Theater Review: Hair Live at the Hollywood Bowl #HAIRatthebowl

The Age of Aquarius came alive under the stars tonight as the anti-war flower children of Hair took over the Hollywood Bowl. This was the first time I'd seen a musical at the Bowl and the first time I'd seen Hair at all so I was looking forward to a good time.

The powerhouse cast alone is enough to make this a must see show but to see them actually perform it only confirms that. The entire cast turned in a wonderful performance and made a memorable first viewing of this historical play.

With names like Kristen Bell, Hunter Parish, Beverly D'Angelo, Jonah Platt, Jenna Ushkowitz, Amber Riley, Sarah Hyland, and more you know you're in for something special. For me, the big draw was Kristen Bell. It's no secret I am a huge fan of hers and the chance to see her performing live on stage was too great to pass up. She was fantastic but it was another actress who stole the show: Sarah Hyland. I was blown away by her. She was charming, funny, and I am pretty sure she was on stage the entire first act. She handled some unexpected mic trouble like a seasoned broadway veteran, and even ad-libbed a joke about it in act two. This girl is definitely more than Modern Family.

Another stand out was Amber Riley. What a voice this girl has. A true talent with a killer voice and comedy chops as well.

I don't mean to leave the gentlemen out of the review here. The guys were great but to be honest, the ladies owned it tonight.

As the show went on, another unexpected issue came up: a rare summer rainstorm. Unfortunately, the fickle LA audience wasn't having the rain and a lot of people began heading for the doors. This was just moments into act two by the way and no amount of praying for star shine or sunshine was keeping the rain at bay. The cast referenced the rain in a couple clever ways and the Bowl staff passed out ponchos. The audience that remained (it was still a lot of people) were treated to a high energy and emotional finale.

One drawback is that a show like Hair is better served in a more intimate venue where cast interactions with the audience can be more appreciated and enjoyed than with a massive Bowl audience.

With great direction and choreography along with a talented and captivating cast, Hair at the Hollywood Bowl is a wonderful way to spend an evening.

You have one more chance to catch this great show tonight (Sunday August 3) at 7:30pm.

Hair

8/10 Tie Dyes!

For more information and tickets click HERE.

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Theater Review: Salome

Salome

By Jonathan Weichsel

Salome, presented by the Archway Theater company, is an abridged version of Oscar Wilde's play that cuts out all but the historically important, that is to say controversial elements.  One the one hand, this works in the plays favor, making it a leaner and meaner piece, but on the other hand, I can't help but think the production would have benefited from a little more character development. 

I don't have the cast list in front of me and can't find it online, however the actor who plays Herod is spot on. He perfectly captures Herod's larger than life persona, as well as his complexity and the moral turmoil he goes through. Herod is of course a commanding figure, and the actor plays the role of ruler with zeal and relish. 

The actress who plays Salome is serviceable, but at times fails to capture the complexity of the character. The actress plays Salome big, and Salome is certainly a big presence, but she is also much more. When Salome first sees Jokaanan (John the Baptist,) she gives a speech that should be filled with a conflicting sense of self-discovery and sexual awakening coupled with a revulsion of her own feelings projected onto the object of her desire, but instead it comes across as a one-note piece. However, the Dance of the Seven Veils was done with a certain fire, and the actress seems to finally grasp her role when Salome asks for Jokaanan's head. 

Unfortunately, some of the minor actors were amateurish to the point of distraction. For example, the actress playing a court page was unable to pour a glass of wine without spilling some onto the stage.     

That being said, it is rare to find a production of Salome and this one at least captures the spirit that has made the play one of the most controversial ever written. 

For more information and tickets visit Archway Theater Company's official site.

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Theatre Review: Bulgakov/Moliere or The Cabal of Hypocrites

Bulgakov/Moliere or The Cabal of Hypocrites

City Garage Theatre

Santa Monica CA

Review by Jonathan Weichsel

The Master and Margarita has long been one of my favorite novels. I find its theme of the responsibility of the writer to stand up to authority very moving, and consider it required reading for anybody who aspires to write serious fiction, so when a friend of mine told me that she was acting in a play about Bulgakov, I just had to check it out.

Bulgakov/Moliere is a meta-fictional reworking of Bulgakov's play Moliere, with a meta-fictional reworking of the most famous scene from The Master and Margarita acting as a frame for the narrative. In Bulgakov/Moliere, Bulgakov's play Moliere has just been banned by Stalin's regime, and Bulgakov has burned his manuscript of The Master and Margarita in despair. Little does he know however, that manuscripts don't burn.  He passes out drunk, and is visited by characters from The Master and Margarita, who perform his play for him, but because Bulgakov dreams of running away to the US, they set the story in contemporary, 21st century America.

Click the RAWR for the full review.

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