TeenTix Blog

Review of The Diary of Anne Frank by Lauren C., age 16Anne Frank races on stage, jumping gleefully, a distinct contrast to the morose faces that surround her. A typical 13-year-old, she does not understand what is happening to her as she closes the door to her new home behind her for the first, and penultimate, time.We follow eight people as they go through the day-to-day trials of living in a cramped space, with little food and contact with the outside world. Anne, her sister Margot, her parents, the three van Daans, and, later, Mr. Drummle, are all living together in five tiny rooms. The cramped feeling they must have experienced is expertly shown on the stage. The set looks thrown together, mismatched pieces turned into a makeshift home. None of these eight characters go offstage between their entrance and the very end; everything, including costume changes (nothing inappropriate, I swear) is accomplished onstage.Their life is beautifully contrasted with that of people on the outside, such as Miep, who helps them by delivering food and other necessities. She is well-dressed and always looks put together, while those living in the attic seem to degenerate over the course of the two hours.At the end of Act One, the majority of the audience stayed in their seats, mulling over what they had been watching. I have seen many shows at Driftwood, and the lobby at intermission is usually full of laughter and people greeting old friends. Today it was nearly silent.This is not to suggest that the play is depressing. Rather, it leaves a message of hope in the hardest of situations. During one of the toughest moments of the play, Mr. Frank gathers the group together and says, “we have spent to years living in fear. Now, we live in hope.” There are even some downright funny moments, and others in which you are shocked by exactly how human the characters are. The only character that seemed flat was Margot, who is almost too perfect. However, as we are seeing this through Anne’s eyes, and she thinks Margot is the older sister who does no wrong, this is fitting.If you are looking for a light piece of entertainment that will leave you laughing and smiling as you leave the theatre, you are not looking for this play. Anne Frank is a piece of art, well directed, acted, and produced, that offers a glimpse into a piece of WWII history that we don’t hear about often; the story of those left in hiding.In the house, they cannot move their legs or even talk above a whisper, especially during daylight hours. Even at night, the space is so cramped it is impossible to run and jump. Only small slivers of the sky are visible, for they cannot draw the curtains. This would be difficult for anyone, for a rambunctious 13-year-old it is torture.Returning home during the end of the play, Otto Frank tells Miep that Anne was happy at the concentration camp, because there she could spend time in the sunshine and the outdoors she missed so badly. Imagining a world in which a concentration camp is an improvement begins to suggest just how hard Anne’s life was in the attic.The Diary of Anne FrankDriftwood PlayersOctober 19 – 28More info and show times: http://www.driftwoodplayers.org/Driftwood Players’ Ticket Office: 425-774-9600Ticket Office Hours: Open for phone calls 10 – 6 Tuesday – Saturday. Ticket office at the theatre opens one hour prior to show time.The Driftwood Players are located at 950 Main Street in Edmonds. It is served by Community Transit routes 110, 131, 404, 416, and 870. For bus times: tripplanner.metrokc.gov

Review of Persuasion by Emma M., age 13Jane Austen has been loved by readers for almost two hundred years. Austen’s stories of love and marriage feature smart and brave women that ultimately find true love. Book-It Repertory Theatre has taken on the daunting task of adapting Austen’s novel Persuasion into a play for the stage. I’m happy to say it is a smashing success.Chiara Motley as Anne Elliot in Persuasion at Book-It Repertory Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.Persuasion is the story of Anne Elliot. Anne’s family is going broke thanks to her sister and father’s extravagant lifestyle, so, in an attempt to cut their expenses, they rent their house and move to Bath. Inadvertently, by renting their house, Anne’s old boyfriend, Captain Wentworth, ends up spending time with her again after eight years of silence. Anne and Wentworth struggle to overcome the constrictions of the nineteenth century and their own pride.Book-It has transformed their theatre for this production to be theatre-in-the-round (when there are seats all the way around the stage, creating a round playing space). I thought that having theatre-in-the-round was an interesting idea but the sometimes the staging made it really hard to see the actors.All the actors did a really superb job. They made the difficult nineteenth century vocabulary understandable, and elegant to listen to. The performances I enjoyed the most out of the fantastic cast were those of Carol Roscoe as Mary Musgrove and Kevin McKeon as Sir Walter Elliot. Roscoe and McKeon had the audience in stitches when they were on stage.The combination of wonderful acting and Austen’s story of everlasting love and the constrictions of nineteenth century society make this play great.PersuasionBook-It Repertory TheatreThrough March 2ndMore info and show times: http://www.book-it.org/Book-It’s Ticket Office: 206-216-0833Ticket Office Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 1:00 p.m. – show timeBook-It Repertory Theatre is located in the Center House Theatre at Seattle Center. It is served by buses 3,4,5,8,16,19,24,74 and 82. For bus times: tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of The Rape of Europa by Leah L.At first glance this films seems like any other somewhat boring documentary that you’re forced to watch in your history class. That is however, only at first glance.The Rape of Europa is a dynamic, extremely powerful film that explores Adolf Hitler’s campaign to steal and plunder all of Europe’s “inappropriate” works of art. This huge chunk of history, that is left out of most lectures on WWII, is conveyed through images of the Nazi Regime bombing Russia, Italy and five other countries, destroying not only people, but the priceless pieces of art that were hidden within the cities.The film not only covers the pillaging of cities and artwork, and the Allies who attempted to save and preserve them, but it also portrays Hitler’s brutal and terrifying attempt to completely eradicate Jewish and Slavic culture.Based on art historian Lynn H. Nicholas’s book, about Europe’s most prized museums under the fate of Nazi rule, The Rape of Europa, pulls the audience inside Hitler’s eyes and his vision of a completely Germanic-ruled Europe. It sheds light into some of the darkest corners of history that people are not educated about and doesn’t shy away from the complete evil and insanity that took place in Europe between the years 1937 and 1945.As many people don’t know, Adolf Hitler was an artist himself, and after not being accepted into the Vienna Academy of Art he decided to start a collection of his own and steal some of Europe’s most priceless pieces of art, including Raphael’s Portrait of a Young Man.He and his “Nazi bureaucracy” created a list of Europe’s most prized possession and continued their murderous, ego-centric rampage to steal 19th century sentimental paintings, both to embellish and improve the Reich museums, and his own private collection.In the end, over 16,000 paintings were stolen, due to their modern and Jewish aspects.The whole 117 minutes of film is filled with solid, factual history that is mostly unknown and fascinating to the viewer. The Rape of Europa leaves you with new insight and feeling for art and the ability it has to change people’s lives.Leah L.February 10th, 2008The Rape of EuropaSIFF CinemaThrough February 14thMore info and showtimes: www.seattlefilm.orgSIFF Cinema Ticket Office: 206-324-9996Ticket office opens 1 hour before show time.SIFF Cinema is located at the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer Street, on the north edge of Seattle Center. It is served by buses 1,2,3,4,13,14,15,16,18,45,74 and 82. For bus schedules: tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this film? Leave a comment and tell everyone what you thought!

