WHAM BANG!-- THIS IS A SUBLIME POLITICAL PLAY BY CARYL CHURCHILL.
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Jun. 14‚ 2013
The men: Sam and Jack - are hot and steamy "gay" lovers. Sam is very aggressive and Jack follows with abundance. This a a brief play (45 Min) and without an intermission. Rarely do I like plays without an intermission - but this brief intense drama brings out secrets of America, foreign intervention and a lover who becomes disillusioned near the end. It has been suggested that the Bush-Blair political relationship keeps giving us Love and hate moments. They come close to breaking up -- but they can't stay away from each other. Sex -- is very much a huge part of their lives.
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TERMINUS
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Jun. 07‚ 2013
'Terminus' is a tough talking play: "This samaritan shit's the pits" - A guy from the brink of suicide with a gun implied at first, then admits that there might be a bullet through the head. It's his plan.
This play is all about fear and grit. You feel that you might want to calm down, and get over it. Nope! I dread hearing things like a gun shot. And then - someone says "Got you, you gullible whore." [more]->
IT'S MY PARTY.......
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
May. 31‚ 2013
THIS PARTY IS SUCH FUN. One of Beverly's guests asks: - "is it real silver?" Beverly swings around the room in a provocative sexy dress - "Yes - it's Silver Plate!" Now that's high class - don't you think? Beverly (Susi Damilano) sure is a Blonde Hottie. Watching this show is like watching a steam bath.
Beverley is putting on a Record. She's swishes around the room to the tempo of the music at the beginning of the play. Her ample bosom is showing a lot of cleavage. This is the time of the 70's when you played records on a phonograph. Bev poors one drink after the other - waiting for her guests. She waltzes around the English furnishings. Bev loves to touch the furniture and fluffs up the pillows. She surveys the domain. All hers of course. But, we get the idea that she is planning to rope in a love affair, right in front of her husband. How many Bev's have we seen before? Many, Many and many. This one however is very overt. She has everything planned for the "Party" and more. [more]->
LOVE HER OR LEAVE HER. IT'S YOUR CHOICE
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
May. 24‚ 2013
JAN ZVAIFLER (EM) IS A MODERN DAY MEDEA who will sacrifice everything to make her revenge perfect. She is a remarkable study of injustice and ruthlessness, based on myth, tragedy, jealousy, love and hate. Albeit, the play begins to wear thin. Oh, there is superb acting by the entire cast -- and projected visuals keep you on the edge of your seat. However, the play has uneven moments.
This new version of Medea (renamed Medea Hypothesis) is a startling new version of love gone awry. Of course no matter what the version is "Hell has no fury like a woman scorned!" Let me set the scene. At times the play is Barbaric, Raw and Brilliant. And it does drain you emotionally -- but the gruesome rawness begins to wear thin. But at times it is simply amazing. Medea (EM), as you know is fickle and power hungry. The range of emotions go from volcanic to tenderness. But the tortured interplay of love, desire and revenge, wears out with her crime of passion. [more]->
DEVILISHLY CLEVER SMUIN AND HIS VISION
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
May. 17‚ 2013
I HAVE SEEN MANY SMUIN BALLETS -- AND THIS ONE AT THE YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS IS THE MOST AUDACIOUS AND ORIGINAL BALLET MOVES THAT I HAVE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS.
The production at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco is an event of divine madness and full of comedy, opera and romance. If you want to see Thrills, chills and excitement then you will want to enjoy this glittering evening. You know you want to go. It's the perfect place for magic.
The program is Sensual, funny and outlandish at times. The direction has it -- and the performers have it all. Talent is all over the place. Believe me - this Smuin Dance Series at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts keeps Smuin's talent alive with "Bouquet", "Chants d' Auvergne" and "Jazzin". [more]->
LITTLE ME WHAT A SHOW SHOULD BE!
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
May. 10‚ 2013
The 42nd Street Moon version of "Little Me" is just the most elegantly, fun musical that I have seen in years. A stage never looked more gorgeous and elegantly crafted, and the actors are just irresistible. Better than Broadway!
The entire evening is full of secret seduction and suspense. Neil Simon is a thought-provoking genius. To say nothing of Jason Graae, who plays at least seven different guys. What an amazing performance. Totally fantastic!
This is the most joyous and glorious evening I have seen on the stage in many years. Everything moves as it should. Yep - it's as surprising as it is eloquent. The pitch-perfect singers, actors are worth the trip. What else can I say? - it's intoxicating!
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THE ANGELS' SHARE. FUNNY - ADDICTIVE THRILLER!
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
May. 03‚ 2013
Director Ken Loach has sent us on a very funny Road Trip. It's almost like "Pulp Fiction" -- but this is more humorous than that movie. Now, you may think that 'Angel' starts out with very little humor -- you are right for a few moments as young people fall into a path of drugs and crime.
This was a Thugs life -- but there are a couple of people who try to patch up the young guys broken life. He's destitute, and he lives in the worst parts of the city. But, what begins in this guys life -- is brought us to an addictive thriller. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. Hard to take your eyes off of this quirky story, as this young troubled boy finds a way out of his heartbreak and madness. [more]->
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DETECTIVE BUSINESS
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Apr. 26‚ 2013
DETECTIVES ARE EVERYWHERE. And it's all bad business. This Detective is not going to let you get away with anything - and he sniffs around like a Fox. Sam Spade is an early "Dick". Of course that was from a Movie. Bringing Noir to the Stage is a little more tricky - and that's where the great Noir cliches come into play. The flaws in the play are it's greatest moments. Everyone seems to head for an outcome that they can't escape.
Film Noirs are all about femme fatale characters that lean over the desk to get the attention from the Detective. Yeh, the cleavage will do it every time. But hold on - this "Dick" is not going to fall for it. He's been around the block a few times and if there's one thing that he hates is a double-crossing dame. And this blonde bombshell knows how to sell herself.
RENOIR HAS A DESIRE FOR BEAUTY
by Buzzin' lee Hartgrave‚
Apr. 19‚ 2013
SHORT TAKES: SOME LIKE IT HOT - SOME HATE IT! POSTED APRIL 15TH 2013
I LIKE: 'RENOIR FILM' AND STAGE PLAY 'BEING ERNEST" (At TheatreWorks)
HATED THE FILM: "To The Wonder" Now showing. I WONDER, if anyone is really interested?
In this Gorgeous telling of the Artist 'Renoir' we not only get to visit the Majestic Countryside, we also get to see some of the world's magical works of Art. Men (talented or not) become smitten for young models that get paid very little. Their payment is that the models will let them paint them in the countryside completely nude. Renoir certainly perks up in their presence. [more]->
THE 39 STEPS
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave‚
Apr. 12‚ 2013
This Expensive, handsome stage production is the best "39 Steps" that I've ever taken. Of course, It would be even more delicious if they would add just one more step. I'm just trying to squeeze in another joke -- I don't want to stop. How about forty one steps?
June 19, 2013
