“JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH” OPENS SOON IN MONTVILLE

BUY TICKETS

THE VERDICT IS IN AND “THE TRIAL OF DONNA CAINE” IS A HIT!

TWO WEEKS LEFT!

GOOD AVAILABILITY THIS WEEK:
WHEN: OCTOBER 31 at 8pm and November 2 at 8pm
WHERE: George Street Playhouse, 103 College Farm Rd., New Brunswick
BUY TICKETS NOW

COMMUNITY READING OF “NIGHT” BY ELIE WIESEL

RSVP holocaustcouncil@jfedgmw.org or call 973.939.3194

Run with the NJ Devils This Weekend

Not strictly cultural, but important, nevertheless:

WHEN: Saturday, November 3 | 8AM 
WHERE: Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, Northfield Ave., West Orange
rwjbh.org/runningwiththedevilsSBMC

• USATF Certified Course
• Meet and greet with the NJ Devils' mascot and alumni
• Interactive family-friendly fun and games
• Photobooths and selfie contests
• Free admission to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo with event registration

CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY’S YOUNG AUDIENCE SERIES PRESENTS “A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD”

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
a Centenary University & Centenary Stage Company NEXTstage Repertory production

WHEN: November 1 through November 5; Thursday, November 1 at 7:30PM; Friday, November 2 at 8:00PM; Saturday, November 3 at 2:00Pm; Sunday, November 4 at 5:00PM and Monday, November 5 at 7:30PM 
WHERE: The Little Theatre, 400 Jefferson Street, Hackettstown
TICKETS: $12.50 for adults and $10.00 for children under 12.

A hit on Broadway, A Year with Frog and Toad was nominated for three Tony Awards – including Best Musical. Based on Arnold Lobel's well-loved books, and featuring a hummable score by Robert and Willie Reale, this whimsical show follows two great friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad – through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the Spring, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding and learn life lessons along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special. Part vaudeville, part make believe... all charm, A Year with Frog and Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 – 0900. The CSC box office is open Monday through Friday from 1 – 5PM and two hours prior to every performance. The CSC box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ. Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Like and follow to receive the latest in CSC news and special offers.

The 2018-2019 season of performing arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, and CSC corporate sponsors, including Premier Season Sponsor Heath Village Retirement Community, The House of the Good Shepherd, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Medical Center, Home Instead Senior Care (Washington), Fulton Bank of New Jersey, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.

Livingston Taylor is performing in Mount Tabor on November 3rd!

Livingston Taylor

WHEN: Saturday, November 3rd, at 7pm
WHERE: The Tabernacle, 26 Simpson Avenue, Mount Tabor, NJ
TICKETS: $45 General Admission
Info & Tickets

Livingston Taylor picked up his first guitar at the age of 13, which began a 50-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting, and teaching. Born in Boston and raised in North Carolina, Livingston is the fourth child in a very musical family that includes Alex, James, Kate and Hugh. Livingston recorded his first record at the age of 18 and has continued to create well crafted, introspective and original songs that have earned him listeners worldwide.

From top-40 hits “I Will Be in Love with You” and “I’ll Come Running,” to “I Can Dream of You” and “Boatman,” the last two recorded by his brother James, Livingston’s creative output has continued unabated. His musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres—folk, pop, gospel, jazz—and from upbeat storytelling and touching ballads to full orchestra performances.

Livingston has never stopped performing since those early coffeehouse days, shared the stage with major artists such as Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett, and Jethro Tull, and he maintains a busy concert schedule, touring internationally. He is a natural performer, peppering his shows with personal stories, anecdotes and ineffable warmth that connect him to his fans. His relaxed on-stage presence belies the depth of his musical knowledge, and fans might just as often be treated to a classic Gershwin or something from the best of Broadway.

Livingston is a full professor at Berklee College of Music, where he has taught a Stage Performance course since 1989. He teaches young artists invaluable lessons learned over the course of an extensive career on the road; the course is consistently voted the most popular at the College. His book, Stage Performance, released in 2011 offers those lessons to anyone who is interested in elevating their presentation standards to professional standards.

Livingston's 50th year of making music was celebrated by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, both declaring January 18, 2017 "Livingston Taylor Day".

Dr. Ruth Appears at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, Really!

Dr. Ruth Wesheimer
WHEN: Sunday, November 4, 5 pm
WHERE: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 E. Clinton Ave., Tenafly
ADMISSION: $16 JCC members/$20 public

Ruth Westheimer, better known as Dr. Ruth, will be making a special appearance at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades on Sunday, November 4, at 5 pm, to speak about her life and the lessons she’s learned.

