TeenTix Blog

Review of the SCT Drama School's productions of Beauty Idol and Cam Jansen, By Ari S., age 17BEAUTY IDOLBeauty Idol is a one-act play which largely consists of teenage girls competing against each other for the title of “most beautiful.” It’s a weighty topic, and definitely not one to be taken on lightly. However, the members of this Seattle Children’s Theater drama camp seem to have dealt with it admirably well. All the actresses were clearly having a great time, as was the audience, but they also obviously understood the serious nature of the ideas they were presenting. It’s a genuinely valuable experience for an audience member, to attend a play and spend most of it laughing, but to acknowledge the deeper ideas within it as well. For that, I feel, these actresses deserve recognition.Just as in another SCT camp’s production of Cam Jansen, the play chosen for this group of actors was positively exceptional. Every actor was given a role with more than just a few lines and the chance to be more than just a support for someone else. The play also fit the age group nicely, and, while it’s always nice to see some boys joining up for summer drama camp, you can’t have everything, and there’s no shame to be found in an all-girl play. Some memorable performances were definitely those of Latifah, the hostess who certainly got the crowd going, and Jasmine Riley, whose attitude was well-played and enjoyable.Unfortunately, there were moments during the production when dialogue seemed awkward or unfitting. Yet, I feel that this was less the fault of the actors than it was the writing of the play itself. Moments of confrontation in particular were somehow off, lending the play a slightly disjointed air. Still, other than such minor mishaps, the play was very well designed, with humorous caricatures at the beginning turning into much wiser real girls by the end. The conflicts between the mothers were a nice touch, something I didn’t see coming and greatly enjoyed.Beauty is sensitive topic for discussion, one which we face every day and often find hard to come to terms with. Even if we assert that we find everyone beautiful, we find ourselves making judgments without realizing it, critiquing people for no good reason. It’s nice to have a reminder now and then, telling us to get back on track and stop finding fault with other people based on how they look. Beauty Idol provides this reminder in a funny and delightful way. I thank all these actresses for the prompting and hope they know how much I value it.CAM JANSENWhen I was sitting in the audience at Seattle Children’s Theater waiting for the lights to dim and this particular show to start, I was in fact undergoing a curious sense of apprehension. The reason for this, understandably, was that I had actually read some of the Cam Jansen books in my youth; books which must have been rather good, because they obviously stuck with me. I can’t say I recall them very well, but I was still hoping that I wouldn’t be disappointed in this reincarnation of a fond childhood experience. And yet, as I watched the play travel from start to finish, I found myself quite pleased, even delighted, with what I saw. From what I can remember of Cam’s endless adventures with her best friend Billy in tow, this theater camp at the SCT got it exactly right.The play Cam Jansen is an adaptation, or rather, extensive elaboration on the contents of the book Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries. It follows the course of the camp from start to finish, with not just one but two whole mysteries to solve. I’ll admit that the play was obviously intended for a younger audience, so perhaps some of the jokes were not exactly my cup of tea. However, it was truly delightful to be plunged back into the