Review #7:OCP's The 39 Steps

Will I ever learn to put in a review on time?UGGGHH!!!


Anyway,last Sunday,I believe I have seen one of the greatest shows to open a new season to the Orange Community Players probably one od the funniest I have seen in a long time!!

First off,I want to say REALLY AWESOME JOB to the show's director,Mr. Alaniz Vasquez,he has done an amazing job designing and directing this show,anyone that's willing to take on Alfred Hitchcock is a very brave director.

Secondly,I want to say awesome job to the cast.They truly brought the show to life and were excellent with comedic timing.Smashing Cast!!

Thirdly,I want to say how amazed I was with the lighting,it made the scenes with the train or even the traveling through the swamp seem so real.Great design!!

Great acting.Greating directing.Great design.Absolutely awesome job!!5 Stars

          Orange Community Players,Inc
         708 W.Division-Orange,Tx
        77630
           Reservations Required:
           (409)-882-9137

Review #6:OCP's Broadway Fun for Funds 9

OCP's Broadway Fun for Funds

Yet another late Review, Forgive me everyone, Technical difficulties suck...

Any who, about two weeks ago, I went and saw OCP's 9th annual Broadway Fun for Funds show, Directed by Paul Burch.

For those who don't know what BFFF is, it's a lot like Yuletide, It's a fundraiser show for the theater that includes group numbers and solos from different Broadway shows.

This year, the show is directed by the wonderful Paul Burch, who is good friends with the past director of BFFF, Mrs. Brook Aurand ( formally known as Brook Doss.)

Mr. Paul, I believe you have directed an absolutely wonderful and beautiful show, job well done!!

This show had a wonderful selection of music and wonderful choreography,5 stars!!

Don't miss this upcoming season!!!



The 39 Steps
Directed by Alaniz Vasquez
September 2013

 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Directed by Codie Vasquez
November 2013

Orange Community Players, Inc

     708 W. Division-Orange, TX 77630

Reservations Required:(409)-882-9137 www.orangecommunityplayers.com

 

Review #5:Lamar Theater's Fiddler on the Roof

Review #5:Fiddler on the Roof


Last night,I had the privilege of seeing "Fiddler on the Roof"with some good friends of mine at Lamar Theater at Lamar State College-Port Arthur.Upon my arrival at the theater,who do I see??My Middle School Theatre teacher,Mr.Clark Reed,was the first to greet me.It was so refreshing and awesome to see him!!


Anyway,back to the show...

Fiddler on the Roof is a musical written by Joseph Stein,Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Brock.Fiddler was directed by Mr. Keith Cockrell.Now,I have never seen Fiddler before,but im sure glad this performance was my first time seeing it.

Everything was absolutely beautiful!!!From the singing to the sets,everything was just awesome!!The choreography absolutely blew me away!!Like the "Wedding Dance" or numbers like "To Life",all of them were just great.

Also the sets were done very well,with the moving house pieces and the set up for "The Dream",they were all just amazing.Another great thing about "The Dream" scene was the actual flying Fruma Sarah and the floating Grandmother Tzietel,those were probably my favorite technical feats of the show.

This show was an absolute 5 star show!!!This was a great show put on by Lamar State College-Port Arthur and Port Arthur Little Theater!!

Review #4: OCP's It's Hee Haw Ya'll

Sorry this is coming in so late...i mean really late...but here it is..

okay,so even though Hee Haw showed earlier this month and its almost August,im still gonna review it.

"It's Hee Haw Ya'll" was a very cute and funny Young People's Theater Workshop production.From the Barber shop Sketches to the well known group numbers like "Gloom,Despair, and Agony",everything was very entertaining and really captured what the original Hee Haw truly was.

Watching Hee Haw was always a memory I've had with my dad's family(who live in Alabama and who enjoyed Hee Haw) and it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to see my family memories become live on stage.

Another awesome show directed by Codie Vasquez.Keep on rocking Mrs.Codie!!

As always,Don't miss OCP's upcoming season,It's gonna be a great one!!

Orange Community Players,Inc

708 W.Division-Orange,TX 77630

Reservations Required:(409)-882-9137

www.orangecommunityplayers.com

The Beginning of PHANTOM FEVER!!!

                                                  I had to post about this.Personally,I like the one from Broadway ,but this one will do.

