Deaf West's "Spring Awakening" is a Dazzling Success

I have seen and was a fan, to varying degrees, of the all four of the past Deaf West musicals from "Oliver" to "Pippin," with a special affinity for "Big River."  In addition, I was quite taken with the Steven Sater/ Duncan Sheaik's musical adaptation of "Spring Awakening" when I first saw it in previews  in 2006 at the Atlantic Theater in New York and in its subsequent Broadway and road tour versions.  Thus, in advance I was primed to like Deaf West's re-imagined "Spring Awakening," which seemed like a good fit of material to concept.   But upon viewing the show this past weekend at the Inner City Arts complex in downtown Los Angeles, I  was stunned by what I witnessed on stage - stunned by the vision, the artistry, the cohesion of the incredibly talented and committed cast, and the perfect melding of show to concept.

The intersection of the deaf and hearing world explored in this production finds a perfect mate in underlying themes of "Spring Awakening," and give new meaning and emotional vibrancy to the show.  While I have liked the previous productions of "Spring Awakening" that I have seen, in all prior productions there were portions of the show that I found a little too harsh, distant and strident.  Not so in this production.  My empathy for these characters in this revival was immediate and constant, making me feel the characters' pain all the more deeply.

A few words about the cast.  Most of these cast members were new to me, but it would be hard to imagine ever finding a more talented and well suited ensemble.  It would not be fair to single out any individual members of the cast for mention, both because they are all so good, and because they appear to operate as a seamless collective.  The band sounds terrific; the staging, projection, lighting and sound are top-notch; and the choreography and movement (by Spencer Liff) are beautifully fluid and appropriately contextual.  The melding of singing, movement and signing is nothing short of breathtaking.

Director Michael Arden is a musical actor who singing and acting has always impressed me, but his directorial work here came as a welcome surprise.  He has created a very special work here that no serious theatergoer in Los Angeles should miss.

Kudos to everyone involved.   You deserve a sold out run.  I suspect you will get one.

British film "Pride" is Strikingly Enjoyable

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)

9/26/14, 10:37 PM Although it feels somewhat like a mash-up of "Billy Elliott" and "Priscilla Queen of the Desert," the entertaining British film "Pride" Works in spite of some dramatic excesses.  The film tries to do too much, and is obviously manipulative, but I thoroughly enjoyed virtually every minute of it.  Like the other films mentioned, this one seems to be a great candidate for a musical theatrical adaptation.

Geffen's "Choir Boy" Powerfully Blends Music & Finely Wrought Emotions

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)

9/21/14, 10:26 PM "Choir Boy" @GeffenPlayhouse is a superlative production of another terrific and moving play from the immensely talented Terrell Alvin McCraney.  The basic plot elements have been seen before, but they are presented here in a deeply felt and emotionally resonant way.  The cast is great, but the production excels largely due to the outstanding performance of lead actor Jeremy Pope.  I liked this play at Manhattan Theatre Club last year, and was thrilled that the Geffen Playhouse remount is every bit the equal of its worthy predecessor.

"Marjorie Prime"- A Terrific New Play

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)

9/20/14, 10:45 PM Jordan Harrison's terrific world premiere play at Center Theatre Group's  Taper deftly weaves an intriguing premise, great acting and elegant writing.  While the entire cast is great, the incomparable Lois Smith anchors the work and sets the appropriate wistful tone.  It would be best to see this show knowing nothing about the premise or plot and just let it unfold before you.  Even at 90 minutes the play is a bit too "talky," and there is nothing especially unique about the concept;  nevertheless, I was engaged by the high quality production, the fine performances and the beautiful writing.   CTG is commended for bringing a world premiere play to its stage, something that has been lacking in recent years at the Taper.  Thoughtful audiences should reward that effort and see this show, which is in turn very rewarding.

A Classic Reborn: NT Live/New Vic Revival of "Streetcar"

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)

9/16/14, 11:28 PM NT Live's screening of the New Vic's UK production of Tennessee William's' "A Streetcar Named Desire" is exciting, fresh, raw, primal & devastating.   Benedict Andrews' direction mines this classic for new insights and yields a production that makes the play feel vibrant and current.  Don't miss this one, in which Gillian Anderson is stunning as Blanche DuBois (who knew?) and Ben Foster is a searing Stanley Kowalski.

South Coast Rep's Magical Take on "The Tempest"

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
9/14/14, 9:54 PM Despite uneven acting & some style cohesion issues in Act 1, South Coast Rep's magic-centric adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" (a co-production with ART at Harvard) ultimately casts an enchanting and magical spell on its audience.  Not all of it works, but enough does to make this well worth a visit.

Gob Squad Invades Downtown LA

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
9/13/14, 10:57 PM #GobSquad:SuperNightShot @CalArtsREDCAT is an intriguing concept executed with a generous and contagious spirit.  Filmed just an hour before curtain on the streets of downtown LA, I fear the downtown LA denizens were not as game as one would hope.  Still, the focus on fame vs. anonymity left me thinking, which was the point of the work.

Book recommendation: Ben Lerner's brilliant "10:04"

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
9/7/14, 9:41 PM Just published Ben Lerner novel "10:04" is mind blowing exploration of time, experience & memory.   It is the best new work of fiction I have read in several years.  It provides a thoughtful, compelling, funny and mind-expanding reading experience.