By PIERRE KENYON
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
What a spectacle! What a gaggle of howling kids!
A joyful bunch of singers from two local elementary schools were in the audience before they sang along with members of the Pueblo Children's Chorale in "The Whole World Sings: A Concert from the Pacific Rim" Tuesday night at Hoag Hall on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo. It was a big event; 200 performing singers in all with a full-capacity audience of more than 600.
Since there was a dearth of program notes, I presumed that most of the songs performed were Asian in origin. All are to be commended for taking on such a challenging program.
There was also a tie-in with the Pueblo Big Read program, with readers all over the county enjoying "The Joy Luck Club," by Amy Tan.
Harriet Warren, directing the South Mesa Elementary School choir, started the program off with a Chinese (theme) song, "Gung Hay Fat Choy," accompanied by 12 students wielding Orff instruments. This was a charming piece. Michele McCown then directed 95 students in the choir from Cedar Ridge Elementary School in a performance of "Moon at the Ruined Castle," with a Japanese theme. This was another charming piece sung with considerable precision.
Their second piece came from New Zealand, sung in the Maori language and accompanied by piano and two flutes. The group performed well, mostly in unison, though the harmonies were impressive as were the dynamics.
Betsy Barto then directed the Apprentice Choir, the younger singers of the Pueblo Children's Chorale, in a Chinese folk song, "Crescent Moon," followed by "Tiki Chant" with interesting gesticulations. Rachel Young, one of the singers, performed an impromptu dance. I sat next to her proud mother.
Jennifer Shadle-Peters then directed the Concert Choir in a Japanese children's song which was short and sweet and well executed, followed then by two more Japanese songs and a Korean folk song. I particularly enjoyed the lively Japanese "Village Festival" song. Their final piece was the Korean folk song, "Ahrirang," a challenging three-chorus composition which was performed well.
The grand finale with all 200 singers on stage singing a Chinese and a Japanese folk song was quite a spectacle. Directing this wonderful group was a logistical feat as well as a musical one. Directors Shadle-Peters and Barto and the kids were really impressive.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
That's It Folks!
By SCOTT WHITED
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
What would you do if the end was nigh? If the end was more than nigh. If the end was here. Right. Now!
The menagerie of characters in The Impossible Players' production of Mark O'Donnell's "That's It, Folks!" approaches the end from a variety of idiosyncratic angles. Billed as "a comedy of apocalyptic proportions," the show opened last night to a half-full house that was treated to an energetic cast of oddballs bouncing about in the service of a grab-bag script full of disjointed end-of-days riffs and rim-shots. There were plenty of opportunities to smile and laugh, but one was never quite certain why.
Ever-smiling Eden (Geneva Mattoon) lives with Satan acolyte Otis (Geoffrey Simmons) in a comfortable apartment, where she aspires to communicate with aliens and he speaks in rhymed verse in the hopes of being chosen "left-hand man" of the Prince of Darkness. Their roommate, Penny (Jamie Fiedeldey), longs for a man to settle down with, and finds two quirky prospects in Zed Snowman (Tom Massmann) and Darryl (Eli Cranson). All this goes on while the newspaper and radio announce the immediately pending "end."
The play takes the form of a standard character comedy, but this ain't your father's sitcom. It features locusts, a ghost who doesn't know he's dead (Bill Boyett), meteors (nicely depicted by flashing light effects), a gaggle of Satanists clad in purple and black, and a female Voice of God (Edna Simmons) who assigns people to heaven or hell alphabetically (A-M = heaven; N-Z = hell: "Ladies use your maiden names"). Things move swiftly forward, aided by the flowing blocking of director Marvin Hays, but the story is such a hodgepodge of anarchic actions that it is hard to be invested in it as anything more than a bemused voyeur.
The troupe brings a compelling aura to the stage. The performances are weird, whacky, enthusiastic, and sincere. Massmann leads the way with his portrayal of Zed, whose only goal is to be featured on the last magazine cover ever published. His eccentric accent enlivens a character who is part apocalyptic Jon Lovitz-liar, part post-modern Ed Norton. Mattoon is the ingenuest of ingenues. Her Klieg-light smile illuminates a trusting soul who loves her man unconditionally: "He's so committed - if only it weren't to Satan." Fiedeldey bemoans her loveless fate, sobbing disconsolately despite being able to flaunt an aquamarine-and-print mini-dress and knee-high go-go boots. She is nothing if not over the top, even while being dragged across the floor by an uncooperative love-prospect.
