Just home from the first of two Theater Experiences on tap
for this weekend. Tonight it was to Signature Threater in Arlington, VA were
I've recently seen absolutely astounding productions of "West Side
Story" and "La Cage Au Faux." This evening is a new work that
they are premiering called "Silver Belles". Yes, it has a decidedly
Holiday theme. In this case, it's the story of the Matriarch (Oralene) of the
Silver Ridge, Tennessee Silver Belles who is struck by lightning while
asking God to strike her with inspiration (every one's a critic), and leaves
the annual Christmas pageant at the county home for orphaned children in
jeopardy--oh no! Can the remaining three members of the ensemble along with the
stage manager pull their shit together and create a show? Will her husband snap
out of his grief long enough to write another show stopper now that both the
music and lyrics are in his hands? And can the Ghost of Oralene find a way to
communicate from the great beyond with each of the afore mentioned characters
to coax and inspire another successful Holiday show for the benefit of the
little orphans? Hmmmm...
As new works in the theater go, I understand that there are
a lot hurdles to cross to see an idea to fruition (Ut Oh, he's giving the ol'
"It Ain't Easy to Write a Play" speech...) Before my recent
experience with Round House Theater's productions of both parts of "Angels
In America," I read an amazing account of the journey that iconic work
took from inception to production and beyond. I have the good fortune of
knowing Maggie (Margaret) Edson and talking with her about the process that
took her play "Wit" from an idea to the stage...amazing doesn't begin
to describe the process. I have a very strong feeling that "Silver
Belles" found an abbreviated version of this road to realization.
It's
cute. Some of the lyrics are clever. As a cross between a Prairie Home
Companion and the Tuna, Texas trilogy of Joe Sears and Jaston Williams, it's
frankly neither! I laughed spontaneously twice and both times cuss words were
involved. The cover of the program suggests more humor than the production
provides. So what has it got? Sincerity. Uneven, bumpy, at times smaltzy and at
others almost endearing sincerity. And from what I can tell, this was only its
4th presentation before an audience, perhaps it will age well and quickly.
What would it have taken for me to have liked it more? The
price. It was also too damned expensive. I did not get $79.00 worth of
entertainment tonight. And how and why it was extended, before it even opened
is a mystery to me, too. And I got no beef with the actors...
 |
| Donna Migliaccio as Oralene ricing from the dead to "take charge" of the untimely situation. |
 |
| Entire ensemble: Peggy Yates (Ruth Ann), Nova Y. Payton (Gloria), Dan Manning (Earl), Donna Migliaccio (Oralene), Ilona Dulaski (Berneice) and Naomi Jacobson (Bo Jack). |
 |
| Naomi Jacobson (Bo Jack) performing her radio show commercial. |
 |
| Nova Y. Payton as Gloria. |
 |
| Ilona Dulaski as Berneice with her taxidermy menagerie...shades of Tuna, Texas. |
No comments:
Post a Comment