Society 805 - Page 5

JUN

15

0

Review - Oh, How Lovely Do Angels Fall

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Review-

Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels delivers at The Ensemble Theatre

A hilariously witty script, superb cast, first-rate production and direction, who could ask for more? A reviewer of its 1925 premier complained that the only thing wrong with Fallen Angels is the final curtain. Ditto for the Ensemble Theatre of Santa Barbara’s current production of the Noël Coward classic.

JUN

10

0

Review: What Kind of Sticks?

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Luisa Katy Jarvis and Matt Parker Harrisare truly fantastick in their roles

Review-

The Fantasticks at Camarillo Skyway Playhouse

Because of its allegorical nature and the relative abstraction of its set The Fantasticks, the longest running musical in history, permits a huge range of production possibilities, so it is fun to see what the next production will come up with. Michael McGraw has now brought his version of the classic to the Camarillo Skyway Playhouse, running through 10 July 2016.

Katy Jarvis and Parker Harris

MAY

24

1

A World Down the Street

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Editorial

People have asked about our policy or criteria for reviewing theatre at Society805.com. I’d like to take a moment to talk about what I am trying to do here at the Society805.com arts and theatre department.

MAY

19

0

Review - Flying H Does Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Review-

Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman is considered by some to be one of the most provocative plays written in the last quarter century. Credited as being the supreme example of what almost is its own genre, Horror Comedy, the play is multi-dimensional, thought-provoking, intense, and open to a wide range of interpretation. By all counts it is quite dark; but very funny, even in a non-dark sort of way.

Kathleen Bosworth, Michael Beck, Cynthia Killion

MAY

18

1

Review - David Hare’s Skylight Gets masterful treatment at Ojai Art Center Theatre

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Cast Buddy Wilds Noah Terry Anna Kotula Photo by Tom Moore

Review-

David Hare’s Skylight is an excellent play, one of the best plays written in the last 50 years. Sharply written, multi-layered, beautifully constructed, engaging, and timely, it is a good-humored, entertaining, highly-charged emotional rollercoaster ride of a play.

Director Steve Grumette does us a great favor bringing it to the 805 and giving us a well-crafted professional production with scintillating acting from Anna Kotula as Kyra Hollis and Noah Terry as Edward Sargeant, with an admirable debut from Buddy Wilds as the son, Tom Sargeant.

The other good news is that the Ojai Art Center Theatre has lowered its ticket prices for this season.

APR

23

0

Review - 4000 Miles at Santa Paula Theatre Center

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Review-

Santa Paula Theatre Center continues an interesting season of strong dramas with Amy Herzog's Pulitzer-Prize-nominated comedy, 4000 Miles. Set in the East Village New York City apartment of a 91-year-old partisan widow, Vera, the play opens as her 21-year-old grandson, Leo, appears at three in the morning at the end of a tragic 4000 mile cross-country bike ride.

Marilyn Lazik and Parker Harris star in the Pulitzer Prize nominated comic /drama 4000 Miles, at the Santa Paula Theater Center.

MAR

24

0

Review: Uncanny Valley at the Elite

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Review-

Once again the Elite Theatre Company has used its South Stage to produce a timely and well-worth watching play. Uncanny Valley features a relatively unusual casting configuration: pitting a young male part for the robot against an older female part for his creator.

MAR

21

0

Review: An Open Table

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Review

Flying H Group Theatre Company presents its first world premier, An Open Table by James James, an over-the-top dark comedy set one night in a fine-dining restaurant where the disgruntled staff decide to murder the customers. Fast-paced, raucous, a bit ribald, and totally hilarious, An Open Table is an exciting new play that should enjoy a long and successful future.

Sensational acting by Eric Mello, Javiera Torres, and the author, James James lead a fine ensemble cast in an excellent production directed by Flying H Artistic Director, Taylor Kasch. The Taylor Kasch-designed set features original paintings by Soceity805.com's own Erik Reel.

The best cheap date in the county and definitely not family entertainment.

Eric Mello, Javiera Torres

MAR

07

0

Review - Taking Liberty

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Review-

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, directed by Jenny Sullivan. It’s 1890; a lawless time in the Wild West. Two men must stand up for what they believe in. Only one will survive. Rubicon Theatre presents the American premiere of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, written by Jethro Compton and based on the short story that inspired the classic John Ford film. The show received rave reviews in London and plays for a limited time only through the 20th.

Rubicon Theatre Company announces EXTENSION through SATURDAY, MARCH 26

FEB

16

0

Review: Do Not Miss The Other Place

By Erik ReeL - Arts and Culture Contributing Editor at Large

in Performing Arts

Review-

Santa Paula Theatre kicks off its new season with a wonderful production of Sharr White’s beautifully written psychological drama, The Other Place.

Producer Leslie Nichols has brought in the dynamic duo behind Flying H Theatre, Taylor Kasch and Cynthia Killion, to do their magic, and magic it is, with the tight ensemble work, extremely effective set, production details, cast and crew excellence, collaboration and execution of high order we’ve come to expect from all things Kasch and Killion.

Killion and Perlmutter re-arranging the tectonic plates of the mind in Sharr White's The Other Place at the Santa Paula Theater Center Photo Credit: Brian Stetham.