With Curtain Up! only five weeks away we still have several openings, some closings, and one play held over by popular demand.
HENRY V, by William Shakespeare, presented by Chautauqua Theater Company, opens tonight and runs through August 21 at the Bratton Theater at the Chautauqua Institution. If the first two plays of the all-too-short Chautauqua season are any indication (OUR TOWN and INTIMATE APPAREL) as the CTC goes “Once more unto the breach, dear friends” this will be one of the best area productions this summer. It’s a continuation of the story of dissolute and unruly Prince Hal (from the HENRY IV plays) as he grows into the resolute and noble ruler, Henry V. Perhaps you’ve seen Sir Laurence Olivier in film; you’ve probably seen the Kenneth Branagh production; now see it as Shakespeare wrote it, starring Yale's Jonathan Majors in the title role.
RHINOCEROS by Eugene Ionesco, presented by Subversive Theatre, directed by Albert Falcone may have some uneven casting, but this theatre-of-the absurd classic is in the canon and should be seen, especially during an election year when demagoguery is so prevalent on the evening news. It’s the story of one man who does not succumb to the mob mentality and is then criticized for being paranoid. However, there are only two more performances, tonight and tomorrow, August 15, at 8 p.m. at The Manny Fried Playhouse on Great Arrow Avenue in Buffalo.
Also closing this weekend after a delightful run is TWELFTH NIGHT, a comedy by Shakespeare, presented by Shakespeare in Delaware Park, directed by Steve Vaughan, which stars Tim Newell and Jordan Louis Fischer as the initially grieving Olivia and Viola who by plays end are delighted with their male conquests. One classic problem with staging this “comedy” is that it opens with a double tragedy. Olivia has lost both her brother and father and Viola believes that she has lost her brother at sea. Both actors (and all the roles are played by men) are up to the task of avoiding pathos.
The other classic problem is that Malvolio, brilliantly played by Greg Gjurich, who runs Olivia’s estate, and, admittedly is a bit of a fussbudget, is set upon rather viciously by a gang of three: Feste the fool, the conniving Sir Toby Belch, and the gold-digging Sir Andrew Aguecheek. While the actors are great, in the year 2015, their behavior elicits our sympathy for their victim, Malvolio. It’s difficult to laugh along with all of their dirty tricks, but again, the acting is first rate. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. at Shakespeare Hill in Delaware Park - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Scheduled to close, but held over through next weekend, BETTE AND JOAN: THE FINAL CURTAIN, presented by Buffalo United Artists and directed by Todd Warfield, stars Christopher Standard as the dying Hollywood star Bette Davis and Jimmy Janowski as Joan Crawford, sent from hell to ease Ms. Davis’s transition to the other side. It’s great fun and suitable for any age from teens on up to grandma (who might appreciate all of the jokes and references more than anyone). Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 7, it’s been held over by popular demand through August 29 at the Alleyway’s Main Street Cabaret.
Buffalo favorite Katy Miner (and friends) will be singing at the “Premier Center Cabaret” (the very nice glass enclosed bar area in front of Musicalfare Theatre, 4380 Main Street in Amherst) in A BERNSTEIN TRIBUTE, tomorrow, August 15 at 4 & 8 p.m. and next Saturday, August 29 in JAZZ ON BROADWAY, featuring The Cabaret Big Band, led by Phil Sims.
As Anthony says “Torn Space – they do death well.” And THEY KILL THINGS, a site-specific spectacle designed for Silo City is presented by Torn Space Theater, written and Directed by Dan Shanahan and Melissa Meola last night through August 22, Thursdays through Saturdays-Sat at 7 at Silo City, 20 Childs Street (now called Silo City Way).
