A Charming Devil! - Who Knew?

Clive Barker’s The History of the Devil, is a surprising brilliant play, if you are able to sit still for the 3.5 hour ordeal. For an actor it is an exercise in character development and stamina. For an audience it can easily become tedious and long. However, director M.S., Cliff E. Threadgold’s production at the Garage Theatre proves that this epic play is an edge of your seat adventure.

While plays with a religious connotation are often a reminder of the forsaken mystery and morality plays of the medieval ages, The History of the Devil is a modern and edgy twist on the subculture surrounding Lucifer’s fall from grace.

The play revolves around a trial by jury – where the devil seeks a pardon for his heinous deeds in order to return to heaven. The defense and prosecution both plead their case in the dessert wasteland of Kenya. As the plot unravels the audience is transported through time and space – given an inside glimpse into the devil’s past.

Angel Correa gives a standout performance as the devil. He is charmingly deceptive, despicable and sensual. He seems otherworldly in his mannerisms and speech. His performance provokes the question – What is evil? Can we be seduced by such evil and for what purpose?

Amy Louise Sebetius matches Correa’s ferocity in many characters she plays –using a variety of dialects added distinction to her roles. Most haunting of all was her portrayal of an accused Salem Witch, beaten down and imprisoned, pleading for the devil to come to her aid.

While there is some disunity in time provided on behalf of Clive Barker, this otherwise well structured play with a strong ensemble cast is a must see this season.

Read more review at What the Butler Saw and in the Daily 49er.

The History of the Devil; Performances are 8pm, Thurs. - Sat. The show runs until Oct. 30. Tickets are $15-18. The Garage Theatre is located at 251 E 7th St. For more info call 433-8337 or visit www.thegaragetheatre.org.

Grey's Anatomy Plays Mumford & Sons

Has anyone else noticed that Grey's Anatomy has used Mumford & Sons songs in the first two episode of their 2010 Fall Season?

I remember the first time I discovered the musical melodies of Mumfod & Sons earlier this year (blog entry). It is very exciting to me that they have squeezed their way into popular culture.

I hope this folk band will enjoy further success because of their newfound television exposure. I am crossing my fingers that they will make it to the US for a tour, or release a new album next year.

Killjoy Casting!

I am pleased to announce that I will be playing Vicki in Newport Theatre Arts Center’s upcoming production of Killjoy by Jerry Mayer.

The audition process for this production was quite unusual. I originally responded to a casting call for Room Service, by John Murray. But as luck would have it Room Service was canceled abruptly and I was left with nothing on my schedule. I just got the call yesterday, that NTAC decided to replace their production of Room Service with Killjoy and before I knew it I received the role of Vicki.

Our first read-through is tomorrow, so I have very little time to prep for the role. I do not even think I will make it out to Samuel French in time to procure a copy before our table read. I can’t wait to get the ball rolling on this production!

BRIEFS Closing!

Theatre Out ’s production of BRIEFS: A Festival of Short Plays closed this weekend. Our closing matinee performance was sold out, so I watched my directing piece from the booth. The cast really pulled out all the stops today – ending this high energy show with a bang.

As part of the audience experience we asked our patrons to vote for their favorite play. The playwright will receive a special recognition from Theatre Out. The awards went to:

The Best of the Fest - Audience Favorite was Attack of the Dorothies by J.E. Phelan

The Best of the Fest - Producer's Choice was Shiny Pair of Complications by J. Stephen Brantley

Congratulations to all on a wonderful performance! I sincerely hope that Theatre Out will continue this tradition with another short play festival in 2011. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Chrysalis Stage Presents Anna Karenina

Chrysalis Stage presents Anna Karenina, adapted by Helen Edmundson from the novel by Leo Tolstoy.

Husband and wife co-founders, Andrea and Aaron Morgan, have developed Chrysalis State to bring great works of theatre to the Whittier area – a goal which they have easily achieved with Anna Karenina.