Review of The Breach by Alethea H., age 16The epiphany of death. Are you sinking on dry land? Dipping into the issues of racial equality, gay America, and other controversial issues, this play boggles the mind, stimulates the senses and slams many people along the way. “Who are we as a society?”, “What do we stand for?”, and “Where are we headed?” are all questions raised in the play The Breach written by Catherine Filloux, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Joe Sutton, directed by David Esbjornson, choreographed by Sonia Dawkins, and playing in Seattle Rep’s Bagley Wright Theatre.John Aylward and Nike Imoru in The Breach at Seattle Rep. Photo by Chris Bennion.It opens with a boom. The outstanding set and the prodigious actors are key ingredients to this roller coaster ride of a drama. After the audience is scared silly out of their seats from a blatant flash of thunder they can take time to appreciate the set. Whoosh! The audience members are immediately displaced into the lower ninth ward during Hurricane Katrina. The moveable roof is small in comparison to the orchestra pit, which is used literally as an aquatic pool with rain flowing from the balcony of the stage, drenching what would have been a house in New Orleans.This story follows the journey of three remarkable human beings and chronicles their struggle to survive and see the world how it truly is. In the opening scenes, we are given the classic example of what everyone views Katrina as: a family stripped of their dignity, sitting on a rooftop, hoping to endure the fate that may meet them in the murky waters below. Michelove René Bain, a fourth grader, plays a seven year-old girl, Quan, who is torn between the storm and her family’s constant bickering. During the entire play she does not speak, but has the older version of herself, Crystal Fox, off to the side of the house narrating and remembering what happened on that day with her brother and her grandfather. At first, it was slightly perplexing why a director would choose to have someone else narrate the little girl's thoughts, but further down the road everyone could see that the little girl had more to fear if she did speak up. Her grandfather, Pere Leon, played by William Hall, Jr., is a classic example of a man gone bitter by age and quick to assume the worst. To put it bluntly, the grandfather and the brother, Severence, played by Hubert Point-Du Jour, are not on good terms at all. Distracted by his oppressive childhood and his shameful secret, Severence desperately tries to keep what family he has left together throughout the storm. In the scenes to follow, John Aylward, who plays Mac, is introduced as an elderly disabled man who is fighting for his life. The audience follows Mac on a journey in the desolate waters through his hallucinations and through dealing with being abandoned by his loved ones. Mac is followed by Water. In this play a person is actually cast as Water. It is just a little bit strange. The talented actress assigned to the role is Nike Imoru. As evidenced by the fact that I am now absolutely terrified of water and having nightmares about drowning, this actress successfully portrays an almost evil force from a fairy tale that constantly provokes Mac. Her deep voice and creepy, floaty-like mannerisms could definitely be categorized as amazing acting, but her performance is almost distracting. The third actor present in this whirlwind of a play is Michael Braun, who plays a reporter and questions the character "Woman”, portrayed by Michele Shay, about what she thinks happened in Katrina. He explores the myths surrounding Katrina and his own feelings of racial prejudice toward others.Overall, this play isn't a walk in the park. Little laughing goes on during the play, and the constant interchange between the three story lines makes it distracting and confusing at times. But, there is good acting, an outstanding set, and questions for all generations to consider. Therefore, I encourage everyone to go see The Breach with an open mind. If you are challenged by intellectual thought processes this play isn't for you, but if you enjoy political arguments and questions regarding the values of the human race, this play is the thread to your needle.Alethea H.January 10th, 2008Note: This play contains frequent instances of coarse language. It is recommended for mature students ages 13 and up. For more information on content, please contact Seattle Rep directly.The BreachSeattle Repertory TheatreThrough February 9More info and show times: http://www.seattlerep.org/Seattle Rep’s Ticket Office: 206-443-2222Ticket Office Hours: Daily, noon – performance timeSeattle Rep is located at 155 Mercer Street, on the North edge of Seattle Center. It is served by buses 1,2,3,4,13,15,16,18,45, 74 and 85. For bus times:tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of Hamlet by Jennifer K., age 17Every student should see Hamlet at least once, if only because it contains the famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy. Conveniently for those who haven’t seen it yet, Seattle Children’s Theater is currently showing a beautifully simple and accessible production of the illustrious play. Rita Giomi adapted the play and directed an exceptional cast of only five actors. Connor Toms stars as Hamlet, while Peter Crook, Darragh Kennan, Renata Friedman, and Amy Thone play the other 11 characters.Peter Crook, Amy Thone, Darragh Kennan, Connor Toms and Renata Friedman in Hamlet at SCT. Photo by Chris Bennion.Hamlet takes place in Denmark. The king has recently died and his brother Claudius has assumed his throne and married his widow. Hamlet, the late king’s son, is moody and mournful until an appearance of his father’s ghost urges him to action. The ghost says that Claudius murdered him, and begs his son to take revenge. Thus begins Hamlet’s long struggle to decide whether to follow his father’s wishes or not. His indecision costs almost everyone their lives. And don’t worry, that’s not a spoiler because this is a Shakespearean tragedy, so the audience should expect death.The first thing that struck me about this production was the visual design. The set and costumes are extremely well done. The stage is entirely gray, and each character wears gray with one splash of color. This makes the characters easy to identify; the royals have red, the comic relief sport orange, and Ophelia’s family wears blue. Also, props stand out against the gray background. All of this makes the actions onstage very clear. The audience will notice what is important. This is vital in a Shakespeare play, where context usually translates the lines.Because the cast is so small, the actors are constantly switching characters. The efficiency of these transitions is phenomenal. Friedman exits as Ophelia and, less than 20 seconds later, appears as Horatio on the other side of the stage. The switch is so seamless that half the scene went by before I remembered that she played both characters. Throughout the show, each actor embraces their character-of-the-moment so fully that their other roles are forgotten. This makes the play believable, which is key. The greatest challenge to actors is to look like their character, not to look like an actor playing that character. This group of actors understands that perfectly. You may not like Toms’ mannerisms, but you will believe they’re Hamlet’s, not his. You may dislike Queen Gertrude and love the gravedigger, even though Thone plays them both.Overall, this play is excellent. Whether it’s your introduction to Hamlet or your sixth time seeing it, you will find SCT’s version unpretentious but intense. It may be a bit frightening for kids under 12, but the wonderful set and costume design and superb acting will appeal to teens and adults alike. And don’t expect a happy ending—it is a tragedy, after all—but who says tragedies can’t be enjoyable?Jennifer K.January 26th, 2008HamletSeattle Children's TheatreThrough February 24thMore info and show times: http://www.sct.org/SCT’s Ticket Office: 206-441-3322Ticket Office Hours: Friday 9 a.m. – show time, Saturday 10 a.m. – show time, Sunday noon – show timeSeattle Children's Theatre is located at the West entrance to Seattle Center, just north of Pacific Science Center and West of the Space Needle. It is served by buses 1, 13, 15, 18, 19, 24 and 33. For bus times: tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everyone what you thought!Also, check out Bianca G.'s interview with Hamlet star Connor Toms.