juvenile fiction of my youth, when even a simple conversation between a boy and a girl is a matter of high intrigue. It was an opportunity to look back, to see how far I’d come, but also maybe to wonder how much I missed it.The cast of Cam Jansen is primarily campers, admittedly with an overwhelming number of girls compared to boys, something which seems to happen quite often in theater camps. Each role was delightfully distinct in personality, with not a single role disappearing into the background. I personally particularly enjoyed the fact that every camper received a role with more than just a couple lines. The theater camps I’ve personally experienced have often chosen plays that required some campers to fade into the background and never receive their moment in the spotlight, which I feel is something that the SCT managed to avoid completely. Particular roles which shined were Molly, with her eternal air of innocence and fabulous deadpan delivery, and Eric, who I personally feel got all the best lines.I believe that the Seattle Children’s Theater did an excellent job of bringing this play to performance level. My one suggestion would perhaps be more work when it comes to projection. By and large I was able to make out all the lines, but when an unhappy child near me would begin kicking up a fuss, it was often difficult to hear what new mysterious discoveries were being made. Other than that, I can only say congratulations to the entire cast on a fabulous production and good luck with all their future acting endeavors.Ari S.July 24th, 2008Cam Jansen and Beauty Idol are closed, but you can still catch the rest of SCT's Summer Season:Ernie's Incredible Illucinations | July 31st - August 2ndVesuvia! | July 31st - August 2ndMedieval Farces | August 7th - 9thHigh School Hamlet | August 7th - 9thUrinetown, The Musical | August 15th - 23rdwww.sct.orgDid you see one of these shows? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of A Man Named Pearl by Kaitlin S., age 19“Pearl Fryar really put the town of Bishopville on the map”; at least, that is what the people of Bishopville think. Pearl Fryar is no Batman, but his friends and neighbors are convinced that he’s a hero. Also unlike Batman, Pearl Fryar is a real person, and no characters in his movie are acting. A Man Named Pearl is an inspirational, entertaining piece of work that moves at a refreshingly slower pace than most Hollywood dramas.An uncanny knack for topiary art is a highly uncommon skill for a hero to possess, but it is Pearl Fryar’s talent. With not a dime to spare on plants, and without formal training, Pearl Fryar sculpted a world-renowned topiary garden almost out of thin air. Using an interview format, Pearl and others who witnessed this botanical miracle describe its unfolding, and the impact it had on their town.The closest A Man Named Pearl comes to “action scenes” are shots of Pearl trimming his topiaries with a chain saw. The movie was made up almost entirely of interviews. However, although the word “interview” tends to have connotations of stuffiness, the interviews in A Man Named Pearl felt more like chats in someone’s living room than formal interviews. Because Pearl overcame odds like poverty, racism, and lack of education, his story is truly inspirational. Both the approachability and honesty of the interviews and the intriguing subject matter made this movie entertaining. Although A Man Named Pearl does not contain the thrills, excitement, and adventure of typical super-hero movies, it captures a compelling hero story with something more than Hollywood typically has to offer: a healthy dose of realism. Kaitlin S.July 16th, 2008A Man Named PearlSIFF CinemaAugust 1 - 7www.siff.netDid you see this film? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