Known for speaking frankly about intimate matters, Dr. Ruth has enjoyed an illustrious career as a late-night radio, television and a pop culture celebrity whose humor and warmth entertained and educated thousands of viewers and listeners since the 1980s. However, there is much more to her story than most people know, and she will be sharing it with her JCC audience. Born to German, Jewish parents, Ruth was sent to Switzerland on a Kindertransport at age 10 to escape the Nazis; her father was taken by the Gestapo, and after the war, Ruth learned that both her parents had been killed in the Holocaust. She immigrated to Palestine, trained and served as a Hagenah sniper, was wounded in an explosion, and ultimately came to the US, where she worked as a maid before moving on to become a college professor, author and celebrity. Her new book, Roller-Coaster Grandma – a graphic, novel-style autobiography for ages 8-12 that depicts the ups and downs of her 90-year-journey, uses a trip to an amusement park with her grandchildren as its backdrop.

Dr. Ruth will share her amazing story in context of her book, which explores how she learned to be strong and resilient in face of hardship and how we can all apply her lessons to our own lives. Always witty and good-humored, Dr. Ruth’s presentation is sure to be hysterical and uplifting.

Program will include Dr. Ruth’s special brand of Q&A.  Books will be available for purchase and signing. The event is co-sponsored with the James H Grossmann Memorial Jewish Book Month Endowment Fund.

NJ's “Your Move: Modern Dance Festival” to Open in Historic Jersey City Theater This Weekend Only

Your Move: Modern Dance Festival
Art House Productions  in partnership with Friends of Loew’s

WHEN: Friday, November 2 at 7:30pm, Sunday, November 4, at 2:oopm 
Sunday, November 4, at 5:00pm
WHERE: The Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theater, 54 Journal Square Plaza, Jersey City, NJ, 07306, adjacent to the Journal Square PATH Station
TICKETS: $18 in advance ($25 at the door).
For tickets and further information please visit www.arthouseproduction.org

Your Move: Modern Dance Festival is New Jersey’s preeminent annual modern dance festival, designed to support choreographers from New Jersey, New York, and beyond. Morgan Refakis, Christie Freeman and Meagan Woods co-produce a festival consistently recognized for high-caliber modern dance. Now in its 9th season, Your Move is thrilled to continue its partnership with Friends of the Loew’s at The Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theater.

The 2018 festival features Kyle Marshall Choreography (KMC). Other choreographers include: Felicia Avalos, Lauren Connolly, Gwendolyn Gussman, Joe Monteleone, Patrick O'Brien, Javier Padilla, Ambika Raina, Morgan Refakis, Jordan Ryder, Phoebe Sandford, Adriana Santoro and Shannon Yu 余香儒.

Kyle Marshall is a 2018 NY Dance and Performance “Bessie” Jury Award recipient and a 2017 NJ State Council of the Arts Fellow. His dance company, Kyle Marshall Choreography (KMC) sees the dancing body as a site for celebration, an igniter of social change and a container of history.  KMC has performed at venues including: Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, Joe’s Pub at the Public, Actors Fund Arts Center, NJPAC, NYC Summerstage, Wassaic Arts Project, and Conduit Dance (PDX). Commissions have included: "Dance on the Lawn" Montclair's Dance Festival, NJPAC and Harlem Stage. Kyle currently dances with the Trisha Brown Dance Company and doug elkins choreography. Kyle is a graduate of Rutgers University with a BFA in Dance.

Art House Productions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to the development and presentation of performing and visual arts programs in Jersey City, NJ. Art House Productions presents original theater, music events, visual arts, experimental performance, classes, video/new media and the quarterly citywide arts festival, JC Fridays. For more information about our programs, please visit our website at www.arthouseproductions.org.

“GODSPELL” TO OPEN IN CLIFTON NOVEMBER 2

TICKETS: adults $23 in advance; $28 at the door. Tickets for students and seniors are priced at $18 in advance and $23 at the door. Group discount rates are available. Tickets may be reserved by phone (973-928-7668); online via the theater’s website (www.theaterleagueofclifton.com); or regular mail. The Theater League’s mailing address is: PO Box 4072, Clifton, NJ 07012.  Godspell is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), New York.
         

The ensemble cast includes Chris Robertson as Jesus and Craig Woodward as John The Baptist/Judas joined by Mariah Ayscue, Laura Bolt, Christie Brady, Gregory Gwyn, Reujen Lista, Sarah Medcalf, Danielle Petrucelli, Joseph Pierone, Hana Salvacion and Zariah Rivera.

