(OUTscene NW) THEATER RE-view: a STRONG Ensemble saves "Lackluster" MR BURNS, now at Seattle's ACT!

A STRONG Ensemble?             (Bennion)

by MK Scott

Musicals based on cartoon characters are nothing new, think of what Broadway would be without "ANNIE", "Lil' Abner", "Spiderman", "Addams Family" and the grand-daddy, "You're a Good Man Man, Charlie Brown".

So I had high expectations for ACT's Mr. Burns, a Post-electric play. The show is based off an episode of the Simpsons called 'Cape Feare', a parody of the classic film, 'Cape Fear'.  What you get is a post-apocalyptic world of 7 characters surviving without electricity by re-enacting classic Simpsons episodes. Why the Simpsons? Who knows, maybe it will last forever! The best part of Act 1 was the character of Gibson (the FAB, Adam Standley, most recently reviewed in John Baxter) who wants to join the group of survivors. This where you feel like you are really in an episode of that NBC (Now defunct) post-apocalyptic drama, "Revolution". The set was something you would see in a college production and was not entertained. Hey, Don't get me wrong there were some funny moments and singing occurred but in Acapella!

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Aloha; San Andreas; The Seven Five!

Columbia Pictures

by Sara Michelle Fetters


Aloha


 Aloha True to Its Characters, Indifferent to Its Plot!





  

Warner Bros. / New Line Cinema

San Andreas

Charismatic Rock Cooks Up Disaster in San Andreas!

Sundance Selects

The Seven Five 


Gripping Seven Five a Nihilistic Look at Law Enforcement!

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: The Children's Hour is a MUST-SEE and Great FIT at the Ballard Underground

Yes, There were Mean Girls in the 1930's Photo: Michael Brunk

by MK Scott

I confess I had never been to a Lesbian-Themed Play (It isn't like I have tried), but when that said-play is a bonafide American Classic written by the Controversial and Brilliant, Lillian Hellman that was turned into a Mildly-successful film led by 2 giants (Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Maclaine) in the code breaking 1960's (1961 to be exact). Of course, I am talking about the Children's Hour, that was stage by Arouet at the Ballard Underground this past weekend.

The last time I was at the Underground was for Ghostlight Theatricals production of 'Rope" another Early Gay themed play that was adapted in a Hollywood Film. There is something about the Underground and how you feel are in a speakeasy and transported into the time when being Gay or Lesbian was a mental illness.

The Children's Hour is a 1934 stage play written by Lillian Hellman. It is a drama set in an all-girls boarding school run by two women, Karen Wright and Martha Dobie. An angry student, Mary Tilford, runs away from the school and to avoid being sent back she tells her grandmother that the two headmistresses are having a lesbian affair. The accusation proceeds to destroy the women's careers, relationships and lives.

The play was first staged on Broadway at Maxine Elliott's Theatre in 1934, where it ran for over two years, and in 1936 it was put on at London's Gate Theatre Studio and Dublin's Gate Theatre. This was Hellman's first hit play. At the time, any mention of homosexuality on stage was illegal in New York State, but the play was such a success and so widely praised by critics that the rule was not enforced, according to Wiki.

(MOVIE FREAK) Re-views of Tomorrowland; Good Kill; Poltergeist!

Walt Disney Pictures

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Tomorrowland

Rating: PG
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

Imaginative Tomorrowland Reawakens the Inner Child!

IFC Films

Good Kill

Rating: R
Distributor: IFC Films

Drone Drama Good Kill Searches for Truth!

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Pitch Perfect 2; Mad Max: Fury Road; Hot Pursuit!

 

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Pitch Perfect 2

Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Universal Pictures

Pitch Perfect 2 Sings a Happy Tune!

Mad Max: Fury Road

Rating: R
Distributor: Warner Bros

Max Returns with Furiously Brilliant Savagery!


 



Hot Pursuit

Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Warner Bros / New Line

Energetic Witherspoon Enlivens an Otherwise Leaden Pursuit!

(OUTscene NW) Re-view: Lakewood's MAME, Brings IT and More!

by MK Scott

I like everything about Mame, from the original Book by Patrick Dennis to the Glorious Film Classic of 'Auntie Mame" starring Rosalind Russell to the 1966 Broadway musical Mame is a musical with the book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. Starring Angela Lansbury (I have the CD) and even the 1974 Film, based from the musical and Starring most of the original cast (Bea Arthur and Jane Connell) and Not with Angela Lansbury, but with Lucille Ball. The Best moments were when she wasn't singing (Save 'Bosom Buddies).I had never seen performed on stage before and when I heard that it was playing at my old stomping grounds of Lakewood Theatre in Lake Oswego, OR and directed by my old Pal, John Oules (Founder of Live On Stage). In fact I first met Oules, right here at Lakewood (known at the time as the Lake Oswego Community Theatre) back in 1990. I was already part of the family from doing Lighting at a previous show a year earlier.

