Capstone

I haven't written much lately because I have been busy working on my own show, my capstone role for my undergraduate work, actually. I am playing Artie in Eleemosynary (you may remember me writing about this play when Readers Theatre Repertory did it back in September). Our production will be performed at the University of Portland's Mago Hunt Performing and Fine Arts Center on Wednesday, December 3rd and Thursday, December 4th at 7:30.
I have had an outstanding time doing this play, but I have to say that it has been one of the most challenging experiences of my young acting career. The show is about three women belonging to the same family; a grandmother, her daughter, and her daughter. Playwright, Lee Blessing poetically displays the difficulties of how daughters deal with motherly pressure and unseen motherly love through this play. The audience is taken on an almost dreamlike journey with these three characters through their tribulations in learning to be extraordinary women while still remembering where they came from.
All of us who have been involved with this show have worked so hard, we'd love to see all of you there!

Love Conquers with Comedy

Last night I watched Portland State University's production of The Triumph of Love by Pierre Marivaux. It's always nice to see another University theatre's work, stirs up some healthy competition! No, I'm just kidding. Actually I thought the show was really cute. Clara Weishahn who plays the leading role did a very good job as a disguised heart heavy princess.
I could tell that the production did find a challenge in marrying the classic comedia style to our more natural modern theatre traditions. Trying to make the Harlequino be an Harlequino and still be believable put them at a little bit of a tug-o-war with styles. That is a common problem when old works are set against a background of modern traditions, and I found the scenes with Harlequino quite humorous all the same.
Apparently Portland State University's theatre is currently being renovated, so this show was actually performed in one of Artists Repertory Theatre's (ART) spaces. It was wonderful to see a local theatre being so supportive of local collegiate theatre work. I thank them!
Tonight is closing night of The Triumph of Love. It begins at 7:30 at ART.

Aloha!

I just wanted to shout out to all of my friends who were in our University's production of Much Ado About Not(h)ing! It closes today and I just wanted to say what a great job they all did! I was very impressed when I saw it on Friday. Much Ado About Not(h)ing in Hawaii! What could be better than that! Congratulations everybody!

Don't Shylock Away

What if I told you that tonight you should go to a staged reading of a Shakespeare play? What if I said that it isn't actually even a full play, but only one pivotal scene? Now what if I told you that the show is The Trial and Shylock from The Merchant of Venice performed by Readers Theatre Repertory (RTR), and it's quite good?
Sam A. Mowry, aside from being a kind and intelligent person I got the opportunity to meet last night, does lovely work with one of Shakespeare's most debated characters, Shylock. Sam balances Shylock's humaness, his pain, and his lust for vengence.
Personally I was thrilled to see so many familiar faces in the cast. I worked with both Jane Clark who plays Nerissa and Jonah Weston who plays Gratiano in RTR's production, A Song of Ireland last March. The young man who plays Bassanio, Andy Hillstom, I met only once when we were called in to audition for a reading together at Portland Center Stage (PCS). I was proud of all the actors I knew in the cast.
What was especially interesting about the performance was the discussion we had afterward. Hosted by the director, Dacid Berkson, and involving the audience as well as the cast, the discussion brought up a lot of questions about whether The Merchant of Venice was meant to be an antisemetic play or not. I hope, and believe that tonight's production and discussion will be just as fascinating.

La Carpa Del Maestro

Hopefully some of you are aware of the annual Day of the Dead Festival by the Miracle Theatre Group. This year is the group's 25th anniversary, and their work continues beautifully. Tonight I was at their production of La Carpa Del Maestro, a deathly fun show that explores the relationship between a master and an apprentice. They chose a 1950s setting complete with a twisted Leave it to Beaver like family, and oddly chilling "commercial breaks."
I found this production artistic and lovely. It was a thoroughly entertaining evening of music, dance, acrobatics, drama and comedy. It was a deliciously haunting treat infused with an illuminating Latin spark!

Making up Music at Curious Comedy Productions

Completely created on the spot musical theatre? Sounds daunting, doesn't it? Never the less, that's what is happening in Curious Comedy Productions' show, Sam Adams! Sam Adams! Mayor Ex Machina. I went last night, and the show I saw was very funny, and so impressive considering it was totally improvised.

If you're not familiar with Curious Comedy that's probably because they just recently opened their doors on October 10th! They have a lovely space in the new Vanport Square building project at 5225 NE MLK (between Alberta and Killingsworth).

Sam Adams! Sam Adams! Mayor Ex Machina is playing over the next three Saturdays; tonight Saturday the 8th, next week on the 15th, and the week after that on the 22nd. Shows begin at 9:30.