![]() So going into the performance, I was a bit skeptical of how they would make this production work for this space. McKeesport Little Theater is at a slight disadvantage because they have a small space to work with, which means they are limited with their cast size. Newsies is traditionally a large-scale production typically seen on a big stage with a large ensemble. Outraged, the Newsies go on strike while fighting for their rights and raising awareness of the working and living conditions of the children of New York City. To make up for their loss in profits, Joseph Pulitzer, head of The New York World, decides to charge the Newsies more for their papers. The newspaper industry has taken a hit with no big news stories to cover, thus hurting their profits and circulation. Loosely based on the true story of the Newsboys strike of 1899, Newsies takes place in New York City, following closely after the end of The Spanish-American War. While MLT’s production doesn’t capture the energy and heart that makes Newsies great, they make up for it with performances from brilliant cast members. Based on the 1992 film of the same name, the stage adaptation brings the memorable scenes from the movie to life while adding a few new characters and songs to set it apart from its predecessor. Open the gates and seize the day with McKeesport Little Theater in their latest production of Disney’s Newsies. Review: ‘Newsies’ at McKeesport Little Theater ![]() Set designer TJ Firneno whipped up quite a stunner with the help of Susan Wardezak and painters Jacob Wadswoth, Rose-Lorene Miller and Dorothy Fallows.įor those of us who are contemporaries of the characters, Five Women trips down memory lane with uncomfortable recollections and reassuring chuckles.Home › Our Posts › Reviews › Review: ‘Newsies’ at McKeesport Little Theater The costumes by Darlene Gavron are indeed magnificently awful, a five-times-unbecoming poufy ensemble of disco-era peach that almost but not quite avoids clashing with the pinkish hues of the set. Then, as they say, hilarity ensues, along with roller-coaster emotions and intimate woes. Elizabeth Glyptis adds a charming note of naiveté as the ugly duckling/swan Frances, and Lisa Bompiani-Smith brings spice and sympathy as the groom's sister. Sharing champagne and stories are the childhood but definitely ex-friends of the unseen bride, Trisha (Megan Elizabeth May-Mitchell) and Georgeanne (April May Ohms, whose spirited performance is damaged by distractingly bad hairpieces). ![]() The ladies of the wedding party don't particularly like the bride, so they tend to hover around the luxe bedroom of little sister/bridesmaid Meredith (lovely Elizabeth Pegg) while she progressively spazzes out. And besides the lusty tales of varying graphicness and regular f-bombs, the script seriously disrespects religiosity of the Christian variety - serendipitously a hot topic in town lately. The setting is the 1980s, when the irresistible force of the Boomers' sexual revolution met the immovable object of AIDS, the scariest (but not only) new strain of STD. ![]() A bit of a character-driven mishmash, Five Women represents a bold choice with challenges for director Lora Oxenreiter. This 1993 comedy-drama about misbehaving bridesmaids is an early work by writer Alan Ball, who went on to award-winning success in television ( Six Feet Under) and cinema ( American Beauty). Given the success of the 2011 film Bridesmaids, it's not surprising that McKeesport Little Theater would unearth the 20-year-old Five Women Wearing the Same Dress.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |