(OUTview NW) Theater RE-view: Seattle Finally has GEEK Theater and the Campy "Shoggoths on the Veldt" fits the Bill!

Only One is the hero!    (Loomis) 

by MK Scott

Geek Theater has come to Seattle and it was only a matter of time, The Rogues Gallery made its debut this past weekend with a super funny but convoluted comedy, called Shoggoths on the Veldt, a original CTHULHU adventure by Cameron McMary (Of Dice and Men).

The concept is like a female Indiana Jones meets Johnny Guitar (Remember the Joan Crawford campy and dykish western) looking for the Veldt, a small statuette familiar to fans of H.P. Lovecraft, that cannot be destroyed, and so spawns a quest to deepest darkest Africa with other homages to Lovecraft including the swashbuckling heroine of  Lady Euphonia (Jennifer Crooks), and the super cute and dingbat explorer, Welton (the Fab, Curtis Eastwood) and the ghost of Phillipa's fiance, Lord Melford (Cody Smith) with Male Servant, Crompit (Cole Hornady).

(OUTview NW) THEATER RE-view: NCTC's 'Festen' is "PURE 'Family' DRAMA"!

Is Anyone in this Family Truly Happy?  (Photo;  John Ulman)

by MK Scott

Back in 2013, I saw and reviewed the Tracy Letts' Black Comedy, August: Osage County at (the now defunct) Balagan Theater, and the subject matter of a incestuous, dysfunctional family was shocking and took 3 hours to get there. Currently the New Century Theater's production of David Eldridge's Festen, goes there and more and it is another one of those 90 Minute ONE Acts.

Festen was based from an infamous 1998 Danish film with the english title of 'The Celebration" about a family gathering turned nightmare, but I am getting too far ahead. The Play also proves there is dysfunction in all classes from the middle class of  August: OC to the upper crust of Festen,  with fifth and denial it has no barriers.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Artswest's "My Mañana Comes” proves 'Straight' Contemporary Drama Still Exists!

(Brunk)

by MK Scott

And now something completely different! After a month of seeing Rock Musicals, Classics and Homoerotic Productions, I then was asked to review Elizabeth Irwin’s working-stiff drama “My Mañana Comes” currently at Seattle's Artswest Playhouse, and the best I can sum up is a play similar to The FLICK, the NCTC's (and Gregory Award Nominated)  production of 3 workers at an old movie house that we reviewed this past March. The difference in My Mañana  is that this time it depicts 4 men working as bus boys at an upper class Italian restaurant in Manhattan dealing with class, but also dealing with the American Dream.

Fortunately, this play is a 90 min. ONE Act and as with FLICK, the months go by as does the repetitiveness of the duties of the working class.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Seattle Rep's 'Buyer and Cellar' is a One-Man View to All Things Barbra!

(Bennion)

by MK Scott

It has been nearly 20 years since an 'ALL Barbra' film has been released, remember the classic,"The Mirror has two Faces"? So what has she done in 20 years? Music, and a few films (Fockers, Guilt Trip) and her marriage to James Brolin, etc.  Also noteworthy was her 2010 coffee table book called, “My Passion for Design,” and many eyewitnesses confirm that Barbra Streisand has her own “vintage” mall in the vast basement of a decorative barn.

Jonathan Tolins, author of the very entertaining one-man show,  “Buyer & Cellar”, and apparently has never been there but he obviously written this as a fantasy and labor of love.  Everything about Barbra is about Perfect detail. I remember hearing about this Play in 2013 with Michael Urie starring in this One-Man show. So when I heard the Seattle Rep was going to stage this in the Leo K Theater this fall, I was so looking forward it. Also looking forward to it was the mostly gay audience on opening night.

(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!

(OUTview NW) RE-view: You Take The GOOD Acting in SPT's 'BAD Jews'!

It's WAR!                               (Paul Bestock)

by MK Scott

Yes, I have been to New York many times in the past 25 years and you never want to be on the BAD side of a New York Jew, and previously I had went to High School with several Secular Jews so I know culture and pride is a big deal. With a New York Jew you get more than you bargain for with both the Pride and the toughness, so I could relate to Josh Harmon's Play, Bad Jews, currently at the Seattle Public Theater.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: WET's 99 Ways to F**K, is a clever testament of Sexual Deviance!