Review of The Retreat from Moscow by Michelle K., age 17The small neighborhood that encapsulates ArtsWest Theatre welcomes me immediately. I get out of the car, stop in an antique store, distract myself with mildewed fur coats, and mill about the quaint streets waiting for 7 o’clock to arrive. After loitering through another 3 or 4 stores, I open the doors to the homey Playhouse, where The Retreat From Moscow is to be premiered, and collect my tickets. The ambience of the theatre is very cozy, almost like a home I have been invited into: ergo “Playhouse”. The walls are adorned with watercolors by local artists, and the ceilings are low, perhaps suggesting the intimate performance I am in for. I sit down in the seat indicated on my ticket stub, along with 40 other guests. Unsure of what to make of the smallness of the whole theatre, I anticipate what action could possibly take place on the stage in front of me. It has a wooden floor, and is level with the audience. Very small - 50 feet by 50 feet - the props the actors have to make use of are but a chair, a table, and a faux kitchen sink. Plagued by HD DVDs and high budget films, I know my imagination is about to be dusted off. Within ten minutes of being seated, three actors enter the room, the lights dim, and the production commences immediately with a queue of wind-chime music.Therese Diekhans and James Cowen in The Retreat from Moscow at ArtsWest. Photo by Rachel Jackson.The intensity of emotion between the three characters is made obvious from the get-go. Jamie, played by James Cowen, has come from the city to visit his parents Edward and Alice, played by John Wray and Therese Diekhans, respectively, at their small home in England. As soon as Jamie retires upstairs to take a warm bath after his journey, Edward decides to recede into his literature on Napoleon’s numerous escapades around Northern Europe. Alice, on the other side of the room, throws gazes of curiosity at her husband, provoking the thought to the audience that their marital relationship is struggling to flourish. Ultimately, Edward recite a passage from his book. His recitation denotes the “survival of the fittest” ways of war, and how nastiness and antipathetic actions will take place if one is endangering another’s goal to live. Edward’s reading majorly preludes upcoming conflicts in his marriage and ultimately leads to the decisive question of the play: should I stay for your well being, or should I go for mine? Entangled within the marital tiffs is their son, Jamie, the mediator. He tries to promote compromise between his parents, but in the end, allows his elders to work out their problems as to save himself from possible emotional damages.The minimalist nature of the set really allows for a key focus on the heavy topics the play meant to portray. A couple chairs and a table are at that are really needed in the play and keep from the distraction of the poetic dialogues of the characters. The actors truly defend the core purpose of the play and are expertly cast. As Jamie, Cowen offers insight into his parents throughout the play that justify his position as a key character with a developed mentality. Diekhans aces the portrayal of Alice and, with only minor defects in her British accent, feeds the spirit of the play with an artistic being and highly humorous yarns of dialogue that lighten the mood at only the most perfect and appropriate intervals. John Wray (Edward) is the shining light of this play. He fuels the entire performance with his uncanny stabs of irony and extremely likable aura. Authentically British, Wray acts in incredible synchronicity with Diekhams. In harmony, this team depicts a painful and dying marriage to a tee.The whole of the play ties together perfectly. With the undistracting set and the normal day-wear costumes, the raw meat of the play is allowed to be consumed by the audience with knowing. The less that was happening around the actors the more that I could personally come in contact with the dialogue and the character’s surreal emotions. After the play’s end, I felt as if I could truly walk out onto the street and meet Edward and Alice and console them after their (often heated) arguments. The performance, in conjunction with the tagline, “Is love always worth fighting for?” displays a breathtakingly ambitious approach toward the ideals and realities of love; it is surprising that such a little playhouse can contain such emotion.Michelle K.January 11th, 2008Note: This play deals with mature themes, including divorce, infidelity and suicide, and includes graphic historical descriptions of Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. For more information on content, please contact ArtsWest directly.The Retreat from MoscowArtsWestJanuary 9 – 22ArtsWest’s Ticket Office: 206-938-0339More info and show times: http://www.artswest.org/ArtsWest is located at 4711 California Ave SW in West Seattle. It's served by buses 22, 37, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 128, and 560. tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of Swansong by Leah M., age 18Sunday night is officially the new Saturday. Which makes Tuesday the new Friday, June the new October, and my birthday the new Christmas. Seattle Shakespeare Company, nestled deep amongst the overpriced elephant ears of Seattle Center, is the group responsible for these big changes, adding a fifth play to their usually four play repertoire, making space by nestling it in on a non-traditional Sunday-Wednesday schedule. Doing homework is overrated - I promise hanging out on weekdays is the hippest thing this side of hula hoops, and seeing Swansong is the best possible school night option if you’re finally tired of watching Law and Order re-runs.Tim Gouran and Brandon Whitehead in Swansong at Seattle Shakespeare Company. Photo by John UlmanSwansong elaborates on the loosely documented relationship between Shakespeare and his rival/bff Ben Jonson. (I’ll save you the post-play Google: Jonson is a real person, all the play lines and poems are real, and no, that is not how Shakespeare really died.) Seven years after Shakespeare’s death, Ben has to write a prologue for the printing of a folio of all Shakespeare’s plays; a vaguely boring premise, made surprisingly engaging through flashbacks, vignettes, and all the characters being drunk in at least ½ of the scenes. The play centers on arguably the most mystical, and most charming of all human bonds, guy love. Leads Tim Gouran (Will Shakespeare) and Brandon Whitehead (Ben Jonson) stick to their mostly one-dimensional character profiles, as the idealistic dreamer and the cynical sour-puss, respectively. The performances are strong, but it’s hard to get completely lost in the play because of the stilted dialog, which slips from present day to faux-Shakespearean for no apparent reason. Separately, if I hear anyone say “O Jesu” one more time, I will personally make them eat an entire copy of Hamlet, but I digress.Despite its superficial shortcoming, Swansong leaves a good taste in your mouth. There are very few people that remain impervious to tales of friendship, brotherly love, and anything involving the brilliance of Shakespeare, so prepare for your heartstrings to be pulled.Bonuses:- Tom, the “fiiiiiiive minutes” intermission guy from Seattle Children’s Theater makes guest appearances at SSC.- Patrick Page, Swansong playwright, used to play Scar in The Lion King on Broadway.- Tim (Shakespeare) is scruffily handsome, and looks like a young Johnny Depp.Leah M.January 13th, 2008SwansongSeattle Shakespeare CompanyThrough January 23rdNOTE: This show is running Sunday through Wednesday eveningsMore info and show times: http://www.seattleshakespeare.org/Seattle Shakespeare Company’s ticket office: 206-733-8222Ticket office hours: Tues – Fri: 1 – 6 p.m. and one hour before curtain Mon, Sat & Sun: One hour before curtain.