THIS SATURDAY! Closing Reception ~ “The Golem: Objects of Security” by Ryan Bock in Jersey City

Closing Reception 
Golem: Objects of Security
by Brooklyn-based artist Ryan Bock

WHEN: On View: September 29 - November 3, 2018. Closing Reception:  Saturday, November 3, 6-11pm
WHERE: DEEP SPACE GALLERY, 77 Cornelison Ave., Jersey City

Spend an evening with the artist—ask him about his paintings, drawings, sculptures, and on-site installation. This is Bock's final exhibition of 2018—come help him make this year a smashing success and make one of his pieces part of your personal collection!

“My natural human inclination toward security is stifling my growth. I’m attempting to propel myself out of my comfort zone, off a cliff in both my personal and professional life in order to reach a higher comprehension of where I stand,” Ryan Bock says of his forthcoming exhibition, The Golem: Objects of Security. Paired with the artist’s shifting perspective is his presentation of previously unexplored mediums and the reimagining of practiced ones.  Shapes of antiquity meet those of contemporary society and iconic symbols are abstracted and separated from their contexts. These new works include painting, sculpture, drawings, and experimental short film.

Inspired by the myth of the Golem of Prague, particularly by the German horror film that the exhibition’s title adapts, Bock confronts the duality of self-protection. It is said that the rabbi brought the Golem to life to protect the Jewish ghetto, but in time the guardian turned against its creator, desecrating the people and places in its path.

The things our contemporary society considers foundational to life—medicine, information technology, economies, stability—are the fabric of The Golem.  Rather than accepting them as assurances of comfort and protection, Bock exposes their inherent vulnerability to compromise and thus the dangers they pose to the very security we rely on them for.  Bock’s works give form to unexposed dark matter, calling attention to the webs and mazes that distract us from reflecting on our own contemporary condition.

Bock cautions us: Anything we view as armor may also provide the means of our demise.

Ryan Bock’s sixth solo-exhibition, The Golem: Objects of Security, includes new works, installation, and experimental short film.

Rock Out with John Fogerty at bergenPAC Gala

MORE INFORMATION

“Junie B. Jones The Musical” Returns to Black Box PAC!

JUNIE B. JONES THE MUSICAL
Book & Lyrics by MARCY HEISLER Music by ZINA GOLDRICH
Adapted from the JUNIE B. JONES series of books by BARBARA PARK
Directed by ALLISON FALKENSTERN
Choreographed by: SAMANTHA BRENNER & NACHI LEDERER

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 am from October 27 through December 16 (off Thanksgiving weekend)
WHERE: BLACK BOX PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, (200 Walraven Drive. (just off  Palisade Ave., GPS: 290 Walraven Drive), Teaneck, NJ 07666.
TICKETS: $20 for adults, $18 for students/seniors, and $12 for children under age 12
Group rates for 10 or more are available by calling (201) 357-2221. Tickets can also be purchased at the venue; please call (201) 357-2221 for box office hours.
Tickets on sale now at BLACKBOXPAC.COM

Following last year’s successful run at The Black Box Performing Arts Center, Junie B. Jones is back with new friends, different dance numbers, and the same lovable story that is sure to delight fans of all ages!

This production of Junie B. Jones The Musical - presented in special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) - features a rotating cast of Black Box Repertory Company members, as well as new talent: Samantha Brenner, Tyler Fuentes, Jason Felix, Sara Giacomini, Cassandra Guglielmo, Danielle MacMath, Mikey Miller, and Larissa Terese. This revival run features some brand new choreography, revamped blocking, plus new props and costumes! Director Allison Falkenstern has reinvented Junie B so that both new and returning audiences will be leaving the theatre wanting more!

The Black Box Performing Arts Center continues to emerge as the Tri-State area’s premiere destination for both cutting-edge professional theater and collaborative performing arts education — in the heart of Teaneck, NJ— just a quick ride over the George Washington Bridge. Junie B. Jones The Musical continues BBPAC’s third full season of professional theater, which includes four more ‘mainstage’ productions, ongoing immersive late-night rock musicals, ongoing pop musicals for kids, and the development of original works for the stage.

The Ed Laub Trio @ Shanghai Jazz, Wed., October 31, 7 PM (Happy Halloween!)