Higgins' Dave wants more than a feather         WET

by MK Scott

It isn't often that I get to see a play called, 99 Ways to FUCK a Swan (by Kim Rossenstock), just the name alone was enough for some people to attend. From the Synopsis, I knew it started with the Greek Mythology of Leda and the Swan (actually Zeus turns into the swan).

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Seattle Rep's A View from the Bridge is a Triumph!

Torn?            Photo: Alan Alabastro

by MK Scott 

Back in the early 90's during my first visit to New York, I remember taking a walking tour through Brooklyn Heights and I remember seeing this little red Cottage on a street filled with brownstones and was told this is where the playwright, Arthur Miller lived when he was married to Marilyn Monroe, it felt like a piece of Hollywood in this little tiny Burrough of New York.

Knowing of Miller's experience of Brooklyn, I knew his 1955 play, A View of the Bridge, would be be slice of Americana  now on stage at the Seattle Rep.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Live on Stage's "Falsettos" is a Fitting Tribute to Life imitating Art!

Whizzer's Last Falsetto?         Photo:LOS

by MK Scott

I admit I had never heard of Finn and Lapine's 1992 BROADWAY Musical, Falsettos, until 1999 when the Seattle Men's Chorus performed 2 numbers as part of their Broadway themed concert, "Gentleman Prefer Broadway". One number was March of the Falsettos and the other was What more can I say? (In 2000, as a member of the chorus, we performed this at a wedding of 2 other chorus members.)

Just to hear those 2 songs alone was good enough for me to travel down to Portland to see our friends at Live on Stage (Last year was Rocky Horror and then Spring Awakening in 2012). The Icing was this year was a tribute to the late, great Rob Buckmaster. Buckmaster was a staple in the Portland Theater scene in the early 90's and lost his battle to AIDS in 1995. Live on Stage's Director, John Oules is the marketing Director of Our House of Portland and is the chair of the Rob Buckmaster Fund at the Equity Foundation.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: ACT's Bloomsday goes Back in Time for Love!

Old is New Again!           Photo: Pai

by MK Scott

From the Reinvented Classic "Children's Hour" to the Modern "American Idiot", my latest Theatrical adventure was a World Premiere.

An Irish Love story with 4 actors playing 2 characters, How? you ask, I will explain, but first I need to add that his was the last play at ACT under the direction from Kurt Beattie who is retiring after 40 years as its Artistic Director. How quaint that in "Bloomsday" by Steven Dietz,  we travel through time by 35 years.

The Story is reminiscent of a Favorite 80's Classic film, Dream a Little Dream, that starred Jason Robards, who takes control of Corey Feldman's Body and Piper Laurie takes other Merideth Salenger's to get Feldman and Salenger together.

Well, in Bloomsday, Old Robert (Peter Crook, most recently in Cabaret) encounters a young Irish Caithleen (Sydney Andrews, most recently in Vanya and Spike) who is an anxious Irish guide, giving a tour of the Dublin depicted during a single day (now referred to as Bloomsday) in James Joyce’s 1922 modernist master-novel, “Ulysses.”

(OUTview NW) REview Part 2: Artswest's Brilliant Production of 'American Idiot, the Immersive Version is Exhilarating Fun!

We WANT You to Join OUR Tribe!                     Photo: Brunk

by MK Scott

Last week I gave you part ONE of Artswest's HUGE production of Greenday's American Idiot that was so BIG you needed to see it twice to get the full experience. Last week was the traditional version, so this past weekend we did the Immersive Experience, as someone who hasn't acted on the stage since High School, there was the excitement of doing Live theater and being part of the production that is the greatest feeling in the world.

This past weekend as promised, I joined the Millitary Tribe, headed by Super Ab-luscious, Jordan Taylor that included a dozen hunky chorus boys and we got to see Justin (Lizard Boy) Huertas' Tunny as he goes through Basic Training.

