written and directed by Joshua Ravetch
NoHo Arts Center
through January 5, 2013

Two-character plays for the most part take flight - no pun intended - if the plot and dialogue are terribly funny, as in Bernard Slade's Same Time, Next Year or if it's a musical, like I Do! I Do! The writing and players must have that extra special something to engage the audience consistently for two hours.

Storytelling on stage is at its theatrical best when all the technical elements utilized blend together so smoothly that you take for granted that they are there at all. Such is the case with the amazing War Horse, based on a children's novel by Michael Morpurgo in which a young boy Albert (Andrew Veenstra) attempts to groom his foal Joey to adulthood as a farm horse, only to lose him to the ravages of World War I in England and France. Boy gets horse, boy falls in love with horse, boy loses horse, but... If you love animals and understand and respect what transpires deepdown between man and beast, you will love War Horse, as, in spite of the war horrors depicted, love is at the very core and champions above all else. Now in its US tour, War Horse is fortunately with us at the Ahmanson through July 29 only, and this beautiful production must not be missed.

The Compleat Female Stage Beauty

by Jeffrey Hatcher
directed by William A. Reilly
Crown City Theatre
through July 1

On Sunday April 1 Kritzerland presented its monthly show, this time Take Me Along saluting composer/lyricist Bob Merrill at the all new Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal in NoHo. Bruce Kimmel hosted a lovely evening with singers Melody Hollis, Juliana Hansen, Julie Garnye, Kristopher McNeeley, Jeffrey Christopher Todd and special guest Lainie Kazan. Christy Crowl served beautifully as musical director at the piano. Shelly Markham played for Miss Kazan. As always, Kimmel told some interesting stories about the composer. As for Merrill, he composed all of his tunes on a toy xylophone and had a series of pop tunes in the 50s long before he had a Broadway success. Songs performed in the 90-minute set included these tunes as well as Broadway fare from hits like Funny Girl, Carnival and Sugar, as well as from flops Pretty Belle, Henry, Sweet Henry, based on The World of Henry Orient and Holly Golightly otherwise referred to as Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Troubies' Two Gentlemen of Chicago

CRITIC'S PICK

Two Gentlemen of Chicago
presented by the Troubadour Theatre Company under the direction of Matt Walker
@ Falcon Theatre
through April 22

RECOMMENDED
The Seagull
by Anton Chekhov
directed by Andrew J. Traister
translation by Paul Schmidt
@ Antaeus Company
through April 15

As in all Chekhov plays, characters long for what they cannot have. They experience unrequited love, or must accept sharing that love with another as opposed to the complete loss of it. In The Seagull, Chekhov also takes the opportunity to examine theatre in its varied forms, both traditional and new. Known for mounting classic theatre with a professionalism like no other in Los Angeles, the Antaeus Company once again proves its integrity and much appreciated artistry in their newest production of The Seagull currently on stage in NoHo through April 15. Plays at Antaeus have double casts and the one I saw was for the most part, absolutely stellar.

The Best in LA Theatre for 2011

(alphabetical listings)

(artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories)

TOP PRODUCTIONS

Bakersfield Mist - Fountain Theatre

Cabaret - Reprise Theatre Co

Caught - Zephyr Theatre

The Cripple of Inishman - Kirk Douglas Theatre

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea- Crown City Theatre

Entertaining Mr. Sloane - The Actors Company

Falsettos - Third Street Theatre

Fela - Ahmanson Theatre

God of Carnage - Ahmanson Theatre

Hairspray - MTW (Musical Theatre West)

Having It All - NoHo Arts Center

I Never Sang For My Father - The New American Theatre

Peace in Our Time - Antaeus Company

Pursued by Happiness - Road Theatre Company

Year Zero - Colony Theatre

MOST PROMISING NEW MUSICAL

My Fairytale - PCPA Theatrefest, Solvang

MOST PROMISING NEW PLAY

The Color of Rose - Theatre 40

BEST ENSEMBLE CASTS: PLAY

The Cripple of Inishman - Kirk Douglas Theatre

Entertaining Mr. Sloane - The Actors Company

God of Carnage - Ahmanson Theatre

Poor Behavior - Mark Taper Forum

Peace in Our Time - Antaeus Company

BEST ENSEMBLE CASTS: MUSICAL

Falsettos - Third Street Theatre

Hairspray - MTW

Having It All - NoHo Arts Center

I'm Just Wild About Harry - Crown City Theatre

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCES

Sam Anderson/Corryn Cummins - Blackbird @ Rogue Machine

Philip Baker Hall/Anne Gee Byrd - I Never Sang For My Father  @ The New American Theatre