So here I am back and ready to see Mame and am delighted to see Jennifer Goldsmith (seen in LOS's Spring Awakening in 2013) as Mame. Her performance in Act One was awkward as Mame goes from an IT Girl to broke and almost Human and then by Act 2 we see the Glamour and the Bitchiness of Mame that suits Goldsmith better as it did with Russell and Ball.

(OUTscene NW) Theater RE-view: Before the REAL Housewives, we had the Angry Housewives, Back on Stage at Artswest!

Brunk

by MK Scott

Way back over 30 years ago and before we first heard about DESPERATE Housewives or the REAL Housewives, there was the ANGRY Housewives during time when Housewives meant being a single mom, a submissive wife, single and over the hill and independent, but devoted to their man.

Also this goes way back for me as the Professional Theater scene and I fell in love and has created me lifelong friendships.

This Past weekend, I revisited my beginnings as I saw a little Seattle-bred musical called 'ANGRY Housewives' that was created in 1983 by A.M. Collins and Chad Henry and became Seattle's longest running musical  (6 years) and went from Seattle's Pioneer Square theater to all the way to Off-Broadway in 1986.

(OUTscene NW) Theater RE-view: ACT opens 50th Season with CLASSIC, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”!

  Daddy (Aylward) steals it in Act 2                  Bennion

by MK Scott


Tennessee Williams' “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is an American Classic and is still timeless as it was 60 years ago.

Compared to last year's classic "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff? at SRT, which I wrote felt a little outdated, "Cat" is still timeless and fresh, thanks to its Southern roots and landscape that unfortunately hasn't changed much in 60 years.

ACT Seattle is mostly known for it's contemporary productions and decided to stage this classic that they first did in its inaugural season in 1965 directed by it's founder,  Gregory Falls and starring his wife, Jean as Maggie the Cat. The Widow Mrs Falls was in the audience on opening night and got a standing ovation.

As a fan of the movie version with Paul Newman as Brick, Elizabeth Taylor as Maggie and Burl Ives as Big Daddy, I was hoping for more of an non-censored version with Brick dealing with his homosexual feelings for his late friend, Skip. In this version you get it and more and feel the pain and disgust Brick feels and the denial to all including himself.

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Furious 7; Unfriended; Ex Machina; 5 to 7!

Universal Pictures

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Furious 7

Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Universal Pictures

Energetic Furious 7 a Suitably Wild Ride!

Universal Pictures

Unfriended

Rating: R
Distributor: Universal Pictures

Generic Unfriended Afraid to Take Risks!

(MFW-Seattle 2015) The WOMEN Part 2: David Tupaz Collection!

We are excited to present a one of a kind, exclusive – runway show that celebrates the world of fashion designers and costume designers. 10 designers and over 115 works of art created by National and International Designers and Costume Designers strutted the 2015 Metropolitan Fashion Week Bellevue-Seattle Runway Show & Closing Gala at the South Hall of the Magnificent Seattle Art Museum. This was an amazing 65-minute show this past Saturday!

Tonight we start with 2015 Metropolitan Fashion Week International Fashion Designer of the Year Recipient: David Tupaz!

Crown Provided by:  George Wittels

PHOTOS provided by Jorge Hernandez

(MFW-Seattle 2015) The WOMEN Part 1: Canvas and Julie Danforth!

We are excited to present a one of a kind, exclusive – runway show that celebrates the world of fashion designers and costume designers. 10 designers and over 115 works of art created by National and International Designers and Costume Designers strutted the 2015 Metropolitan Fashion Week Bellevue-Seattle Runway Show & Closing Gala at the South Hall of the Magnificent Seattle Art Museum. This was an amazing 65-minute show this past Saturday!

Tonight we start with a few from the MFW Canvas Project and a Collection from 2015 Metropolitan Fashion Week Fashion Designer of the Year Recipient: Julie Danforth: 

Mask by Swig Miller

PHOTOS provided by Jorge Hernandez

(MFW-Seattle 2015) The MEN, Presented by Suit Supply!

We are excited to present a one of a kind, exclusive – runway show that celebrates the world of fashion designers and costume designers. 10 designers and over 115 works of art created by National and International Designers and Costume Designers strutted the 2015 Metropolitan Fashion Week Bellevue-Seattle Runway Show & Closing Gala at the South Hall of the Magnificent Seattle Art Museum. This was an amazing 65-minute show this past Saturday!

Tonight we start with Men's Wear by Suit Supply and Mask by Swig Miller: PHOTOS  provided by Jorge Hernandez

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in SEATTLE" at the ACT!

Tracy Martin

by MK Scott

Now, I must confess that I had never heard of Jacques Brel or the Revue of Brel's songbook that was off-Broadway in the late 60's.

Of course, I googled Brel and researched all I could and realized I had heard of some of the music, but performed by American Artists from Sinatra to Andy Williams to John Denver. In Europe, Brel was known as the French Sinatra and was an influence for Bowie and Cohen.