The Ed Laub Trio

WHEN: October 31, 2018 (Happy Halloween!), 7 PM
WHERE: Shanghai Jazz, 24 Main Street, Madison

Featuring:

• Josh Marcum – Bass
• Linus Wyrsch — Tenor Sax and Clarinet

With Special Guests:

• Vincent Curatola of the HBO Series - The Sopranos 
• Gene Bertoncini – World-renowned guitarist
• (former guitarist in the Tonight Show Band with Johnny Carson)

Reservations Required: www.shanghaijazz.com

“SPRING AWAKENING” opens at BLACK BOX PAC in Teaneck

Black Box Studios Proudly Presents

SPRING AWAKENING

Book & Lyrics by STEVEN SATER Music by DUNCAN SHEIK
Directed by MATT OKIN
Assistant Directed by MICHAEL GARDINER
Choreographed by SAMANTHA BRENNER
Music Direction by KATHY SHEPPARD

WHEN: NOVEMBER 3-18, 2018; Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 8 PM; Sundays 2 PM
WHERE: BLACK BOX PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 200 Walraven Drive. (just off  Palisade Ave., GPS: 290 Walraven Drive), Teaneck, NJ
TICKETS: $30 for adults and $25 for students/seniors.
Tickets are now available at www.blackboxpac.com.
Group rates for 10 or more are available by calling (201) 357-2221.
Tickets can also be purchased at the venue.

Following the inaugural summer of Shakespeare in the Park in Bergen County and season opener One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Black Box Studios is proud to announce the 2nd main stage show of the 2018-2019 season: a new production of Spring Awakening. With book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening is a rock musical adaption of the seminal play Spring’s Awakening by Frank Wedekind.

Spring Awakening features the talents of Samantha Brenner, Tyler Fuentes, Mikey Miller, Oscar Selby, Ellen Revesz, and Laurence Wallace, with Black Box Repertory Company members Allison Falkenstern, Jason Felix, Sara Giacomini, Samuel Hapner-Goldman, Danielle MacMath, Larissa Terese, and starring Stephan Marcellus of NBC’s The Voice.

The Black Box Performing Arts Center (home of Black Box Studios) continues to emerge as the Tri-State area’s premiere destination for both cutting-edge professional theater and collaborative performing arts education — in the heart of Teaneck, NJ— just a quick ride over the George Washington Bridge. Black Box was the recipient of the 2017 Teaneck Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Cultural Arts Award, and currently serves on the Chamber Board as the Chair of the Cultural Arts Committee.

In addition to main stage productions, Black Box PAC hosts special events including Open Mic Nights, Comedy Nights, and Junie B. Jones The Musical on Saturdays and Sundays at 11am.

CARRIE JACKSON TO APPEAR ON SATURDAY IN WATCHUNG

"You're invited to The Watchung Arts Center Jazz in The Gallery Featuring Carrie Jackson & the Guys in The Band, performing the music of Gershwin, Lerner & Loewe, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and songs from the Great American Song Book, Carrie and The Band will be swingin.' This is a don't-miss concert. "It's an elegant evening of fun” and lite snack, coffee & tea included. Tell them to click on the link below to register or RSVP.

Get more information Register Now! Driving Directions

LOCAL ARTIST SHOWS WORK @ ARTS COUNCIL OF LIVINGSTON GALLERY THROUGH DECEMBER 3

We are pleased to feature a new talent at The Arts Council of Livingston Gallery current exhibit, Autumn Palette Art by Livingston resident Debra Felner WHEN: through December 3rd. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday noon to 5 p.m. WHERE: ACL Gallery located at 2130 Town Center Way in Livingston (enter on Carillon Circle). For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Hugh Mahon at 973-747-2257. Felner says, “I’ve been intrigued with creating unique and compelling designs on many different surfaces.” Her pieces on display at the ACL Gallery are dyes on silk. Felner added, “I love using the power of fresh color, interesting motifs and texture for fine art and textile design.“ She has been drawing and painting since elementary school. Felner’s themes in fine art range from children’s book inspiration to nature and Kabbalah themes. She holds a B.A in Textile Design and Styling and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Fashion Institute of Technology. The Arts Council of Livingston Gallery is a cooperative gallery that features original works of fine art disciplines including mixed media, jewelry, blown glass, painting, sculpture, pottery, printmaking and photography.

