This issue will serve as the first edition of Accessibly Live Off-Line’s entry for 2017, and the first one released on New Year’s Day for quite some time.
As this issue has gong to “press” (although the term “press” is being used as a figurative description as this “publication” hasn’t been paced officially on paper for some ten years), other places found online as well as traditional print has compiled their best and/or worst listing of things and events that made the year 2016 stand out as unique to the other years that has gone by in the recent decades. Some of these lists target a specific topic or subject. (Politics tends to be the biggest subject of interest for the moment.) But other aspects play a role of what became part of the year, such as the best or worst movies released, or the greatest advances in science and technology. These lists, either compiled as a rambling selection or those that take upon a “top-ten” category, show off how the year went that would become as noted interest to the general public at large.
Many people compile their personal lists as well. Many folks living within this domestic society noted changes that occurred within their lives. These changes can rank as something of a positive nature, such as a birth within the family or obtaining a new and perhaps better line of work. There are the events that hold a challenge, such as a move to another location (intentional or out of choice), or even a change toward a line of employment–good or otherwise! And there are the more somber events that occurred, such as a death experienced or a loss of a job. These and related like minded notations become another part of that “2016” landscape.
But wiping the slate clean so to speak, is actually a good thing. It gives one an opportunity to “start over”, making sure that whatever was performed for the good is enhanced or improved, while the not-so-hot events are either modified or removed altogether. Not everyone can make those modifications, but the ones that can do so with their sheer abundance.
So how are we going to make 2017 a better year and a robust season? It’s rather hard to tell. Although we here at ALOL keep our fiscal year as July 1st-June 30th (we are actually at the halfway point), we will still keep those news and reviews rolling along, just as we have for the past twenty one years!
And speaking of “21”, if we were a human being, we would now be old enough to drink legally, although we would still have to be carded by those issuing out the booze in question! Since this news service isn’t one that would have a nip or two, we won’t worry about that matter! Besides, we were made the permanent designated driver, so there goes your point. And besides that, isn’t 2017 the year of the driverless vehicle? Stay tuned to this here news service for further updates!
NEWS AND REVIEWS
The Glendale Centre Theatre opens their 2017 theatre season with Peter Shaffer’s BLACK COMEDY, a comic farce where much of the action takes place within a pitch blacken room with the expected comic results.
Chance Dean is Brindsley Miller, a sculptor living in the South Kensington district of London. He’s very good in what he creates, although he’s a bit uncertain of himself. Ava Scott is Carol Melkett. She’s Brindsley’s fiancée, a woman who plays as a slightly rash debutante type, yet believes in her beau. Seems that an art collector who holds plenty of wealth is interested in some of Brindley’s art, and has invited this client to his galley set within his home. In order to impress his client, he borrows a number of pieces of fancy furnishings from his neighbor, Harold Gorringe (Ted Wells) without his permission or knowledge. While waiting for his client to arrive with the on hand presence of Carol’s father, Cornel Melkett (Paul Michael Nieman), a one time military man who still has that military train of though to conduct things, something tragic occurs! The lights go out, blanketing the place in total darkness! From that point, Brindsley has more to deal with outside of just selling his work. Everyone from a prissy neighbor friend to a former lover comes around in spite of the fact that the entire place is without light!
This play from the English playwright Peter Shaffer who penned such respected stage dramas as Five Finger Exercise, Amadeus, Equus among many others, creates a comedy that uses what’s known as “reverse lighting”, where the stage is totally lit when it’s suppose to be dark, and vise versa. This method of stage lighting adds to much of the comedy depicted on stage where the characters are moving about in a darken home trying not to run into anything while keeping their wits about. The cast of performers that appear on the GCT’s theatre-in-the-round space move about with the comical timing this play commands, keeping upon the trance of their British inspired wit. Zoe Bright is on helm to direct this play that has the entire cast moving in and about through its opening scene to its final light/dark climax!
Also appearing in the cast is Georgan George as Miss Furnival, the prissy lady who becomes part of the darkness tragedy, Tayah Howard as Clea, Brindsley’s old flame, and GCT rep players Kyle Kelly and Don Woodruff in supporting roles.
And since this is a period piece (the play was first presented in the 1960’s) Angela Manke’s costuming showcases a sample of the fashions of the era to its precise style and element.
This production is idea to take upon one’s self a viewing of in order to shake those post-holiday blues! It offers plenty of laughs from the witty humor to its fast paced physical comedy. The GCT presents this program as a tribute to the playwright who passed away in 2016 at the ripe age of ninety. (Peter Shaffer’s name may have been placed in those “personalities who we lost in 2016” laundry lists, unless other names that were well noted but not necessarily as important or significant came ahead on those registers!)
Whatever the case, BLACK COMEDY isn’t a “black comedy” in the traditional sense. It’s just a fun show to see to make the new year right!
BLACK COMEDY, presented by and performs at the Glendale Centre Theatre. 324 North Orange Street, Glendale, until February 11th. Showtimes are Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM, and Saturday matinees at 3:00 PM. Additional performances take place on Thursday, January 12th and 19th at 8:00 PM, and Sunday matinees perform on January 8th, 15th, and 22nd at 3:00 PM.
For more information and for ticket reservations, call (818) 244-8481, or visit the GCT’s web site at http://www.GlendaleCentreTheatre.com
ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE
is a presentation of Linear Cycle Productions
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ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE (C) 2017 Linear Cycle Productions. All rights reserved. The views and opinions are those of the writers, and not necessarily of the staff and management. ‘Nuff said!
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