Review – Page 9 – Shows I've Seen

Anyone Can Whistle – Musical – Review – Reboot Theatre & Theatre Off Jackson

@showsiveseen "Anyone Can Whistle" #Sondheim #musical by Reboot Theatre at Theatre Off Jackson. Starring @Anamaria Guerzon, @Rhys, & Shana Emile. The exploration of binary absolutes vs shades of grey fit perfectly with Reboot Theatre's typical nontraditional casting interpretations. Closes this weekend 3/23/24! #theatre #showsiveseen Review: showsiveseen.com/8229 Photos: Colin Madison Director: @Jasmine Joshua Stage Manager: @Jessamyn Bateman-Iin ♬ Everybody Says Don't – Barbra Streisand

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Anyone Can Whistle Sondheim musical by Reboot Theatre at Theatre Off Jackson. The exploration of binary absolutes vs shades of grey fit perfectly with Reboot Theatre’s typical nontraditional casting interpretations.

Recommendation
See it if either 1) you enjoyed Urinetown 2) or you want to see a whimsical Sondheim musical. Bonus points if you enjoy Sondheim’s characteristic cacophonous dissonant musical style.

Synopsis from the Theatre: This wacky, intelligent, highly unconventional musical points ahead to Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking work in the 1970s, even as it keeps a foot firmly rooted in musical theatre’s “golden age.” Anyone Can Whistle tells the story of a corrupt mayor who fakes a miracle to revitalize her bankrupt town, and the ill-fated romance between the rational nurse, out to expose the fraud, and the easygoing doctor who is determined to enjoy the chaos that it brings.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 3/9/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since it closes this weekend on 3/23/24!

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 15

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Was there an intermission? Yes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? I’d consider seeing it again as an Equity production, which is surprising since I typically dislike Sondheim musicals.

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Ensemble Songs: The shining moments in this show were when the entire cast burst into song at the same time like in “Miracle Song” when they discovered water.

Theatre Company: Reboot Theatre and Theatre Off Jackson

Venue: Theatre Off Jackson

Venue Physical Address: 409 7th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104

Price: Cheap

Tickets: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/reboottheatre/whistle

Ticket Affordability Options: You can self-select the $5 inclusion rate option on the website

Dates: March 8 to 23, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid street parking is usually available north of the theatre on the hill close to the park. You can also try free parking on Jackson Street under/past the I-5 bridge, though it’s a dodgier area. As usual, there are paid parking lots nearby as well.

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Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by Colin Madison Photography.

Shana Emile as Cora Hoover Hooper with her Goons. Photo by Colin Madison Photography.

Shana Emile and June Apollo Johns. Photo by Colin Madison Photography.

Puppetry and the Cast of *Anyone Can Whistle*. Photo by Colin Madison Photography.

Miles Wingett and Cynthia Dario-Good. Photo by Colin Madison Photography.

June Apollo Johns and the Cast of *Anyone Can Whistle*. Photo by Colin Madison Photography.

The Cast of *Anyone Can Whistle*. Photo by Colin Madison Photography.

Anamaria Guerzon and the Cast of *Anyone Can Whistle*. Photo by Colin Madison Photography.

Something’s Afoot – Musical – Review – The 5th Avenue Theatre

@showsiveseen "Something's Afoot" delightful #whodunit #murder #mystery #musical #comedy at @The 5th Avenue Theatre. Luxurious velvet-like set. "Tiny Little Dinghy" song was hilarious. I was certain about the #murderer's identity until unexpectedly proven wrong in the end! Closes this weekend 3/24. Review: showsiveseen.com/8205 Photos: Tracy Martin & Mark Kitaoka Director: Bill Berry Music Director: Beth G Tankersley Stage Manager: @Erin Zatloka #theatre #showsiveseen #SomethingsAfoot ♬ Something's Afoot – Susie Blake

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Something’s Afoot delightful whodunit musical at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Luxurious velvet-like set. “Tiny Little Dinghy” song was hilarious. I was certain about the murderer’s identity until unexpectedly proven wrong in the end!

Recommendation
See it if you enjoy whodunit murder mystery hijinks comedy shows like Clue and The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.