By Eric Engelhard & Hattie AndresBefore every performance of bare, each of us are exploding with enormous amounts of excitement and energy. As a cast we are a group of friends with strong, close relationships. We have so much fun together! In the few-hours of our nightly pre-show preparation, we work to fine tune the aspects these off-stage, real-life relationships and then apply them in our performance. In addition to all the necessary make-up, costume, and prop setting, we all have unique, personal, or even strange pre-show rituals.5-6 PM: Arrive at ArtsWest. It is up to each of us to determine how early before the 6:00 call time we need to arrive. If you need extra time, this is where you get it. Many of us have quite a commute, from places as south as Tacoma, east as Issaquah, and north as Everett. To make the 6:00 call time, most leave early to allow for any traffic complications. Before 6:00, actors are often found lounging in the green room, grabbing a last minute bite to eat and catching up with each other. Laughter is never of shortage backstage!6 PM: Actors and band called. The 6:00 call time is set by the Stage Manager (SM) and works as a deadline for the cast, crew, and band. The SM calls anyone who hasn't arrived yet. You don't want to get this call!6- 6:30 PM: Physical and vocal warm-ups, make-up, set props and quick change costumes. We use this time to set any props. Some of us play multiple characters and have frequent quick changes during the show. All quick change costume are preset where we need them. Each actor has their own specific technique for executing their quick changes. Usually it’s only a matter of seconds between buttoning your last button and needing to be on stage! Some of us start applying make-up. For bare, not a lot of make-up is required. This is due to the smaller size of the ArtsWest theatre and the teenage characters that we portray. Some use this time to prepare physically and mentally. Yoga and other stretches are popular choices for physical warm-ups.6:15 Fight call and lift call. These calls are for our safety. Those in the sword fight are called on stage to run their fight choreography. Also, those in opening number dance lift perform the lift in time with the music. These calls are used to fix any problems and as a memory refresher.6:30 PM: Mic-check. At this time, everyone's mic is checked. One by one, the sound technician has each of us sing a selection from one of our songs in the show. The best part is choosing which selection you want to sing. People switch songs, sing in a different genre, or even sing non-show songs! During each person's check, the sound technician balances volume and fixes mic placement problems. We then sing the opening number, “Epiphany”, to balance the whole cast's levels.6:30-7 PM: Finish setting props and costumes. Continue applying make-up. Whatever wasn't finished before mic check is done now. All props and costumes need to be set before the house is opened to the audience at 7:00. In the separate men and women dressing rooms, each actor has their own station. Some actors choose to use this time to focus on the show, keeping mainly to themselves while others engage in lively conversations to keep the energy flowing between cast mates. There’s one thing for certain – someone’s always singing! Legally Blonde, Dreamgirls and In the Heights appear to be favorite sing along material at the moment.7:00 PM: House opens.Group vocal warm up. The theater is opened to the audience and therefore closed to the performers. You would have to be very sneaky to set anything you forget without the audience noticing. Also, we now get together as a group to warm-up. Bare is vocally challenging material. The vocal chords are muscles just like any other in the body, so warm ups are important to keep the voice healthy. One of the favorite vocal warm-ups is the “Giant Banana” arpeggio. For those actors who struggle with time management (we won’t name any names), vocal warm-up is used as a time to multi-task by finishing make-up or a physical warm up at the same time.7-7:30 PM:Finish applying make-up and getting into costume. Focus. Almost time! Now is the time when we finish whatever else there is to finish. There are a few strange and quite funny last-minute focus exercises. Tongue twisters are a frequent and seemingly random outburst from everyone. Those who sing the Act 1 closing song, “One”, run through one of the tougher harmony sections together. First, for fun they sing as country singers. They do it a second and final time, this time as if it were the real performance. During this second run, they make purposeful eye contact with the others in an attempt to deepen their connection with each other.7:28 PM: Places called. By now you better be finished or else you're probably going to miss your entrance! The Stage manager calls “places” and we move to our first entrances. Some actors are already completely in the world of the show, completely silent and focused while others prefer to offer pre-show hugs and whispers of “break a leg”.7:30 PM: Curtain. After places have been reached the house lights dim and the music begins!Claire Edgerton (Ivy) arrives early to set her hair in hot rollers<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Hattie Andres (Tanya) focuses on her breathing while doing herroutine warm-up of sun salutationBlaire Smith (Sister Chantelle) ensures that her lip gloss is poppingin preparation for her portrayal of the Virgin Mary in a dreamsequence later in Act IJustin Huertas (Matt) achieves perfection by leaving himself adequate time to get into costume________________________________________________________________________________bare: a pop opera runs thru July 26 - only 3 shows left!ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery4711 California Ave SWThursday, July 24 @ 7:30Friday, July 25 @ 7:30Saturday, July 26 @ 7:30http://www.artswest.org/ or (206) 938-0339Buy tickets NOW, they're selling fast! $15 general admission, $10 for 25 and under, $5 for TeenTix members.

Review of Romeo & Juliet by Michelle K.I have reason to believe that all modern love ideologies have sprouted off the great Shakespearian classic Romeo & Juliet. Forbidden love is only the more alluring still; a parent’s acceptance towards a relationship can often be seen to adolescents as a passion-killer. Sneaking around and seeing a significant other late at night is always exhilarating for some reason rather than in the sunlight, and the phrase, “I will die if I can’t see _________!” is often a common phrase among young lovers. In this way, the playwright William Shakespeare has left an indelible mark on our love lives, craving a juicy relationship just as the star-crossed teens Juliet and Romeo experienced at the mere ages of 13 and 16.Hana Lass, John Farrage and Michael Place in Romeo & JulietPhoto by John UlmanSo really, “Romeo, Romeo, where art thou Romeo?” Well, ask and I shall receive: I found him in Volunteer Park near Capitol Hill, Seattle. Collaborating to piece together the 15th annual Summer Shakespeare Fest, Wooden O Productions and the Seattle Shakespeare Company create an all you can eat buffet of free, outdoor Shakespearian performances. This outdoor theme suited the play that I watched, Romeo and Juliet, very well: free-flowing stage, the whisper of birds in the background, and the warm descending sun all creating a mood of old-world charm. Crowds of the young and old came to share in the fantastically embellished prose of lovers and claimed their seat on the grass in front of the minimally dressed stage. A wooden balcony, the mainstay of the stage throughout the play, served various scenic purposes, and with a little imagination from the viewers, did so quite efficiently.Most vital to the undoubtedly famous and crowd-drawing Shakespearian play, Romeo and Juliet, was the cast. The chemistry between this eternal couple needed to burst with infatuation and love, the supporting players needed to be witty and breathe life into the characters, and the confusing language of the play needed to be relayed to our contemporary audience with purpose and clarity so we could grasp the message of Shakespeare’s words. In all, this goal was achieved, and then some. Juliet and Romeo were expertly cast, Hana Lass played Juliet and Michael Place acted as Romeo. Both obviously attractive, it was easy to imagine them attracted to each other. Lass has also involved in productions with Strawberry Theatre Workshop, Book-It Repertory Theatre, and Defibrillator Productions. A dark beauty, Hana Lass ably pulled off the character of Juliet, persuasively displaying the evolution of her character’s love-abiding fervor. Place, a handsome, and perfectly picturesque Romeo, charmed the crowd with his bellowing voice that spoke of his convictions towards Juliet. After all, Juliet is the sun. Mercutio, also molding his role into a sardonic and humorous character, made the play even more enjoyable with his mocking and good-natured repartees of Romeo’s “undying” love for Juliet. Moreover, the Nurse provided a comedic outlet in the play, allowing the audience to laugh when laughing was needed. The subtle alterations made to the way things were said in the script were possibly the most tactful move in the cast’s favor. Words were given meaning by using emotion: much of which lacked the first time I read the play in school. To say the least, I came out understanding the prohibited love affair of the Montagues and Capulets much more clearly.Romeo and Juliet will always live on as the couple who would do anything for each other, even kill themselves. Although I’m not saying take a note from their drastic actions, it may be best to derive the passion from their suicidal ends and take to heart the actual love that existed within the realms of where no love is supposed to be. Symbolically, Shakespeare may have been trying to convey that one should always love thy enemy, which is a valuable concept that should be remembered today especially in this world of constant embattlement. We are all roses, maybe with different names, but surely we all smell as sweet.- Michelle K.July 12th, 2008For another viewpoint on Wooden O's Romeo & Juliet, check out Molly L.'s review.Romeo and JulietWooden O Productionsseattleshakespeare.org/woodenoSHOW SCHEDULE:Thursday, July 17 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandFriday, July 18 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandSaturday, July 19 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandSunday, July 20 - 3pmEdmonds City Park, EdmondsWednesday, July 23 - 7pmLynndale Park, LynnwoodThursday, July 24 - 7pmLynndale Park, LynnwoodFriday, July 25 - 7pmAngle Lake Park, SeaTacSaturday, July 26 - 7pmPine Lake Park, SammamishSunday, July 27 - 6pmFisher Pavilion, Seattle CenterWednesday, July 30 - 7pmRichmond Beach Community Park, ShorelineFriday, August 1 - 7pmCity Hall Open Space, RedmondSaturday, August 2 - 7pmSno-Isle Library Marysville Branch, Marysville

