Little Women

With an audience of 455 the night I was there, Lamplighter’s Theatre in Smyrna put on an incredible show of Louisa May Alcott’s ’Little Women.’ With MTSU theatre major Angela Calcaterra in the lead role as Meg March, she and Daryn Jackson, Amanda Ethridge, and Brittany Ambrose, as sisters Jo, Beth and Amy, were impeccable in their roles. Mr. Kayce Grossman, as Theodore ’Laurie’ Laurence, stole several scenes, however, and was wonderful as the best friend (and wannabe boyfriend) of all the sisters.

Mrs. Margaret Meek, the director, put a lot of effort and thought into the staging, blocking and movement, and did a terrific job on this project. Everyone in this cast did a great job, and the technical team here is also to be applauded for work well done.

Twelfth Night

Murfreesboro Little Theatre hosted the New Bear Players out of Nashville for two weekends of Shakespeare’s ’Twelfth Night,’ and as stated in the last issue, I knew, and I was right, the actors were absolutely wonderful. Their performances were professional, and they took on their roles with great seriousness and candor. I give bows and applause to Miss Courtney Sadler, Ben Reed, Miss Tamiko Robinson and Zack McCann for their exceptional talent, but everyone did great work. I applaud as well Murfreesboro’s own E. Roy Lee and Shane Lowery for being on this stage.

With no costuming and no set with the exception of some wooden boxes and a Christmas tree, I give them all great credit for a job well done. I still take great exception, however, on the attempt of this particular adaptation of a story written by a master. The humor was not there, the script hard to follow, and with no scenery and set you were forced beyond reason to keep your mind on the ability of the actors to perform, else doze off (as I saw three people do the night I was there). There were performances during this production, I have found, where there were more actors on stage than people in the audience.

Usually I always attempt to look for the positives in a play and write about them in that manner. I leave out the negatives, and thus I review, instead of critique. Several directors and actors in our city/county theaters have recently asked me to be more critical in the future, thus assist them, however minuscule, in the long run, with their directing and acting. I took on ’Twelfth Night,’ for obvious reasons, and the night I was there director Marc Mazzone would not speak to me or even acknowledge my presence. So, if there are people involved in theater around here who want nothing but the opinionated truth in The Pulse theater articles about their plays and productions, be ready. 2008 is a new year.

A Christmas Story

The old adage ’break a leg’ is a clich’ used for years on stage, screen and television for actors about to go in front of an audience or camera. It is bad luck to wish an actor ’good luck.’ It horrifies any actor to hear that phrase.

Young Christian Powers went one step further right before Thanksgiving. He broke his right arm, having already landed the lead role in the Center for the Arts ’A Christmas Story.’ The twelve-year old, playing Ralphie Parker, proved good actors cannot be stopped by something so ’simple.’ With a cast, he jumped up on chairs and tables, jumped off them, was pushed down a slide on his tummy by Santa Claus, was in a fight, and could still fire his Red Ryder BB Gun . . . all to the delight of a packed house at the Center.

’The show must go on!’

This wonderful rendition, adapted from the movie of the same name, also filled the house with laughter and applause continuously. Doug Allen, who uncannily resembles, moves and talks like Dr. Phil, did a spectacular job of oratory and being adult Ralphie throughout the play. His ability to work with the audience and the players simultaneously was awesome. Jeff Stateler as Ralphie’s dad, Lila Tuck as his mother, and young Jack Seage as his brother Randy did a wonderful job and director Brian M. Booth is to be commended for a fantastic job on this Christmas story.

Young Mr. Seage is to be commended as well for stealing several scenes for his antics and whining, and the entire cast of 19 did a superb job. The stage, which was the family’s kitchen and living area, and Ralphie’s bedroom, was well done, with a beautiful color scheme, and seemed cozy and warm. The sound and lighting were wonderfully executed and the Creative Team is to be commended as well. The play is on for two more weekends and everyone needs to take a break from the Christmas rush, and go see it.

Lamplighter’s a great alternative

While at Lamplighter’s Theater, I had the pleasure of conversing with Greg Wilson, director of Saltshaker Players’ recent play ’Guys & Dolls,’ and he also worked on the set of ’Little Women.’

He is a member of Smyrna Assembly Church, where Lamplighter Theater does their productions. I was delighted to know that Saltshaker Productions is a complete separate entity, however, from the church. The church does not budget the theater, and vise-versa. Now, some members of the church do work in and on the plays, but Mr. Wilson stated the ’theatre’ is open to other production companies coming in and doing plays on their stage.

When asked about alcohol, smoking or cursing in a play on the same stage where Pastor Ronnie Meek preaches on Sundays, he said there was wine being served in the play ’Little Women,’ he will be lighting a cigarette in the production coming up and any word in a play can be used if it is in the script except the ’f’ word and the ’gd’ word. I can understand that.

I asked about gay actors, or gay themes. He said the church did not have a problem with that as well, as long as the play was in good taste. Wow. So there still ARE churches that embrace everyone.

Kudos to you Smyrna Assembly. There are production companies and actors in Murfreesboro that will be calling on you for sure.