Thursday, December 27, 2007

Mark-Brian Sonna’s Best of DFW performing arts in 2007

By Mark-Brian Sonna of MBS Productions

It’s that time of year when nominations for awards, top ten lists, “best of” mentions inundate the press. Being a critic for Pegasus it would be unfair for me to hand out a best of seeing that I only commenced reviewing for them midway through the year. Also, on any given weekend numerous shows open so it’s impossible to catch all.

Nonetheless, I am going to go ahead and do so for the shows I was able to see, since there were some outstanding performances, technical achievements, etc., that deserve to be singled out. These people all worked hard and they’ve earned the recognition. I’m not covering all categories either. So think of this as the “Best Of” combined with a “Top Ten” from my reviews. To see the full list of shows click on my name to read the articles. Since everyone has a clever name for their “awards” I’m calling this the “Peggy’s” – short for Pegasus News. Here’s the list (and in no particular order):

The Boxer

• Jason Ralph as Bertram in Collin Theatre Center’s production of Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well. It’s been nearly six months and I’ve yet to see a performance that equaled the level of depth, grace, and ease of what is an exceedingly difficult role. The guy is talented, charming, and easy on the eyes; if he continues pursuing acting he should have no problem getting cast.
• The Boxer at Bootstraps Comedy Theater. This show was perfection. The entire cast from Matt Lyle’s production worked so well together, and the script, even though it was a piece of silent theatre, was truly innovative and hip.
• There were two sets that really impressed this year. The set for Rossum’s Universal Robots at University of Texas at Dallas was an Art Deco wet dream come true. I slammed this play for its many technical, acting, and directing failures, but the behemoth set was spectacular, even though it caused complications in the entrances and exits. The other set that really impressed was A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum at Theatre Coppell. The entire theatre, including the audience area was converted into a Roman villa. The detail was impressive and added to the fun. It was also exceedingly functional. Because of it’s functionality I’m tipping my hat and giving the “Peggy” to Forum.
• The costuming in The Merry Widow at the Dallas Opera. The entire show was a spectacular display of Edwardian costuming.
• Stephanie Hall as Mabel in the most enjoyable version I’ve ever seen of The Pirates of Penzance at Irving Community Theater. I’m sure Irving Community Theatre will be surprised that I’m recognizing them for this production considering the amount of hate mail I received when the review came out. For those of you unaware, I didn’t care the acting choice Russell Vaden made in playing Major-General. I was impressed by his voice and talent, for he is exceedingly talented, but he made a character choice that I didn’t care for. The outpouring of wrath I received for what was a glowing review is still the talk here at Pegasus. I’m sure the fact I’ve brought it up will incite another round of mail. He obviously and deservedly has many fans. With all the controversy people forgot that I had gushed about the show and Stephanie Hall’s delicious delivery of a most difficult role.
• Whoever directed Momentum Productions' The Women of Juarez. This show had no programs and the credits were projected on a wall on a rotating basis. I never did figure out who directed the play, but it had a definite signature to it. It was smartly staged turning the audience into silent witnesses of the horrors. The show was a multi sensory experience. But NO Programs! I love to keep programs of shows as a memento. After mentioning that I wished a memento in my review, they were kind enough to send me one of the crosses used in the show; but still no program!
• J. Brent Alford as Max Sennet in Theatre Three’s Mack & Mabel. I sometimes like to meet actors after a show, especially after giving such great performances. I abstained in this case. Mr. Alford so encapsulated the character I didn’t want the illusion destroyed.
• Nan Gammon’s choreography for Urinetown at Runway Theatre. Having ranked the Broadway version of the show as one of my all time favorites, she had some stiff competition. She excelled the Broadway show’s version.
• The overall theatre experience at Ennis Public Theatre’s You Can’t Get There From Here. It’s in a small strip center off the Highway 35 minutes south of Dallas. It’s not a “pretty” theatre, but the people are friendly, the audiences so welcoming and polite, and exceedingly well dressed. They are able to create the feeling of the play being an EVENT. It also helps that they produce some top notch productions there, and even though the play was mindless, it made me laugh nonstop for two hours.
• Momix. They did their “best of” this year. Being a world class dance company, doing their most famous work, it’s a no brainer. If I didn’t mention them I’d be remiss. Imagine having the Mona Lisa coming for an exhibit and then not mentioning it was the best painting on exhibit that year.

I said I wouldn’t rank things, but I cannot ignore the one live performance that was the most superlative and memorable:

• While I would rate The Boxer as the best comedy this year, the drama The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds at FMPAT was by far the most profound theatrical experience; the direction, set, costuming, lighting, all came together to create one of the most memorable evenings of theatre in my entire life. It was earth shattering, moving, upsetting, and painful. Allison Rogers gave a tour de force performance as Beatrice and served as the helm of the most talented cast. Truly transcendent.

North Texas has a theatre scene it can be proud of. There is lots of talent here. Local shows do rival those “imports” we get. So if you haven’t seen a locally produced show: GO! Odds are you will have not just a good but a great experience. Quality abounds.

Will I post a list of my least favorites? You bet. Look for this list next week. I’ll call it the “Gassy” awards. A Pegasus does pass gas, doesn’t it?

Pegasus News content partner: Mark-Brian Sonna Productions

• Mark-Brian Sonna’s “Gassy Awards” for DFW performing arts in 2007 (Dec. 31, 2007)

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