Displaying items by tag: Elizabeth Telford

For anyone familiar with children’s literature, Roald Dahl is a household name. Since the 1960s, Dahl has entertained and enchanted his young readers with fantastical tales of witches, giants, talking animals, magical chocolate factories, and yes, even a giant peach.

So, it is more than appropriate that the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire has added to its children’s theatre repertoire for the 2023-2024 season a lively and imaginative adaptation of Dahl’s classic James and the Giant Peach. During the 70-minute run time – perfectly suited for the younger audience – the gifted and energetic ensemble bring to life the magical adventures of James Henry Trotter and his intrepid insect friends – Earthworm, Green Grasshopper, Centipede, Spider, and Ladybug.

In this adaptation of the musical, which premiered in 2010, with a score composed by the Tony Award-nominated team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman) and book by award-winning playwright Timothy Allen McDonald (who also adapted Dahl’s most well-known work, Willy Wonka), the charm and quirky characters of Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach are introduced once again to a new generation of fans.

The audience is guided through James’ adventure under the skillful musical narration of Ladahlord, a mysterious magical man, capably played by Chicago theatre veteran, Alex Goodrich. As he informs the audience, magic is going to unfold “Right Before Your Eyes” in the opening number. And then it does, as spiders, earthworms, grasshoppers, ladybugs, centipedes, charging rhinos, ravenous sharks, and comical seagulls all come brilliantly to life through the creative combination of puppets and actors and innovations of costume and wig designers Amanda Vander Byl and Ray Sanchez and gifted props master Leo Bassow.

For those unfamiliar with the story, James becomes an orphan after his parents are eaten by a rhino (see above!) who has escaped the London Zoo. He falls into the hands of his wicked aunts, Aunts Sponge and Spiker. After being given a magical potion of crocodile tongues by Ladahlord, James trips and scatters the potion before he can use its power. What does result, however, is a gigantic peach!

While the aunts try to make money off charging people to see the giant peach, James enters the peach itself, finding himself in the company of human-sized insects. After the peach drops from the tree and rolls into the ocean, James and his companions use their wits and abilities to battle sharks and other obstacles to voyage across the ocean. Eventually the peach lands on the Empire State Building. When it drops to the ground, it crushes the two wicked aunts who have followed the peach across the ocean, and James and his newfound family are home at last.

From the beginning, the audience is captivated by the music, puppets, and the talented cast. James is wonderfully played by 12-year-old Kai Edgar, who made his acting debut at age 8 in the title role of Oliver at the Marriott Theatre. Edgar brings an energy and poise to his performance that is well beyond his age. His amazing performance alone is reason enough to see the show.

He is joined onstage by an equally experienced and gifted ensemble. The dour and doubting Centipede is brilliantly played by Garrett Lutz, who has appeared on numerous Chicago stages, including numerous Marriott productions. Andrés Enriquez also returns to the Marriott stage and delights as the near-sighted and fearful Earthworm. Enriquez shines in his number “Plumb and Juicy,” one of the show’s more memorable tunes, as he breaks from his reserve and fears to help save his companions.

The ensemble is rounded out by veteran actor Christopher Kale Jones, who plays the wise and steady Green Grasshopper and undeniable leader of the group, with an understated elegance and humor. He is joined by Elizabeth Telford, as the kind and motherly Ladybug, who brings a sweetness and tenderness to her role. Juwon Tyrel Perry, who most recently appeared in Marriott Theatre in its Carole King tribute musical, Beautiful, who plays Spider, with a hip and stylish vibe.

And of course, no Roald Dahl story is complete without its villains, which are wonderfully played by Lucy Godinez and Leah Morrow, as the delightfully wicked aunts, Sponge and Spiker, respectively. The pair’s oversized personalities and outlandish antics are crowd favorites, but that doesn’t stop the audience from cheering when their evil designs are finally crushed after the peach drops on them.

Under the direction of Tommy Rapley, who also choreographs the performance, Dahl’s classic tale entertains and captivates the audience with its fast-paced action, nonstop comedy, and innovative set. Marriott’s signature theatre is the perfect venue and James and the Giant Peach is the perfect production to introduce your children and grandchildren to the wonderful world of theatre.

You can catch James and the Giant Peach at the Marriott through March 30th.

The inimitable Doris Day played the lead in the film version of Pajama Game after the hit musical ran on Broadway for three years and won a Tony. I enjoyed this production of The Pajama Game at Theatre at the Center so much from beginning to end that I am surprised it is not produced more often. 

Although there is a relevant plotline about the workers of a pajama factory who are trying to get a seven and one-half cent raise by organizing a union strike, the real story that affects all of the couples in the show is about love. 

Filled with delightful and memorable classic songs like “Hey There", "I'll Never Be Jealous Again", "Fernando's Hideaway" and "Steam Heat", I was taken back in time to the 1950's and swept up in each characters struggle to make a successful and lasting connection with the apple of their eye. 

Curtis Bannister plays Sid, the new boss over grievance committee leader Babe Williams (played by Elizabeth Telford), and even though they fall in love at first sight, Telford goes on to triumphantly sing "I’m Not at All in Love!" to her fellow girlfriends/workers and Sid. The handsome but insecure new man in town belts out a really moving rendition of "Hey There": 

"Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes Love never made a fool of you

You used to be too wise

Hey there, you on that high-flying cloud

Though she won't throw a crumb to you

You think someday she'll come to you

Better forget her

Her with her nose in the air

She has dancing on a string

Break it and she won't care."

Newcomer Bannister's voice is outstanding, the whole audience took notice of his skills from the very first notes to the last. 

