Ragtime

Derrick Cobey & ensemble members

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa,  is presenting RAGTIME THE MUSICAL through April 12.  This Tony Award-winning musical with book by Terrance McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens has a stellar cast. Three disparate groups of people meet and interact at the turn of the 20^th Century and RAGTIME  is their story.  The music is so powerful that it almost takes your breath away. There are moments in the production when many members of the cast are singing a song at such great speed and volume that some of the lyrics are lost.  The result is inconsequential.  The meaning is illustrated and the actors move on to the next scene.  Derrick Cobey portrays Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Harlem musician representing the African-Americans .When he belts out a song, his voice transcends the stage. Ciji Prosser, as Sarah, the mother of his baby, has a warm, rich, melodious voice.  Leslie Becker interprets Mother, aptly given no other name as her sense of motherhood is more essential to her identity than her membership in a white-upper middle-class family. David Edwards, as Father,  presents us with a more stereotypical picture of the mores of the day in the upper-middle class life-style.  Michael Thomas Holmes rounds out the picture as Tateh, a Jewish immigrant from Latvia.  The three families’ lives become intertwined in song, anguish, and hope.  Historical figures, such as Booker T. Washington (Tamar Greene) are interspersed throughout to provide an enlightening time line to the tale. There is not a moment to relax during the performance. This show demands your undivided attention but it is worth every second of it.  For more information or tickets, call 215-785-0100 or visit online at brtstage.org.

Always...Patsy Cline

Jo Twiss & Jessica Wagner

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe St. in Bristol, Pa is presenting Ted Swindley’s Always…Patsy Cline through February 22.  Based on a true story of the unlikely friendship which developed between country singer Patsy Cline and her most devoted fan, this show offers a glimpse of the development of Patsy Cline’s career over her brief lifetime.  Always…Patsy Cline is known as a “jukebox musical”.  As Mamma Mia is a story created around many Abba songs, so, too, is the storyline of Always…Patsy Cline created around 27 of Patsy’s hits.  Jessica Wagner gives an excellent performance as Patsy with her back-up band, The Bobcats, on the stage behind her playing guitar, percussion, bass, pedal steel guitar and keyboard. Jo Twiss, a well-known local actress, portrays Patsy’s fan and friend, Louise Seger. Although some of the dialogue is a bit contrived, Jo’s primary function is to move the story along through Patsy’s songs and she does so with panache. Ms. Twiss is a first rate actress and her comic timing is superb. For more information or tickets, call 215-7785-0100 or visit online at brtstage.org.  

THE 39 STEPS

Adam Sowers, Dan Hodge
Karen Peakes

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, Pa, is opening its 28^th season with a bang. The 4 member ensemble cast of Dan Hodge, Matt Leisy, Karen Peakes and Adam Sowers play over 150 roles in an uproarious adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s murder mystery, The 39 Steps. A red armchair might be considered a fifth cast member as it has a recurring role. Breathtakingly handsome Richard Hannay, portrayed by Matt Leisy, is falsely accused of murder and goes to any length to prove his innocence and the existence of a mysterious plot. Other cast members change persona at the drop of a hat…literally. This zany madcap farce has more hat changes, costume changes and wig changes than you can count. The story-line is preposterous. To call this production silly would trivialize the work of this outstanding cast. It is hilarious and provides an evening of non-stop fun. For more information or tickets call 215-785-0100 or visit online at www.BRTstage.org.

My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish, & I'm Still in Therapy

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa, is presenting Steve Solomon’s My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, and I’m Still in Therapy through October 6. This is  the 3rd installment of Solomon’s original hit, My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy, which is  one of the longest running one-man comedy shows in history.  Touring companies are presenting all three shows throughout the United States as well as overseas. Steve Solomon is a comic genius. The material that he has written is very funny but equally important is his presentation. He has an uncanny ability to mimic voices and imitate sounds.  Solomon  provides non-stop laughter from the moment he steps onto the stage until his parting words.   I would have been embarrassed at my outbursts  had not the rest  of the audience been roaring right along side of me. Be sure to get your tickets immediately for the biggest belly-laugh you are likely to have in a very long time.  Treat yourself to a night of fun.  For more information or tickets call 215-785-0100 or visit online at brtstage.org 