Simmons is an inspired Satanist. His French-cavalier twirled mustache and pointy chin-beard are perfectly complemented by his vacuum-sealed sleeping pod and the twisted dagger with which he repeatedly tries to sacrifice the nearest available virgin - his beloved Eden.
Zed wraps up the shenanigans with a bit of poignancy. When told that it's end-time, "ready or not," he cries out plaintively: "Not!" Ah, well. Sacred music pours forth from the speakers despite his plea. But not to worry; it is quickly followed by a ukulele version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
"That's It, Folks!" continues at 8 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Oct. 18. Call 542-6969 for reservations.
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
What would you do if the end was nigh? If the end was more than nigh. If the end was here. Right. Now!
The menagerie of characters in The Impossible Players' production of Mark O'Donnell's "That's It, Folks!" approaches the end from a variety of idiosyncratic angles. Billed as "a comedy of apocalyptic proportions," the show opened last night to a half-full house that was treated to an energetic cast of oddballs bouncing about in the service of a grab-bag script full of disjointed end-of-days riffs and rim-shots. There were plenty of opportunities to smile and laugh, but one was never quite certain why.
Ever-smiling Eden (Geneva Mattoon) lives with Satan acolyte Otis (Geoffrey Simmons) in a comfortable apartment, where she aspires to communicate with aliens and he speaks in rhymed verse in the hopes of being chosen "left-hand man" of the Prince of Darkness. Their roommate, Penny (Jamie Fiedeldey), longs for a man to settle down with, and finds two quirky prospects in Zed Snowman (Tom Massmann) and Darryl (Eli Cranson). All this goes on while the newspaper and radio announce the immediately pending "end."
The play takes the form of a standard character comedy, but this ain't your father's sitcom. It features locusts, a ghost who doesn't know he's dead (Bill Boyett), meteors (nicely depicted by flashing light effects), a gaggle of Satanists clad in purple and black, and a female Voice of God (Edna Simmons) who assigns people to heaven or hell alphabetically (A-M = heaven; N-Z = hell: "Ladies use your maiden names"). Things move swiftly forward, aided by the flowing blocking of director Marvin Hays, but the story is such a hodgepodge of anarchic actions that it is hard to be invested in it as anything more than a bemused voyeur.
The troupe brings a compelling aura to the stage. The performances are weird, whacky, enthusiastic, and sincere. Massmann leads the way with his portrayal of Zed, whose only goal is to be featured on the last magazine cover ever published. His eccentric accent enlivens a character who is part apocalyptic Jon Lovitz-liar, part post-modern Ed Norton. Mattoon is the ingenuest of ingenues. Her Klieg-light smile illuminates a trusting soul who loves her man unconditionally: "He's so committed - if only it weren't to Satan." Fiedeldey bemoans her loveless fate, sobbing disconsolately despite being able to flaunt an aquamarine-and-print mini-dress and knee-high go-go boots. She is nothing if not over the top, even while being dragged across the floor by an uncooperative love-prospect.
Simmons is an inspired Satanist. His French-cavalier twirled mustache and pointy chin-beard are perfectly complemented by his vacuum-sealed sleeping pod and the twisted dagger with which he repeatedly tries to sacrifice the nearest available virgin - his beloved Eden.
Zed wraps up the shenanigans with a bit of poignancy. When told that it's end-time, "ready or not," he cries out plaintively: "Not!" Ah, well. Sacred music pours forth from the speakers despite his plea. But not to worry; it is quickly followed by a ukulele version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
"That's It, Folks!" continues at 8 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Oct. 18. Call 542-6969 for reservations.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Personals
By PIERRE KENYON
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
Thursday night was opening night for “Personals: The Musical” presented by the Steel City Theatre Company at Hoag Hall on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo.