Judith Chapman - Vivien @ Rogue Machine

Gary Cole/Edi Gathegi - Superior Donuts @ Geffen Playhouse

Emrhys Cooper/Olivia d'Abo - Entertaining Mr. Sloane @ The Actors Company

Alaman Diadhiou - Twist @ Pasadena Playhouse

Rebekah Dunn - Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant @ Secret Rose Theatre

Jane Fonda - 33 Variations @ Ahmanson Theatre

Marcia Gay Harden - God of Carnage @ Ahmanson Theatre

Juliet Landau/Matthew J. Williamson- Danny and the Deep Blue Sea @ Crown City Theatre

Hal Linden - On Golden Pond @ Colony Theatre

Lesli Margherita/Tom Hewitt - Kiss Me Kate @ Reprise Theatre Company

Sandy Martin - A House Not Meant To Stand @ Fountain Theatre

Tadhg Murphy - The Cripple of Inishman @ Kirk Douglas Theatre

Sahr Ngaujah - Fela @ Ahmanson Theatre

Jenny O'Hara/Nick Ullett - Bakersfield Mist @ Fountain Theatre

Lisa O'Hare/Bryce Ryness - Cabaret @ Reprise Theatre Company

Annie Potts - AfterMath @ Matrix Theatre

Jenny Powers - A Dangerous Beauty @ Pasadena Playhouse

Deborah Puette - Caught @ Zephyr Theatre

Ignacio Serricchio/Curt Bonnem - Kowalski @ Two Roads Theatre

Gwen Van Dam - The Trip to Bountiful @ Group rep

BEST FEATURED PERFORMANCES

Meredith Bishop/Daniel Taylor - AfterMath @ Matrix Theatre

Larry Cedar/Sybyl Walker - Travels with My Aunt @ Colony Theatre

Bert Emmett - Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant @ Secret Rose Theatre

Coby Getzug - Spring Awakening @ Pantages Theatre

Mary Gordon-Murray - Cabaret @ Reprise Theatre Company

Sasha Higgins - Kowalski @ Two Roads Theatre

Richard Jenik/Amanda Kaschak - Caught @ Zephyr Theatre

Carl Johnson - Wonderlust @ Theatre of Note

Danielle Kennedy - Day Drinkers @ Odyssey Theatre

Alice Lunsford - Hollywood Arms @ Kentwood Players

Virginia Newcomb/Lisa Richards - A House Not Meant To Stand @ Fountain Theatre

Kelli Provart/Jenna Koker-Jones - The Wedding Singer @ MTW

Bryce Ryness/Megan McGinnis - A Dangerous Beauty @ Pasadena Playhouse

Tom Sloan/Dee Ann Newkirk - I Never Sang For My Father @ The New American Theatre

Erik Stein/Sam Zeller - My Fairytale @ PCPA Theatrefest, Solvang

Amy Tolsky - Spider's Web @ Theatre 40 & I Love Lucy @ Greenway Court Theatre

Carole Ita White - The Prisoner of Second Avenue @ El Portal Mainstage

Adam Wylie - The Robber Bridegroom @ ICT (International City Theatre), Long Beach

Gina Yates - The Trip to Bountiful @ Group rep

UNFORGETTABLE COMEDY DUO PERFORMANCES

Jason Alexander and Gina Hecht in The Prisoner of Second Avenue @ El Portal Mainstage

Geoff Elliott and Deborah Strang in The Chairs @ A Noise Within, Glendale

Joseph Fuqua and Jamie Torcellini in The Mystery of Irma Vep @ Rubicon Theatre, Ventura

Paul C. Vogt and Kevin Blake in Laurel and Hardy @ Falcon Theatre

BEST SOLO SHOW: MALE

John Leguizamo - Ghetto Klown - The Montalban

BEST SOLO SHOWS: FEMALE

Spider Saloff - The Roar of the Butterfly @ Celebration Theatre

Jennifer Leigh Warren - Diamonds Are Forever: The Songs of Dame Shirley Bassey @ The Renberg Theatre

BEST CABARET ARTISTS: MALE

Steven Brinberg - Simply Barbra @ M Bar

Jason Graae - Perfect Hermany @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's

Peter Mac - Becoming Judy @ The Gardenia

BEST CABARET ARTISTS: FEMALE

Ann Hampton Callaway @ Catalina Jazz Club

Dangerous Curves ( Lisa Smith, Karen Michaels, Margaret Menzies) @ Sterling's

Maxine Lapiduss @ Sterling's

Freda Payne @ Catalina Jazz Club

MOST UNIQUE CABARET/VARIETY SHOW

Melodyland - Melody Hollis @ Sterling's

BEST SEASONAL SHOWS

A Christmas WestSide Story - The Troubadour Theatre Co @ The Falcon Theatre

The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever @ Avery Schreiber Theatre