There's something wonderfully nerdy going on over on the Slog. It seems that a number of Stranger staffers went to see Intiman's A Streetcar Named Desire. Then one of them (Editor Christopher Frizzelle) posted about how much he looooved it. Then another one of 'em (Visual Arts Editor Jen Graves) got on to say how much she did not love it. Then our own Professor Kiley got in on the action by posting his, y'know, official and sanctioned and sanctified review of the show, and, well...just see for yourself. Here's the digest version (caution: links contain coarse language):PointFrizzelle: "I’d always thought of Streetcar (which I’d only ever read) as a cheesy, mid-century melodrama, a scenery-as-food piece, but I was totally carried along by the performances that Sheila Daniels (profiled by Brendan Kiley last week) got out of these actors."CounterpointGraves: "For me, this Streetcar was flat. It had a sort of acceptable forgettableness...The interpretations of the three main characters struck me this way: bad (Blanche), not quite good (Stanley), better than she had any right to be (Stella). When the main attraction is Stella, your Streetcar’s off the rails."Other pointKiley: "Those able to tear themselves from the image of Saint Brando will see new dimensions in Tennessee Williams’s icon of masculine inadequacy and rage...The wound in this Streetcar—and it’s a gaping, festering one—is the “Blue Piano,”...The ominous notes that followed Blanche’s revelation that her first husband was gay are egregiously goofy. But Daniels has coaxed quality, multihued performances out of her actors." (Sorry, Kiley's writing doesn't lend itself to easy pull-quoting.)And...anotherSchmader (in the comments from Kiley's post): "I agree with Brendan and Christopher and disagree with Jen and Mary McCarthy...The woman who played Stella was the standout, but I thought the actors behind Blanche and Stanley both brought something new to the roles...But the sound design is a hate crime."RebuttalFrizzelle (again): "Jen Graves...practices criticism when she writes about art but merely deploys synonyms for “I don’t like it” when she writes about plays on Slog that she thinks I have thought too highly of...(Right, Ms. Graves?) “Bad” how? “Better” how?"RefutationGraves (again): "Mr. Frizzelle... Should we trust your take on Streetcar when your take is essentially that it’s great because it doesn’t suck the way you expected it to?"And then things simmered down, at least online. But my point is this: there's no right way to look at, or think about, art. Even high-falutin' professional critics who get paid for their opinions don't always agree (in fact, they probably disagree at a higher-than-average rate.) Also, I read Slog too much.Did you see Streetcar? Yeah? What did you think of it? Leave your comments on our reviewer, Sophia B's, review.