I'm just loving Phantom of the Opera right now!

PHANTOM FEVER!!!

Backstage Story #1:Grease 2010

Okay,so this is one of my backstage stories that I still to this day laugh my head off at.

The one in the middle is me.......yeah,laugh it up.......

My very first school play I did was in 2010 and we performed ''Grease''.I was Danny,which was lucky for a sixth grader up against 7th and 8th graders trying out for the same part.Anyway,there was a scene in the show in which Danny runs in with a pair of shorts on because he's suppose to be running track.The pair of shorts I was wearing,I wore under my blue jeans throughout the first part of the play until that scene,then I would take the jeans off over my shoes and go to the scene.The scene change from the dance scene to the scene where I'm running was a really quick quick change.On our third performance night,I wasn't so lucky with the quick change.....My pants got stuck.Two of my buddies helped me get one pant leg off,but my cue came and I went on stage with my pants dragging behind me with one pant leg on one ankle.The crowd was in an uproar of laughter!I delivered my line and then the guys on stage proceeded to pull the leg off...Right there on stage!!!I was on the stage floor pulling my foot as the other two boys were pulling the opposite way,pulling off my pant leg.The crowd was still laughing!At least they were laughing...They finally managed to get my pant leg off and they threw them backstage.We continued the scene kinda like something didn't just happen.I was so embarrassed!What a night!

About a week later,I got the DVD copy of our performance....they filmed the third night....the night that my pants were dragging behind me.At least then,I was able to laugh at it.

At the park

So just keep one thing in mind.........Stuff Happens.

Personal Readings:Children of a Lesser God

   During our weeks of testing on our school EOCs ,I needed something to read after I finished my test,as you may know,often times after test like these,you can't do anything but put your head down.....or read.In which,I asked my Theatre Arts teacher if I could borrow one of her scripts of a One-Act show she did a couple of years,a show that I've been dying to read,I had been dying to read it and I finally got the chance.This is when I decided to take up script reading for one thing to do in my free time.Anyhow,I asked to borrow her script of Children of a Lesser God.So as the first of my Personal Readings segment,I would like to review Mark Medoff's,Children of a Lesser God.

Children of a Lesser God is a Tony Award winning play written by Mark Medoff (as I've said before.)It was first performed as a workshop production at New Mexico State University on October 25,1979.It was published in 1980,focusing on the conflicted professional and romantic relationship between a deaf student and her teacher.The play was specially written for the deaf actress Phyllis Frelich. It premiered on Broadway on March 30,1980 and was adapted into a One-Act Play.It was also adapted for film in 1986,the movie was directed by Randa Haines,Starring Marlee Matlin and William Hurt.

This was a very interesting read for me. It really stuck out to me,even after reading it the first time, I wanted to read it again and again.How it was stuck in my mind before I read it was exactly how it stayed in my mind after I read it. I hope one day to see it produced on stage. Although,this is no simple show.If your cast doesn't know sign language,your show is going to require quite a bit of rehearsal.A lot of the rehearsals should just be sign language rehearsals,learning it,how to speak with it,making sentences,etc.This goes for the full version and the One-Act version.It is a very moving show and it will totally grab your attention.I would totally recommend this for anything from a community show to a competition show.

More Personal Readings coming up......Thanks for Reading!!!

If anyone has any suggestions for plays for me to read,please comment or contact me and let me know!!!

Review #3:OCP's Nunsense A-men!

Review #3 OCP's Nunsense A-men!

I do apologize for this being so late,it's the last few weeks of school and I still don't have time to write a review.

On May the 16th,2013,I had the privilege of seeing OCP's production of Nunsense A-men! Written by Dan Goggin and Directed by Diana Hill.This show made a perfect close to a great season,this show was absolutely spectacular show!

The cast was a very good mix of actors,each one had a very convincing and colorful character.These guys really brought out the full potential of the show and made it the comedy it is meant to be.

Along with the acting,the singing was top notch!Everyone had a absolutely wonderful voice and made everything from the solos to the group numbers sound amazing.

Nunsense A-men(Besides the Off- Broadway performances)was also adapted for a  television performance by Dan Goggin with an original cast including Rue McClanahan as Sister Mary Regina,Terri White as Sister Mary Hubert,Semina DeLaurentis as Sister Mary Amnesia,Christine Anderson as Sister Robert Ann and Christine Toy as Sister Mary Leo.   