Seattle Shakespeare Company is located in the Center House Theatre at Seattle Center. It is served by buses 3,4,5,8,16,19,24,74 and 82. For bus times: triplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of Julius Caesar by Ori R., age 17This presentation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar would likely insult anyone who believed they were going to see a high-class performance of an esoteric work. The cast of this play -- written about Rome -- was clothed in Japanese Samurai-era garb. Disturbingly, the script was not amended from “Fellow Romans” to “Fellow Japanese,” so the clothes and Japanese backdrop seemed like a horrible joke. Director Gregg Loughridge also changed the play to be a cynical stab at Shakespeare; more travesty than tribute. I was quite insulted that they would choose to break down the serious nature of the play. Any line in the original script that Shakespeare included from one of his other works would be followed by a sarcastic, “Oh, sonnet sixteen,” or “I love that poem!”David Quicksall and Hana Lass in Julius Caesar. Photo by Erik Stuhaug.The show also included audience participation, which breaks the fourth wall and is better suited to The Rocky Horror Picture Show than to a cultured performance. Though breaking the fourth wall can be a wonderful concept, the company did so both inappropriately and frequently: during serious scenes, audience members would be called out to respond to a question or make a prophecy. The prophesying was a nice touch, but asking a dozen people, “What is your profession?” seemed excessive and annoying. A cell phone was pulled out on stage, further demolishing the Feudal Japanese setting. These insults to Shakespeare and the audience added up to an offensive level, and extended the actual length of an already lengthy production.Very little can be said in support of seeing this play, but it had some merit. The storyline is important for teens to know, since it is constantly referenced. Additionally, the theme of treachery and betrayal is a good topic for an English class essay. Aside from the actual play, the venue is fantastic. There is not a bad seat in the house, the stage area is well lit, and the set design is always impeccable. In conclusion, avoid this particular presentation of Julius Caesar, but see the play in the future when another company presents it.Ori R.January 4th, 2008Julius CaesarSeattle Shakespeare CompanyJanuary 2 – 27More info and show times: http://www.seattleshakespeare.org/Seattle Shakespeare Company’s ticket office: 206-733-8222Ticket office hours: Tues – Fri: 1 – 6 p.m. and one hour before curtain Mon, Sat & Sun: One hour before curtain.Seattle Shakespeare Company is located in the Center House Theatre at Seattle Center. It is served by buses 3,4,5,8,16,19,24,74 and 82. For bus times: triplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of The Neverending Story by Emma K., age 16Any story containing magical lands, a courageous hero, fantastical beasts and a subtle moral is bound to provide a child with endless entertainment. The Neverending Story, currently playing at Seattle Children’s Theatre, has all this and more.Michael Place as Atreyu and Hans Altwies as Falkor in The Neverending StoryPhoto by Chris BennionIt is the story of a young boy names Bastian who, after recently losing his mother, discovers an engrossing novel: The Neverending Story. Camping out in a hidden room of his school, he reads about the mysterious country of Fantastica, whose queen, the Childlike Empress, is dying. Meanwhile an unknown terror called The Nothing is destroying her kingdom. A young hunter named Atreyu is enlisted to search the country until he finds the one thing that will save Fantastica: someone to give the Childlike Empress a new name. As Bastian reads, he discovers that his wishes for the book’s characters play a bigger role in the story than he could ever have imagined.Although the play does not have a particularly strong start, the journey into Fantastica makes up for it. Brilliant sets designed by Carey Wong completely transport the audience into many different locations while Catherine Hunt’s lush costumes add to the magical effect. Also to be noted are Andrew Duff and Chris R. Walker, whose respective lighting and sound effects heighten the mood. In addition to nine adult actors, the production boasts an array of puppets, ranging from miniature gnomes to towering giants. Especially impressive are a larger-than-life spider, and an ancient turtle who takes up a third of the stage. All of the puppets are designed and ‘directed’ by Douglas N. Paasch, whose creations have been seen around Seattle for many years. Also on the list of special effects are a fog machine, falling snow, and a special system of ropes which allows the actors to fly.While all of the actors are enjoyable, standout performances are given by Timothy Hyland as an eccentric book-seller, and Hans Altwies, whose portrayal of the lucky dragon was a favorite with the young crowd. Michael Place is easy to relate to as Atreyu, Fantastica’s hero, though his character’s almost constant angst could become wearisome. As Bastian, Gabriel Baron added a touch of comedy and effortlessly endeared himself to the crowd. The cast also voices the puppets, providing an assortment of amusing personalities.The Neverending Story is a delightful creation for younger children whose imaginations are always ready for an adventure.Emma K.December 15th, 2007The Neverending StorySeattle Children's TheatreThrough January 27thMore info and show times: http://www.sct.org/SCT’s Ticket Office: 206-441-3322Ticket Office Hours: Friday 9 a.m. – show time, Saturday 10 a.m. – show time, Sunday noon – show timeSeattle Children's Theatre is located at the West entrance to Seattle Center, just north of Pacific Science Center and West of the Space Needle. It is served by buses 1, 13, 15, 18, 19, 24 and 33. For bus times: tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everyone what you thought!

Review of The Nutcracker by Rachel N., age 15If someone told you they had no clue what a Sugarplum Fairy was, you’d think they were nuts! That goes to show just how famous the Russian ballet The Nutcracker has become, despite its flop premier in December of 1892. Although International Ballet Theater’s performance of this classic held fast to its traditional beauty, with stunning pas de deux performances by Russian dancers Maria Makarenko and Dmitry Zavalishin, I left the theater with somewhat ambivalent feelings about the overall production.Photo by Rex TranterThe story of The Nutcracker is relatively well-known: it begins at a Victorian Christmas Party at the Stahlbaum home, where there is much merriment and frivolity. They are soon joined by Clara and Fritz Stahlbaum’s godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. He gives Clara a Nutcracker doll as a present, which she instantly falls in love with, and when she falls asleep that night, she finds herself in a fantasy land full of twirling snowflakes and dancing candies. We follow her dream as the Nutcracker is transformed into a gallant prince and she into a beautiful princess and they travel to the Prince’s Kingdom of Sweets.Anyone would have been dazzled by the exquisite costumes and beautiful sets; children would have been awed by the falling snow and changing lights. But I was distracted by the inefficiency of the sound timing. The pre-recorded soundtrack took away from the magic of the dancing at times, especially on the few painful occasions when the Nutcracker’s grand entrance was momentarily accompanied by silence. For about the first half of Act One, I was somewhat reminded of a school play by the ill-timed movement of a couple of the youngsters and the inefficient attention to certain details, such as one dancer’s blouse being too short, a few of the ballerina’s un-tucked straps, and a backstage hand being distractingly visible from the audience. However, when the “real” dancers came out, the dancing in and of itself was beautifully and skillfully orchestrated: the Arabian “coffee” scene was absolutely enrapturing, the Chinese “tea” soloist was warm and inviting, and the Snowflakes’ graceful movements sucked you into the child-like dream of it all.None of the staff appeared in any way unhappy to be there, and the cheery Christmas music in the lobby – as well as the outdoor accompaniment of a dancing, musical Christmas tree – served its purpose of drawing you into the holiday mood. But even with the enchanting dancing, sets, and costumes, I can’t say I would recommend $30-$40 a ticket to take the family. If you’re a hardcore Nutcracker fan, you’ll probably enjoy this traditional performance of the beloved classic. But as for me, I left the theater not quite knowing what I was supposed to have gotten from that. I guess I just didn’t quite “get it.”Rachel N.December 9th, 2007The NutcrackerInternational Ballet Theatre at The Meydenbauer TheatreThrough December 23rdMore info and show times: http://www.interballettheatre.org/IBT’s Ticket Office: 425-284-0444International Ballet Theatre performs at the Meydenbauer Theatre, 11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, WA. It is served by Metro Transit routes 555, 556, 271, 233, 237, 249, 261, 342, 230, 232, 253, 240, 885, 921 and many others. For bus routes and times: tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everyone what you thought!

Review of The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol by Jennifer K., age 17Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a profound piece of writing with a cautionary theme that has touched many readers during the Christmas season. The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society has transformed it into a comedic romp full of mishaps and bursting with hilarity. The ridiculously long title, “Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society” belongs to a fictional acting group whose exploits are the subject of several plays by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr. These are mostly plays-within-plays, and A Christmas Carol is no exception. In it, under the direction of Scott Nolte, five unique actors take to the stage with the intention of showing the audience their rendition of the tale of Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge.Bethany Wallace, Larry Albert and Alyson S. BrannerPhoto by Matthew LawrenceTaproot Theatre is a cozy little place where a small stage serves as a canvas for dramatic paintings that surpass many of those seen at larger venues. As theatergoers take their seats, they may notice a middle-aged, eccentric woman with a bright red purse wandering around. After a few encounters with other audience members, this woman steps up onto the stage and asks for quiet. Thus begins A Christmas Carol. This woman is Mrs. Reece, an actress who peaked in the 1980s but still thinks she is a star, played by Shellie Shulkin. Next, the audience meets Thelma, the diva completely devoted to her art who plays Scrooge in the troupe’s performance and is acted by Alyson S. Branner. The two other women of the Farndale Dramatic Society are Mercedes, who has recently suffered a spinal injury, and Felicity, who is spunky and obliging. These two roles are played by Lorrie Fargo and Bethany Wallace, respectively. Finally, Larry Albert plays Gordon, the only man in the group.This group of characters is determined to put on a worthy performance. Unfortunately, everything seems to be against them. Set pieces fall over and actors forget their lines, but, of course, the show must go on. The Taproot Theatre actors switch back and forth between their chaotic mock-performance and their frustrated “offstage” banter with ease and agility. Each of these cast members has his or her own specialty in comedy. Shulkin does a spectacular job of interacting with the audience—teasing and pleading with them. Branner remains incredibly “dramatic,” oblivious that the “play” is crashing down around her. Fargo draws the laughs from her physical comedy, and Wallace’s undaunted optimism inspires much mirth. Albert, the most natural comedian of the group, has impeccable timing that allows him to bring out laughter in all his scenes.A fair description of this Christmas Carol is that it is essentially a cross between the amateur production inside “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and a Monty Python skit. Most of the humor is simple and what some would call “corny.” The audience must not think too much about it, but rather laugh and then forget it. Once they begin to inspect and critique, they will decide it is not funny. More so than with most plays, the success of the humor in A Christmas Carol depends entirely upon the attitude of the audience. This is the perfect show to see with a group of friends in good moods, as it helps the actors greatly to have an easy-going, easy-laughing audience. In the words of Larry Albert (from an after-show discussion), “When everyone does play along, then everyone has a good time.”Unfortunately, not every theatergoer is easily entertained, and those seeking complexity of wit or plot should look elsewhere. However, A Christmas Carol does hit the spot for anyone looking for a thoroughly jolly Christmas play. It turns everything into a farce, from its ingenious set design to its incredibly creative characters. Since most people are familiar with the original story of A Christmas Carol, the plot can deviate quite a bit without causing confusion. Please consider that this is quite a British show, so the humor may be different than what you are used to. During some moments, the audience will be bent double with laughter, while other times a whole scene may pass without so much as a chuckle. The actors do a phenomenal job of carrying this unique play, however, and their individual talents shine, contrasting effectively with one another.Actors often “feed” off of their audience, taking in their reactions and adjusting their acting accordingly. In this play, it is incredibly difficult to maintain the required silliness if the audience sits silently. The more you give as an audience member, the more the actors will give back to you. However, beware of some audience participation if your seats are near the front, or if you are unusually good at charades! If you go with relaxed, jovial friends and an optimistic spirit, you are sure to enjoy this peppy, frivolous version of A