By “personals,” it means those ads once placed in newspapers and magazines seeking, well, some sort of relationship. They read something like this: “Single Mongolian female seeks single Mongolian male with similar tastes; must know how to take care of herd of yaks and enjoy camping in the Gobi Desert. Reply to P.O. Box 1985, etc.,” or something like that.
This play is really a big spoof of this kind of activity. And, yes, it’s wacky and over-the-top. The principal players are true to the material they represent.
The verdict: Pretty nutty stuff but, above all, it’s really quite entertaining.
Yes, I managed a few chuckles and an occasional guffaw during the two-act performance, as befits an unbiased reviewer while trying to maintain his decorum. I’ve had the privilege of enjoying most of the members of the cast in other stage productions locally, so it was a pleasure to see some of these veteran actors strutting across the boards, or tripping, as the case may be.
Kennette Oldham gave forth a memorable shriek but also sang a touching song about wanting to marry someone again. James Amos was effective in a number of character roles, particularly as a middle-aged mother concerned about her children’s love life, and as a lonely bachelor or one of a male quartet at a bar. All of it was a lot of fun.
Jennifer Ritter plays a rough type who “hates intellectuals and men who like cars and clothes.” Then turns around and plays an intellectual type with numerous emotional hang-ups.
Ensemble numbers were impressive, “I’d Rather Hold Out; I’d Rather Dance Alone” is a standout as is “I’m Movin’ in with Linda,” the latter featuring Amos, Oldham and Ritter along with Bethany Nafziger.
Jason Laughrey, as director and actor, does well in each task.
There are a whole series of fast-moving vignettes helped along by good stage direction, a minimal but appropriate set and a nimble stage crew.
The four musicians played well and added a lot to the production but I would suggest that the volume level be toned down a bit since it occasionally drowned out individual singers.
This show is not for the kids, best leave them home with a babysitter, as there is material which is adult in nature, as the saying goes.
Performances continue at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Oct. 16-18, all at CSU-Pueblo’s Hoag Hall.
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
Thursday night was opening night for “Personals: The Musical” presented by the Steel City Theatre Company at Hoag Hall on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo.
By “personals,” it means those ads once placed in newspapers and magazines seeking, well, some sort of relationship. They read something like this: “Single Mongolian female seeks single Mongolian male with similar tastes; must know how to take care of herd of yaks and enjoy camping in the Gobi Desert. Reply to P.O. Box 1985, etc.,” or something like that.
This play is really a big spoof of this kind of activity. And, yes, it’s wacky and over-the-top. The principal players are true to the material they represent.
The verdict: Pretty nutty stuff but, above all, it’s really quite entertaining.
Yes, I managed a few chuckles and an occasional guffaw during the two-act performance, as befits an unbiased reviewer while trying to maintain his decorum. I’ve had the privilege of enjoying most of the members of the cast in other stage productions locally, so it was a pleasure to see some of these veteran actors strutting across the boards, or tripping, as the case may be.
Kennette Oldham gave forth a memorable shriek but also sang a touching song about wanting to marry someone again. James Amos was effective in a number of character roles, particularly as a middle-aged mother concerned about her children’s love life, and as a lonely bachelor or one of a male quartet at a bar. All of it was a lot of fun.
Jennifer Ritter plays a rough type who “hates intellectuals and men who like cars and clothes.” Then turns around and plays an intellectual type with numerous emotional hang-ups.
Ensemble numbers were impressive, “I’d Rather Hold Out; I’d Rather Dance Alone” is a standout as is “I’m Movin’ in with Linda,” the latter featuring Amos, Oldham and Ritter along with Bethany Nafziger.
Jason Laughrey, as director and actor, does well in each task.
There are a whole series of fast-moving vignettes helped along by good stage direction, a minimal but appropriate set and a nimble stage crew.
The four musicians played well and added a lot to the production but I would suggest that the volume level be toned down a bit since it occasionally drowned out individual singers.
This show is not for the kids, best leave them home with a babysitter, as there is material which is adult in nature, as the saying goes.
Performances continue at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Oct. 16-18, all at CSU-Pueblo’s Hoag Hall.