this seems well written

Review of Romeo and Juliet by Molly L., age 13You think you know the story: young lovers defy the rift between their families to be together in a love that finally leads them to die for one another. But do you remember the whimpering babies in that story? The moaning dogs or all the picnicking? Welcome to the Amphitheater at Volunteer Park on a Sunday night where many people have come together to enjoy a double feature. No, there aren’t two plays showing tonight but there’s just as much drama offstage here as there is onstage. The audience arrives early to stake claims marked with blankets and garden chairs with the legs cut off. Here everyone is asking themselves “is my chair too tall?” Near the stage the action has already begun as well.Hana Lass and Michael Place in Wooden O's Romeo & JulietPhoto by John UlmanAn aisle is staked with bright pink ribbon, huge set pieces are being assembled with the assistance of hammers, nails and scaffolding in a high-speed construction project. The audience finally sits down in their previously claimed seats, picnicking on Ezell’s chicken, Kettle Chips, and fresh fruit. Everyone is talking and mingling; there are no outsiders. Kids run from blanket to blanket, listening to the laughter. Everyone is catching up with old friends, putting up umbrellas to shield them from the sun. Without the stage up front it would look just like a closely packed picnicking area, not a theater.At this open-air theater there are no lights to go down when the show starts, only the sun, sinking behind the trees. You can see the backstage on the actual platform, but it’s really only a few white tents. Everyone is still talking. Will the noise ever go away? But then, 15 minutes late, the actors come on stage and the crowd suddenly seems to have disappeared because of the quiet.The play begins. The audience is drawn in by every word spoken by each character. An ice cream truck comes by but it won’t get much business here, the play is providing all the sweet and savory satisfaction that anyone needs. An airplane passes low above and the action stops as the actors stare at it. The crowd laughs, enjoying the entertainment. Attention remains upfront and towards the actors speaking the beautiful lines of the balcony scene, playing off each other, showing real emotion.“Is love a tender thing?” Romeo asks as the sun sinks and the lighting changes, casting shadows over the audience who cuddle together to keep warm. Night has almost fallen as each lover dies for the other and adds to the chilling thoughts that the suicides inflict.You walk away with a new perspective on the story, one that includes picnicking people and noise-making babies. The tale of Romeo and Juliet is no longer just another Shakespeare play. It is now the double feature that you’ll remember. With action onstage as well as off until they blend together and there is no separation between audience and actor, we’re all together breathing the same air, our lives sharing the same stage.- Molly L.July 13th, 2008For another viewpoint on Wooden O's Romeo & Juliet, read Michelle K's review.Romeo and JulietWooden O Productionsseattleshakespeare.org/woodenoSHOW SCHEDULE:Thursday, July 17 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandFriday, July 18 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandSaturday, July 19 - 7pmLuther Burbank Park, Mercer IslandSunday, July 20 - 3pmEdmonds City Park, EdmondsWednesday, July 23 - 7pmLynndale Park, LynnwoodThursday, July 24 - 7pmLynndale Park, LynnwoodFriday, July 25 - 7pmAngle Lake Park, SeaTacSaturday, July 26 - 7pmPine Lake Park, SammamishSunday, July 27 - 6pmFisher Pavilion, Seattle CenterWednesday, July 30 - 7pmRichmond Beach Community Park, ShorelineFriday, August 1 - 7pmCity Hall Open Space, RedmondSaturday, August 2 - 7pmSno-Isle Library Marysville Branch, Marysville

Review of A Streetcar Named Desire by Sophia B., age 16When Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer-winning A Streetcar Named Desire first hit theatres in 1947, it was considered one of the most shocking and brilliant works ever written. Now, sixty-one years later, it's hard to argue with that line of thinking.Jonno Roberts as Stanley Kowalski and Angela Pierce as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire at Intiman Theatre; Chelsey Rives (behind Roberts) plays Stella. Photo by Chris Bennion.Streetcar, with its raw emotions, unconventional characters, and daring plot, is certainly a well-written one; but we all know that what even the most stunning play can't be brought to life by insipid actors. Luckily, the cast of Intiman's production was anything but. Every one of them, from the rambunctious but kind neighbor woman (Khatt Taylor) to the battered but loyal Stella (Chelsey Rives) were masters of inflection, timing, and expression. Rives provided a nice touch by infusing her character with more strength than would be expected from such a character.The most important players are Stanley Kowalski (Jonno Roberts) and Blanche DuBois (Angela Pierce.) The prissy Blanche relentlessly criticizes the common, rough-hewn Stanley, who has married her sister Stella. Since clashes of pride and background are what ultimately lead to Streetcar's heart-wrenching conclusion, one shoddy actor could spoil the play. Instead, both actors gave their all, and the results were brilliant. Roberts perfectly toed the line between charismatic and loathsome, his character by turns humorous, menacing, and pitiable. At times he did veer towards melodrama, but given his loud and violent character that is to be expected.Pierce too was melodramatic, but for her fractured and cartoonish character, melodrama was more than appropriate; it was necessary. Blanche DuBois is, in a sense, three characters; and Pierce played them all, switching seamlessly from voice to voice and pose to pose. Furthermore, she applied small touches that erased any skepticism about her ability to emote subtly. In one charged scene, something as small as her arm shaking struck me as one of the most effective conveyances of emotion I have ever witnessed.Intiman is a small theatre, and there was one setting for the entire play. Luckily, it was an exquisite one, with carefully constructed squalor and glorious lighting. The sound effects, which included a live piano, served not only to entrance the audience but to throw light upon Blanche's fragile psyche. At one point, the use of thunder made me fear a descent into cliché, but my fear was unfounded; thunder was used only once. The grand finale, a haunting rendition of the folk song Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child, would leave any listener breathless. I exited the theatre babbling about the sheer splendor I had just experienced.I was not the only one.- Sophia B.July 9th, 2008A Streetcar Named DesireINTIMAN TheatreThrough August 2ndhttp://www.intiman.org/Intiman's Ticket Office: 206-269-1900Did you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