Inherit The Wind

Scope Monkey Trial

Bristol  Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa. is presenting a new twist on an old classic,  Inherit The Wind  through June 9. The large ensemble cast is a confluence of professional actors and Bucks County community members. The result is a courtroom drama that sends sparks flying and audience members longing to reach for  fans as the battle heats up.  Liz Filios, oft seen on Philadelphia area stages, does outstanding work as the conflicted Rachel Brown.  She is not only the daughter of the town’s Reverend but is also the one-time girlfriend of the schoolteacher on trial for breaking the law by teaching Darwin’s theory of  evolution. Stephen Novelli provides such a convincing performance of an ineffectual judge that the audience might forget that he is acting and mistake his performance for an unimpressive one.  Michael McCarty provides a larger-than-life performance as Matthew Harrison Brady,  prosecuting attorney with a direct pipeline to God. Not to be outdone, Keith Baker brings his wealth of talent to the production in his role of determined defense attorney, Henry Drummond. There are several children in this cast and it was my good fortune to see  Vincent Crocilla on the stage again, portraying Timmy Blair.  This show does not have a very long run; make sure you plan to get tickets quickly.  For tickets or more information, call 215-785-0100 or visit online at brtstage.org.

Barrymore

Keith Baker and William Selby

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, is opening its 25^th season with Barrymore, starring Keith Baker in the title role and William Selby playing the part of his prompter The production will run through October 30^th. Baker has the herculean task of humorously portraying John Barrymore, one the greatest American Shakespeare actors of all time as he has hit the lowest point of his career. He is certainly up to the task. His character is at times witty and at others pathetic. The audience laughs but feels little sympathy for a once great man who is sloppy in his drinking. He does evoke some sympathy when he appears lost wandering around the set in a fugue state and he has to ask the prompter, “Where am I?” He wonders of his four ex-wives:”If I can’t pay my alimony next month, can my wives repossess me?" Keith Baker gives a very powerful performance. Set Designer Roman Tatarowicz  has designed a very interesting set which Barrymore claims to be for his “come back” presentation. The additions of sound designer Michael Troncone and lighting designer Deborah Constantine further enhance this fine production. For tickets call 215-785-0100 or visit online at www.brtstage.org.

Little Women

The March girls with their Marmee

The Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, Pa, concludes its regular 2010-2011 season with the Broadway musical, Little Women.  The all star cast features several award winning actors in addition to some Broadway performers. Their experience and expertise work to form an ensemble cast that succeeds in projecting a family image. Jennie Eisenhower, who plays Jo March, wows the audience with the breadth of her voice. She is almost constantly on stage and is able to project a wide range of emotions as the oldest March sister who is independent, and, as a symbol of hope, is determined to make her own way in the world. Kara Dombrowski, in the role of younger sister Amy, has a smaller, but equally demanding part. She begins the play as a young impetuous girl and ends the play as a sophisticated young woman. Both Stephen Schellhardt as Laurie Laurence and Michael Sharon as Professor Bhaer do an excellent job in their roles as foils for Jo. Very cleverly staged, Jo frequently reads the short stories she is trying to get published while characters dramatize the action on the side of the stage. Her enthusiasm is contagious and the audience is with her 100%. Many story lines have a character that everyone loves to hate, and Cathy Newman, as Aunt March plays the role brilliantly with her stern demeanor and her insistence on “proper etiquette.” Special mention must go to costume designer Millie Hiibel for the authentic Civil War period costumes and to set Designer Roman Tatarowicz for creating such an effective set that enables the audience to literally go three places within a period of seconds. A sliding screen fence opens and closes to reveal two sets that rotate on a circular device. While actors are on stage in one, the other can be changed before it rotates to the front. To see a charming musical with wonderful voices and strong ensemble acting, head out to BRT by May 22. For tickets or further information, call 215-785-0100 or visit online at www.brtstage.org/