Synopsis from the Theatre: Prepare to laugh until it hurts with this musical spoof of the whodunit genre. Something’s Afoot pokes fun at Agatha Christie murder mysteries; ten people are stranded in an isolated country estate during a raging thunderstorm. One by one, they are picked off by cleverly fiendish devices. As bodies pile up, the survivors frantically race to solve the mystery! Join in the tomfoolery of this farcical, raucous, and outrageous play, that will appeal to lovers of shows like Arrested Development, The Office, and Schitt’s Creek

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 3/8/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since it closes this weekend on 3/24/24!

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Just one – the living room of an old English mansion

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but it helps to have seen some Agatha Christie plays.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes, but there’s only so much that can occur in a living room.

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Equity Actors: 10

Total Number of Actors: 10

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours

Was there an intermission? Yes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not, but it was good.

Rant(s)

Murder Explanations: When the murderer was revealed in the end, the script did not adequately explain how each murder occurred. It seemed like a cop out.

Theatre Company: The 5th Avenue Theatre

Venue: The 5th Avenue Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: Medium to Expensive

Tickets: https://www.5thavenue.org/shows/2023-2024/something-s-afoot/

Ticket Affordability Options: The 5th Avenue Theatre often partners with organizations you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, they sometimes offer a discount for my employer affiliation. They also usually offer day-of-show rush tickets.

Dates: March 1 to March 24, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: When I don’t walk to the theatre or park on the street, I park in the paid garage at the Motif Hotel northwest of the theatre. The entrance is on 5th Ave. Do NOT park in the Hilton garage (entrance on 6th Ave). That’s where most of the audience (and I think the subscribers) parks, so it’s a nightmare to leave. However, the Hilton garage is the closest garage to the theatre and you can access the theatre through a tunnel if you want to avoid the elements. But, in my opinion, this benefit is not worth the time wasted leaving the garage.

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Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by Tracy Martin and Mark Kitaoka.

The cast of *Something’s Afoot* at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Photo Credit: Tracy Martin.

Anne Allgood and Sarah Rudinoff in The 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of *Something’s Afoot*. Photo Credit: Tracy Martin.

Brandon O’Neill and Porscha Shaw in The 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of *Something’s Afoot*. Photo Credit: Mark Kitaoka.

The cast of *Something’s Afoot* at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Photo Credit: Mark Kitaoka.

Luchadora! – Play – Review – Seattle Children’s Theatre

@showsiveseen Alvaro Saar Rios's "Luchadora!" #play at Seattle Children's Theatre starring Jordi Montes & Beth Pollack. Rousing fight choreography. Vibrant set, props, lighting, & costumes. Well-written and well-executed. Not just for kids! Get your tickets now since it closes this weekend on 3/17/24! Review: showsiveseen.com/8148 Photos: Truman Buffett Director: Johamy Morales Stage Manager: Elizabeth Yvette Ramirez #theatre #showsiveseen #girlPower #feminism #wrestler #wrestling #LuchaLibre #Mexican ♬ Miedo – Rommel Hunter

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Luchadora! play at Seattle Children’s Theatre starring Jordi Montes & Beth Pollack. Rousing fight choreography. Vibrant set, props, lighting, & costumes. Well-written and well-executed. Not just for kids!

Recommendation
See it!

Synopsis from the Theatre: Transport yourself to the world of lucha libre—Mexican wrestling, with this inspired adaptation of the Chinese legend Hua Mulan. The discovery of a worn pink wrestling mask prompts Nana Lupita, a Washington grandmother, to share her coming of age story growing up in 1960s Texas. As we follow Lupita’s journey, we witness her life as a daring teen tomboy; bike riding with her friends, working at her father’s flower stand, and lucha libre. When a World Championship match is announced, Lupita’s excitement explodes; she anticipates seeing it until she discovers her ailing father is one of the wrestlers. With the help of a magical mask maker, Lupita secretly trains to take her father’s place. She soon finds it difficult keeping her secret from her friends and, most importantly, her father.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 2/23/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since it closes this weekend on 3/17/24!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? It was a static set with many dynamic elements.

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but it helps to know some Spanish expressions.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes, but it wasn’t linear. The story was presented in flashbacks.

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 7

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 80 minutes

Was there an intermission? No

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not, but it was good.

