Crown City Theatre Company will be turning Kimball Hall at St. Matthew’s Church into a 60 plus seat, thrust stage theater in the Noho arts district.
Their first production will be “I’m Just Wild About Harry.” A World Premiere Old-Fashioned Musical Comedy for the whole family featuring songs from the early 1900's. The show is based on a 19th century farce. It was hilarious as a play, and even more fun as a musical. Some of you may remember songs like "Daisy Bell" (A Bicycle Built For Two) or "Aba Daba Honeymoon" but this show is packed with old favorites. You won't be disappointed. When Harry's Aunt decides to show up unexpectedly, the boys (Jack and Harry) invite their sweethearts over to meet the Aunt, but really to propose, since the girls’ father/guardian is out of town. But when the Aunt wires that she will not be coming the boys insist their music teacher (a man) dress up and pretend to be the Aunt. Hilarity ensues as the music teacher tries to avoid being discovered and of course, when the real Aunt arrives. Join in the music, fun and laughter for an unbelievable low price. Crown City Theatre Company is a professional theatre company performing @ St. Matthew's Church conveniently located in North Hollywood.
William Reilly and Gary Lamb have created a musical so breathtaking and
exciting, you'll want to sing along and have just as much fun as the actors.
I'm Just Wild about Harry is an old-fashioned musical comedy adapted from
Charley's Aunt, a farce by Brandon Thomas. With the use of songs from the
early 1900s, Lamb and Reilly adapt the two ideas into one extraordinary
musical theatre production.
Jack Chesney (Blake Edward), Harry Whitman (Chris Shepardson), Katy
Spettigue (Tracy Mulholland), and Margie Verdun (Tara Brown) lead the show
into farcical mayhem. The two men would just like to be alone with their
gals, but the idea is impossible as Katy's uncle and Margie's guardian,
Guido Spettigue (James Loren), will not allow it. Jack and Harry come up
with a plan. If they can get Guido to fall in love with Harry's aunt, who
is due for a visit, all will be well. The never seen before aunt sends a
note that she will be taking a detour and will be a few days late. Harry
and Jack decide to disguise their actor friend, Benjamin "Babbs" Babberley
(Casey Zeman), as Aunt Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez (Joanne McGee), who shows
up on time anyway. One can only imagine where this goes, and anymore synopsis
might spoil the remainder of the plot.
Chris Shepardson is hil-Harry-ously charming in the title role, performing
dialogue with his comedic eyes, all the while holding a napkin in his hand
to wipe the energetic sweat off of his face. Blake Edward, a newbie to Los
Angeles, holds his own to the multi-talented cast. Tracy Mullholland
shines so bright, it leaves director William A. Reilly's unblemished
lighting design enviously "hanging" onto her every note. Tara Brown's
powerful innocence demands our admiration as she spills her beautiful smile
and voice all over the stage as if it were rose petals. Joanne McGee is a
talent to behold in this production. McGee keeps every moment exactly where
it belongs and performs with such confidence her simple smirk makes you feel
warm. James Loren and Vsev Krawczeniuk (Frank Chesney) both have the wind
pipes to woo a bird to their shoulder, both equally as interesting to watch
as the other. Casey Zeman portrays his role to perfection without creating
an over-the-top performance, which could have easily been done with this
role. He remains genuine and creates his own sidesplitting farcical
character. Sarah French (Ida Delahay) enters midway through the show proving
to us once again, that with each introduction of a character, this
production is built as an ensemble, not as a single performer. The direction
is well thought out, the pacing is almost perfectly controlled, and the
additional music adds a tasteful touch throughout the romp. Choreography by
Chelsea Rae Bernier [additional by Tracy Mullholland] was quite delightful,
and the costumes delicately researched by designer Don Nelson.
There were only a few picky problems I noticed. For one, when they pour the
[Tea or Coffee] back into the kettle, so as not to spill while exiting Dean
Cameron's impressive set, it was clearly water being poured, and not any
sort of dark liquid. My second concern, was that of the final revelations
which are entirely too quickly passed over. For instance, when Harry's
aunt reveals herself, I wanted to see something very real and very sweet--perhaps
terrific dialogue betwixt them. Instead, we get a hug and it's on to the
next moment, not even another glance toward each other. Despite my pesky
complaints, I watched the production enjoying every single moment never
once needing to look in my program to check intermission status.
Allow me to welcome [with open arms] Crown City Theatre Co. to the NoHo Arts
District "where the (theatre) nuts come from"
.
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