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 Herald Independent February 10, 2006 Live from Las Vegas Live from Las Vegas, the Pine Tree Players' latest production hits you like a double-shot of Scotch--it goes down smooth and never disappoints. The setting for the production, the third of these live karaoke-styleproductions is a Las Vegas lounge. "Sooner or later," the bartender tells us, "everyone ends up here." And he's right. Appearances range from a youngish Francis Albert Sinatra (played with relish by Christian Huggins with Frankie's trademark fedora cocked rakishly over one eye) to a brief (if hilarious) appearance by Lenny Bruce, one of many characters played to the hilt by Gary Baker, who must be hiding a multiple-personality complex from everyone. Also stopping in for a drink and a song or two are performers taking on the persona of Liza Minelli (the production's director Rachel Gibson,) Sammy Davis, Jr. (Eric Tory Brown) and not one--but three-Elvises (or Elvi?). The singing one is Bill Simpson, making his PTP debut with a soulful rendition of "Can't Help Falling In Love." There are other truly excellent performances that audiences have to see to believe; the voices are sometimes so close to the actual singers that the cast must be performing seances backstage to channel the essences of the performers. The black-and-silver set is glitzy, kitschy and just right for a (slightly rundown) Vegas lounge. Lucky audiences have one more turn at the tables, and one more weekend to see this excellent performance. Live from Las Vegas continues Feb. 9 and 10 at 8 p.m., Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. and a special Valentine's Night performance. Call 635-6847 to reserve tickets and 815-1313 for details about the special Vegas Night event on Feb. 14.  Herald IndependentOctober 12, 2004 Love Letters For a few hours, audiences who come to the Pine Tree Players' production of Love Letters, will be invited to spend some time with two lives, that of Andy Ladd and Melissa Gardner, as they conduct a love affair through the mail. If you come and spend an hour or two with them, your patience will be well-rewarded. The play is an exploration of the lives of two people born to privilege and money, and their relationship, conducted mainly through the letters they exchange with each other throughout their lives, starting all the way back at the third grade. The play has a cast of two actors, and in most productions, the actors simply read the letters Andy and Melissa send each other all their lives. A. R. Gurney's Love Letters is a show I know well; I have both directed it and acted in it. In fact, I found myself silently saying Andy Ladd's lines right along with Eric Brown as he read them. I've read of and seen this show done very elaborately, with full sets, and very simply, with just a desk for each of the two actors. Famous couples like Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy have read it on Broadway, and I'm sure if Liz Taylor and Richard Burton had both been around, they would have read it together. The cast the night I saw the play (a different couple will perform the show each night of the performance,) was local brother-and-sister artists Eric Tory Brown and Michela Pilar Brown. Director Les Stringer went for the minimalist approach with his set, a black backdrop, a single table, lit very simply, lets the audience concentrate on the actors and the words, instead of the set. Unlike most productions I have seen and performed in, Eric Brown as Andy and Michaela Brown as Melissa sat at the same desk, which made for a nice, intimate feeling to the play. The lighting illuminated the stage without resorting to any lighting trickery, except at one appropriate moment. The lack of pre-show music served to calm the audience, and get them in a thoughtful mood, which was appropriate for a play in which there is little action and the words and voices of the actors must carry the show. And the voices from the script on the stage his lines in a quiet, reserved voice, which was perfect for the reserved, straitlaced nature of Andy Ladd, the consummate WASP. Michaela Brown's voice she chose for Melissa was a lot like the character herself, flashy, expressive, going from little girl sweet one moment to sassy the next as Melissa and Andy through their love letters, age right before our eyes. An interesting idea about this production is that different couples will perform it at each show. Eric and Michaela played the part on Friday and Saturday, October 8 and 9, and Les Stringer and Pelham Lyles will sit in the chairs on October 15 and 16. Jon Ives and Rachel Gibson will portray Andy and Melissa at each of the two Sunday matinees. This show will literally be different each time you see it. With each couple, some of their lines will resonate differently. For example, when artist Michaela reads artist Melissa's description of a bedpan she drew and says "I'm serious! Don't you love its shape?" it is especially appropriate. When Andy is urging a depressed Melissa to get back to her art as a way of dealing with her depression, and says "Why don't you get back to your art? You were good, you know," it might almost be artist Eric urging artist Michaela back into something after an artistic slump. The other actors will bring their own resonances and appropriateness to the lines as well. Will Rachel Gibson's Melissa be as smart-alecky and sarcastic as Michaela's Melissa? Only one way to find out, and that's to see this interesting production more than once. The Pine Tree Playhouse production of Love Letters continues Friday and Saturday, October 15 and 16 at 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday, October 17 at 3:00 p.m. Audiences should be aware that this is an adult production and there is some adult language, but it is appropriate within the context of the play. The set is minimal, the lighting is minimal and there are no flashy costumes, but once Andy and Melissa start sharing their love letters with you, you won't miss the other theatrical trappings. |
