Center Stage: Florida Rep, Off Broadway Palm continue to entertain
St. Patrick’s Day started with the “luck of the Irish,” even though I am German. It must have been “the wearin’ of the green” that made my day, or should I say evening? I got to see a terrific opening night show at The Florida Repertory Theatre’s Outdoor Series, titled “Broadway’s Best: A Concert On The Caloosahatchee.” It starred Corolann Sanita and Gerritt VanderMeer, along with a live band — The Bay Street Band — accompanying the two talented Broadway performers and local Rep favorites.
This outdoor series proved to be so popular that the Rep had to extend performances till March 27. This songfest featured music from the biggest and best musical hits on Broadway, just like the title says. We got to hear bits of hits from shows like “Music Man,” “South Pacific,” “Carousel,” “Rent” and “Phantom,” to name but a few. Since Broadway shows are in my past, as a performer, dancer and choreographer, I was in my element and this was the perfect pick me up I needed for the pandemic, boredom, blahs. Judging from the cheers, applause and standing ovation, the rest of the audience had as much fun as I did.
Thank you one and all for a great evening’s entertainment in safe outdoor surroundings. The arrangement of 4-foot roped off squares on a grassy patch where you bring folding chairs — or the theater will provide — nibbling on food and sipping a drink is perfect.
Now let me also alert you all the Rep has more goodies planned for this season. From April 14-24, a great “family show” will take center stage outdoors, across from the Arcade Theatre. The show is Stephen Sondheim and Janes Lapine’s smash 1987 hit musical “Into the Woods.”
Just imagine what happens when Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, along with the whole mess of famous “Kid Lit” characters, take us not only into the woods but also into the swamp. The swamp in this instance is our minds, which are filled with such scary stuff as being alone and unloved, fearing poverty, old age, sickness, and on and on. But do not get me wrong, while there are all sorts of pubescent and adult traumas in this musical, there are just as many laughs and witty jokes along the way — kind of a musical, “human comedy.” At any rate, this was a show I loved when I first saw it on Broadway.
There will be two different companies performing “Into the Woods.” One is the winter Conservatory Company performing from April 14-24; these are high school-aged students who study at the Rep’s Acting Program. The next performances are by Conservatory Jr. and feature a younger group of students currently studying at the Rep. These kids will perform “Into the Woods” from April 28 to May 2. For ticket prices and information for either show, call 239-219-1535.
Attending the Conservatory’s performances is so important to these young students, as well as the Rep, especially now during this time of pandemic. Think of it as a shot in the arm for keeping “live theater well, healthy and strong.”
Like I said it was a busy week and the next show I attended was the Off Broadway Palm’s goofy, delightful farce titled “Nana Does Vegas.” Let me warn you, if lighthearted goofy farces are not your thing, then this is not “your cup of tea.” But from the sounds of laughter and the rousing standing ovation at the end of the performance I attended, such was not the case at this sold-out house.
Penned by Katherine Di Savino, this latest version of Nana — the world’s wildest grandma — brings Nana back with all her wild antics; only this time she is moved to Las Vegas and she’s just a bit more of a savvy sophisticated troublemaker. So now that we are in Vegas, we can expect and get lots more sparkle, spangles and beads, glitz and glamor, along with mobsters, showgirls, secrets, intrigues, gambling and wise cracks coming at us like a roll of the dice or a spin of the Roulette wheel. This is one of those shows where it is best not to give away too much of the plot up front, but it is a farce that does manage to maintain suspense, not just in the jokes but also in the story line. DiSavino does a neat job by not giving away the plot’s twists and turns too far in advance. That is what makes the show fun; you don’t see everything, coming from a mile away, which makes the laughs spontaneous.
Like all farces, “Nana” does have the required multiple slammed doors, double takes, hiding, disguises and chases. The dialogue is fast paced and snappy, which is perfect thanks to the direction of Paul Bernier. The “first rate” cast is made up of Broadway Palm’s favorite comics and deserves mention. In order appearance, they are: Dianne Stone Fussaro, Lynn Grace, Rachael Endrizzi, Ken Quiricone, Michael Weaver, Rob Summers, Chance Cintron, Jim Heffernan and Rachael Lord. To which I can only add, “Kudos to all of you; you are all at the top of your game!”
So, for a fun giggle fest and a bit of light weight madness, phone the Broadway Palm box office now at 239-278-4422. Tickets are selling out fast and the show only plays till April 25. Plus, all the shows including this one are only playing at half capacity audiences for safe distancing. And one more thing! When you phone the box office, remind ’em Marsha sent you!