Stage Write

The Indiana Repertory Theatre’s production of “The Game’s Afoot” marks the first time I’ve ever seen a set receive a huge round of applause. The incredible thing is that the breath-taking grandeur of Russell Metheny’s set isn’t the only great thing about this show. The IRT closes its 42nd season with this incredibly entertaining play and anticipation is high for the start of their new season this fall.   Part farce and part whodunit, The Game’s Afoot is a playful mystery that pokes fun at actors and theatre critics alike. Matthew Brumlow plays the real life actor William Gillette who made Sherlock Holmes famous on the stage. Brumlow is the quintessential eccentric actor. He seems to have blurred the line between the famous detective he has portrayed and his own life. After being shot at the end of a performance, Gillette recovers in his mansion and welcomes his fellow cast members to visit on Christmas Eve. This dream cast is wonderfully suited for the ensemble show. ...

  Memory is a tricky beast and there’s no one who understands that better than siblings. An event might seem crystal clear in our own memory, but when we compare notes with the people who shared our childhood, we realize that our accounts invariably differ. This is the case for Molly and Jesse, siblings brought together for the first time in eight years by their father’s death in the musical Spun, onstage now at the Phoenix Theatre.  The original show, created by Bloomington native Emily Goodson and Jeremy Schonfeld, pairs a relatable story with rock music in a distinctive, raw style. Unlike some musicals, the show has a sense of humor about itself. After one of the first big numbers Jesse quips, “Well that was dramatic,” immediately breaking any barrier of awkwardness that can come from inserting songs into regular conversation. The simple moment sets the mood for the production, allowing audience members to embrace the style as the story explores the tangled mess of an...

Broadway Across America is thrilled to announce the 2014/15 Indianapolis season. Season tickets are now on sale. ELF THE MUSICAL (December 16-21, 2014 - Old National Centre) Elf is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner Elf. THE ILLUSIONISTS (January 20-25, 2015 - Old National Centre) Direct from Broadway, the world’s best-selling magic show is coming to Indianapolis. This mind blowing spectacular showcases the jaw dropping talents of seven of the most incredible Illusionists on earth. The Illusion...

  As mismatched lovers board an ocean liner audience members know there will probably be some partner swapping before everyone gets their happy ending and disembarks. Anything Goes has been entertaining crowds for 80 years and is on stage now at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. The show contains a selection of charming well-known songs, like “It’s De-Lovely” and “I Get a Kick Out of You,” by Indiana’s own Cole Porter. Timothy Ford plays the pining lead, Billy Crocker. He has fallen for a debutante who is out of his league and engaged to someone else. His desperate attempts to win her are sweet, but he seemed to be singing a bit out of his range during most numbers.   Deb Wims plays the brash night club singer Reno Sweeney. Her strength lies in the dance numbers and she’s particularly good in the title song, a big number that closes the first act. Sarah Joy Ledtke’s turn as the ditzy Erma was an unexpected delight. Her performance of “Buddie Beware” turned the throw...

  From the first soul-soaked moments of “Memphis” it's clear that Jasmin Richardson and her powerful pipes are the heart of the show. The musical, a Broadway Across America production is currently on stage at Clowes Memorial Hall. The show opens in the 1950s as Huey, a naïve white man, stumbles into a Beale Street blues club. He's there for the "race music" which he’s drawn to, despite the racial conflict that’s coming to a boil in his southern city. He decides to promote the controversial music despite the objections of his mother and the heads of the local radio stations. Joey Elrose provides comedic relief with shouts of “Hockadoo” in his goofy portrayal of Huey, but it's Richardson’s performance as club singer Felicia that blows you away. Her renditions of “Someday” and “Colored Woman” are incredible.   I would have loved to have heard even more from her during the show. There are moments that feel like a friendlier version of “West Side Story” and others...

  The Indiana Repertory Theatre has announced its season for 2014/2015. The mix of shows include a Shakespearean comedy to celebrate the Bard's 450 th birthday, an award-winning Broadway play, and a few hidden gems from the regional theatre circuit.  To buy tickets or find out more information visit their site here . The season includes: Two Gentlemen of Verona – September 16 - October 19 The grass is always greener, especially in Milan. Best friends Valentine and Proteus are in love with the same woman: will it destroy their friendship or teach them a lesson? Join us for an adventure in laughter and frivolity as we meet a circus of outlaws, a cross-dressing heroine, a dog-loving clown and two friends who discover that love isn’t an easy game to play in Shakespeare's comedy. Red – October 14 - November 9 It’s 1958 and abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko had just landed the biggest commission in the history of modern art. With the help of his assi...

If a woman wants to hold on to her man she must do one of two things. Her first option is to ignore any cheating or bad behavior. He is a man; therefore he is expected and allowed to do what he wants. Her second option is to embrace her inner catty nature and lash out against the woman who is trying to steal her husband. Again, the man has committed no crime; he is helpless against in the irresistible charms of all local hussies. Above all, no matter what the woman decides to do, she must not trust her friends because they are all secretly out to ruin her life. That’s the basic message conveyed in “The Women” on stage now at the Buck Creek Players Theatre. To be clear, it’s the plot of the play, not the production itself that I’m criticizing. The performers do a good job flexing their claws and tossing off cheeky lines. Allison Reddick is particularly good as the troubled Mary Haines, tossed into an impossible situation. She is sincere and heartbroken as she tries to navigate...