Showing posts with label Aubrey Murphy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aubrey Murphy. Show all posts

Saturday, September 28, 2024

We're Head Over Heels for Bootless' Final Season Kickoff

By Mike Logothetis
Theater reviewer Mike Logothetis grew up in North Wilmington, performing in school and local theater productions. He lives in Newark, but you can find him wherever the arts are good.

Bootless Stageworks kicks off its twenty-second and final [sniffle...] season with a lively production of Head Over Heels, a jukebox musical that fuses the plot of The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia – a 16th Century work by Sir Philip Sidney – and the music of The Go-Go’s.

The multi-faceted love story features the all-female group’s hit songs “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” and “Vacation” plus Belinda Carlisle’s solo efforts “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You.” Many people in the seats sang along to the tunes they loved as radio staples in the 1980s.

A mash-up of posh and punk, Head Over Heels is an unpredictable romp about what happens when the court of Arcadia is threatened by the mystical Oracle with the loss of its “Beat,” the divine power that ensures the kingdom’s prosperity. In order to save their beloved realm, the royal family embarks on an extravagant journey wrought with mistaken identities, jealous lovers, sexual awakening, scandal, and self-discovery. Not everything and everyone are what they seem.

Diving into the intricacies of the plot would be foolhardy and though some subtle wordplay got lost in the theater space, the audience joyously followed the broad antics of the company.

Will Rotsch was a standout player as the kindhearted shepherd Musidorus. A highlight of the show was a disguised Musidorus tempting both King Basilius (John Jerbasi) and Queen Gynecia (Tara Herweg) simultaneously during the lovely duet “This Old Feeling.” Rotsch’s physical humor – wielding his crook, acting as an Amazon warrior, etc. – and his warm yet powerful vocals made his character one to root for.

Princesses Pamela (Samantha McNerney) and Philoclea (Maria Leonetti) were strong individually and as sisters encouraging each other in their quests for true love. Kudos to Director Andrew Dean Laino for his use of a faux mirror during “Beautiful” when Pamela sings of her beauty while Philoclea is supporting her in their chambers. Leonetti and McNerney have big voices, but use them differently – McNerney tended to be more rock-heavy (“How Much More”) while Leonetti vocalized more gently throughout. Both styles were appropriate for the characters they portrayed.

The Oracle Pythio (Nathan Hale) was a commanding presence with a booming voice while donning Costume Designer Rosanne DellAversano’s extravagant outfits. “Vision of Nowness” was a fun ensemble number led by Pythio as was “Heaven is a Place on Earth” – where a projected screen insinuated some amorous activities afoot.

The cast was rounded out by Aubrey Murphy (Mopsa), Sedric Willis (Dametus), Rosanne DellAversano (Ensemble), Genevieve Francis (Ensemble), Abbey Ketterling (Ensemble), and Jen Rotsch (Ensemble).

Musical standouts included “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “Head Over Heels” but the highpoint was “Mad About You.” Shepherd Musidorus proclaims his unconditional love for Philoclea in a field…with sheep…singing the backup chorus, “Maaaaaad about you,” like baa-ing sheep would sing. The audience ate it up.

Music Director James W. Fuerst led a talented band who both played behind the actors and let those great Go-Go’s riffs break through. There was a lot of foot-tapping going on.

Head Over Heels preaches unconditional love and acceptance of yourself and everyone you know, no matter their gender or sexual identity. And there’s a happy ending. And it has a rockin’ soundtrack.

The performance schedule of Head Over Heels, The Musical is:

  • Saturday, September 28 @ 8:00pm
  • Sunday, September 29 @ 3:00pm
  • Friday, October 3 @ 7:30pm
  • Saturday, October 4 @ 8:00pm
  • Sunday, October 5 @ 8:00pm

Tickets start at $31 and tickets can be purchased via website (https://www.bootless.org/hoh/) or by calling Bootless Stageworks at 302.887.9300. Tickets are also available at the door, subject to availability. The run time is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes which includes one 15-minute intermission. Bootless Stageworks offers a full selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks plus some snacks at its concessions stand. The theater space is in the basement of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church at 1301 N. Broom Street in Wilmington.