Christmas Carol.Jennifer K.December 5th, 2007The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas CarolTaproot TheatreThrough December 29thMore info and show times: http://www.taproottheatre.org/Taproot’s Ticket Office: 206-781-9707Ticket office hours: Tuesday – Saturday, Noon – show timeTaproot Theatre is located at 204 N 85th Street (at the intersection of Greenwood Ave and 85th), Seattle, 98103. It is served by buses 66, 67, 68, and 242. For bus times, go to tripplanner.metrokc.gov.Did you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of The Gifts of the Magi by Emma M., age 13The short story “The Gifts of the Magi” by O. Henry is a Christmas classic about two newlyweds, Jim and Della, who are living in New York City in 1905. They struggle to get by with Jim out of work and there simply isn’t enough money for Christmas gifts. So they each sacrifice the possessions they love the most to give each other a Christmas gift.Jessica Skerrit as DellaIn ArtsWest’s The Gifts of the Magi, another O. Henry story entitled “The Cop and the Anthem” is mixed in with this timeless Christmas tale. “The Cop and the Anthem” is about a cheerful bum named Soapy Smith who tries desperately to get arrested for Christmas, so he can spend the winter in a nice warm jail cell.The Gifts of the Magi is adapted by Mark St. Germain. In my view, the adaptation does not do justice to the original O. Henry story. Perhaps that is because the original story is so short that St. Germain felt he had to lengthen it, and that’s where the play lost me. The play includes a lot of songs, some of which don’t have much to do with the story. Plus the songs are so full of unnecessary words that I couldn’t always understand what they were singing.The play is directed by Brandon Ivie. I liked his directing. It is very minimalist and Ivie lets the audience use their imagination to fill in the minimalist gaps.The play is full of talented actors. Take, for example, Jessica Skerritt, who plays Della. She has a very nice voice and I didn’t have any problems hearing her. I also think she does a good job acting the part of a young woman in love and also having to deal with the problems of living without enough money.John W. Bartley plays opposite Skerritt as Jim. Bartley’s performance is good but inconsistent. He breaks character when he is playing the love scenes; I could see the actor, not the character, playing on stage. His performance is better when he does his solo “How Much to Buy My Dream”.Also, I really enjoyed the performance by Trish LaGrua as City Her.All in all, I think the acting is good, the directing is good, but the show could be improved but cutting out and/or shortening a few songs. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the acting I saw at ArtsWest. I really liked their staff and their theatre. The staff is positive and helpful and the theatre is interesting because it’s so small; there are only 149 seats. That makes for a really fun theatre experience!Emma K.December 5th, 2007The Gifts of the MagiArtsWestThrough December 23rdArtsWest’s Ticket Office: 206-938-0339More info and show times: http://www.artswest.org/ArtsWest is located at 4711 California Ave SW in West Seattle. It's served by buses 22, 37, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 128, and 560. tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

I was not there, but heard from a couple who were, and they said Sanjaya sounded fabulous!

Review of Black Nativity by Bianca G., age 18It’s exciting, a chance for people who aren’t members of a gospel church to finally stand up and scarrream hallelujah for the price of a theatre ticket. And if anything can bring old and young people together, black and white people together, it’s a song that is catchy as all get out.Photo by Chris BennionIn the ninth annual performance at “The Intiman Non-Denominational Church,” Black Nativity tells the story of Jesus while the audience patiently waits for the next song. Then there were times with no story and no song, when the audience was confused but clapped encouragingly (the abrupt tap dancing solo because someone knew how, aerial flips for the sake of aerial flips.) It was reminiscent of a talent show and I had no idea what was going on, and yet I’d never felt so alive!You’re guaranteed some feel-good divinity, unless you’re the type to transition in and out of clapping awkwardly or dread being picked from the audience. During the performance you will be asked to stand up and shake everyone’s hand around you, dance while they sing the cha-cha slide, and clap pretty much the entire time. The occasional bit of humor is bizarre; a few in the audience doubled over laughing while everyone else smiled politely, raised their eyebrows, and felt a little embarrassed.To reinstate the feeling of belonging they took roll, giving a shoutout to the Presbyterians, the Baptists, the Jews, etc., though the atheists went unrecognized. There was even a guest appearance by the always fabulous Sanjaya and two more-forgotten American Idols. If you’re a sucker for musicals, you’ll love Black Nativity. If you find musicals unrealistic and virtually plotless, then you still might like it because the songs are so darn catchy. Then they’re stuck in your head for the next three days.Bianca G.December 2nd, 2007Black NativityINTIMAN TheatreThrough December 28thMore info and show times: http://www.intiman.org/INTIMAN’s Ticket Office: 206-269-1900Ticket Office Hours: Tuesday – Sunday Noon – show timeINTIMAN Theatre is located at 201 Mercer Street on the Seattle Center campus. It is served by buses 1,2,3,4,13,15,16,18,45, 74 and 85 and others. For bus times: tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of Peter Pan by Paulina P., age 17“You can tell he likes rats,” whispered the young girl, sitting on her mother’s lap to my left. That comment made me smile and realize how good an introduction to theater this piece is. It has a familiar story with elements that are unique to the theater and this production. There were no flying teenagers or elaborate Victoria interiors but adapter and director Joy Marzec succeeded in giving the audience a refreshingly new twist on this story.Great Bloor as Wendy and James Grixoni-Lewis as Peter. Photo byErik Stuhaug.Culture’s classic youthful boy was a powerful mix of confused angsty teenager but happy and carefree child. The theme that Pan is both a child and a teenager was the point of this Pan. He wants to be a child but at the same time, he has the power of one much older and the passion of one whom the world mistreated. For those who wanted to see the angst in Pan it was there, but it could be easily overlooked. That darkness was a real contrast to the general view of Pan as a happy innocent child with no real malice and it just added an extra layer to this classic tale.The production itself had some other quirks that I noticed. The choice to have all of the actors use British accents was a bit too much. When the actor had a handle on a plain accent, it was fine but some of the younger actors made it sound fake and screechy. Wendy was the biggest culprit; her accent made her voice sound higher than it was and aged her even before her character narrated herself into motherhood. The rest of the narration asides were entertaining but a little overused, but they made up for it with some fantastic lighting tricks for the wonderfully single-minded Tinkerbell and the best flight to Neverland I’d ever seen.Paulina P.November 29th, 2007Peter PanBook-It Repertory TheatreThrough December 23rdMore info and show times: http://www.book-it.org/Book-It’s Ticket Office: 206-216-0833Ticket Office Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 1:00 p.m. – show timeThis show is recommended for people ages 7 and up.Book-It Repertory Theatre is located in the Center House Theatre at Seattle Center. It is served by buses 3,4,5,8,16,19,24,74 and 82. For bus times: triplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of American Sabor by Renee A., age 16Here in Seattle we are blessed with such a great variety of venues that offer all sorts of enrichment for our minds. One such establishment is the Experience Music Project, which I luckily got a chance to visit last Sunday, to check out their new exhibit American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music. The exhibit focuses on the influence Latinos have had in American music and its culture.Joe Cuba band member dancing