Register Today for “The Next Generation: Will the Holocaust Story Survive?” November 4

A Panel of Third Generation Voices Responds Manya Gaver ■ Jonathan Hanlon ■ Alexa Joachim Amanda Lanceter ■ Orin Wilf

This Sunday, the Sister Rose Thering Fund for Education in Jewish-Christian Studies will host its Eighth Annual Dr. Marcia Robbins Wilf Lecture. This year, the event will place a special focus on ensuring that the story of the Holocaust continues to be passed down to future generations. Join us as we welcome Michael Rubell, director of Morris Rubell Holocaust Remembrance Journeys, and a panel of third generation Holocaust survivors for "The Next Generation: Will the Story Survive?" on Sunday, November 4, at 2 p.m. in Bethany Hall, Seton Hall University. Hear from insightful young men and women whose grandparents experienced first-hand the trauma of the Holocaust either as victims or liberators. They will share their thoughts on how their family history impacts them and will explore their and our responsibility to remember and act in the turbulent times of the present and into the future. The audience will be encouraged to pose questions to the panelists during the event. This event is free and open to the public through the generosity of the Dr. Marcia Robbins Wilf Lecture Endowment. R.S.V.P. is requested by November 1st. To register and for program details visit www.shu.edu/go/robbinswilf Light reception to follow Admission is free

TRILOGY REP’S Children's Theater Auditions: “Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz”

AUDITION NOTICE:

Trilogy Repertory is pleased to announce auditions for its children's theater production of

Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz 

PERFORMANCE DATES: Saturdays, 1/12/19, 1/19/19, and 1/26/19
WHERE: libraries located in Somerset and Morris Counties.
This is a touring production that will perform three times a day for young children and their families.

Director Peter Curley is seeking 7 high energy and enthusiastic actors who love children.
Roles:

• Dorothy: female, age 17-29
• Scarecrow: male, age 20-50
• Tin Man: male, age 20-50
• Lion: male, age 20-50
• Glinda the Good Witch: female, age 18-39
• Wicked Witch of the West: female, age 18-49
• The Wizard of Oz: male, age 50-70
  

WHEN:  Sunday, November 25, at 6 pm. 
WHERE: Bernards Township Community Center, 289 South Maple Avenue,
Basking Ridge, NJ
For more information or questions, please email Peter Curley at peterjames0923@gmail.com.

JAZZ EVENTS THIS WEEK IN NEW BRUNSWICK

Part of NBJP's mission is to showcase the next generation of jazz musicians ... the future "greats!" This is a chance to see them NOW!

"Joy and spirited musical communication" characterize Garnett's drumming. Living legend Abbey Lincoln and the late great Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, James Carter, Regina Carter, and Cyrus Chestnut have all called on Mr. Garnett for the energy and fire that he brings to the bandstand. Mr. Garnett has also worked in the bands of many great artists:Roy Hargrove, Benny Golson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kevin Mahogany, Clark Terry, Eric Reed, Wycliffe Gordon, Milt Hinton, Marcus Printup, Greg Osby & Ellis Marsalis. Currently Mr. Garnett resides in Brooklyn and performs around the U.S. and internationally.

COME EARLY, TAVERN ON GEORGE  FILLS QUICKLY!

RESERVATIONS STRONGLY SUGGESTED 732-545-6205, INFO@TAVERNONGEORGE.COM

Jazz guitarist Roni Ben-Hur has earned a sterling reputation as a musician and educator, renowned for his golden tone and ability to charm peers, students and listeners alike. He has recorded a dozen albums as leader or co-leader, with The New York Times praising his "crisp, fluid style."

Harvie S attended Berklee College of Music and moved to NYC in 1972, where he worked and recorded extensively with a host of major jazz artists. Harvie  has recorded, performed and produced music exclusively as Harvie S since 2001. In 2008 Harvie S with Kenny Barron Due album, Now Was the Time, was released on HighNote/Savant Records. He has been a member of the Westchester Jazz Orchestra since 2007.

Nancy and Spencer Reed's unique brand of vocal and instrumental styling (Nancy: voice & bass, Spencer: voice & guitar) has been enjoyed by audiences for over 30 years. Their forte is their vocal blend, with tight yet natural phrasing and unusual harmony. Both grew up in New York City and started their musical collaboration as teenagers in the Bronx. They were influenced by the classic performances of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Carmen McRae and Jackie and Roy. Their audience is always treated to a warm, relaxed vibe yet the music is swinging and intense. They offer an unusual selection of rarely heard tunes punctuated by unique treatments of jazz standards.

COMMUNITY READING OF “NIGHT” TO BE HELD IN WHIPPANY AT THE JCC

The NJJFF brings a thriller to the screen this weekend!