Anna Karenina, arguably one of the greatest novels ever written, follows the self-destructive path of a beautiful, prominent, and sensual Russian aristocrat. Anna’s sexuality and passion is stifled by her marriage to the respectable and powerful statesman, Alexei Karenin. She soon finds excitement in a handsome officer by the name of Count Vronsky. She leaves her husband and her young child for a life of passion that ultimately leads to her destruction.

Meanwhile, Anna’s story is juxtaposed by the melancholy Constantine Levin, who seeks the love of Kitty. Levin is also searching for the fulfillment and happiness in his life. He courts Kitty with vigor in order to content his wild heart.

"This is my story…” Anna begins at the top of the show; To which Levin replies “It appears it is mine, too.” In Edmundson’s adaptation, both Anna and Levin narrate. Though their characters do not meet until the end of the story, they interact in scenes that are otherworldly – surprised at first that they should share their inner thoughts with each other and the audience.

Smooth scene transitions create the world of 1860’s Russia. The cast of seven are made up by truly exciting and inspired actors. The quality performances and over all ambiance of the “Little Vic” are remarkably illuminating.

***There are no performances left, but it is my hope that you will follow the wonderful talents of the Chrysalis ensemble by visiting their website.

Shakespeare's Bloody Vampires!

A new imagination of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus is now appearing at Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre. Director Steven Sabel has conceptualized a war between vampires, as the conquered Goth Queen Tamora fights violently against her rival Titus.

The 8:30PM showing is cut down to 90 minutes with no intermission. The black box space is perfect for an intimate night of blood and gore. As the audience quickly find out, the front row is definitely a wet section. But not to worry, as the blood, made from detergent, washes out easily.

Staging Titus Andronicus as a vampire tale is a decision that came easily to director Steven Sabel – Even though his immediate colleagues had some reservations. With an abundance of current vampire popularity in films like Twilight and the Trueblood series, audiences are bound to enjoy this Gothic twist on Shakespeare’s most violent play. A quick read of Sabel’s production notes reveal the surprising deep connections between Roman cruelty and mythical vampire violence.

Roman General Titus, played by the posed Tom Newman, returns victorious in the war against the Goths. Along with his returned soldiers, Titus produces the conquered Tamora, Queen of the Goths. In retaliation for the bloodshed of war, he quickly sacrifices her eldest son.

Titus then supports the tyrannical Saturninus (Jordan Maxwell) over his virtuous brother, Bassianus (Casey Williams), as emperor. Together, these two events set in motion the play's cycle of violence and revenge.

Enraged by the murder of her son, Tamora, played by the powerfully sexy Jennifer Blanck, vows to "find a day to massacre" those responsible. Aided by Aaron the Moor and her two devilish sons, Tamora calculates her revenge with deadly accuracy. In the end, no one in Titus' family is untouched by the bloodshed and mayhem.

If audiences continue to pack Zombie Joe’s theatre to see the fall of Titus, there may even be room in the Redlands Shakespeare Festival’s 2011 season for a remounting of this conceptual piece. Let’s hope there will be more vampires to come!

Get your tickets today, as many of the performances are sure to sell out!

Titus Andronicus, presented by Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group and STS Productions, opens Sept. 17; plays Fri.-Sat., 8:30 pm; through Oct. 16. Tickets: $15. ZJU Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood; 818.202.4120 or http://www.zombiejoes.com/.

BRIEFS Opening!

BRIEFS: A Festival of Short Plays opened this weekend at Theatre Out to an enthusiastic crowd. Audience members have already cast their ballots for Best of the Festival. My actors have worked very hard to deliver a heart-felt performance in A Bridge to Something. Playwright Corinne Kawecki came to see the show, not once, but twice this weekend. She traveled a great distance from Chicago to see her piece and support the festival. The cast and I were honored to meet her and hear her input on our work.

If you are planning on seeing the show I suggest ordering your tickets now, as we are already starting to sell out next weekend. Hope to see you there!

PICTURED ABOVE: David Tran & Deana Merced rehearse for A Bridge to Something.