Comment Archives: stories: Arts: Performing Arts
Re: “Jezebel star has Bette Davis eyes, nothing else”
To the two who wrote these comments, you obviously did not see this play. I saw it twice and I have to say that the actor who portrayed Bette Davis WAS Bette Davis. You keep calling him a drag queen. This is an actor portraying a role. This is NOT a Drag Queen. A Drag Queen could never create the performance that he did. I would get out and see the performance and not comment on a photo that you see in the paper.
Re: “Jezebel star has Bette Davis eyes, nothing else”
That drag queen looks more like Carol Channing's grandmother than Bette Davis EVER looked- even after her stroke. I think that talented drag queens could pull this schtick out of the mire, unfortunately all CLT has to offer is a bunch of tranny pageant queens trying to look real (an artform?). Oh, and Roxy Morecox. However, I don't see Bette as a Baritone.
Re: “Jezebel star has Bette Davis eyes, nothing else”
The drag queen plays are getting old. So is the 18th production of the Vagina Monologues in the last 10 years, plus at least 14 Shakespeare plays every season. You wanna know why theatre is dying? This is why. Get with it, Charlotte.
Re: “Midlife of a masterwork: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? ”
Ah, so I guess having two people talking at the same time isn't the same thing!
Re: “Midlife of a masterwork: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? ”
Hi Perry,
FYI, the production of this play that I directed in 2001 had no lines cut. It was not a "pocket edition" but the entire play as written by Albee. I would never tamper with a great platwright's work. Candace Sorensen
Re: “Rage against the Machine: Mum's the Word”
Hey Eddy! Come to a COTU show! I mean, I like Machine Theatre and if you can dig on them like that I'm really excited to see what you would say about my Theatre! In fact, drag out your fiancée for a stage version of Eternal sunshine of the Spotless Mind! It's going on all this and next week! I look forward to any critiques you may have.
Re: “Rage against the Machine: Mum's the Word”
One day we will learn that "homegrown" artistic expression is something to celebrate.. always.. whether it personally resonates with us or not. Perhaps you, Eddy, should live someplace void of artistic expression or individual voice.. Or more likely I assume that you would prefer someplace where everyone looks, sounds and feels just like yourself. I celebrate the work of The Machine and so many other individuals, collectives and companies in Charlotte who are fighting tooth and nail to make their voices heard and their work matter. Thank you for your contribution.
Re: “Rage against the Machine: Mum's the Word”
I'm a newcomer to Charlotte, and my fiance and I attended a performance of "Mum's The Word". It was abundantly clear the playwright (who I assume is local?) and the actors were performing in front of an audience that was 90% made up their friends and hardcore charlotte theater scenesters.
While the performers were on point, the play, the concept, and the script were absolute trashy dross n' dreck - written by what seems to me to be some youngish prententious butthole who fancies himself a sub-middle class intellectual, who has failed to succeed in the real world. The whole thing was actually quite ridiculous. Huge letdown for our first homegrown performing arts experience in Charlotte. Here's hoping these fappy crutons have enough friends to fill out the rest of the shows.
Re: “Blumenthal becomes a Nutcracker suite”
I'm sorry that some people are confused as to which theater to go to and how to get there. That shouldn't even be a consideration as part of a critic's article. Apart from being in the same building, these two shows have nothing more in common than the musical score. I've seen the Nutcracker Ballet before in a different city, and once you've seen one, that's about all you need. It's all ballet to the same story. I really enjoyed Clara's Trip because it was so different and creative. Where else in this city can you find a show with that many styles of dance and that many aerial apparatus, not to mention with that small of a cast? All of those dancers are trained on the floor and in the air, and to go out and perform a show like that takes some serious guts. Huge job well done and I hope to come see it again next year and look forward to any other shows!
Re: “Blumenthal becomes a Nutcracker suite”
I did think that the party scene was a bit slow in spots, but it was a lot of fun too. I particularly enjoyed the break dancing. Act 2 was amazing! The silks and rings were gorgeous. Many laughs and great acrobatics skills. Everyone I heard talking about it enjoyed it. I think this critic may need to realize that there is more than one type of dance that is entertaining.
Re: “Blumenthal becomes a Nutcracker suite”
You forgot to mention that Clara's Trip got standing ovations after all three public shows. I have never enjoyed a Nutcracker performance so much in my life as I did Clara's Trip. It was perfect for entertaining a family of diverse interests and a wide range of understanding interpretive arts.