'Wizard Rock the Vote' by Harry and the PottersHey guys, its that time of year again. Every July in Seattle, when the Harry Potter junkies come out from under the stairs in their red and gold striped scarfs, you'll know Harry and the Potters (or 'HATP') have arrived in the Emerald City. In past years, they've had free shows at local libraries to promote summer reading and summer rocking. Kids from age 5 to 35 are seen in their Hogwarts house's garb, accompanied by their muggle friends & family rocking out to Potter-themed ditties. However, this year they're touring on the Unlimited Enthusiasm Expo (aka "Camp Jump and Yell for Boys and Girls and Wizards) with fellow nerd-rockers Math the Band and Uncle Monsterface. They'll be at Neumos on the 23rd, and its not-so-free. They charge $12 at the door for general admission, and all ages are welcomed to come (although not recommended for those especially little wizards and witches). Doors open at 7pm and the show is likely to sell out. Fully worth the $12.Also, NOT A TEEN TIX EVENT!Sorry kids, but I'm afraid this is full price for everybody.

Very fine review. Having read all of Jane Austin's books and watch every video of them that I can find, your review makes me sad to have missed the production!

...doesn't mean you won't. Here are audience reactions to A Marvelous Party, currently playing at ACT. (Actually, there is one young - and very enthusiastic - cutie in there.)And here's what our teen reviewer, Paulina P, had to say:"The pair of black upright pianos makes one wonder what kind of party one is about to step into, and evaluate the fact that maybe you should have dressed a tad more formally. All those worries disappear however when the four singer-characters step on the stage to give the audience some insight into why they are here...Do bear in mind that the audience was mostly older people who were there for the Noel Coward wit. That did not stop others—such as myself—from having a good time and laughing at the amazing physical comedy and witticisms of Noel Coward. A Marvelous Party runs until July 13 at the ACT, and as Coward said “Tell your friends”." Read Paulina's whole review here.A Marvelous Party closes this Sunday at ACT.

I've just spent a most enjoyable half-hour listening to the boys from local underground art collective PDL talk about their work. You should listen to it, as they have a cool, unpretentious style that I'm told appeals to you teenage types.Then, you should go to Kerry Park this Saturday, the 12th, between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm to see them unveil their latest, super-secret work of art. And don't say I never told you anything that would make you seem cool to your snobby friends.PDL, by the by, are the guys behind the Unauthorized Tour of SAM, which this year's Young Critics experienced and reviewed, and about which they said things like:"PDL are satirical geniuses." - Ashraf"...this tour almost is an inadvertent act of reverse psychology. The more the creators poke fun at serious pieces of art, the more the observer finds themselves willing to unpack and analyze the piece." - Elsa"Have you ever heard of PDL? If so: you are impossibly hip. If not: don’t worry there is still time." - LeahPDLs "Eaglets", with Alexander Calder's "Eagle", at the Olympic Sculpture Park. Photo by Belltown via Flickr.Thanks to Jen Graves over on the good ol' Slog

I'm a big fan of Improv Everywhere! One of my favorites is Food Court Musical.

Improv Everywhere is a New York City based performance art collective that, despite its terrible name, is unassailably cool. They've struck again, this time by creating a hall of mirrors on the 6 train: If you haven't seen it, though, you've got to check out Frozen Grand Central, which remains my favorite:Delightful.Thanks to Slog.

