Thursday, October 25, 2012
How Many Bad Apples Does It Take To Spoil The Whole Bunch?
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| From left (standing): Anthony Manough, James Black, Kate Morgan Chadwick, and Mueen Jahan. (Seated) Sean Spann and Ian Merrigan. Photo by Jeff Galfer |
The disturbing events uncovered at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq brought to light a prisoner abuse scandal that shocked the world. No one could understand how such atrocities could be committed by American soldiers; how such flagrant disregard for life could result in the kind of human indignities shown in photographs taken by the very soldiers who committed the heinous acts.
In its latest production, Circle X Theatre Co. is examining the question of how such abuse could occur with a fictionalized look at the motivations of three soldiers based on those who were at the center of the real life scandal. The volatile subject matter considers the question, “Do you love me enough to torture for me?” but extending it out over a lengthy three acts with two intermissions works to its disadvantage, dissipating energy rather than creating the mounting tension needed to reach a satisfactory climax.
Publicized as a world premiere musical, Bad Apples is really a play with songs rather than a book musical, and is written by playwright Jim Leonard with music & lyrics by songwriter Beth Thornley and film/TV composer Rob Cairns. The songs do not advance the story line for the most part, but instead serve as moments of reflection by the singers, or at other times, as a way to set the tone of a scene.
The hip hop and rap numbers are the most successful with their dark intensity and hypnotic, percussive rhythms. The strongest happen early in the show and create an imposing atmosphere in combination with Françoise-Pierre Couture’s multi-leveled runway set design rimmed with prison bars and onstage band in a cage. Folksy tunes, ballads, and acoustic songs offer contrast but the point is made almost immediately with each one and they could easily be abridged, or in some cases eliminated, to keep the pace of the show from languishing. More than once I wondered if Bad Apples might not be better served by eliminating all but a few of the songs and returning to a play format.
An expert cast directed by John Langs handles the sensitive material with assurance. Charismatic James Black is Sgt. Chuck Shepard, the soldier who convinces both Kate Morgan Chadwick (Pvt. Lindsay Skinner) and Meghan McDonough (Lt. Scott), to become his lover, resulting in two pregnancies at approximately the same time. Chadwick is especially compelling in her portrayal because we are never quite sure whether she is being naïvely drawn in because of love or whether her growing indifference to the whole experience of war stems from her upbringing. The relationship that develops between the two women gets more stage time than the actual progression of what makes any of them engage in torture. It’s clear how and why they all become involved as lovers. What’s not clear is how that leads to torturing prisoners of war.
Ian Merrigan is strong as the guitar-playing petty PFC Curt Lingus. Larry Clarke, Sean Spann, Mueen Jahan, Lauren Hillman, Mapuana Makia, Lina Patel, and Anthony Manough all excel in multiple roles. Happily, we also get to hear Manough’s terrific tenor voice.
But for all the outstanding performances, and even sitting close to the action at one of the front and center cabaret tables nearest the stage on a sold-out night, I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t more emotionally engaged. Instead I felt distanced from the action and from the very characters I was trying to understand.
Since the play is staged and the room designed as a cabaret venue, why not use the intimacy of that space to connect with the audience in a more personal way, especially when the characters sing. That’s why people go to a cabaret club, after all. Perhaps I was trying to sort out too many different stories or perhaps it was an intentional lack on Leonard's part to lead me to a specific conclusion, but I was no more able to answer the question of why Abu Ghraib could have happened at the end of the three hours than when the play began. Maybe in the end it’s not one or two big happenings that contribute to the loss of human decency but a more subtle insidious series of events that build upon each other until something snaps. You be the judge.
Bad Apples
by Jim Leonard
Music & Lyrics by Beth Thornley and Rob Cairns
Directed by John Langs
Now through December 1, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm at Circle X Theatre Co., Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039. Tickets: (323) 644-929 or online at www.circlextheatre.org.
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Labels: circle x
Thursday, September 6, 2012
What’s Happening Around Town for Sept 6
The 2012 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award nominees will be announced on Tuesday, September 11 at 7:00 pm. The event will be hosted by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theatre, located within the Village at Ed Gould Plaza at 1125 N. McCadden Place in Los Angeles, 90038. On September 11, various 2011 Ovation Award recipients will announce the names of this year’s nominees. Scheduled to participate are 2011 Award recipients Beth Kennedy, Matt Walker, Oanh Nguyen, John Flynn, Henry Dittman, Cate Caplin, Brian Danner, and Paul Litteral, along with Terence McFarland, CEO of LA Stage Alliance. The event is free and open to the public. A light reception will be included, and RSVP is required. To RSVP, visit www.LASTAGEOvations.com. The announcement can also be viewed live online at www.LASTAGETimes.com. This year’s Ovation Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, November 12, 2012 at 7:30pm at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, 615 South Broadway, in downtown Los Angeles.
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Circle X Theatre Co. announces the world premiere musical, Bad Apples, book by Jim Leonard, music, lyrics & musical direction by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley, directed by John Langs, and featuring choreography by Cassandra Daurden. Bad Apples runs September 28 - December 1st, with opening night on October 13 at Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles, 90039.
This world premiere rock musical is inspired by the real-life prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and seeks to answer the simple question: How in God’s name did this happen? Two soldiers ended up pregnant by fellow soldier Charles Graner; both women wanted to marry him, competed with each other to win his love, and enthusiastically tortured prisoners together, documenting most of it in pictures that later leaked and shocked the world. The cast will feature James Black, Kate Morgan Chadwick, Meghan McDonough, Anthony Manough, Mueen Jahan, Larry Clarke, Mapuana Makia, Ian Merrigan, Lina Patel, Sean Spann, and Lauren Hillman. For tickets, please call 323-644-1929 or go to www.circlextheatre.org.
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Lythgoe Family Productions and Pasadena Playhouse have announced casting for A Snow White Christmas featuring Ariana Grande as Snow White, an on-screen appearance by Neil Patrick Harris as The Magic Mirror, and Charlene Tilton as The Wicked Queen. It will be directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, with choreography by Spencer Liff, and musical direction by Michael Orland. A gala press opening will take place on December 12 at 7pm and regular performances continue December 13 – 23. The cast also includes Jonathan Scott Meza as Muddles and David Figoli as Herman the Huntsman. Snow White’s Prince will be announced shortly and the Seven Dwarfs will be cast from local children. Auditions will be held on October 6 – 7 at a location TBA.
In the style of a traditional British family Panto, the show features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing (with “So You Think You Can Dance” alumni), a live miniature pony and contemporary music from Katy Perry’s “Firework” to Huey Lewis and the News’ “Power of Love” to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and more. A Panto is known for its interactive style and humor that appeals to everyone from ages 2 – 102! Before every performance, guests and their families are invited to enjoy a “Winter Wonderland” event sponsored by Parenting Magazine in The Playhouse’s Engemann Family Courtyard, complete with holiday carolers, crafts, activities, games and photo opportunities. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 7:00 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets and more information is available at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.
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Labels: circle x, ovation awards, pasadena playhouse