Budapest Noir

WHEN: Saturday, November 3, 8:00pm
WHERE: Maurice Levin Theater, JCC MetroWest, 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange
TICKETS: Senior: $13 / General Admission: $15 / Free for NJJFF ’19 Sponsors
973-530-3417
Get Tickets

Set in the politically fraught autumn of 1936, this mystery follows hard-boiled reporter Zsigmond Gordon as he probes the murder of a young prostitute. Against the backdrop of the funeral of a fascist-leaning Hungarian prime minister, Gordon follows clues that take him into the city’s underbelly—a world of pornography and fixers, boxers and brothels, powerful crime syndicates, and secret Communist cells—and all the way to the highest echelons of power. 19th Annual NJJFF Sponsorship is now available. New this year! Reserved Parking Spot for $1000 Sponsorship and above. Sponsor the NJJFF Today!

REVIEW: STNJ’S RAUCOUS BRITISH COMEDY THE ANTIDOTE TO TODAY’S WOES

By Ruth Ross

The loud, raucous laughter you may have heard coming from Madison on Saturday night was provoked by the uproarious Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s penultimate offering of the troupe’s 36th season, an old chestnut of a British comedy, Charley’s Aunt. Although more familiar to American audiences in its musical version, Where’s Charley? (which propelled Ray Bolger to stardom), the original version, written by Brandon Thomas in 1892 for a local hunt club’s annual sponsorship of a new play, can be considered the granddaddy of modern farce, preceding such gems as Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) and Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear (1907). (Above L-R: Isaac Hickox-Young, Erica Knight, Seamus Mulcahy, Emiley Kiser and Aaron McDaniel)

STNJ’s version of Charley’s Aunt pays faithful homage to the genre’s fast-paced, wacky formula of earnest young lovers vs. scheming parents/guardians, a preposterous disguise, an unflappable butler, witty dialogue, physical comedy and cross-dressing. The result: an evening of absurd fun—just the antidote to take one’s mind off our present-day woes.

Thomas’ ridiculous plot revolves around college boys Jack Chesney and Charles Wykeham, who, to gain the affections of the lovely Amy Spettigue and Kitty Verdun, invite the girls to tea in Jack’s rooms. The fly in the ointment is the lack of a chaperone so necessary to maintain respectability. When Charles learns that his guardian (whom he has never met), the elderly Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez, is coming to London, they attempt to enlist her in their scheme, but she declines to attend. What to do? Well, recruit their hard-up friend Lord Fancourt (“Babbs”) Babberly to don his amateur theatrical costume and impersonate Donna Lucia. The lie results in madcap mayhem as lecherous father/uncle/guardians disrupt the plan, the real Donna Lucia appears and complications multiply like rabbits. (Above L-R: Hickox-Young, McDaniel and Seams Mulcahy)

Once again, Joseph Discher proves he is an accomplished director of comedy; he keeps the action swirling around the stage without mishap as his talented cast deals very well with credible posh British accents delivering snappy repartee. Aaron McDaniel is smashing as Jack, the scheme’s mastermind. Thinking quickly on his feet, he’s always one step ahead of anyone else, his intelligence on full display, even if it’s used for silly mischief. Isaac Hickox-Young’s lovable yet dim Charley is no match for his friend’s connivance, which sets him adrift when things inevitably go wrong. On the distaff side, Emiley Kiser’s ditzy Amy Spettigue provides good dramatic foil to the more cynical Kitty Verdun, played with wise calculation by Erica Knight. As the real Donna Lucia, Erika Rolfsrud sails around the stage like a frigate; dignified yet girlish, she has great fun tweaking the situation without revealing her true identity. In a smaller role, that of Ela Delahay, Sally Kingsford ably conveys the young girl’s fanciful, romantic nature, notwithstanding her coincidental appearance on the scene. (Above, right: Rolfsrud and Sally Kingsford)

Adding to the bedlam are the two old men, both stock characters of English comedy. Stephen Spettigue, uncle of Amy and guardian of Kitty, is portrayed with bluster by John Ahlin; his courtship of Charley’s (fake) Aunt is lecherously hilarious. In contrast, David Andrew MacDonald’s Col. Sir Frances Chesney (below, right, with Mulcahy), Jack’s father, is more circumspect in his wooing, ever the gentleman who, when refused by his would-be inamorata, takes no for an answer and casts his marital net elsewhere. And overseeing the hijinks is the butler Brassett, played by Peter Simon Hilton (above, left) as a supercilious curmudgeon who has the true measure of these ridiculous people he serves and is not above letting the audience know exactly how he feels about them.

Seamus Mulcahy (right) as “Babbs,” portraying Charley’s very fictional aunt, is a force unto himself. His agility at physical comedy, his expressive face, his ability to milk a line of ludicrous dialogue are the true engines that drive the pandemonium to heights of wild laughter. Just watching him manage a hoop skirt is worth the price of a ticket.