I was a devil in that production

Photo by Peter Dylan O'ConnorFor all you up-and-coming theatre directors out there, here's a profile of the woman who should be your guru. Her name is Sheila Daniels, and she recently took on the title of Associate Artistic Director at Intiman after 15 years of kicking butt in the local fringe scene. From the article:The stage and the audience are more than twice the scale she's used to. And the budget? "Nothing on the set will be from my living room. That's a first," Daniels says...This play is Shakespeare," she says. "Shakespeare with New Orleans accents and 100 props.Her first big project at Intiman was directing A Streetcar Named Desire, which previews this week. Read Brendan Kiley's profile in the Stranger, then go see the show (which is recommended for people 16 and up). I have a feeling you won't regret it.A Streetcar Named Desire previews July 3rd - 8th and performs July 9th - August 2nd at INTIMAN Theatre.

Casino Royale is playing this weekend as part of SIFF Cinema's Bond...and Beyond series. It plays on Monday, July 7th @ 9 pm. For the full weekend's lineup, go to siff.net

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British theatre critic Lyn Gardner posted on The Guardian's arts blog a couple of days ago on Britain's healthy demand for theatre critics (versus film and TV critics, who are apparently being discouraged from writing reviews as PR people hope that bloggers will write more favorable reviews.) She talks about her belief that blogs and traditional print media can coexist happily: "I don't see my role as a traditional broadsheet reviewer being threatened or usurped by the rise of the blogosphere, but complemented by it and sometimes shaken up by what it has to say."She also says this (paraphrasing Alan Davey): "...public discourse about the arts needs to match that of sport if the arts are going to be valued and well funded in this country. As things stand we often feel uncomfortable talking about art, but actually we need to make talking about King Lear or the latest Punchdrunk or Robert Pacitti showaround the water cooler seem as natural as talking about Kevin Pietersen's switch hit."I agree, though I think it's a lofty goal. Still, it's an interesting little read, plus, it's cute how she talks about cricket like it's a real sport.

Review of A Marvelous Party by Paulina P., age 18The pair of black upright pianos makes one wonder what kind of party one is about to step into, and evaluate the fact that maybe you should have dressed a tad more formally. All those worries disappear however when the four singer-characters step on the stage to give the audience some insight into why they are here.Mark Anders, Anna Lauris and David Silverman; Richard Gray (piano) and Chris Monroe (drums) in A Marvelous Party. Photo: Chris Bennion.A Marvelous Party is a musical celebration of Noel Coward. The piece is a showcase that allows the audience to get a taste for the kind of music Coward wrote. They flow seamlessly between each other and no song sounds like a repeat.Each song was unique but how each song ended up in the show was not always so unique. Near the middle of the second act there is what is dubbed the 'Music Hall Medley.' These were a suite of six songs that were presented like a rock band’s set list, the audience was told what song it was and then the actors would roar on stage and give a fantastic performance.Those individual performances were fantastic but that kind of presentation seemed to be a cheap trick just to shove a few more songs that the writers liked this musical celebration. The songs in that suit seemed to flow only moderately well together except for the first and last songs, which brought us into the idea of a dance hall and then out away to sea for the next set of songs.The second half brought us into the later age of Coward and created a more somber and serious tone for the audience that had become accustomed to the roaring hilarity and wit of the early half. It had fewer quotes by Coward and more solos that allowed the performers to be showcased as well as the songs themselves.The song “Mad About the Boy” sung by Anna Lauris instigated roars of applause by the audience. Anna at the end of the last act had been a goof ball, performing an entire mini musical—The Coconut Girl—for the audience. The character that stepped onto the stage for “Mad About the Boy” was human, serious, but still funny. It took the stage like a soprano's aria in an Opera but gave some little jokes as well.She told a moving story to the audience that wasn't something light hearted and the audience understood it. Do bear in mind that the audience was mostly older people who were there for the Noel Coward wit. That did not stop others—such as myself—from having a good time and laughing at the amazing physical comedy and witticisms of Noel Coward. A Marvelous Party runs until July 13 at the ACT, and as Coward said “Tell your friends”.Paulina P.June 19th, 2008A Marvelous PartyACT TheatreThrough July 13thacttheatre.orgTicket office: 206-292-7676Did you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!