(OUTview NW) Re-view: Intiman updates the 'Children's Hour' but Misses an Opportunty to Tackle Race

Can you guess Who is Who?  Photo: Bennion

by MK Scott

Last May, I attended my very first Lesbian-themed play, besides being an American Classic, the Arouet produced show literally was perfect from casting to space.

Jump start four months later, and the Childrens Hour, 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) is being performed by the Intiman but there was a catch, so keep reading. 

(OUTview NW) REview Part 1: Artswest's Brilliant Production of 'American Idiot' is so Huge, it needs 2 Reviews!

A Drug-addicted, Johnny becomes St Jimmy

by MK Scott

After the Broadway hits of Rent and Spring Awakening, the daring production of 'American Idiot", the Greenday Musical, inspired by their 2004 album of the same name, American Idiot is an testament of the 2000's with war and confusion. Not since, The Who's Tommy has a concept album inspired a Rock Opera.

After a run at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2009, the show moved to the St. James Theatre on Broadway. The show officially opened in April 2010. The show closed in April 2011 after 422 performances. While Green Day did not appear in the production, vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong performed the role of "St. Jimmy" occasionally throughout the run.

The story, expanded from that of the concept album, centers on three disaffected young men, Johnny, Will, and Tunny. Johnny and Tunny flee a stifling suburban lifestyle and parental restrictions, while Will (Michael Coale Grey) stays home to work out his relationship with his pregnant girlfriend, Heather (Chelsea LeValley). The former pair looks for meaning in life and tries out the freedom and excitement of the city. Tunny (Justin "Lizard Boy" Huertas) quickly gives up on life in the city, joins the military, and is shipped off to war. Johnny (Frederick Halgreen, fresh from 5th ave's Jasper and playing Freddie Mercury in SMC's Queen Concert) turns to drugs and finds a part of himself that he grows to dislike, has a relationship with Whatshername (Kirsten "Lizard Boy" Helland) and experiences lost love. Johnny becomes Drug dealer, St Jimmy (Trent Moury, fresh from last season's Angry Housewives) and Tunny loses a leg in Iraq and is treated by nurse, Extraordinary girl  (Played by a Male actor for the first time,  Jimmie Herrod). I had to relook at the program to be sure Herrod was male with a  powerful and sounded female with great chemistry with Huertas's Tunny.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Chandelier Productions' Spring Awakening is an INCREDIBLE Triumph!

by MK Scott

With Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening heading back to Broadway, it is easy to appreciate the modern day classic and even seeing countless versions (Actually 3 so far) it is refreshing how fresh it can be.

Just imagine without Spring Awakening, we wouldn't have GLEE or LOOKING or even PITCH PERFECT, because the stars of the original Broadway cast was Lea Michelle (Wendla) who went on to mega success in Glee and the soon to be Scream Queens, but also Jonathan Groff (Melchior) who reteamed with Michelle in Glee and starred in HBO's Looking. Even Skylar Astin (Georg) went on to the highly Successful, Pitch Perfect franchise. The Tony winning, John Gallagher Jr, (Moritz) has stayed on Broadway with American Idiot and small TV roles.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Intiman's John Baxter brings Scandal and Debate to this World Premiere!

Intiman

by MK Scott

If it is summer in Seattle it means it is Intiman's Summer Theater Festival time. The Festival brings new life for the Legacy of Intiman Playhouse. A little Intiman is better than no Intiman at all.

This is the 4th year of the festival and each year they stage a new production that has NW Roots. Two years ago was Stu for Silverton (the realife story of the transgender Mayor of a small Oregon Town) and Three years ago with Dan Savage's controversial play, "Miracle!".

This year the play to see is John Baxter is a Switch-Hitter by Ana Brown and Andrew Russell, and it focuses on the biggest scandal to ever Hit Gay Softball. Back in 2008, Seattle hosted the NAGAAA World series about playing for Gay team means you have to be Gay, if any teammate is Bi, you must declare who they are to the organization. In this actual case 5 players were called in questions and had to determine what their label was. Ultimately, three players were deemed at least "not gay enough," to play.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Artswest Strikes Gold (again) with a Series Showcasing the Ladies of Seattle Musical Theater!