This mayhem unfolds on an elegant set designed by Brian Prather: an Oxford college room, a garden and a London drawing room provide a canvas suitable to the time, place and action. Natalie Loveland’s elegant costumes befit each character. In his shorts, knee-high socks, white shoes, blazer and cap, Charley is the quintessential Oxford toff, and as he wrestles with them, Babbs’ hoop-skirted dowager’s black dress and lace scarf almost become characters themselves.

Debuting 1892, Charley’s Aunt was a huge hit, with an original London run of 1466 performances over four years and a long Broadway run in 1893! Yet underlying the fluff and silliness onstage, Charley’s Aunt has a deeper, more important message: It’s the power of love—the force that makes us do great and stupid things, sacrifice ourselves for it—is, as Discher says in his Director’s Notes, what “makes all the trouble worth it.”

So, give yourself and your family/friends a pre-Christmas gift of tickets to Charley’s Aunt. Its message of love and acceptance is even more important. Leavening such a weighty theme with absurdity provides worthy diversion from the upcoming election and political mischief Once again STNJ proves that it is a formidable theatrical force in suburban New Jersey. We are lucky to have such a talented troupe in our midst.

Charley’s Aunt will be performed at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theater, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, on the campus of Drew University through November 18. For information and tickets, call the box office at 973.408.5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org online.

Photo credits: Jerry Dalia.

REVIEW: FLAWED BUT INTERESTING COURTROOM DRAMA TAKES STAGE @ GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE

By Ruth Ross

Courtroom dramas are among the most popular, long-lived genres on film, stage and television. Think Twelve Angry Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Few Good Men, Judgment at Nuremburg and the venerable Perry Mason television series so popular in the late 50s – early 60s. Most follow a set formula, with an important revelation made in the penultimate scene that completely turns the plot on its head and surprises the characters as well as the audience. (Above L-R: Peter Frechette, Flor De Liz Perez, Margarita Levieva, Melissa Maxwell, John Bolger)

That said, The Trial of Donna Caine, now making its world premiere at George Street Playhouse, fits comfortably in the genre. Despite feeling a bit like a “paint by numbers” set, Walter Anderson’s drama “inspired by actual events” is saved by its discussion of women’s role in the military—in this case, the toughest of the armed services, the Marines. Unfortunately, what starts so promisingly ends up being rather predictable, with a saved-by-the-bell disclosure that comes out of nowhere.

The Trial of Donna Caine is inspired by real-life events surrounding the “Ribbon Creek Incident,” a 1956 training mishap that resulted in the drowning deaths of six U.S. Marines. Playwright Walter Anderson has updated the play so that three of the recruits are female, as is their drill instructor Staff Sgt. Donna Caine (Flor De Liz Perez, left), who finds herself on trial for their deaths. To instill trust and engender esprit de corps in what had been a less-than-stellar platoon, she led them, against regulations, into a tidal creek, noted for its varying depths and the vicissitudes of the tides. When Caine is accused of the serious crime of manslaughter, feisty attorney Emily Zola Ginsberg takes up the cause and, mounting a spirited defense of her client, takes on the military establishment to expose the truth.

Anderson’s script is riveting and timely, for the most part. We are all familiar with the glitches produced by newly installed computer software; not enough mention was made about such software early in the play. Had there been, the revelation would have been inevitable.

That said, Director David Saint lets several characters get away from him. As Ron Kuby-clone defense attorney Vincent Stone, Peter Frechette speaks too quickly and often sounds more like he’s reciting written dialogue than uttering words he thought of himself. Similarly, John Bolger’s prosecutor Roy Gill sounds equally unconvincing, especially when talking on the telephone. And Julia Brothers’ Lt. Col Sandra Eden, Caine’s commanding officer and advocate for men and women Marines training together, sounds wooden, mechanical, although privately she expresses compassion for Caine that is poignant. (Right: Kally Duling and Michael Cullen)

Other actors nail their characters admirably well. With her non-nonsense attitude leavened with a touch of humor, Melissa Maxwell’s Judge Easton maintains tight control on the court proceedings, and Ryan George as Donna Caine’s attractive fiancé “Gunny” Walker walks a fine line between telling the truth and protecting her. Michael Cullen is blustery yet caring as Sgt. Maj. Clayton Williams, who is willing to admit he at first opposed women in the corps but has evolved; his personal connection to Caine and her father surely had something to do with it.

