Third time’s the charm? Maybe, but we were also charmed the first two times we saw John Lepard’s heartwarming one-man version of the holiday classic movie. 

“This Wonderful Life” by Steve Murray (conceived by Mark Setlock, adapted from the screenplay It’s a Wonderful Life by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, and Jo Swerling) combines storytelling and chameleon-like transformations into the familiar movie characters. Director Tony Caselli and star, John Lepard, have done it again… perhaps with even more depth and heart added by the years.

John Lepard is a wonder, singlehandedly bringing the story to life as both a warm and witty fourth-wall-breaking narrator, and in subtle, spot-on embodiments of the wide range of characters. Williamston Theatre’s up-close-and-personal stage was set with a simple but period-evocative staircase and phone table, with a versatile rolling desk, that became all corners of Bedford Falls. Dramatic lighting filled in the details, with the celestial characters as twinkling heavenly bodies, and the potentially suicidal river rippling at George Bailey’s feet. (Scenic Design by Bartley H. Bauer; Lighting Design by Dustin D. Miller; Sound Design by Quintessa Gallinat; Props Design by Michelle Raymond)

The remarkable thing about this show is that it seems so effortless. It feels like a collaboration with the audience. We know this story, and it’s a joy to share it with this remarkable actor. Bring the family and catch it before it closes.

Note that masks, and proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid test are required of all audience members. See details at https://www.williamstontheatre.org/covid-safety-precautions 
This Wonderful Life continues through Dec 19, 2021
Thursday at 8pm
Friday at 8pm
Saturday at 3pm & 8pm
Sunday at 2pm

https://www.williamstontheatre.org

​Producer/Director Melanie Helton has checked all the boxes withThree From the Hearth,MSU Opera’s triumphant return to LIVE performance after 20 months of weird, COVID virtualness: Wonderful music, public appeal, and many opportunities for individual singers to shine. There are alternate casts for the different performances, and too many stars to mention. All have outstanding voices and a wonderful blend as an ensemble.

This compilation of three modern mini-operas, in English (with surtitles) not only offers soaring music, but also many featured solos. Melanie has invented a 1960 family to unite these three pieces:Serenade to Music(Ralph Vaughan Williams/Shakespeare) has Mom watching the “Ned Soloman Show” on TV, and the performers come to life, and stream onto the stage in red/black/polka dot costumes. 

Next, Mom and Dad set up chairs forA Hand of Bridge,(Samuel Barber/Gian Carlo Menotti) a fun little game where each player has something other than bridge on his/her mind. 

Bridge friends go home andL’enfent et les Sortileges (The Child and the Enchantments)Maurice Ravel/Colette - finds Mom at a loss as her defiant, uncooperative son won’t do his homework and proceeds to tear up all the objects in his room. These objects then come to life in an amazing assortment of fantasy costumed singers, from clock to frog to fire, to arithmetic… and many more— eventually convincing him of the error of his ways. He bandages and consoles an injured squirrel, and is forgiven. Mom returns with a hug and all ends well.

The set is wonderful, with a “working” large TV, and fantastical lighting for the final scene. (Set Kirk Domer/Mark R. Willoughby; Lighting (Brent Wrobel) The costumes are an entertainment in themselves (Howard Tsvi Kaplan; wig/makeup Martha Ruskai) And, of course, the 36-piece MSU Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maria Fato,a Corona del Toro is fantastic and full.

The program is only an hour and 15 minutes with no intermission.The short duration and fun, fantastical nature of this show could make it a good one to introduce older children to opera. 

The show continues Friday and Saturday at 7 and Sundays at 3
https://www.music.msu.edu/performance/performance-highlights/msu-opera-theatre

I was expecting to feel “old” and not “get it” with this show. Anything beyond Facebook? Yeah, yeah… Tic Tok, Instagram, Reddit ?? What do I know…?


