Monday, October 13, 2014

“Enron” at 2nd Story Theater



by Richard Pacheco
            The season opened at 2nd Story Upstairs is British playwright Lucy Prebble’s intriguing look ant the Enron debacle of greed, arrogance, deception and corruption. The play tackles complex financial dealings with coherence, intelligence and biting humor, it can be fiercely funny at times. The acting by the large cast is superb, sharp, intelligent and vigorous, the characters deftly etched, brought vividly to life with great skill and finesse.
            The Enron fiasco is well known, being the highly publicized and touted as an example of corporate greed. “Enron” premiered at the Chichester Festival Theatre (11 July – 29 August 2009), before London transfers to the Jerwood Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre from 17 September to 7 November 2009 and then the Noël Coward Theatre. It premiered on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on 8 April 2010 in previews, with the official opening on 27 April. It takes a close look at the smoke and mirrors financial practices that led to the corporation’s downfall and the tragic effects it had on so many ordinary lives duped into the false security of the company’s rise to prominence.
            This tale of greed and arrogance, highlights the true culprits of the fiasco, the men and women behind it all who are so caught up with their own arrogance and smug sense of their own intelligence that they plunge ahead with reckless abandon in the face of their own personal frailties and flaws which compound the issues with greater intensities and increasing impending disasters in scope and depth. Once dubbed “America’s Most Innovative Company" for six consecutive years it tumbled clumsily and speedily downwards to bankruptcy and disaster through its creatively nefarious accounting fraud. The list of major banks involved is simply appalling and astonishing.
But this is not dry financial explanations, this is smart, savvy and sassy theater loaded with fireworks and caustic one liners. It is full of clever theatrical touches through the use of lights and costumes which make it fascinating to watch and compelling theater.
Tom Roberts is Ken Lay, the founder of Enron and its CEO.  He is a man who plays politics with finesse and skill, who believes in his company and its ability to rise to the top no matter what. He is not really focused on the realities of business bur remains in his mentally cloistered world where all is perpetually well. Roberts is excellent in the role, adept at making Lay’s self absorbed clueless attitude highly believable.
Ed Shea is Jeff Skilling, President, CEO and COO of this behemoth financial disaster, steering it to its inevitable end. Skilling is ruthless, self absorbed, egotistical and overly self confident believing in his own flawless ability to come out on top no matter what, including some quirky and questionable financial bookkeeping tricks. Shea is brilliant in the role, the perfect mixture of arrogance and visible flaws. His Skilling is self-absorbed and self assured to the point of arrogance with no concern for anyone but himself and his status. It is brilliantly articulated with chilling detail and finesse, making this sleazy man ability to convince others of this intelligence and rightness in his actions.
Ara Bohigian is CFO Andy Fastow who devises the nefarious accounting scheme that brings Enron’s world tumbling down on itself. Fastow began establishing numerous limited liability special purpose entities (a common business practice in the energy sector); however, it also allowed Enron to transfer liability so that it would not appear in its accounts, allowing it to maintain a robust and generally increasing stock price and thus keeping its critical investment grade credit ratings. Bohigian is perfect in the role, bristling with enthusiasm for his  clever if devious plans in accounting. Yet, he handles the transitions well when Fastow begins to realize this house of cards is beginning to crumble with disastrous effects for all concerned.  Bohigian display an element of sincerity and regret when needed in a totally convincing performance that is also filled with occasional humor.
Tanya Anderson is the only female executive in the mix, Claudia Roe, (Rebecca Mark-Jusbasche) who ends up being one of the few who display any integrity and moral compass whatsoever in this morass of greed and self-centeredness. She is smart, savvy and knows how to play in a man’s world with daring and ruthless determination to match theirs. Yet she knows when to walk away as well, dignity intact before it all comes tumbling down on everyone’s head. Anderson is excellent as the smart, sexy and savvy Roe.  She adroitly conveys the sense of intelligence and conviction she has at every turn.
The rest of the large cast, from lawyers to traders to the Koch Brothers and reporters fleshes this all out with skill and exuberance, never missing a beat. There is plenty to delight in here and it contuse throughout the production.
Director Trevor Elliot keens the entire thing relentlessly on track, barely allowing us to catch our breath in the audience. The pacing is fast and furious and perfectly on pitch. The set and lighting design by him is perfect and totally imaginative fitting perfectly into the production enhancing it and adding so much to it like the projected words which abound not only on the screens behind but engulf the actors on the floor and surrounding them.
Costume designer Ron Cesario shines here too, devising intelligent and clever solutions like his raptor heads and costumes for the rampant debt. The costumes add so much to it all.
You won’t want to miss this intelligent and articulate play that swarms with taut, clever humor throughout as well. If it has any flaw at all it is that the characters are for most part underdeveloped, but it seems like a necessary step with the complexity of the underlying financial issues which it makes abundantly clear and understandable throughout.
"Enron" (Oct. 9 – Nov.2)
@ 28 Market Street, WARREN RI
1(401)247 4200

