Sometimes our unique approach to casting (first-come-first-served) just works out perfectly Such was the case at our February 21 reading of CELEBRATION, an evening full of energy, enthusiasm, and great fun! Our readers did a fabulous job: Mont Chris Hubbard and Leah Yorkston brought a combination of beauty and innocence to their readings of Orphan and Angel, while Ron Daum was clever, conniving, and resourceful as Potemkin, and Daniel Bunten was simply hilarious as Rich (for which he must have drawn on from his years of work at the Folksbein Theatre). These four were ably supported by a wonderful ensemble of participants, Mikki Lipsey, who read the extensive stage directions, and our fabulous (and well studied) accompanist for the evening, Rob Fishel (who was occasionally and expertly joined an extra set of hands belonging to Rachel Sarky)
We discovered the show's poetry, absurdity, raciness, and utter joy at this reading. It's certainly not a perfect show, but we all agreed there is some wonderful story telling and great music. Perhaps it's a show with the right sensibilities for Portland (or a city with the right sensibilities for this show).
Sorry I was not able to be there --
ReplyDeleteI saw a Portland production of CELEBRATION produced by The New Theatre at the old Centernary-Wilbur space at 9th & Sandy -- Rebecca Webb as Angel and Martin Brother as Orphan. I saw another production earlier in Eugene at the UofO's Carnival summer theater: Don Fibiger as Potemkin and Alan Nash (whom I knew from Roseburg's Merely Players, and who had succeeded Lenore Zapell as Drama Director at Medford HS) as Rich -- some of the chorus costumes in that one were recycled from Act Two of the University Theatre's production of THE APPLE TREE.
The casting was indeed perfect! Great voices and character work all around.
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