I have to say Mrs.Diana Hill has done a wonderful job directing this show and I hope I get to see more her shows,keep rockin' it Mrs.Diana!             

I give this show 5 stars!

Don't miss this next season!!get your tickets now!!

Orange Community Players,Inc 

708 W.Division-Orange,TX 77630

Reservations Required:(409)-882-9137

www.orangecommunityplayers.com

                                                                                                                                          

Scapino!

Scapino! 

Sylvestro and Scapino

Back in March, My High School competed in U.I.L One Act Play and we performed Scapino!an italian comedy.We didnt get to advance,but two out of our cast won an Honorable Mention All Star Cast medal and the Best Actor Award(I and a Senior friend of mine,I was Geronte and he was Scapino.)

If you've ever seen or read Scapino!,you'll know what it's about.If you don't,I shall elaborate.

Argante and Geronte

Sack Scene

Scapino! is about two boys(Ottavio and Leandro)that are sons of misers(Argante and Geronte) that are returning from a business trip and they plan to marry their sons off to girls they found for them.The sons know they are in trouble if their fathers find out about the marriages they are currently in because it is wrong of them to marry without a father's consent.So the boys ask Scapino(Geronte's Servant,caretaker of Leandro)to help them keep thier wives while one is in poverty and the other having the risk of losing his girl to gypsies.So,Scapino cheats their fathers out of their money and now they can take care of their wives(Giacinta and Zerbinetta).Geronte was rude to Scapino about the money and plots revenge on Geronte.So he trick Geronte into thinking that Turks are out to murder him and trick him into a large sack and beating it,simulating that someone is trying to kill him.(The famous Sack Scene.)Geronte pops his head out to surrender and finds out that it is all Scapino's doing and plans revenge with Argante.Scapino finds out about thier plans and he and Sylvestro create a plan.Meanwhile,Geronte's Nurse approaches Geronte and she tells him of his daughter's whereabouts and that she is married to a son of Signor Argante.They go to get her and we find out that Giacinta(Ottavio's wife)is Geronte's daughter and that Ottavio married the girl that his father intended him to marry in the first place.Zerbinetta shows up and through Leandro,we find out she was kidnapped by gypsies when she was four and that she really belongs to a wealthy family and by a bracelet,we find out that Zerbinetta(Leandro's wife)is Argante's daughter and that Leandro too has married the girl his father intended him to marry.Sylvestro enters crying that Scapino has been injured and is about to dieand that his dying wish is to be brought back to the cafe and for everyone to forgive him of his devious deeds,even Geronte and Argante.Everyone and Argante forgive Scapino,but Geronte won't forgive as quickly and Scapino begs that he will.Geronte forgives and Scapino dies in peace.Everyone walks away and Scapino stands up and we find out that he is alive and still as devious as ever and all of that was a part of his plan.

Scapino's ''Death''

We all had the best time rehearsing and performing with each other and I will go as far as to say that we have become a family.

Thank you to all that was in the cast,you have made my first one-act play the very best.

I just love this picture..
Geronte and his children
Giacinta and Leandro

Commedia dell' Arte

Commedia dell' Arte

Recently at school,we've started a Commedia dell Arte show called ''Scapino!'',and so I figured I could write about the form of theatre.

Add caption

Commedia dell' Arte,which is Italian Comedy,is a form theatre characterized by masked ''types''.Commedia dell' Arte began in the 16th century in Italy and was a lot of improved performances based on sketches or scenarios.

Italian theatre historians believe Commedia was a response to the political and economic crisis of the 16th century and became the first entirely professional form of theatre.

Pantalone,a stock character

The charcters of Commedia usually represent fixed social types known as''stock charcters'',like foolish old men,devious servants,or military officers full of false bravado.

Characters like Pantalone,a miserly Venetian merchant,or Arlecchino,a mischievious servant from Bergamo.Sadly,during the Napoleonic occupation of Italy,Commedia dell' Arte was outlawed.

The Servant of Two Masters

But that never stopped the theatre of today,plenty of theaters everywhere,whether it be traveling companies or school casts,directors everywhere still find beauty and art within these shows.

