<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Thanks for the nice, apt review. I take issue, however, with the statement that the show is "</span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">void of social commentary, political undertones or religious symbolism.</span></font></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> " I play a truly-bigoted character, whose many anti-this or -that pronouncements are received as being preposterous because Mae is. Having heard several audiences almost-boo my anti-Latino remarks, I have come to the conclusion that the show's writers were pretty clever when they put a load of Zeneophobic bad-mouthing in the mouth of "Mae." </span></font></span></span><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Similarly, but with more gentleness, I think the character of Mr. MacAfee nails the conservative late-1950's American middle-class <i><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana">paterfamilias -- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">pompously trying to command his family's respect one minute, then abandoning all principal (and l</span></font></i></span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">osing all credibility) </span></font></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">when he tries to steal the limelight not only from his own daughter, but from the rock star whom he has previously criticized. </span></font></i></span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Just sayin'. And maybe these social comments are so gentle that I only noticed them after several performances. </span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Best, Lissy</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana"><br></font></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></i><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana"><br></font></span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br></span></font><div><div>On Jul 30, 2010, at 7:01 AM, Bob Abelman wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div bgcolor="#ffffff"><div><font size="2" face="Arial"><div style="text-align: center; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">‘Bye Bye Birdie’ flies again, entertains at Porthouse Theatre<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-size: 12pt; ">Bob Abelman<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-size: 12pt; ">News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-size: 12pt; ">Member, International Association of Theatre Critics<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="line-height: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-size: 12pt; ">This review appeared in the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>News-Herald<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>7/30/10</span><span style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Like a chicken pox epidemic, some musicals seem to pop up one place and then another. Not long ago, a<i>Fiddler on the Roof</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>plague swept through east side theaters, metastasized to the west side, and finally peaked in PlayhouseSquare.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>A recent and fast-moving outbreak of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Seussical: The Musical</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>left many stunned victims in its wake, some scarred for life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">A rash of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Bye Bye Birdie</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is upon us, having first surfaced in June at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby, opened in early July at the Straw Hat Theatre in Ashtabula, and is now playing at the Porthouse Theatre until August 8.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">The symptoms from experiencing this Tony Award-winning 1960 musical are quite mild.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>There are no bone-rattling chills, no high fever, no dramatic mood shifts.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>In fact,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Bye Bye Birdie</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>induces gentle euphoria and a pleasant sense of nostalgia for those old enough to recall the young-Elvis craze in the late-1950s or the 1963 film rendition of this musical.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">The story, by Michael Stewart, is pure and simple.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Aspiring song writer Albert is convinced he can make his fortune and marry his girlfriend Rosie if he gets rock and roll idol Conrad Birdie, soon to be inducted into the army, to sing one of his songs on TV’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The Ed Sullivan Show</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">The gimmick is that Conrad Birdie will kiss a randomly selected high school girl goodbye on live TV.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>She happens to be Kim, who lives in conservative, small town Sweet Apple, Ohio with her steady, Hugo, her loving and quirky family, and fellow teenage<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">ornithologists (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Birdie watchers).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">The songs, by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, are delightful ditties that fly in the face of the early rock and roll era in which they were written, where even Conrad’s anthems such as “Honestly Sincere” and “A Lot of Living to Do” are all luster and no soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Bye Bye Birdie</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is void of social commentary, political undertones or religious symbolism.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>It is just good, wholesome and, yes, dated entertainment. No more, no less.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">The Porthouse Theatre production, under the direction of Terri Kent, embraces all that is light, buoyant and comedic in this play, resulting in a thoroughly delightful evening’s entertainment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">These qualities are particularly evident in John Crawford’s choreography, which celebrates the energy and innocence of early-1960s youth by having the small town teens spontaneously burst into exuberant and clever dance routines with no provocation whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">The dancing is performed by a superb ensemble of mostly Kent State University musical theater majors, whose honest sincerity about their adoration of Conrad Birdie permeates their every breath and action.<span> </span>Leading the way is Amy Harpenau and Melissa Cotton as Kim’s best friends, as well as Bailey Carter Moulse, Maren Ritter, Jason Samuel and Rumi Oyama.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Nick Koesters is delightful as Albert and passes with flying colors the musical theater acid test:<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>selling the “Put on a Happy Face” musical number early in Act 1.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Here, Albert attempts to cheer up two young girls who feel left out of all the Birdie-mania by engaging them in song and dance and enticing them to return in kind.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>This is the standard-bearer for corny musical numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">The film version employed some animation to make this work, and had Albert singing to Rosie.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Here, Koesters’ boyish charm carries the day, aided by wonderfully playful choreography, an upbeat tempo by Jonathan Swoboda and his great orchestra, and the adorable and very talented Courtney Nelson and Lani Skelley as the sad girls.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Sandra Emerick brings what Chita Rivera brought to the role of Rosie in the original stage production.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>She is passionate, peppery, and possesses the wherewithal of an accomplished singer/dancer.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Emerick is a pleasure to watch and listen to.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Cassie Rea has the singing chops and requisite “it” factor necessary to make Kim both innocent and desirable.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>So does Dan Grgic in his portrayal of Conrad Birdie.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>In fact, all the players play well and add to the fun and frivolity of this production.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">The show’s only misstep is milking the moments when Kim’s father, played broadly but effectively by Marc Moritz, attempts to steal the spotlight from Conrad and Kim during the big kiss scene.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Sometimes less is more.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">All this activity takes place on Nolan O’Dell’s era-appropriate set, where a series of rotating doors give way to energetic entrances, quick exits and scene changes that help move this show along at the perfect pace.<span> </span>Unfortunately, each door is manned by a clearly seen, stoic and plain-clothed stagehand, which momentarily disrupts the Sweet Apple ambiance so purposefully fashioned by the cast.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Catching this strand of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Bye Bye Birdie</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>at the Porthouse Theatre is the cure for these dog days of summer.<span> </span>Comedy and corny done well are very pleasant contagions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Bye Bye Birdie<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">continues through August 8</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>at Porthouse<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Theatre,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Falls</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>For tickets,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">$22</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to $33, call 330-929-4416</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; ">or visit<a href=""><font color="#0000ff">http://dept.kent.edu/theatre/porthouse/TicketInfo.htm</font></a>.</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></i></div></font></div>______________________________________<br>Join "NEohioPAL - The Fan Page" Facebook page at this link:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/">http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/</a>group.php?gid=116597415030358&ref=mf<br>______________________________________<br>NEohioPAL is SELF-SERVE. If you need to unsubscribe, change from digest to one-at-a-time delivery or vice-versa, go on hiatus while out of town, switch from mime to plain text or vice-versa, etc. check out the FAQS at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.fredsternfeld.com">http://www.fredsternfeld.com</a>.<br>______________________________________<br>please consider a voluntary contribution to support Neohiopal -<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.fredsternfeld.com/faqs.htm#support">http://www.fredsternfeld.com/faqs.htm#support</a><br>______________________________________<br>Disclaimer: The facts and/or opinions expressed in this message are solely those of the person in the 'from' or 'reply-to' header. The fact that this message is posted should in no way be taken as an endorsement by the administrator of this list. Subscribers should perform due diligence for all goods, services and activities promoted on NEohioPAL.<br>_____________________________________<br>NEohioPAL mailing list<br><a href="http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal">http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal</a><br></div></span></blockquote></div><br></div></div></body></html>