Mrs. Scrooge The Musical @ Highways, Santa Monica

SPECTACLE

Iris  - Cirque du Soleil's unique show for Hollywood @ Kodak Theatre

SPECIAL NOD TO A THEATRE

Glendale Centre Theatre for

1776

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers

STAR-MAKING PERFORMERS

Emrhys Cooper

Juliet Landau

Peter Mac

BEST CDs

from Kritzerland:

Perfect Hermany

Melodyland

The People in the Picture

&

from Rhino:

Seasons Greetings

A Jersey Boys Christmas

For those who prefer theatre with a message, this is your play; for those who prefer a screamingly funny time, you've also come to the right place - Joe Marshall's The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever! is now making its West Coast premiere at the Avery Schreiber Theatre. Yes, it's sacrilegious, irreverent, so no one is spared, yet it's a play with a whole lot of tolerance and love for everyone. With a tightly-knit cast and meticulous direction from Paul Storiale, this Christmas Pageant should run annually for many years to come.

Bob Cratchit & Mr. Tightwad @ The Secret Rose

Sorry to say, this adaptation (Katrina Wood) of Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol is a major disappointment. The performance was sluggish - at least on the afternoon I attended, and there are no real redeeming qualities for the changes made to the script. If you are attempting to present the story from a different perspective, fine, do that, but make sure there is a reason and that it is completely clear. To add contemporary characters to delight a younger generation - like a rock 'n roll Goth Girl for the Ghost of Christmas Present (nice work from Athena Rose) within the traditional Victorian setting makes no sense. Even having Bob Cratchit narrate doesn't change or enhance anything. The music is OK, but hardly memorable; it needs more buoyancy and hope. I kept asking myself "What's the new twist on this?" The small plot elements changed would be better off left as Dickens wrote them.

On the plus side there's a very enjoyable performance by Foster Walker as Cratchit. His aggressive personality is rather engaging, and the slight conversion to a Scrooge-like nature at play's end is fun to watch. It's a pleasure to see the vibrantly talented Emily Bridges, but she is quite wasted as Nell. Some nice work from the ensemble and excellent staging, but an overall unstimulating presentation that may turn off ardent fans of Charles Dickens.

3 out of 5 stars

CRITIC'S PICK
Riverdance
directed by John McColgan
@ Pantages Theatre
through November 20 only

From the top Riverdance is defined as journey...that takes us from land to water and back, or from land to sky and back, from one land to another, even... from one life to the next... oh, what awesome journeys Riverdance enfolds! Incorporating dance, song and music, both traditional and contemporary, the show began in 1994 as a salute to these art forms but not without an abundance of variety. According to director John McColgan, it would be impossible to represent Irish dance without presenting ballet or Spanish flamenco, and so the Irish Dance Troupe includes dancers from Australia, Great Britain, and Spain. One great highlight of Act I is the Firedance with Flamenco soloist Marita Martinez-Rey...

who stops the show with her dazzling display of fast, graceful footwork and inspired beauty. Footwork of the flamenco style certainly has a lot in common with the steadily heavy footwork of Irish dancing, but you must see both to appreciate how one may have influenced the other. Dance as a part of culture must be appreciated by future generations in order to be maintained, and thus in journeying to new lands, it acquires new steps and further growth. In Act II, no greater example of this change is to be seen than in The Harbour of the New World sequence where the baritone soloist Michael E. Wood trades taps with Irish dancer Craig Ashurst.

Styles have assuredly changed but they merge beautifully when represented side by side. Other highlights of this spectacular evening include: Thunderstorm, where the Irish male dancers let off steam as well as some gutteral primal screams, The Countess Cathleen by the lasses, and the title number the colorful "Riverdance" as the Act I finale. Within the song segments my favorite is "Heal Their Hearts-Freedom" by the baritone soloist Michael E. Wood who so magnificently shows off his double skill with singing, then dancing Trading Taps immediately thereafter. The 5 musicians are all terrific: the Irish Piper gives us "Lament", then the fiddler, the flautist, and those sensational drummers, whose loud and thunderous beats add so much vibrancy to the harmonious sounds of the tapping shoes, offer equally mesmerizing solos. Drums and taps combined create an indescribably electric energy that literally drives you to the edge of your seat.

Bravo to the lead dancers Craig Ashurst, Caterina Coyne, Alana Mallon, Padraic Moyles, Jason O'Neil and Chloey Turner and to the other 18 of the dance ensemble. Kudos as well to the Riverdance Band with musical director Declan Masterson, Piper Matt Bashford, fiddler Pat Mangan, drums Mark Alfred and saxophonist Dave McGauran. To tappers Michael E. Wood and Ben Mapp and to all the glorious singing members of the company, a hearty thank you.

Dancing, singing and music keep a culture alive and all peoples thriving and happy. Without them...well, let's hope they never die. Go see Riverdance and come alive through this Sunday November 20 only!