I encourage you to “celebrate the [final] season” of theater at Bootless Stageworks filled with the “Beat.”

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Kick Up Your Heels with Wilmington Drama League's Snazzy "Kinky Boots"

By Mike Logothetis
Theater reviewer Mike Logothetis grew up in North Wilmington, performing in school and local theater productions. He lives in Newark, but you can find him wherever the arts are good.


The cast of WDL's Kinky BootsPhotography by Rich Lee

The Wilmington Drama League
is staging an enthusiastic rendition of the much-beloved show Kinky Boots at its refurbished theater on Lea Boulevard. If the standing ovation the players received on Opening Night is any indication, this production is one the reader should make plans to experience!

Kinky Boots is an award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein. Based on the 2005 British film of the same name – written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth (and mostly inspiredby true events) – the musical tells the incredible story of Charlie Price. Having inherited a shoe factory from his father, Charlie forms an unlikely partnership with drag queen Lola to produce a line of high-heeled boots and save the business. In the process, Charlie and Lola discover that they aren’t so different plus are stronger together than apart.

Disparate Charlie (Stephen Piergrossi) and Lola (Aubrey Murphy) connect over two common bonds – shoes and people. Charlie is as loyal to his factory workers as Lola is to her “Angels” – drag performers like her who form her family. They are also true to themselves – who they are and what they aspire to be. 

Piergrossi and Murphy leapt off the stage with powerful voices and sincere emotions that kept the audience rapt. Piergrossi excelled with his touching solo “The Soul of a Man.” It seemed like every Lola song morphed into an epic disco number with bright lights, a chorus of dancers, and a party atmosphere. Murphy held the audience in a trance with her subtle yet strong movements and pointed dialog. You really can’t take your eyes off her. “Celebrate yourself triumphantly,” she says…and does.

Kudos to director/choreographer Patrick Murray for filling every inch of the multi-level modular stage (by Aaron Cook) with dancers, props, and overall action. I especially enjoyed the slapping fans, elevated conveyor belt catwalking, and the visuals during the boxing match. Timothy Cannon and Laurene Eckbold must be cited for the costuming of everyone in the show, but especially Lola and her Angels. The sassy Angels were played by Cannon, Tommy Fisher-Klein, Keian Hagstrom, Todd Hartsock, Galen Keliikuli, and Ricky López.

The crux of any show is the interaction between characters on stage and with the audience. There’s no room for “stupid hubris” (Charlie) and the actors bear all for us to appreciate. At the same time, the core for any musical is the performance of the songs. While many of the songs feel the same, the high energy and quality of the vocals elevate the musical numbers into crowd-pleasers. Simply put, this production of Kinky Boots has you rooting for all sides to win from the get-go. The coda “Raise You Up/Just Be” got the crowd up and moving in their seats for a rollicking finale.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t single out solid performances by Meghan Arters (Nicola) and Catherine Callahan (Lauren) as Charlie’s romantic interests. Both portray characters with kind souls who have no real malice toward people when things aren’t quite going their way. They’re both strong actresses and singers whose postures and authenticities shone.

Performances of Kinky Boots run from March 8 through 17 on Friday and Saturday nights (8 pm) plus two Sunday matinees (2 pm). Tickets prices are $25 with senior/student tickets $20 and children (12 or younger) $15. Group ticket rates are also available through the box office. Tickets can be purchased online at wilmingtondramaleague.org; by contacting the box office at 302.764.1172; or visiting in person at 10 Lea Boulevard. The show runs approximately 2.5 hours with one intermission.

The Wilmington Drama League seats 260 patrons, including six wheelchair bays. The newly revamped theater is equipped with an ADA compliant entrance ramp and bathrooms. “Flex Tickets” are also an option for those who plan to watch several WDL shows, but maybe not all of them. Inquire at the box office. 

“The most beautiful thing in the world is a [red!] shoe.” – Lola