with partner at the Palladium, New York City, circa 1955. Courtesy of Johan Kugelberg.Walking into the display, both my sight and hearing were immediately stimulated. The new exhibit is filled with brightly colored albums, photos taken from concerts of bands such as Santana, and performances playing on multiple TVs. There never seemed to be less than three different songs playing at once, whether it was coming from one of the TVs, a booth where you could learn to play some famous tunes on a piano, or through one of the headphones attached to an Mp3 player.Since I arrived right at opening time on a Sunday, the museum was mostly deserted for the first hour of my wanderings, which meant I had free reign of the Latino exhibit to try out all the booths (as many times as I wanted). My favorite booth was the one where I learned to play a section of WAR’s “Low Rider.” I also enjoyed watching several concerts and music videos from famous contributors to the Latino music genre. I have to say, I was pretty excited when, after watching several (boring) recordings of concerts, suddenly a Daddy Yankee video came up. It showed that although the exhibit focused mainly on the influence of Latino music up to the 90’s that it also included some more recent influences that are popular today.My trip to the museum was definitely not a waste as I learned quite a bit about a music genre that before the trip I was not too familiar with. I also had a blast listening to new music, checking out some very interesting outfits previously worn by famous Latino music contributors, and learning that the guy who made “La Bamba” famous couldn’t actually speak any Spanish! Winter break is steadily approaching and I bet you will need something to do with all that time you aren’t in school, so go check out EMP’s latest exhibit American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music!Renee A.December 2nd, 2007American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular MusicExperience Music Project (EMP)Through September 7, 2008EMP is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.For more info, visit http://www.empsfm.org/EMP is located at the base of the Space Needle on the Seattle Center campus. They are served by buses 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 16, 26, 28, 74, 82 and several others, along with the Seattle Center monorail. For bus times, visit tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this exhibit? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of The Big Friendly Giant by Delaney M., age 15The play The Big Friendly Giant (BFG) is currently running at Seattle Children’s Theater. The BFG is based on the book by Roald Dahl. This play was adapted by David Wood and directed by Rita Giomi. The BFG is played by Charles Leggett. Sophie is played by Jennifer Sue Johnson.Jennifer Sue Johnson and Charles Leggett in The Big Friendly Giant. Photo by Chris Bennion.The BFG is about a young orphan Sophie who sees a giant and gets whisked away to his home. At first Sophie is frightened by the giant but she soon finds out that he is a good giant who is in charge of blowing dreams to sleeping children. When Sophie and the BFG realize that the other giants are going to London to eat children, they hatch a brilliant plan to stop the giants and teach them a well deserved lesson.The BFG creates an interesting mix of acting and puppetry. The actors use puppets when they are trying to convey how small they are compared to the giants. The puppets are ingeniously designed and look exactly like their respective actors. The scenery is very simplistic but it carries across the changing locations very well. The props are very ingenious, especially the dream jars full of LED’s that light up to make it appear like there are colored dreams inside the jars. The cast works very well together and creates a believable cohesion of characters.On the evening that I went, the theater was packed full of parents and small children, but besides the parents there was no one over the age of ten. The theater has no reserved seating so if you want a good seat you should try to show up early.A small side note, unless you are bringing a small child or you have a VERY large imagination, this play is a little young for anyone over the age of ten.Delaney M.November 25th, 2007The BFGThrough December 30thSeattle Children's TheatreMore info and show times: http://www.sct.org/SCT’s Ticket Office: 206-441-3322Ticket Office Hours: Friday 9 a.m. – show time, Saturday 10 a.m. – show time, Sunday noon – show timeSeattle Children's Theatre is located at the West entrance to Seattle Center, just north of Pacific Science Center and West of the Space Needle. It is served by buses 1, 13, 15, 18, 19, 24 and 33. For bus times: tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of Birdie Blue by Jennifer K., 17Birdie Blue packs for a trip, and, as many travelers do, she becomes nostalgic. Throughout this 90-minute play, Birdie recalls events and characters that have touched her, and the audience is swept up into the turbulence of her past.Birdie Blue, put on by Seattle Repertory Theater, is directed by Chuck Smith and written by Cheryl L. West. West is a noted playwright who often deals with controversial themes in her work. Birdie Blue describes the civil rights movement and its aftermath. It also speaks of a more subtle, but no less painful topic: caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Velma Austin plays Birdie, a gritty, middle-aged woman with a powerful history. William Hall, Jr. plays Jackson, Birdie’s husband who has Alzheimer’s. Sean Blake plays all the other characters, including Bam, Birdie’s son, Sook, her brother, and Minerva, her older sister. The performances by these actors are what make this play remarkable.Velma Austin as Birdie in Birdie Blue. Photo by Chris Bennion.First of all, from the moment she steps onstage, Austin (Birdie) has the audience wrapped around her finger. She is warm and caring, but fiery and strong; she has a sense of humor, a sometimes misbehaving mouth, and a twinkle in her eye. The audience believes her implicitly; indeed, it is impossible not to. She is incredibly genuine. Throughout the play, she grows softer, more caring, and less tempestuous, but she retains a determination that will not falter.Also, Hall (Jackson) gives an outstanding performance as a man in different stages of a degenerative disease. He is so candid that he is almost painful to watch, especially if you have known someone with Alzheimer’s.Finally, Blake’s characters range from an adorable toddler, to a rebellious teen, to a middle-aged woman. He plays all of them well, with an easy humor. His acting brings a refreshing lightness to contrast the other two characters’ more serious roles.Throughout the play, scenes jump back and forth between different decades. In some places, this is a bit confusing, especially at the beginning, when all the characters are new. As the play goes on, however, it becomes easier to follow. Everything from costumes to radio clips gives the audience clues as to which time period they are watching. For instance, afro wigs and bell-bottom jeans mean the 70s. The radio clips are especially effective. Music from the different decades plays as Birdie and her friends dance, sing, or listen. Snippets of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speeches ring out as Birdie hangs on every word. Indeed, King’s remarks often parallel events in Birdie’s life. On the whole, the play does justice to a complex arrangement of scenes from an equally complex time of history.Teens who see Birdie Blue may dislike it at first. Jackson’s illness is difficult to watch. But as the play progresses, flashbacks showing who Jackson used to be draw out viewers’ pity. They understand that he once was a person with charm, joy, and a sense of humor. Now, they can see him as Birdie does, through compassionate eyes.Conservative playgoers may object to some of the content. There is enough language to earn a PG-13 rating, and it deals with some controversial subject matter. Honestly, teens without much experience with mature plays may want to think twice about seeing Birdie Blue. Personally, I was unpleasantly surprised with the ending and with some of the content.Overall, Birdie Blue is a moving play that gives a vivid picture of African-American life during and after the civil rights movement. It also portrays the pain and tenderness gained