Thanks for reading,Check out next week's post!!!!

Je vous remercie Monsieur Stanislavski:An Introduction to Method Acting

Constantin Stanislavski
January 17,1863 - August 7,1938

Je Vous Remercie Monsieur Stanislavski: An Introduction to Method Acting

Recently,I had been reading Constantin Stanislavski's ''An Actor Prepares'', one of the three volumes on method acting.As many may know,Mr. Stanislavski is the greatest of all acting teachers and has wrote his life memoir,''My Life in Art'',his notes for the production if individual plays and his classes recollected by others.

Method acting is any technique used by actors to become their characters,who ever they may be.

Stanislavski talked about in his book,that after his short performance as Shakespeare's Othello,the class was given the Director's criticism.Stanislavski said he couldn't remember what he did as his character. Tortsov ,his director, explains his actions as Othello and it soon came back to Stanislavski.He asked why this is,Tortsov explains that he acted with his subconscious,which he says is very good.Tortsov says that,''The best that could happen to the actor is that he can be carried away by the play,regardless of his own will,the actor lives the part,not noticing how he feels,not thinking about what he does, and it all moves of its own accord,subconsciously and intuitively.''

Only a select few of actors can summon such emotion and life to a character that makes a method actor.

Those actors and actresses than can,God Bless You!

Review #2:OCP's Mama Won't Fly

Review #2:OCP's Mama Won't Fly

Sorry this is getting in late everyone,but here it is!!!

Friday the 15th,I went to see OCP's production of Mama Won't Fly,directed by Mrs. Codie Vasquez.This show was one of the best Southern comedy shows I have ever seen.This show had I and my friends dying in our seats laughing.Every performance was very believable,and every set was very well done,especially with the new projector and lights.The cars that was built for the show is what truly amazed me,The construction team did a wonderful job on them.

The costumes were also done very well,they all matched very well to every character.

Wonderful Cast,Wonderful Crew,Very funny.I give this show five stars,I highly recommend seeing it if you're in the Orange area.

Nunsense A-men! Directed by Diana Hill

Don't miss the rest of the season!

Coming soon:

Nunsense A-men! 

Directed by Diana Hill

Orange Community Players,Inc.

708 W. Division - Orange,TX 77630

Reservations Required:(409)882-9137

www.orangecommunityplayers.com

Review #2 Announcement:Mama Won't Fly

Review #2 Announcement

This Friday,I will be going to see and review OCP's production of "Mama Won't Fly",directed by Codie Vasquez.Mama Won't Fly is a southern comedy written by JonesHopeWooten Comedy.

I am excited and looking foward to seeing the show!!!

Mama Won't Fly

Nunsense A-Men!

Heath Ledger:An Actor Truly Missed

This pass week on January the 22nd,we remembered the life of the great actor,Mr.Heath Ledger.


Mr.Ledger was born on April 4 1979 in Perth,Western Australia.He was in films such as 10 Things I hate About You(1999),The Patriot(2000),A Knight's Tale(2001),Monster's Ball(2001),Lord's of Dogtown(2005),Brokeback Mountain(2005),Candy(2006),I'm Not There(2007),The Dark Knight(2008) and The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus(2009).Yes I know,your probably thinking how in the world he did a movie in 2009.He only half of his part in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus before he passed.For those you you who didn't know that...there you go.

He directed music videos such as ''Cause and Effect''and ''Seduction is Evil(She's Hot)'' songs by N'fa(2006),''Morning Yearning'' song by Ben Harper(2006).''Black Eyed Dog'' song by Nick Drake(2007) and ''King Rat'' song by Modest Mouse(2009).(Again,a project finished before his death.)

One of my personal favorite characters played by Ledger,(and I'm sure it's a lot of people's as well)is The Joker in Christopher Nolan's ''The Dark Knight''.After he played this part,The character of the Joker has has been brought to a whole new level that only a very few actors can reach.Every character is open to interpretation,but Ledger brought such life and brilliance to The Joker that it's hard to find a different perspective on him.Ledger brought a more seriousness to the character and a made him more of a frightening villain,somone that could strike fear into the hearts of his victims,just by his glance.

Thank you Mr.Ledger for the entertainment you have brought to us and the life you've gave to so many characters.


Heath Ledger
April 4,1979-January 22nd,2008