BUT I come away wanting friends old AND young to see this. You certainly don’t have to understand all the intricacies of how these “Internet Thingies” work to appreciate this fresh, engaging, innovative script by Kari Bentley-Quinn It interconnects the story of body-positive wannabe influencer, Wendy (Emily Herman) her internet trolls and the real people behind the toxic masculinity on the internet. 

It is both funny and scary.

The show does feature “strong language, references to sexual assault, misogyny”. There’s much to make us uncomfortable — and also to make us think. All the actors are very good — and the character, Shih (Advait Rathi) gives us some hope, both as a character in the plot, and as a fourth-wall breaker. The video media of actual Tic Tok videos. plus computer and lighting effects are excellent. (Media Quinn Legge; Lighting Niklas Calella; Sound Lucas Nunn.)

Don't miss Claire Wilcher’s Director’s Note. I believe she has accomplished her goal of helping “the audience reflect on their own toxic thoughts, or allow women to simply exist or grapple with their relationship to body shaming”— without having to insist. The Note is followed by some intriguing quotes. 

So head down to MSU’s Arena stage in the basement of the Auditorium Building; enter at the Farm Lane end box office. $20 for general admission, $18 for MSU faculty and staff and seniors, and $10 for students - online at whartoncenter.com, at the Wharton Center box office, or by calling 1-800-WHARTON.Remaining Performance Dates & Times

• Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at 7:30 p.m.
• **Thursday, November 18, 2021, at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, November 19, 2021, at 8 p.m.
• Saturday, November 20, 2021, at 2 and 8 p.m.
• Sunday, November 21, 2021, at 2 p.m.

*Director Pre-Show Discussion Sunday, November 14, 2021, at 1:15 p.m. 
**Post-show discussion on Thursday, November 18, 2021, following the performance.
For more information on the show and other MSU Department of Theatre productions, visit:  https://theatre.msu.edu/productions/21-22/.

This review is about 12 hours late due to my overfull schedule yesterday and the knowledge that the next performance of this show isn’t until Friday — BUT the impression is still strong:


Starlight Dinner Theatre’s Lion in Winter is even BETTER than the stellar show we saw a year and a half ago, before its second weekend was cancelled by the COVID shutdown.

It seems Kevin and Tanya Burnham were born to play these “bucket list” roles — and the looo-o-o-o-ng time “between weekends” has only given these characters time to simmer and evolve to an exceptional level of sincerity and intensity. The love/hate competitive relationship of these two is a joy to watch, as they jockey to established different favored-sons as the next in line to the throne.

The First Christian Church location is also an improvement. The thrust-stage/in-the-round  sanctuary surrounds the versatile revolving-wall, chairs/table set with a backdrop of stained glass, and is more up-close-and-personal than the proscenium stage at Waverly Intermediate School. It also gives us a closer look at the costumes, which are magnificent. (Kudos, Costumer Lee Helder!) Evocative period music blends the scene changes into an integrated whole. (Sound design: Darryl Schmitz)

The rest of the cast gives good support to these stars, directed by Richard Redman and, as always, facilitated by Linda Granger. Returning from 2020 are Malachi Cates as youngest son John, and Robert McCleery as bully son Richard. New for 2021 are Caleb Tracy as scheming son Goeffrey, Wyatt Wesley as French King Philip, and Emily Stokes as Alais, pulled between her roles as consort to the king and potential bride to his sons.

There are only TWO shows left. It may be too late to reserve for dinner - 6:30 Friday night; show at 7:30; or dessert -1:30 Saturday afternoon; show at 2pm. (By the way, dessert was a lovely plate of cheesecake bites and baklava served in a separate church dining room.) Phone 517-599-2799 for reservations or to find out if dinner/dessert are still available.

BUT there ARE plenty of tickets available at the door for “show only” $15 ($14 sr./student) Friday show 7:30; Saturday matinee 2pm. Nov. 19-20. First Christian Church is at 1001 Chester Rd, Lansing, MI 48912. Chester is just west of the Sparrow medical building northwest of Frandor. Two blocks north and you’re there. Park/enter on the north side of the building. If you love this script, or have never seen it — be there.

http://www.starlightdinnertheatre.com
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