It’s scary… but FUN scary. I noted several preschoolers grinning throughout LCC’s Wiley and the Hairy Man. 

This outdoor folk tale was held INdoors at Gannon Commons area tonight — partly due to rain-wet seating area and partly due to the heat of the outdoors and the heat of the Hairy Man costume, which lives up to its name! (Costumes Chelle Peterson) 

The show is only about an hour long, which makes it a good choice for the younger set — but older folks will enjoy it, too, with it’s folklore-ish style, imaginative pantomime and high energy. Director Blake Bowen’s note invites adults into a sense of joyful enchantment, and hopes to ignite a sense of wonder and a lifelong love of theatre in youngsters.

Jackson Schmitz is a ball of boyish energy and charm as Wiley, delightfully haunted by his fear of the dreaded Hairy Man. His Best Conjure Woman Mama (Trina Spitzley) sends him off to the swamp, armed with magic and spells — and his canine companion, Dog (Makayla Marrison) is wonderfully cute and vicious as the only creature that can strike fear into the heart of the Hairy Man (Nicholas Holzwart). Nicholas is a wild and boastful bully and formidable opponent — the aforementioned fun-scary. 

The other “character” in the show is the “chorus” — which is much more than that. Vahlarée Aidan Kakela, Jacob Maurer, Laura Nguyen and Molly Sullivan, in their fun, vine-y costumes, collectively and individually serve as dream demons, the swamp, Hairy Man extensions, a tree, and any piece of furniture or additional prop/object needed. Their energy and choreography keeps the show rolling, literally and figuratively.

Director Blake is aiming to perform outdoors Friday-Saturday-Sunday… weather probably permitting. Check the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LCCPerformingArts/ (If no one is at the outdoor amphitheater behind Dart Auditorium when you arrive, it’s a short walk into the Gannon Building “commons” area, an air conditioned and dry venue.)

Wiley continues Friday/Saturday/Sunday at 7pm, free of charge. Bring chairs for the outside venue.



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I have to admit I haven’t been to many All-of-us Express shows, since I have to see SO many adult-acted shows, and I get lazy — but my granddaughter wanted to go, so … 

Anyway: Wow. Matilda Jr. is an impressive show — incorporating LOTS of youngsters in a wide range of ages into a well choreographed, fast moving, energized production. Kudos to director/choregrapher Jocelyn France, assisted by Elena Forman.

All the leads a very good: Nadia Cuthrell as sweet sympathetic Miss Honey, Liam Van Der Heide as despicable Mr. Wormwood, Ella Koenigsknecht as selfish, mean Mrs. Wormwood, Taylor Stallings as the overfed Bruce, Molly Tait as Mrs. Phelps enthralled with Matilda’s stories, Ollie MacDonald as the vain, over-the-top dancer Rudolpho…. there really was not a weak link. And Olivia Hallan was a delight as our heroine, Matilda — just the right mix of woebegone and rebellious, and with a lovely voice.

The highlight of the show, however, was Simon Rebeck as Miss Trunchbull. I have enjoyed the full version of this show at both Lebowsky and Evolve, and I must say, Simon is right up there with the stellar Garrett Bradley and Bill Henson, despite his young age (I think 18 is the limit for All-of-us) he acted a convincing 40-plus in age, and had the physical discipline and overbearing, vicious glee to dominate the production in more ways than one.

See this show; you will like it even if you do not have children in it.
Matilda Jr. continues through August 7 at the East Lansing Hannah Center. Tickets at https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/allofus

It’s amazing how engaging this script is, even though it doesn’t make any sense… not unlike life, I guess. The Realistic Joneses is an absurd slice of life. The two couples, both named Jones, are keeping up with each other as they muddle through the strange improv of life, marriage, mortality…

The Samuel French description of this script is, "As their relationships begin to irrevocably intertwine, the Joneses must decide between their idyllic fantasies and their imperfect realities.” 

But must they decide? Can they tell the difference? Can the audience?

Director Miranda Sue Hartmann guides four talented actors through Will Eno's challenging script. The desperately cheerful Jennifer is deftly played by Debbie Lundeen, trying to engage her under-communicative spouse Bob (Michael Phelps). New neighbors Pony and John (Rachel Mender and Joe Dickson) pop in and liven up the party. Joe gives John a smart-ass edge, and Rachel is effervescent as his wife, Pony. 
We eventually learn that both husbands suffer from Harriman Leavey Syndrome, a fictional degenerative nerve disease which is a specialty of a local doctor. The couples prattle on and reach out to each other. Eno’s witty non sequiturs dance along to build a strange story of looming existential crisis. It’s melancholy, unsettling and funny. 

Chris Jones, a Chicago Tribune critic wrote this cryptic description: “If you like marital comedies and hate them both at the same time, this is your show.”

The Realistic Joneses plays only THREE MORE TIMES, by Over the Ledge Theatre, guest-performing at Riverwalk Theatre’s Black Box. 8pm Fri/Sat; 2pm Sunday. Get tickets ($10-$12, plus credit card processing fees) at http://overtheledge.org or by calling 517-318-0579 — or at the door.

This is a challenge because it’s one of those scripts you don’t want to know too much about in advance. I love new scripts and their twists and surprises. The Hat Box by Eric Coble at Williamston Theatre is full of them. (And kudos to Eric for bucking the lotsa-men-and-only-young-women trend and writing a script for four older women and only one man!)

The hat box in question is discovered in the process of two middle aged sisters, Winnie and Claire, clearing out the belongings of their deceased father. This funny and touching script is more about the relationship between the sisters than solving the mystery of the hat box — which serves as a proverbial “can of worms” challenging their assumptions about their parents, and more. The sisters’ search for answers leads to more questions and a peek into other lives that are more complicated than expected. 

Sandra Birch and Suzi Regan are wonderful as the sisters, bickering and challenging and mis-remembering as siblings do.  Their contrasting take on the controversial gravy boat paints them as not exactly close. Their visit to Aunt Esther (Karen Sheridan) adds new levels of hilarity and more “worms out of the can” with her delightful, eccentric portrayal. She leads them to Stanley and Marcia’s house (Bruce Rico Wade and Brenda Lane), and it’s a veritable “worm storm” of new possibilities, explanations, conflicts and laughs. Director John Lepard can be very proud of this cast.

The relatively neutral scenic design by Aaron Delnay floats from a realistic base to an artistic cloud of hatbox-shaped, wallpaper hexagons. It changes little in the scene shifts to the different abodes  — because it’s about the people, not the locations — and trying to make sense of what perhaps never will. Sharing the search may be therapeutic in itself.

The Hat Box world premiere continues through August 14. Tickets at http://williamstontheatre.org
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