(OUTview NW) RE-view: REED's Performance in Seattle Rep's 'Luna Gale' is "Authentically FAB"!

Reed is Convincing! (Alabastro)

by MK Scott

It isn't very often when an actress is so perfect in a role that it becomes bigger than the material of the play, that is what I felt when seeing Pamela Reed play Social Worker, Caroline in Seattle Rep's production of Rebecca Gilman's "Luna Gale", directed by SRT's artistic director, Braden Abraham. Now I have seen Reed numerous times including,  SRT's "Who's Afraid of the Virginia Wolf?" and ACT's "Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike", but it is this performance in 'Luna Gale', Reed is at her finest.

Caroline (Reed) is an Iowa social worker tasked with deciding who should raise an infant taken into protective custody after the baby’s young meth addicted parents failed to seek prompt medical attention for her.

(OUTview NW) DON'T MISS: See Jinkx and Major in the "Hysterical", UNWRAPPED Only at the Seattle Rep!

(SRT)

by MK Scott

You loved them as The Vaudevillians, now love them as Jinkx and Major! Drag performers Jinkx Monsoon and Major Scales return to Seattle Rep’s Leo K. Stage with more tunes, more laughs, mistletoe and menorahs. A holiday show like no other, Unwrapped.

As I arrived at the 5pm show this past Friday, I was welcomed by Jinkx (Jerick Hoffer) and Major (Richard Andriessen) with trays of cookies for their audience, Jinkx was gorgeous in an golden gown, and Major was distinguished.

During the show, Jinkx dressed in a flowing red gown with white trim, but refuses to do the show, she's a Jewish gay boy in a dress and thinks the time between Thanksgiving and New Years is one be giant black hole. Major urges her on and we get a mix of Jinkx/Kitty and Major/Dr. Dan's similar squabbles as in the Vaudevilians.

Too Much Holiday Spirit(s)?                   (Watters)

The Funniest moment was a tie. One with Jinkx lying near the edge of the stage and rolling off into the front row! As Jinkx drinks and drinks, she tries to sing the 12 days of Xmas sloshed in a very Lucy kind of way. Like Lucy, Jinkx excels in physical comedy and doesn't disappoint. Major has a 'major' solo number and commands the stage. Later, 100% sober Jinkx returned in a white robe with feather trim.

Jinkx and Major takes an unconventional approach to holiday classics. So drag yourself to the theatre for big cheer– and make sure to arrive early for photo ops!

See Jinkx Monsoon and Major Scales in UNWRAPPED at Seattle Rep through December 13th. Click HERE for Tix and Info.

(OUTview NW) Theater RE-view: SRT's "Come From Away" is Phenomenal and could be Broadway's Latest Sensation in the Coming Year!

Colella was a Stand-out!       (Bennion)

by MK Scott

It was bound to happen, a "9/11 Musical", but not about the attacks itself, but the inspirational stories that came from it and nothing was as remarkable as the story about the events in Gander, Newfoundland. This story as well as an incredible soundtrack is the basis for "Come From Away", currently at the Seattle Rep.

Making its NW/World Premiere, 'Away' made its official World Premiere this past summer at the La Jolla Playhouse near San Diego, directed by famed Broadway Director, Christopher Ashley (Memphis) and many from the La Jolla cast reprise their roles in the Seattle production. "Come From Away" has Broadway Bound written all over it.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: CLASSIC Hound of the Baskervilles hits the Stage at Seattle Rep!

by MK Scott

Well, what took so long? It has been over 100 years since Arthur Conan Doyle's Classics Holmes tale, The Hound of the Baskervilles was first published, and it finally hits the stage in a World Premiere at the Seattle Rep.

This classic has adapted by Seattle Actors/Playwrights, David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright.They had previously successfully adapted Double Indemnity in 2011 for ACT.

The story goes like this: Sir Charles Baskerville (Charles Leggett) is found dead on the grounds of his country house, Baskerville Hall. The cause is ascribed to a heart attack. Fearing for the safety of Sir Charles's nephew and the only known heir, Sir Henry Baskerville (Connor Toms), coming from Toronto, Canada to claim his inheritance, Dr James Mortimer (Basil Harris) travels to London and asks Sherlock Holmes (Darragh Kennan) for help.

Sir Charles Baskerville had become fearful of the legendary curse and its hellhound. Mortimer decided that Sir Charles had been waiting for someone when he died. His face was contorted in a ghastly expression, while his footprints suggested that he was running away from something. The elderly man's heart wasn't strong, and he had planned to go to London the very next day. Mortimer says he had seen the footprints of a "gigantic hound" near Sir Charles's body, though nothing was revealed at the inquest.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: SRT's Updated, 'Inspecting Carol', MORE Parody than CLASSIC!

Budget cuts leads to this!

by MK Scott

I had heard some good things about Daniel Sullivan's Inspecting Carol, written and produced on the Seattle Rep's stage in 1991. If you recall at that time, Jesse Helms was going on the attack to cut funding from the NEA  (National Endowment for the Arts).  The Play tells the tale of how ARTS Organizations were (and still are) struggling and had to jump over the hoops to change from traditional to Experimental to Contemporary.

Now that 'Inspecting Carol' has returned to the SRT Stage, the play still had to change with the times. When I heard of the plot, I assumed it would be like the Classic Michael Frayn Farce, 'Noises Off'. However 'Carol' really isn't in the same league. It is clearly a Parody of 'A Christmas Carol' with a silly behind the scenes story thrown in.