Re: “Blumenthal becomes a Nutcracker suite”
First I need to say you CANNOT compare this production with the original Nutcracker. This is very different and done in a very artistic and fun way. The party scene was fun but slow, however, from the snow scene on, it was non-stop fast fun. The snow scene was absolutely beautiful. The music was perfect for the performance on the silks. Second half was outrageous fun. Starts off slow with the beautiful fish act on the rings and speeds up with the hilarious money and the beautiful flower girls. Ton's of laughs with the candy cane act. This was original and fun. Glad I took the time to come. Hope everyone will experience what I did next year. I was on a high for 3 days thinking about this play. Thank you Caroline Calouche and her team. PS Where else can you see a show like this around here.
Re: “Blumenthal becomes a Nutcracker suite”
The first 250 words of this review is just a waste of space and the readers time. why does this critic feel he has to comment on the crowd and that 2 nutcrackers are going on at the same time in the same building. I think that is amazing that Charlotte's dance scene is offering such diversity! You have the choice to see a beautiful ballet and then a modernized version of the story.
I chose to see Clara's Trip this weekend and thoroughly appreciated CC&Co. reaching outside the box. Putting hip-hop and break dancing to the classical music to liven up the party scene was so much fun to watch!
Of course people stayed for Act 2 because Act 1 left you wanting more.
I truly hope this critic learns to appreciate what CC&Co. is doing for the dance community of Charlotte.
Re: “Blumenthal becomes a Nutcracker suite”
Caroline Calouche & Co.'s Clara's Trip was an amazing breath of fresh air into a traditional ballet that can become very mundane and boring.
Re: “Red: Twilight of the God”
FYI- Miles Davis Walkin' was recorded and released in 1954.
Re: “Waltzing, grooving: Limitless”
The show was terrific. One of the best I have ever seen. Here or anywhere.
Re: “Theater review: The Day They Shot John Lennon”
Why does the reviewer suggest that McLure's effort at exploring Lennon's death might be "crassly opportunistic"? It's a playwright's duty to explore the human condition, and what better way than to have various characters gather near the Dakota building in the wake of an American tragedy. Yes, the reviewer's math is way off-the-mark, but so too is his artistic sensibility. Which is probably why he is a critic, and not a creator of art.
Re: “'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous: The Marvelous Wondrettes”
Perry
Good to see your site. Have been trying to contact you.
Charles Giuliano
Berkshirefinearts.com
Re: “Summer Guide 2013: Stage sizzlers”
Once Again, we get left off the List!!!!
Frankenstein
It's all things to all people. A prototype of the sci-fi genre? An object of parody? A scare story of science run rampant? A myth of mankind's betrayal by its Creator? For Mary Shelley, monsters are made, not born, and Victor's obsessive denial of death and flight from his handiwork spring from very deep roots in our present moment. Shakespeare Carolina offers a new vision of Shelley's classic novel, with a trio of actors, poetry, and a startling world of sound and image.
Opens June 12th at The Duke Energy Theatre, Spirit Square, 345 N. College St., Charlotte, NC, 28202
Ticket Online at www.carolinatix.org
What would happen if the Woodstock festival and the Montreaux Folk festival got into a fight?!
Hilarity would ensue, that’s what!!
Imagine, a world in which outdoor art festivals, along with their communities of “interesting” folk, are the WORLD. Some of these communities are of the “plugged-in” variety, while some are still digging upon being “acoustic and natural”. Many times, these differences in taste keep the folks of this world from playing well with each other.
Our production takes place in the festival community of Ephesus (“acoustic and natural”). Egeon, a merchant from Syracuse community (“plugged-in”) has been arrested by Duke Solinus, Ephesus’ festival Ranger, for illegally vending Syracusan wares within Ephesus. The penalty for this crime is DEATH!! Fortunately, Duke grants Egeon or short stay of execution, being moved by a plea so beautiful in its description of lost love and two sets of separated twins.
Yes … you guessed it .. the Comedy of Errors ensue upon the arrival of Antipholous and Dromio of Syracuse into Ephesus. They are instantly mistaken for the Antipholous and Dromio of Ephesus. These errors do not bode well for Antipholous of Ephesus’ wife and sister-in-law, but they are hilarious for the audience. And, of course, all issues are resolved in the end … and lost love is restored!!!
Shakespeare Carolina will present The Comedy of Errors July 12-22 at the Winthrop University Amphitheater. The atmosphere will be that of an outdoor festival, including buskers, street performers/vendors, and possibly some juggling and magic. The presentation will be non-traditional with the entire vicinity of the amphitheatre being valid ‘playing space’—even the audience areas!!
The cast includes heralded Shakespeare Carolina vets: Katie Bearden, Nathan Rouse, Norman Burt, Ted Patterson, Amanda Liles, Megan York, and Manu Barbe. Newcomers to the fold will be: Heather Bucsh, Harold Skinner, Melissa Frierson, Loren Mixon, and Sara Sopko. David Hensley, our resident video imagery god, moves on stage to take on the role of Antipholous of Ephesus.
So come on out to the Fest! Be a part of THE COMEDY OF ERRORS!!!