Bannister and Telford are both perfectly cast, each has the right amount of clean-cut earnest passion to help others while helping each other and both have the singing and acting chops to wow the audience in number after number. 

Sierra Schnack plays Babe's best friend in the factory and deserves a special mention for her great comedic timing and her knockout dancing in the sexy tuxedo and top hat dance and song number "Steam Heat". Another great comedic actress/dancer played Gladys the sexy company secretary (Kelly Fethous).

Linda Fortunato directed this piece at the perfect pace and makes the audience wish there was an encore after the final number, the show is that much fun to watch. 

I highly recommend seeing this show, every number in it is filled with joy, love, humor, and insight about the conditions required to fall in love and stay in love.  

We all play the "pajama game" at some time in our lives and this play makes you want to run out and buy new pajamas! 

For tickets and/or more information visit https://www.theatreatthecenter.com/.

Try to remember a time before the Internet, before dating sites, before personal ads and instant cameras and you will eventually discover the age-old path of finding love and dating for men and women called "Lonely Hearts Clubs". 

In Marriott Theatre’s “She Loves Me", a musical with a book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and music by Jerry Bock, two co-workers at the quaint Maraczek’s Parfumerie shop have unwittingly fallen in love with each other by the “Dear Friend” letters they have sent and received through their lonely hearts club connection. Though Georg and Amalia have not seen even a single photo of the other they each are certain by the written words of the other that they are truly in love and are ready to finally meet. 

Alex Goodrich’s Georg, the male half of this love match starts out as a bit of a jerk. Goodrich, who puts forth a very strong performance, makes Georg very sympathetic, albeit a bit of a boor though he is likable to his co-workers. He is earnestly content with his fifteen-year-plus job at the store. Although he has lots of girls who are real friends, it turns out Georg is completely insecure and out of touch with his feelings towards the opposite sex when it comes to romance. 

When Elizabeth Telford enters the store as Amalia (who is both seeking employment and unsuspectingly the other half of the lonely hearts club love letters), Georg is utterly irritated by her natural instinct for sales. Georg treats her with disdain even though she is cute and eminently qualified for the job she gets from the boss after selling a new product, a musical cigarette box, in record time. 

Both Goodrich and Telford endear you to their stubborn characters over the course of the show. As delivery boy, Arpad, played with youthful cheer, by Grant Kilian says to another clerk at the store with wonder, "Do they like each other?” The other clerk says, " Yes, they like each other very much," to which Arpad says, "Well shouldn't someone tell them?"  

Elizabeth Telford really knocks it put of the park emotionally and vocally with the number “Will He Like Me?", as she muses about all the different qualities he may or may not find attractive about her once they finally meet. Also, her genuinely joyous and girlish rendition of "Vanilla Ice Cream" lifts the audience to believe in true love again as Georg, who has already stood her up once, breaking her heart so badly that she cannot return to work that day, delivers a pint of Amalias' favorite vanilla ice cream. The thoughtful gesture makes her happy at his consideration in a way that begins to dimly realize what might be real love despite his earlier disdainful and brutish treatment of her feelings at work.  

Yes, it's like a period piece version of " You've Got Mail" that plays with a very modern feel as couples STILL face these challenges trying to find their mate today despite the Internet dating revolution. 

(Above) Jessica Naimy as "Ilona" and Jame Earl Jones II as "Sipos"

Jessica Naimy as Ilona steals the show with two of her numbers as the sexy, single gal at the Parfumerie who lets her desire for Mr. Right get in the way of finding her Mr. Right. In “I Resolve”, Naimy sings with genuine force and power that she resolves to let go of her destructive purely sexual relationship with the lothario of the drugstore and rather stand up for the truly lovable and deserving-of-respect woman she really is. In the number “Trip to the Library", Ilona seems to unconsciously know that a trip to a place of higher learning for the evening instead of to the local drinking hole will eventually lead to her meeting a man of substance and intelligence who loves her the way she was meant to be loved. 

James Earl Jones II as Sipos, the clerk with a family who will kiss anyone's butt to save his boring but dependable job, delivers a very funny, dry performance and his singing voice is both comical and deeply resounding. Great job!  And David Schlumpf as Steven Kodaly, the womanizing and insensitive clerk who'll sleep with anyone, really makes you want to slap him in the face, but his number “Grand Knowing You" shows the audience his sexist honesty is what finally pushes Ilona over the brink to find her own self-respect again, even if it means being alone for a while. 

Shop owner Mr. Maraczek is also well played by Terry Hamilton, as he is able to finely capture both the character’s storminess as that of a demanding boss and the good heartedness that hides beneath his exterior. 

The slicked back hair and black tails of The Headwaiter who serves Georg and Amalia at their very first meeting at a "romantic hideaway" is hysterically portrayed by Steven Strafford who has great physical comedy skills with his spot on facial expressions and timing. 

Directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, “She Loves Me” is a cute love story that features many charming characters and fun numbers including the adorable “Thank You, Madam” a goodbye the store employees sing together whenever a customer leaves the shop.

Thank you, madam. 

Please call again. 

Do call again, 

Madam

I highly recommend this heartwarming, fresh and fun production which is brought to life by Jeffrey D. Kmiec’s sets, Jesse Klug’s soft and lovely period lighting and especially Sally Dolembo’s really delicious, color-rich costumes for both the leads and the wonderful ensemble of players who portray shoppers in the store. Altogether with this superb cast, "She Loves Me" brings the art of lovemaking in this long past period to life in a delightful modern way. 

“She Loves Me” is being performed at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire through June 18th. For tickets and show information click here.