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

“My Fair Lady” at Ocean State Theatre



By Richard Pacheco
            “Ocean State Theatre's "My Fair Lady" is a winning and wonderful production propelled by some strong voices, snappy and sassy dance numbers and a wonderful set. True the musical runs about three hours but the terrific performances make it worthwhile.
The classic Lerner and Lowe show is set in London in 1912 with the timeless tale of Professor Henry Higgins, an irritable, cranky confirmed bachelor who takes on the task of converting street flower vendor Eliza Dolittle into a lady devoid of her Cockney manners and accent. The musical is inspired by the George Bernard Show play, “Pygmalion” from 1914. The book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe it takes a classic rags to riches tale merrily along with some great songs brought to life by some stunning performances that are sure to delight.
Jessica Wagner as Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower girl who blossoms into a lady is pure delight. She shows a mastery of the Cockney accent which she incorporates with skill and finesse, flawlessly. Her transition into proper English is exquisite and perfection itself as is her transition from street wise vendor into elegant lady with grace and style. She is not only a fine actress but she has an impressive voice as well which she uses with daring and flair. She sings with great presence and bravura in songs like “Wouldn’t It be Loverly” and “Rain in Spain” as well as the ever classic “I Could Have Danced All Night.”
Her foil, the irascible Henry Higgins, is played with flair and perfect fussiness by Richard Costa. Even more impressive is the fact that he stepped in at the last moment for a member of the cast who dropped out.  It makes his performance even more telling and impressive. Costa is full of a certain assurance and almost pompous self confidence ast Higgins. He knows the answers and that is that. He shines with great skill and power in songs like “Why Can’t the English” and “I’m an Ordinary Man.”
Todd Berkich plays Col Pickering, Higgins cohort a man who is Higgins best friend and older than he actually is. He is convincing and shows a real flair as well as a wonderful tenor voice which he displays with great effect in the trio. “Rain in Spain,” and in “You Did It” at the success of Eliza and Higgins at the ball.
There are so many riches here in the performances like with Eliza’s ne’er do well father, Alfie played with skill and vitality by Peter Tedeschi. He also shows a strong singing voice in songs like "Little Bit of Luck" and "Get Me to the Church."
His two drunken cohorts in bad behavior, Daniel Larsen and Jonathan Olivera, are sheer fun.
Roger Reed as Freddy a spoiled young man with  a serious crush on Eliza which he displays in “On the Street Where You Live” in a musical fashion that is impressive.
This large cast is full of talented performers in all the roles and all deliver their best consistently and with great energy and finesse. The riches here are abundant and continual.
Director Aimee Turner evokes stunning performances from her talented cast. Her choreography is impressive and often sheer unabashed fun. She knows how to direct s musical with skill and flair and she displays it with this with confident strokes all the way through.  Her dances shine as in “Wouldn’t It be Loverly” and “With a Little Bit of Luck” or the chic and simple elegance of “Ascot Gavotte.”
Musical director Esther Gabinski who also directs the orchestra is superb as well with a flair for finesse and passion that is impressive.
Valerie Remillard-Myette as Mrs. Pearce shines as well with her roles as the sevant. Melanie Souza is a gem as Henry’s sarcastic mother.
The costumes by Brian Horton are simply stunning in every scene without a doubt. In the scene at Ascot racetrack his use of black and white in the costumes is spectacular and engaging, leaving a distinct visual impression that lingers in the mind’s eye, shimmers like an impressionist painting.
Clifton Chadick’s sets are eye catching and impressive. His study for Henry Higgins is a wonder, full of deft touches that are revealing and impressive such as the various talking machines scattered about, the globe and the animal skull over the door.
This production captures the elegance, flair and style with a freshness that is appealing and entrancing, keeping everything new and full of vitality.

"My Fair Lady" (24 September - 19 October)
@ 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, WARWICK RI
1(401)921-7100