That leaves dynamic performances by Margarita Levieva (Ginsberg), Flor De Liz Perez (Caine; both left) and Kally Duling (PFC Ellen Colessio). Despite the sappy reference to Emile Zola in her character’s name, Levieva’s Ginsberg is dogged, spirited and kind, despite her client’s refusal to cooperate. She fleshes out Ginsberg’s back story in a matter of fact manner, not currying pity from Caine or the audience, but her personal connection to Stone—just as Caine has to Williams—sounds a bit too pat, too coincidental to be believable. Perez portrays Caine as a “Marine’s Marine,” unbending, scrupulously following regulations, sure she didn’t make a mistake about the tide and full of shame at having caused the deaths of her recruits. At times unlikeable, Perez’s Caine becomes more human as the trial progresses, so that we ultimately root for a verdict in her favor. And Duling is resentment personified as PFC Colessio, a recruit on the receiving end of Caine’s religious application of Marine regulations. As she goes after Caine under cross examination, she loses our sympathy, which makes her change of heart after learning more about her drill instructor all the more satisfying.

James Youmans is to be lauded for his scenic and media design. The use of screens and projections to change scenery makes for smooth transitions that might otherwise be distracting. Jason Lyons’ lighting design enhances the atmosphere, as does the original music and sound design by Scott Killian. (Right: John Bolger, Melissa Maxwell, and Julia Brothers)

The premise for The Trial of Donna Caine is timely and relevant, especially when we are involved in a 17-year-long war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The two coincidences I noted are annoying but do not really affect the plot or outcome of the drama. Perhaps, as the run proceeds, the actors will settle into their roles and give more convincing performances. That I was blindsided by the revelatory disclosure is, I think, because the involved actors spoke so quickly that I missed its initial hint.

If you love courtroom dramas, you’ll probably enjoy The Trial of Donna Caine. A respectable addition to the genre, it will engender discussion about the recent decision to open military combat positions to women.

The Trial of Donna Caine will be performed at George Street Playhouse’s temporary location at 103 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, through November 11. For information and tickets, call the box office at 732.246.7717 or visit www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org online.

Photos by T. Charles Erickson

THURNAUER FACULTY MEMBER PIANIST STEVEN MASI TO PERFORM CHAMBER MUSIC BY BRAHMS

PIANIST STEVEN MASI: CHAMBER MUSIC BY BRAHMS

WHEN: Sun, October 28, 3 pm
WHERE: Kaplen JCC, 411 East Clinton Avenue, Tenafly
ADMISSION:  Free
For more information, visit jccotp.org/Thurnauer or call 201-408-1465.

Pianist Steven Masi will be joined by friends for a performance of chamber music by Johannes Brahms, including the Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano, Sonatensatz for Violin and Piano and the Quintet for Piano and Strings. Steven will be joined by violinists Laura Goldberg and Samuel Katz, violist Sarah Adams, cellist Barbara Stein Mallow, and clarinetist Diana Petrella. The concert, which will conclude with a reception, is free with suggested $10 donation.

Dorothy Kaplan Roffman, founding director of the Thurnauer School of Music said, “Steven has been a treasured faculty member at the Thurnauer School of Music for more than 20 years. We are delighted to present him and his wonderful musician friends in an afternoon of glorious music by Brahms.”

Acclaimed as an artist of unusual sensitivity and virtuosity, pianist Steven Masi has concertized extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia.  In 2017, Masi released his recording of the complete piano sonatas of Beethoven, on the Albany label.  Writing in Fanfare Magazine, Colin Clarke wrote, "Masi hardly seems to feel technical hurdles. It is as if everything is in the service of Beethoven."  As a recitalist and chamber musician he has appeared at the Casals Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Chattauqua Festival, Park City International Festival, Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival, and Music Festival of the Hamptons. He has been guest soloist with The Atlanta Symphony, American Symphony, and New Symphony Orchestra of London. In Germany he was an artist member of the Bonn Chamber Music Society and recorded extensively for the Southwest German Radio and Aulos Records. He has toured the United States with the Bonn Woodwind Quintet, and as a member of the Odyssey Chamber Players and Leonore Trio.  A graduate of the Juilliard School, Mr. Masi lives in Leonia, New Jersey with his wife, clarinetist Diana Petrella and son Aidan. Read more at StevenMasi.com.

About the JCC Thurnauer School of Music

The JCC Thurnauer School of Music has been named a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Serving over 400 students from infancy through adulthood, it offers a comprehensive program similar to the finest pre-college conservatories. The Thurnauer experience includes instrumental lessons, ensembles, and classes, master classes with world-renowned artists; a chamber music series; faculty recitals; frequent student performances; and a 20+ year partnership with the Englewood Public School District. The school is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and received an award for “excellence and high standards” from The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.