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Universal Age Suitablity: While this play targets the teen/tween demographic, adults and younger kids can definitely enjoy it. Honestly, the show could have easily been reworked into a grown-up play. I love finding jewels like this that universally attract all ages similar to Seattle Children’s Theatre’s previous The Boy Who Kissed the Sky musical.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Magic Potion: My cynical adult side thinks the potion’s magic was just placebo effect. Either that or amphetamines!

Theatre Company: Seattle Children’s Theatre

Venue: Seattle Children’s Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 201 W Thomas St, Seattle, WA 98109

Price: Medium

Tickets: https://www.sct.org/onstage/productions/luchadora-2/

Ticket Affordability Options: Each performance has a value option available online. Also check out the theatre’s discount page.

Dates: February 21 to March 17, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid street parking or various paid parking lots/garages. Street parking is sparse when there’s a major Seattle Center or Climate Pledge Arena event. I usually find good luck with street parking around Lenny Wilkins Way next to the theatre on non-event days. I try to take the bus on event days since even the event street parking costs more than $12.

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Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by Truman Buffett.

James Schilling and Christian Zumbado in *Luchadora!* Photo by Truman Buffett.

Adria LaMorticella, James Schilling, Beth Pollack, Christian Zumbado, and Ana María Campoy in *Luchadora!* Photo by Truman Buffett.

Adria LaMorticella, James Schilling, Christian Zumbado, Beth Pollack, and Ana María Campoy in *Luchadora!* Photo by Truman Buffett.

Jordi Montes, Carter Rodriquez, James Schilling, Adria LaMorticella, and Beth Pollack in *Luchadora!* Photo by Truman Buffett.

Ana María Campoy, Carter Rodriquez, and Beth Pollack in *Luchadora!* Photo by Truman Buffett.

Adria LaMorticella, James Schilling, Beth Pollack, and Christian Zumbado in *Luchadora!* Photo by Truman Buffett.

Memoirs of a Forgotten Man – Play – Review – Thalia’s Umbrella

@showsiveseen "Memoirs of a Forgotten Man" #play by Thalia's Umbrella at 12th Ave Arts. Fascinating premise. Descriptive script. Well-devised unexpected ending twist that brought everything together. Delightful, lively, convincing, delivery from @Patrick. Closes this weekend! Review: showsiveseen.com/8116 Playwright: DW Gregory Stage Manager: @Rik Deskin and Phillip James Randall Director: Terry Edward Moore Photos: Annabel Clark #showsiveseen #theatre #memory #USSR #soviet #sovietUnion #russia #synesthesia ♬ original sound – Shows I've Seen

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Memoirs of a Forgotten Man play by Thalia’s Umbrella at 12th Ave Arts. Fascinating premise. Descriptive script. Well-devised unexpected ending twist that brought everything together. Delightful, lively, convincing delivery from Patrick Harvey.

Recommendation
See it!

Synopsis from the Theatre: Alexei is an extraordinary man: he has a perfect memory. But he is a journalist in Stalin’s Russia, and when the State tells him to forget someone, he can’t…and then he disappears. A Soviet official is searching for him, and the official tries to enlist the help of the psychologist who studied him. But are the official’s reasons political or personal? or both? A slippery examination of the connections between memory and identity, Memoirs of a Forgotten Man is a celebration of a remarkable man–but it also counts the costs we pay when the State decides what the truth is.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Weekend 2/24/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since the show ends this weekend!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You should know a little general Soviet Union history like from world history class.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes, but it wasn’t linear. The story was presented in flashbacks.

Equity Actors: 3

Total Number of Actors: 4

Perceived Pace of the Show: The show started with a decent hook then proceeded to slow dialogue. Eventually, the script recovered its stride during the first flashback.

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Was there an intermission? Yes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not, but it was good.

