‘Burgh Vivant’s newest contributor Nancy Mimless stops in for a drink and a conversation on STOP KISS, produced by University of Pittsburgh Stages, written by Diana Son, directed by Brittany Coyne. STOP KISS. GO. ENJOY. Through October 12th, 2014. www.play.pitt.edu Continue reading “Review: STOP KISS, University of Pittsburgh Stages”
Buzzelli’s back with his musings on I AM A CAMERA, produced by Duquesne Red Masquers, written by John Van Druten. Learn how this tale unfolds against the backdrop of World War II Berlin, and how a mild mannered commentary can unravel into uncontrollable laughter from one bad Liza Minnelli impression. See I AM A CAMERA now through October 11th, 2014. www.duqredmasquers.com Continue reading “Review: I AM A CAMERA, Duquesne Red Masquers”
Lonnie The Theatre Lady is on ‘Burgh Vivant tonight talking about SOUVENIR, by Stephen Temperley, directed by Tome Cousin, produced by The REP, playing at The Pittsburgh Playhouse now through October 12th. All of your burning questions are answered here: who is Florence Foster Jenkins? How do you get to Carnegie Hall? And what kind of souvenirs can one find in… Antarctica? www.pittsburghplayhouse.com Continue reading “Review: SOUVENIR, The REP, Pittsburgh Playhouse”
Tonight’s guest is Steve Cuden – author of BEATING BROADWAY and the book for the Broadway musical hit JEKYL & HYDE! Listen to “The Full Martini” – the complete, unedited interview in audio podcast to hear what broadway musicals and film share in common, what the musical of Pittsburgh should be about, and where do you go after writing for Bugs Bunny? AND – Read Steve’s book BEATING BROADWAY for more insight on writing for the musical stage, available at amazon.com! Continue reading “STEVE CUDEN – Writer, Director, Producer”
Pittsburgh, PA (September 11, 2014) – City Theatre kicks off its 40th anniversary season with a 2014 Tony Award® “Best Play” nominee. OUTSIDE MULLINGAR, by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Tracy Brigden, will run on City Theatre’s Mainstage October 11 – November 2, 2014.
This comedy tells the story of Tony Reilly, an aging Irish cattle farmer. With his wife dead and gone and his own time approaching, Tony threatens to leave his family’s cattle farm to an American nephew instead of his own son and namesake, Anthony. That is, until neighbor Rosemary steps in with a long-held family secret that could change Anthony’s fate and her own. Set in the sprawling Irish countryside, this is the wistful story of Anthony and Rosemary—loners going on 40, eccentric souls, and, perhaps, just right for each other.
“I have worked on several John Patrick Shanley premieres during my years in New York, so I am thrilled to finally direct one, especially the beautiful OUTSIDE MULLINGAR.” says City Theatre Artistic Director and director of this season-opening production, Tracy Brigden. “I love Shanley’s ability to turn an audience from belly-laughs to tears and leave them literally gasping with surprise at the plot twists in this play. OUTSIDE MULLINGAR has all the best attributes of a traditional Irish play: poetic language, strong characters, family history, long held secrets and a quirky love story. But this play is set now and has a sly, modern sensibility. It also has some very juicy roles for four actors and we have assembled a first rate cast.”
OUTSIDE MULLINGAR features, Ron Menzel (Fair Game at City Theatre, 2003) Mary Rawson (Honus and Me, 2006), Noble Shropshire (The Seafarer, 2009) and Megan Byrne. The creative team includes Anne Mundell (Scenic), Almeda Beynon (Sound), Andrew David Ostrowski (Lighting), Susan Tsu (Costume) and Don Wadsworth (Dialects).
This production is recommended for high school and older audiences.
PRESS / OPENING NIGHT: Friday, October 17th at 8pm
Performance Schedule
Tuesdays at 7pm
Wednesdays at 1pm and 7pm
Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm
Saturdays at 5:30 and 9pm
Sundays at 2pm
Sipping Sunday – October 12
Sunday Talkbacks – October 19 & 26
Greenroom Young Professional’s Night – October 24
Where: City Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 (South Side)
Tickets: $36 to $56
Run time: approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes, with no intermission
Box Office: 412.431.CITY (2489) or citytheatrecompany.org
Audiences under 30 may reserve $15 tickets in advance for all performances except Fridays 8pm and Saturdays 5:30pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, rush tickets are available two hours prior to show time and based on availability.
Seniors age 62 and older may purchase $22 rush tickets at the Box Office beginning two hours before show time. Based on availability.
Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts. Call Kari Shaffer at 412.431.4400 x286.
