Roy Berko - Page 35

It probably will come as shock to many to know that when the play, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' a script by Dale Wasserman, based on Kent Kesey's novel of the same name, opened on Broadway in 1963, in spite of a cast that included Kirk Douglas, Gene Wilder, William Daniels, Ed Ames and Joan Tetzel, it was basically a flop, running only 82 performances.

Czech born Thomas Stoppard is a Jewish British playwright who escaped from his birth country in 1939, just before the Nazi occupation. Living, in England, he has gained a reputation as one of modern English language's greatest playwrights. The recipient of an Academy Award and four Tony Awards, it is generally agreed by theatre analysts that 'Arcadia,' a production of which is now on stage at Mamai Theatre, is one of the western world's greatest plays.

On a November Saturday afternoon in 2007, I anxiously entered the Hilton Theatre in New York. I love exaggerated, well-conceived and performed farce. I was going to see 'Young Frankenstein' by the king of farce and parody, Mel Brooks. Yes, 'Young Frankenstein,' officially known as 'The New Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein,' was the Broadway follow-up to 'The Producers,' by the comedy madman and his writing sidekick, Thomas Meehan.

Part concert, part history lesson, and a lot of rock 'n roll-- that's 'Million Dollar Quartet', now on stage at the Ohio Theatre in PlayhouseSquare.

There was 'Star Trek.' Then 'Star Wars.' Then there were the werewolves and vampires. Then 'Hunger Games.' Now there is 'Starmites.'

Last year's Porthouse production of 'South Pacific' joined the beautiful and gifted Kayce Cummings (Green) as Nellie Forbush with suave and talented Greg Violand as Emile DeBecque, with Terri Kent, the theatre's artistic director. The result was 'an evening of fine entertainment.' This year the trio joined forces for a pleasing 'My Fair Lady.'

Every once in a while a theatrical production results in a 'what is going on?' and 'why is time and energy being wasted on this?' reaction. Such is the case with 'A Map of Virtue' now on stage at convergence continuum.

The Rabbit Run production of the farce, 'Noises Off,' was well directed, well acted, well technically presented and turned out to be a laugh riot! I saw this show in London was convulsed with laughter. The PP show had much the same effect on me. For anyone wanting a fun summer experience, the trip to Madison, the hospitality and hometown welcome of the RR community, as well as the quality of this production, all say, 'You all come!' You won't regret it.

George Bernard Shaw, considered by many to be the premiere English playwright of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, had very set opinions, which he expressed in his writing. A member of the Fabian Society, which was an utopian movement dedicated to establishing a socialist society, he attacked the English education system, organized religion, the blindness of the upper classes in ignoring not the needs of others, but for living lives of deceit and hypocrisy.

In the last century, the Cleveland Foundation, the first community foundation in the world, has given $1.78 billion dollars in grants to enrich the lives of young and old through working for sustaining a vibrant local economy, developing human potential, reimagining Cleveland, pioneering housing options, and preserving the arts. What better way is there to celebrate these achievements than to throw well-earned celebrations?

Ed Falco, who teaches writing and literature in Virginia Tech's MFA program, may best be known for his being the uncle of Edie Falco, who played the role of Carmela Soprano on the Sopranos. He is also noted for his work with artists and actors through exploring the healing power of drama.

Roy Berko (Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle) Eric Coble, a Cleveland Heights-based writer, is the author of the Alexandra Trilogy. Each play showcases Alex/Alexa/Alexandra at different ages and stages of her life.

'Woody Sez: The Life and Music of Woody Guthrie,' 'Maestro: Leonard Bernstein,' 'The Devil's Music: The Life and Times of Bessie Smith,' 'One Night with Janice Joplin.' What do these all have in common? They are shows that Cleveland Play House has staged in the last several years, and they are productions that showcase the musical talents of a particular artist.

When a student pays $5000 for a ten-week educational seminar, s/he doesn't expect to be verbally attacked, viciously belittled, diminished, called names, and have a sexual liaison with the instructor. But that's exactly what happens in Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck's provocative comedy, 'Seminar,' now on stage at Beck Center.

On April 1, Ciara Renee strutted on stage at the Music Box Theatre on West 45th Street as The Leading Player in PIPPIN. She became one of seventeen Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program graduates to appear in a Broadway, Off-Broadway or National Touring company during the 2013-2014 season.

The Cleveland area has a full schedule of summer theatre entertainment. Here are some of the upcoming stagings:

This has been an exciting year on Broadway. The Tony Awards will be announced soon. In preparation, I went to New York to see some of the nominated shows. Here's some brief comments:

As we exited the theatre after 'Bathroom Humor, my next-to-seat neighbor said, 'Oh well, it is what it is, and I'm not sure why it was!' 'nuff said.