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Ending (No Spoiler): For the longest time, I didn’t understand Kreplev’s (played by Jon Lutyens) motivation. Throughout the show, I thought his fixation on Alexei (played by Patrick Harvey) didn’t make sense. The playwright (D.W. Gregory) eventually brought it all together in a well-written sad ending epiphany. However, I still don’t quite understand the reason behind Alexei’s permeant actions at the end. Was it to prevent pain?
Favorite Line: Alexei interestingly asked if Dr Berezina (played by Sunam Ellis) wrote things down to forget (similar to a swapfile for any tech brahs reading this) or to remember.
Memory: Patrick Harvey (as Alexei) convincingly portrayed a person with photographic memory and perfect recall. He effectively led the audience to believe/feel that he really memorized the lines on-stage in only a couple seconds. It was so fascinating that I had to look up after the show if his character was based on a real person. When Alexei’s mother (played by Leslie Law) wanted to reminisce about the past, it was sweet (and an interesting premise) how she asked her son to vividly describe what he remembered with exact detail.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

The Lower Depths: It was serendipidous that this script mentioned The Lower Depths on a night that Intiman Theatre was actually performing the play a couple blocks away!
Photo Album: Why did Alexei’s mother blot out faces in the photo album?

Theatre Company: Thalia’s Umbrella

Venue: 12th Ave Arts

Venue Physical Address: 1620 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Price: Cheap to medium

Tickets: https://thaliamemoirs.brownpapertickets.com/

Ticket Affordability Options: TodayTix/Goldstar

Dates: February 22 to March 9, 2024

Seating: General Admission

Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. Street parking is extremely limited since it’s Capitol Hill. Even if you can find street parking, it often costs more than some parking lots. I highly recommend the paid lot at 1300 E Olive St with the entrance on 14th Ave.

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Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by Annabel Clark.

Patrick Harvey, Jon Lutyens, and Sunam Ellis. Photo by Annabel Clark.

Born with Teeth – Play – Review – ArtsWest

@showsiveseen Liz Duffy Adams' "Born with Teeth" #play by ArtsWest staring Ricky Spaulding & @Michael Monicatti. Nice catwalk stage. Success comes at a price … eat or be eaten! Proud that I correctly predicted the ending. Closes this weekend! Review: showsiveseen.com/8061 Photos: John McLellan Director: Mathew Wright #theatre #showsiveseen #shakespeare #gay #lgbt ♬ Loving Me – Janine

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Born with Teeth play by ArtsWest staring Ricky Spaulding & Michael Monicatti. Nice catwalk stage. Success comes at a price … eat or be eaten! Proud that I correctly predicted the ending.

Recommendation
See it if you’re familiar with the history/politics surrounding Shakespeare, Marlow, and Tudor England. Highbrow fancy literary gays would also enjoy this.

Synopsis from the Theatre: An aging authoritarian ruler, a violent police state and a restless, polarized people seething with paranoia: It’s a dangerous time for poets. Two of them — the great Christopher Marlowe and the up-and-comer William Shakespeare — meet in the back room of a pub to collaborate on a history play cycle, navigate the perils of art under a totalitarian regime and flirt like young men with everything to lose. One of them may well be the death of the other in this biting comedy about ambition, ego, and history.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 2/1/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since the show ends this weekend!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Just three scenes

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Just one location

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: As I alluded earlier, you should be familiar with the history/politics surrounding Shakespeare, Marlow, and Tudor England. If not, definitely analyze the diagram on the program’s first page below.

Defined Plot/Storyline: No, this play was more dialogue with less action and less story.

Equity Actors: 1

Total Number of Actors: 2

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Was there an intermission? No

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Acting and Characterization: Ricky Spaulding’s portrayal of William Shakespeare struck me as honest. However, it was difficult to sympathize with Michael Monicatti’s Christopher Marlowe since the character was reminiscent of the tiresome stereotype of insufferable know-it-all bratty selfish Mean Girl gays with a handheld fan and with claws (proverbial or not). I will say though that the most interesting scenes in this play were when Marlow showed his vulnerable soft underbelly. Their interactions reminded me of opposite attractions … but were they really opposites in the end? 😉 Side note, kudos for crying on-demand on-stage!
Romantic Tension : Michael and Ricky created sizzling romantic tension without too much gratuitous visuals. It’s difficult finding this amount of visual modesty in gay art and entertainment … even gay fiction books are typically filled with sex! The only exception was the first scene. While it effectively hooked the audience and the actors looked hot shirtless, the scene felt irrelevant to the play as a whole, and it obviously pandered to sex appeal.

Theatre Company: ArtsWest

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price: Medium

Tickets: https://www.artswest.org/events/born-with-teeth/

Ticket Affordability Options: The ticketing website offers honor code discount options .

Dates: February 1 to February 25, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.

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