Walker
White as Joseph Kennedy and fix-it man Jerry. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Annie Kostell, an eighth grader, and
Natalie Welch, a fifth grader from Chagrin Falls, play Jackie and Lee Bouvier,
respectively, and are truly delightful all the
time.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Although
the music from the limited four-piece orchestra is thin, it is very well
performed under the direction of Jodie Ricci.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Occasional choreography by
</SPAN><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Martín
Céspedes beautifully complements the sentiments in the songs and adds a nice
touch of class to this production.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN></STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The
Beck brings out the best in this quirky play.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It runs through March 29 at the Beck
Center for the Arts in nearby
Lakewood.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>