from caring for a loved one with a disease like Alzheimer’s. The characters are charmingly, and sometimes painfully, realistic. It is a powerful drama with enough humor to make it pleasant, but with deep, dark themes that may disappoint some viewers. Theatergoers who enjoy this genre, however, will adore Birdie Blue.Jennifer K.November 20th, 2007Birdie BlueThrough December 16thSeattle Repertory TheatreMore info and show times: http://www.seattlerep.org/Seattle Rep’s Ticket Office: 206-443-2222Ticket Office Hours: Daily, noon – performance timeSeattle Rep is located at 155 Mercer Street, on the North edge of Seattle Center. It is served by buses 1,2,3,4,13,15,16,18,45, 74 and 85. For bus times:tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Lauren C., age 16A musical theatre lover’s dream, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a smorgasbord of musical styles, including an Elvis-style song, country music, and a disco beat. Plus, there isn’t a single spoken word in the show.Based on the biblical story of Joseph, who is sold into slavery in Egypt and then climbs the ranks of society because of his dream-interpreting skill, Joseph takes that basic outline and turns it into an incredible, colorful, high-energy show that is extremely entertaining. This is, however, not a religious show, and would be enjoyed by teens of any faith simply for the great storytelling.From the very beginning, the beautiful talent of the Narrator (Laurie A. Miller) creates a link between spectators and cast, carrying us through the story with grace and energy.The story is told mainly through up-tempo ensemble pieces, but about halfway through the show, the pace slows down to connect with the ensemble on an emotional level. Joseph (Jason M. Martin Jr.) sings a moving rendition of “Close Every Door,” professing his faith even at his lowest point.Martin and Miller are both beautifully cast, bringing hard work and artistry go their roles. In fact, that could be said of every actor in this talented ensemble. Throughout the musical, the entire ensemble works together to create a cohesive piece. Through the choreography, they sometimes enhance the set and always add to the scene. Every person on stage is truly having fun sharing the exceptional gift that each and every one of them has.The set is simple - evocative of a storybook-like setting. Colorful lighting adds to the otherworldly effect. The costumes, especially those of the female ensemble members, are where the technical crew really went all out. The themed numbers have beautiful themed costumes, like poodle skirts with jackals in place of poodles. Oftentimes, I was shocked that the dozen or so women managed to change as quickly as they did! Overall, the technical aspects of the production worked together very well and added to the already wonderful show.The small size of the venue makes for a community feeling, which is only added to in the lobby prior to the show. There is an ongoing holiday raffle, and tickets are sold by the arms-length. Rather than sticking to themselves, patrons found themselves asking perfect strangers for the use of their arm in hopes of getting more tickets for their money.Personally, I found this a beautifully done production of a wonderful show. If you know this show well, I insist you go see this version. And if you’ve never heard of it, I highly suggest you attend. If you’ve never seen a musical or even a play, this would be the perfect beginning. The show is comedic with a great storyline and message, the voices are great, and the you’ll find yourself smiling all the way through.Lauren C.11/18/2007Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatDriftwood PlayersNovember 16th – December 16thMore info and show times: http://www.driftwoodplayers.org/Driftwood Players’ Ticket Office: 425-774-9600Ticket Office Hours: Open for phone calls 10 – 6 Tuesday – Saturday. Ticket office at the theatre opens one hour prior to show time.The Driftwood Players are located at 950 Main Street in Edmonds. It is served by Community Transit routes 110, 131, 404, 416, and 870. For bus times: tripplanner.metrokc.govDid you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!

Review of Repertoire by Elisabeth S.I liked Velocity Dance Studio, where Next Stage Dance Theatre’s Repertoire was playing, the moment I walked up the stairs and into the main lobby. It was very warm, a happy alternative to the biting winter air outside. The petite woman who took my ticket was just as warm as the room, and as I waited for the house doors to open, I became increasingly excited for the impending performance. When the doors opened at last, I got a surprise, and just like the friendly dance teacher and the comfortable heat in the lobby, it was a good one.There was no curtain separating the audience from the dancers, and the stage was separated from the audience by a slight wooden platform lined with chairs. It would have been easy for the dancers to reach out and touch the first row of the audience if they so chose. I tapped my foot against a leg of my chair, and for the second time, waited. Couples streamed through the open house doors, smiling and waving to friends in the audience. Complacent husbands seated themselves beside their grinning wives, and the lights dimmed.From here, things slowly started to slip downhill. The first piece, one out of seven short pieces choreographed by the dancer, featured minimal dialogue at the beginning, soft giggling, and flowing blue sheets. Technique does not seem to be a main concern at Next Stage, a difficult realization for me to come to grips with. The dancer, Dominique Gabella, who accompanied the choreographer, danced with elegant grace, a seasoned performer that awed and inspired me. She was a pleasure to watch, but as the night continued I realized that she would be the only dancer who would ignite this feeling in me.All the dancers were middle-aged or older, all women. All the dance was in the modern, interpretive style, all representing an event or memory in the dancer's life.Call me judgmental, but I could not manage to find the actual “dance” in the performances. There was no spark, no connection, and by the end of the performance, I was pushing laughs back into the pit of my stomach that had somehow snuck their way into my throat.I felt worlds apart from the performers until I could no longer find the art in the pieces. One, in which the dancer attempted to communicate with the audience through jibberish and very little dance, I couldn't understand at all, while the others were impossible for me to relate to. If it hadn't been for Gabella's gorgeous, technically sound solo rendition of a woman at the ocean, I might have walked out. Dancer after dancer looked more and more ridiculous to me, despite the work she put into her piece or the meaning behind the movements. All I could see were melodramatic hand gestures.The icing on this sour cake came when the dancers decided to have a discussion on creativity, and its meaning to the audience. I rolled my eyes, inwardly heckling the seemingly pretentious dance troupe, but as soon as the audience began to speak, I realized my mistake, and the experience was changed for me.I learned something terribly valuable about art that night: its totally subjective, beautiful to different people with different experiences at different age levels. Dance, as with any form of art, does not have only one definition, and I realized in that room that so willing welcomed me, but that I unjustly rejected, all art is worthy of recognition. Although I feel no connection to this type of art, and, in fact, thoroughly dislike it, I felt connected to the audience who spoke eloquently and openly about how much they enjoyed the performances. The warmth that Next Stage Dance Theatre naturally radiates returned to my bones, and I began to understand how unfair I had been.I am no judge of “good” art, I am just an observer, but I would not recommend this performance to teenagers. I do not believe that we can yet relate to its power because the experiences that were shared there in that intimate theatre are secrets that often only adults have the key to. But it is a good place to escape from the cold, and I am positive no one would mind if you warmed your hands in lobby, or took a peek at their unconventional and unique style of movement.Elisabeth S.11/17/2007Did you see this show? Leave a comment and tell everybody what you thought!