I had already wanted to see the ACT/5th Ave co-production of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, because; A) The Brillant, David Armstrong was Directing and B) The King of Seattle Musical Theater, Louis Hobson (Balagan's former Artistic Director) was part of this 5-person ensemble.


Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is a musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel. Brel's songs were translated into English by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman, who also provided the story. The original 1968 Off-Broadway production ran for four years and spawned international and regional productions, as well as a West End production and Off-Broadway revival, among others. A film adaptation was released in 1975.

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of While We're Young and Backcountry!

A24

by Sara Michelle Fetters

While We're Young

Rating: R
Distributor: A24

Charming Young a Middle-Aged Coming of Age Adventure!

IFC Midnight

Backcountry

Rating: NR
Distributor: IFC Midnight

Deep Woods Thriller Backcountry a Terrifying Trip!

(OUTscene NW) Seattle REP's "Lizard Boy" is a 'Work in Progress'; But a Great Gay Geeky Fantasy!

Alabastro Photography.

by MK Scott

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of seeing a World Premiere show in the tradition of Super modern/Comic book Genre like Bono's "Spiderman" on Broadway or as timeless of O'keefe's "Bat Boy", the Musical that made it to Off Broadway. I also see the queerness and awkwardness of "Hedwig".

"Lizard Boy", currently at the Seattle Rep is written, composed and performed by Justin Huertas, about a Young Gay Man in Seattle who had a horrific childhood and survived being to too close to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, that led to scaly green skin and the legend of "Lizard Boy" was born.

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Furious 7; Woman in Gold; Ejecta!

Universal Pictures

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Furious 7

Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Universal Pictures

Energetic Furious 7 a Suitably Wild Ride!

The Weinstein Company

Woman in Gold

Rating: PG-13
Distributor: The Weinstein Company

Woman in Gold a Beautiful if Aloof History Lesson!

IFC Midnight

Ejecta

Rating: NR
Distributor: IFC Midnight

Thriller Ejecta Ponderously Hackneyed Sci-Fi Gibberish!

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: SMC celebrates 'Legacy', one of their Most Inspirational Concerts in Years!

Deshon, Lippa and Lasentia in the MILK Finale 

by MK Scott

During this past weekend at Seattle's McCaw Hall, the Seattle Men's Chorus once again came together for 2 One ACT shows, celebrating 2 very different Men. The first ACT was called "Tyler's Suite", the story of a Tux-clad, Tyler Clementi's life set to music. Clementi was the Rugter's music student, who was "Outed" by his roommate and jumped off the the GW Bridge in the Fall of 2010. In Act 2 in "I am Harvey Milk", went from a Jewish, Tux-clad opera lover from NY to starting a new open life as a community leader in San Francisco until his tragic murder in the late-1970's.


On the night of Milk’s death in November 1978, according to a SMC Press Release,  the national gay choral movement was born when a group of men, who would later become the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, performed at Milk’s candlelight vigil. A few months later, in 1979, Seattle Men’s Chorus was formed.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: SRT's The Comparables is 'Devil wears Prada" meets "Real Housewives" on Acid and that is the Best Part!

Photo: Alabastro Photography

by MK Scott

When I heard that Seattle Rep was doing a "Campy One Act Dark Comedy" about 3 professional women, I knew that there would be some backstabbing, but wow! The Comparables by Laura Schellhardt gives off that 'Devil Wears Prada' vibe with a little of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing/Real Housewives thrown in to make it a little more 2014.

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Cinderella; Run All Night; It Follows!

Walt Disney Pictures

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Cinderella

Rating: PG
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

Disney’s New Cinderella a Bibbity Bobbity Beauty!

Warner Bros

Run All Night

Rating: R
Distributor: Warner Bros

Heavy-Handed Run a Melodramatic Insult!






  

Radius TWC

It Follows

Rating: R

Distributor: Radius TWC

Insightful It Follows an Elegantly Disquieting Terror!

(OUTscene NW) Theater RE-view: NCTC's The Flick is an EPIC statement on the Death of the Movie House!

a LOVE Triangle AT THE MOVIES      Photo by John Ulman

by MK Scott

Movies, movies we all love movies. Classic and Pop Culture Movies even more. I used to spend moments alone just going to old rundown movie houses in Portland, far from my hometown of Beaverton and how its only Historic movie house went out of Business in the early 80's and I had to venture out to multi -plexes (Beaverton had 2)  or head to the Valley multi-plex or all the way to the Historic Hollywood in NE Portland or up to 1987, we had the rundown Broadway Theaters, (Fox, Music Box, Broadway) for cheap double features. The only Theater that still exist today is the Hollywood.

I also enjoyed the Drive IN, Beaverton had 3 screens, and in the summer of 1987 I worked at the concessions stand and even socialized with my co-workers.

So I went to see NCTC's latest this past weekend, that debuted in its new home at the 12th Arts Building.