City Theatre is now in its 40th anniversary season. Located on Pittsburgh’s historic South Side, City Theatre specializes in new plays, commissioning and producing work by playwrights including Daniel Beaty, Jessica Dickey, Christopher Durang, Michael Hollinger, Willy Holtzman, Tarell McCraney, and Theresa Rebeck. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Tracy Brigden, Managing Director Mark R. Power, and a 45-member Board of Directors, City Theatre’s mission is to provide an artistic home for the development and production of contemporary plays of substance and ideas that engage and challenge a diverse audience. CityTheatreCompany.org
Burgh Vivant’s Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli keeps it fresh with a review of DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY, playing at the CLO Cabaret, Downtown Pittsburgh, September 4th through October 12th, 2014. www.pittsburghclo.org Continue reading “Review: DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY, CLO Cabaret”
Of mice, men, and martinis! Lonnie the Theatre Lady is back on ‘Burgh Vivant this evening to discuss OF MICE AND MEN, directed by Robert A. Miller, playing at Pittsburgh Playhouse’s The REP, September 5 – 21, 2014. www.pittsburghplayhouse.com Continue reading “Review: OF MICE AND MEN, The REP”
March on – and take a to-go cup! ‘Burgh Vivant’s Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli stops in for a cocktail and a conversation on OBSERVE THE SONS OF ULSTER MARCHING TOWARDS THE SOMME, written by Frank McGuinness, directed by Matt Torney, playing at PICT Classic Theatre, September 4th through 20th. www.picttheatre.org Continue reading “Review: OBSERVE THE SONS OF ULSTER MARCHING TOWARDS THE SOMME”
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks Founder and Artistic Director Jennifer Tober chats about the timeless appeal of Shakespeare’s classics out of doors and proves that “As You Like It” as you’ll know it, is anything but boring. Listen to “The Full Martini” – the complete, unedited interview in audio podcast for more on Jennifer’s life-long affair with The Bard, the hotly debated authorship question, Shakespeare in Pittsburghese, and the hilarious tale of the first pitch to the Parks Department. Pgh Shakespeare in the Parks celebrates it’s 10th year with AS YOU LIKE IT performing in various locations this September. For the full schedule, visit www.pittsburghshakespeare.com Continue reading “JENNIFER TOBER – Artistic Director and Founder, Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks”
by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.
A few months ago, Nick Cearley and Lauren Molina, the Skivvies, performed in their underwear at the City Theatre. This weekend, on the very same property, Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez perform in their pajamas. The City Theatre has always had a casual and intimate ambiance, but this is getting ridiculous. Speaking of ridiculous, Allen and Chavez certainly packed up plenty of ridiculousness for their trip to Pittsburgh.
The zany duo brings their multi-character sort-of scripted show to the main stage. The show is only partially scripted, but there is a through line; the action centers around a centuries-old king, his dark wizardly man-servant, two disaffected female village idiots, sinkhole investigators, a man and his motorcycle, a tremendous beast as well as a whole host of additional characters. Pay attention, because Allen and Chavez continually shift and morph into a myriad of characters and creatures. If you have Attention Deficit Disorder, this isn’t the show for you.
There are a few moments of laugh-out-loud craziness. Even when it’s difficult to follow, it’s still funny. Except there’s something about seeing two men in their pajamas playing on stage that is a little disconcerting. It’s like watching two kids in their bedroom playing, especially since the story involves castles, magic and monsters. It’s a little creepy.
Allen and Chavez are extremely talented. With a flick of a wrist, a wry sideways glance, or a fast-wagging finger the men transform from one absurd character to the next. Several characters were funnier than others. There is a moment, when Chavez is pulling Allen’s leg out of a bear trap/crown (don’t ask) that seems to stretch out too long, but, suddenly, the bit gets funnier and funnier with each bang of a gun, each slap on the ass (I told you not to ask).
Is the show funny? The performers certainly are. Some of the most genuinely funny moments come when the performers comment on their involvement in the craziness. It’s metatextual madness! A particular bit revolves around a one-armed woman and her prosthetic. There were also big laughs when the duo break character and laugh at each other. Think “The Carol Burnett Show.”
However, there is one unfortunate gag that opened the show. Right after a series of witty one-liners spoken directly to the audience, the duo transports themselves to a somewhat-ancient land. King Mark (Chavez) orders his man-servant Leopold (Allen) to behead a townsperson. A beheading that is meant to be funny, but the recent events in the news take the segment from merely morose to macabre. The gag almost led to actual gagging as Allen has difficulty sawing off the head of his imagined victim. It threw the show off-kilter, making it difficult to laugh (Reviewer’s Note: I was listening to Diane Foley, the mother of journalist James Foley, on NPR on the way to the show). Maybe they should poison, shoot or otherwise eradicate their foe. Suggestion: Toss the dude into a vat of piranha or feed him to the lions.
Chavez and Allen are from Albuquerque, New Mexico: America’s funniest sounding city. They may even be the funniest exports from the aforementioned Land of Enchantment since Mike Judge (creator of “Beavis and Butthead,” “Office Space,” etc…) and Marc Maron (WTF podcast). It seems a shame to fly Chavez and Allen into town when Pittsburgh is littered with hilarious improv and sketch performers. You can’t trip at the Arcade, SCIT or Harvard and Highland without falling on top of one.
To be fair, comedy may be a particular axe this reviewer grinds. It stings a little to see a full house come out and support strangers when the locals are doing hilarious shows to nearly empty houses.
Humor is most certainly subjective. One audience member next to me said, “My sides hurt from laughing!” I chuckled, I chortled, I even guffawed once or twice, but I’m not likely to point my thumb enthusiastically upward, but I wouldn’t cut off their heads, either.
You can find “The Pajama Men: For Just the Two of Us” at The City Theater, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh through September 7.
– MB.