By MK Scott

When West Seattle's Artswest Playhouse does any show lately it turns to Gold and they have done it again with a 4 week summer series called After Hours with Mathew Wright; Part-Cabaret/Part Retrospective, the Hot Young Artistic Director, Wright welcomes an up and coming Musical Theater leading lady for an Hour or more of Music and conversation.

I know this format well; I did this a few times in Portland, over 20 years ago with several top notch performers from Kathy Philpott to Lisa Marie Harrison.

There is one up and coming actress that I couldn’t wait to see showcased and she comes from good stock, that performer is Jessica Skerritt (Yes, one of those Skerritts).

Jessica is young and Blonde and has that Kristin Chenoweth vibe, especially when comes out to sing one of Chenoweth’s signature songs, Apt 14G. 

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Sidewinders: Experimental or Lost in Translation?

FZ

by MK Scott

I always enjoy exploring new Seattle Theater Companies, especially if they focus are Gay Theater. Fantastic Z is the 4th group I have discovered just in the past year.

So when I discovered their current production, Sidewinders, being performed at Hugo House and it was something like a Western about Gender, I thought, “interesting”.

So, this past Saturday, I attended this ONE Act (yes, another one) play. Extended ONE Acts must be a trend, Ya Think? Most of the new productions lately have had no intermission.

Back to Sidewinders, a Play written by Basil Kreimendal and Directed by Joshua Jon, half of the production was Bailey, the soldier (Jessica Severance), and Dakota, the Cowboy or Girl, (Dakota) going round and around about How are they going to ‘F*CK? Bailey has no sex organs and is unsure of Gender. Seriously, I am unsure of Dakota’s Gender! Bailey wanted Dakota to decide and that will determine if Dakota is straight or Gay (Depending on whose gender is which). At first I thought it was a sketch from SNL or the Big Gay Sketch Show, but no, it was half of the play. Confused?

(OUTview NW) RE-view: T22's WIZZER PIZZER is an Ambivalent Journey to Ex-Gay Land!

T22

by MK Scott

Pride Continues in Seattle with Theater22's much anticipated production of Wizzer Pizzer: Getting Over the Rainbow by Amy Wheeler and Directed by Corey D. McDaniel, just when Wicked hits the Paramount for the upteempth time, Wizzer is a new telling of the Wizard of Oz with an Ex-Gay focus. Yes, we know Ex-Gay movements  still exist and also was the focus of last years, SRT's A Great Wilderness, that Ex-Gay Movements are a Dying breed. Again we must be reminded of their existence in a way that it is better to communicate with Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh My! In this production's case, Drag Queens, Dykes and Drunk Latin Jesus, Oh My!

(OUTview NW) RE-view: ACT's Threesome Goes from Bedroom Farce to Political Statement for Gender Equality!

Someone is Hiding Something BIG!          Scandiuzzi

by MK Scott


When I first heard about ACT's new production of Threesome, I was curious especially since it was written by a Muslim and the 2 main characters are from Egypt and their mission is to have a Threesome. OK, a Rare Sex Comedy with Muslim twist? What we get is 2 Genres for the price of one. 

As the lights rise on Yussef  El Guindi's play at Seattle's ACT Theater, this past weekend, we see Rashid (Karan Oberoi), an Egyptian-American photographer, and his Girlfriend, Leila (Alia Attallah), a westernized Egyptian writer now living in America. Leila has written a book on Sexual Politics during the Egyptian Revolution, and so she pushes Rashid to go along with this experiment. A Threesome.

Soon they are joined by the somewhat annoying, American, Doug (Quinn Franzen), who is appropriately attired  (Full Frontal of course).. So Doug gets in the Middle of the Bed, with a still clothed, Leila, on one side as she forces Rashid to get into the other side with Doug. Rashid is clearly uncomfortable and slowly takes his shirt off and his boxers off and fold them neatly on the Night stand. Doug truly starts to initiate. But Rashid Panics and both are stunned that Doug has read the book and his the Publishing company's official Photographer to take the official cover of the book.

(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.