Stinker by Starlight
Fri, 24 Nov 2000, 09:52 amWalter Plinge7 posts in thread
Stinker by Starlight
Fri, 24 Nov 2000, 09:52 amHeh, heh, heh. That got your attention. Actually, I enjoyed Irish Theatre Players' production of "Stella by Starlight", playing its final week at the Irish Club in Subiaco. Not quite the non-stop laugh-fest of Noel O'Neill's previous production, "Stella by Starlight" bounces between hilarity and poignancy. However, once again ITP puts on the best half-time spread of any Perth theatre group. Congratulations and thanks!
Putting forward my two cents worth, I'll say that acting overall was good. Projection was fine (not something I can say about every play) but there were occasional instances where I didn't fully believe the characters, where I thought a bit more could have been put into it. Anyway, that's just me, and for the most part the play rolled along nicely.
Dean Schulz is an excellent actor, but portraying a character obsessed with staring through his telescope and taking photographs, requires about as much acting talent as the ITA President playing an arrogant, unfunny English twit. First a slimy lawyer (sorry, is that a tautology?) and now this: it would be interesting to see Dean broaden his scope.
Jackie McElhinney took well to the role of Stella, who has finally, FINALLY gotten tired of being pushed around and walked all over. It's nice to see a mousey character belt out a vehement monologue.
Corey Jones and Justine Rowe played the uncomfortable guests well. During DramaFest, Corey was described as being a cross between Michael Caine & Hugh Grant; now he seems to have a bit of Pierce Brosnan thrown in. Brown is, unfortunately, an unflattering colour for lingerie - even if trimmed with bronze and gold lace trim, and with Justine's wonderful complexion and gorgeous dark hair, coupled with her plans for her husband... well, I would have chosen a scarlet negligee, or, of course, nothing beats traditional black silk (all the better to disguise the black underwear). Who knows, perhaps someone else in the cast has one available...?
Catherine McStravick and Tim Crow rounded off the cast: Catherine with an energetic - and loud - performance (once again) and Tim giving a wonderful understated piece which could all too easily have been overplayed.
The script had its deficiencies. One potential moment arose when two of the characters were sat together on the couch. A suggestion was placed and, for a moment, the play stood poised to change direction into uncharted territories... raising audience expectations... and then the moment passed and the chance for experimentation was lost. However, this is not the fault of the actors.
ITP has the advantage of the wonderful upstairs bar, and if you ask nicely, I'm sure Yvonne will tell you all about her personal life. Repeatedly. In highly graphic detail. Probably using diagrams. Don't plan on an early night. (Well, that about sinks me ever getting into the Irish Club again). Sorry this isn't a well constructed review which highlights the strengths of a production, but there have been so few reviews lately and it's the busiest time of the year!!
In conclusion, it's always difficult to determine one single odour in a pub-atmosphere after the show, but, during those special, last few moments in the parking lot, I have to admit that, Dean, if you don't change your aftershave, this show is going to be nicknamed "Stinker by Starlight".
JB
Putting forward my two cents worth, I'll say that acting overall was good. Projection was fine (not something I can say about every play) but there were occasional instances where I didn't fully believe the characters, where I thought a bit more could have been put into it. Anyway, that's just me, and for the most part the play rolled along nicely.
Dean Schulz is an excellent actor, but portraying a character obsessed with staring through his telescope and taking photographs, requires about as much acting talent as the ITA President playing an arrogant, unfunny English twit. First a slimy lawyer (sorry, is that a tautology?) and now this: it would be interesting to see Dean broaden his scope.
Jackie McElhinney took well to the role of Stella, who has finally, FINALLY gotten tired of being pushed around and walked all over. It's nice to see a mousey character belt out a vehement monologue.
Corey Jones and Justine Rowe played the uncomfortable guests well. During DramaFest, Corey was described as being a cross between Michael Caine & Hugh Grant; now he seems to have a bit of Pierce Brosnan thrown in. Brown is, unfortunately, an unflattering colour for lingerie - even if trimmed with bronze and gold lace trim, and with Justine's wonderful complexion and gorgeous dark hair, coupled with her plans for her husband... well, I would have chosen a scarlet negligee, or, of course, nothing beats traditional black silk (all the better to disguise the black underwear). Who knows, perhaps someone else in the cast has one available...?
Catherine McStravick and Tim Crow rounded off the cast: Catherine with an energetic - and loud - performance (once again) and Tim giving a wonderful understated piece which could all too easily have been overplayed.
The script had its deficiencies. One potential moment arose when two of the characters were sat together on the couch. A suggestion was placed and, for a moment, the play stood poised to change direction into uncharted territories... raising audience expectations... and then the moment passed and the chance for experimentation was lost. However, this is not the fault of the actors.
ITP has the advantage of the wonderful upstairs bar, and if you ask nicely, I'm sure Yvonne will tell you all about her personal life. Repeatedly. In highly graphic detail. Probably using diagrams. Don't plan on an early night. (Well, that about sinks me ever getting into the Irish Club again). Sorry this isn't a well constructed review which highlights the strengths of a production, but there have been so few reviews lately and it's the busiest time of the year!!
In conclusion, it's always difficult to determine one single odour in a pub-atmosphere after the show, but, during those special, last few moments in the parking lot, I have to admit that, Dean, if you don't change your aftershave, this show is going to be nicknamed "Stinker by Starlight".
JB
RE: Stinker by Starlight
Sun, 26 Nov 2000, 01:21 amWalter Plinge
Hmmm, not only hesitant to expand his range, but getting a little bit slow, too (how long did it take you to come up with this response, Dean, one and a half days? Don't worry about keeping up, I'm typing this slowly).
As for burning your bridges with Blak Yak... not at all! We'd love to have you. I'm sure all of our young members can learn much from your many, many years of experience. Anyway, you seem to be running out of theatre groups. I know GRADS won't talk about that unfortunate incident with Renata's stockings, and Gill from Playlovers was so mentally scarred from the sight she beheld, that she can't even wear her $300 wig herself - she has to get rid of it. If Justine's negligee goes missing at the end of "Stella by Starlight"... well, there goes ITP also.
So no, not at all, come on down to Blak Yak. Just don't expect to be granted unsupervised access to the ladies' wardrobe. Or my private collection. Not ever again.
JB
As for burning your bridges with Blak Yak... not at all! We'd love to have you. I'm sure all of our young members can learn much from your many, many years of experience. Anyway, you seem to be running out of theatre groups. I know GRADS won't talk about that unfortunate incident with Renata's stockings, and Gill from Playlovers was so mentally scarred from the sight she beheld, that she can't even wear her $300 wig herself - she has to get rid of it. If Justine's negligee goes missing at the end of "Stella by Starlight"... well, there goes ITP also.
So no, not at all, come on down to Blak Yak. Just don't expect to be granted unsupervised access to the ladies' wardrobe. Or my private collection. Not ever again.
JB