THE BROADWAY MUSICALS YEARBOOK 1920 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

 “The Broadway Musicals Yearbook” will be heard on Artsound FM 92.7 at 5pm on Sunday 28th November and repeated at 11pm on Monday 29th of November.  The show is produced and narrated by Len Power, Canberra theatre critic, music critic and radio presenter.

This week – the musicals of 1920

1920 saw the emergence of Rodgers and Hart with songs in ‘The Poor Little Ritz Girl’ and the up and coming George Gershwin provided the score for the ‘George White’s Scandals of 1920’ revue.  George M. Cohan directed ‘Mary’ with music by Louis A. Hirsch and Jerome Kern produced the score for one of his most famous shows, ‘Sally’.

Songs in this program include ‘Look For The Silver Lining’ (from ‘Sally’), ‘The Love Nest’ (from ‘Mary), ‘When I Found You’ (from ‘The Poor Little Ritz Girl’) and ‘Scandal Walk’ (from ‘George White’s Scandals of 1920’).

Performers in this program include Fanny Brice, Anthony Perkins, Barbara Cook, Billy Murray, Elaine Stritch and Marilyn Miller.

 

Listen Now: https://artsound.fm/shows/the-broadway-musicals-yearbook/

 

CHIAROSCURO (THEATRE REVIEW)

 

Written and directed by David Atfield

The Courtyard, Canberra Theatre Centre to 28 November

 

Reviewed by Len Power 25 November 2021

 

In ‘Chiaroscuro’, David Atfield has taken a painting by the artist Caravaggio as inspiration for his new play that focusses on a short period of the artist’s life in Sicily and his fictitious relationship with a young male prostitute.

‘The Raising of Lazarus’ was painted in about 1609 and hangs in the Museo Regionale, Messina in Sicily.  Caravaggio lived and painted in Sicily for some time after fleeing from Rome as a result of a murder he had committed.

In the play, Caravaggio has employed the prostitute, Gregorio, as the model for his painting of Lazarus.  A relationship develops between them as work on the painting progresses.  The two men are very different.  Caravaggio seems intelligent and educated in comparison to the young man who is street-wise with coarsely original views on life and religion.

Mark Salvestro is a thoughtful and sensitive Caravaggio in his relationship with the young man and he also displays a steely resolve under the surface and a hint that violence is not far away.  Shae Kelly is convincing as Gregorio, a rough young man living on his wits who has seen the dark side of human nature in his work as a prostitute.

Shae Kelly (Gregorio) and Mark Silvestro (Caravaggio)

The contrast between these two very different men mirrors the light and dark, the chiaroscuro, in Caravaggio’s paintings.  While this is a fictional story about the artist, Atfield’s skilful character writing draws us into this relationship between the two men.  The use of modern day language and expression gives this period story greater accessibility for today’s audiences.

The set and costume design by Rose Montgomery nicely evokes a sense of the period and the lighting design by Gillian Schwab is excellent, capturing the look of Caravaggio’s art.

Atfield keeps the story moving at a good pace.  The intimate scenes between the men are played with sensitivity.  He has obtained in-depth performances from his actors but the amount of nudity in the production seemed excessive, given that in the finished painting, Lazarus is modestly covered.  The growing relationship between these men and its outcome was of more interest than the eroticism.

Without giving away too much plot-wise, the sudden introduction of a supernatural element at the end of the play seemed contrived.  Nevertheless, this play has well-written characters, a period story that is compelling and engaging and a fine production design.

Photo by Sam Kennedy-Hine

This review was first published in the Canberra Critics Circle blog on 26 November 2021.

THE GERSHWIN PROJECT - EPISODE 10 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

‘The Gershwin Project’ is a 26 episode series about the life and works of the 20th Century American music composer, George Gershwin.  Each episode runs for 30 minutes.

The series was first broadcast on Artsound FM in 2008.  The show was written and produced by Len Power and is narrated by Bill Stephens.

With access to the vast music library of local Gershwin collector, Bert Whelan, the programs include not only Gershwin’s well-known music but also an extraordinary number of Gershwin rarities.

After the biographical focus of the first 8 programs, the rest of this series looks at specific aspects of George Gershwin’s works in more detail.

Program 10: George Gershwin’s Song-Book Part 2

Continuing our exploration of ‘George Gershwin’s Song-Book’, published in 1932, this program looks in depth at the remaining 9 songs, including a bonus song that was included in the book.  There are performances by Carol Channing, Julie Andrews, Sarah Vaughan, Judy Garland, Paul Whiteman and his orchestra, George Gershwin himself and others.

Listen now: 

https://www.mixcloud.com/artsoundfm/the-gershwin-project-episode-10/

 

tick, tick...BOOM! (FILM REVIEW)

 

Screenplay by Steven Levenson

Based on the stage musical by Jonathan Larson

Music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson

Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Now streaming on Netflix

 

Reviewed by Len Power 20 November 2021

 

Composer, Jonathan Larson, wrote ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ as a ‘rock monologue’ which he performed in a one man show off-Broadway in the early 1990s.  It told the autobiographical story of an aspiring writer of musicals trying to be successful in the theatre world.  Larson went on to write ‘Rent’, but died suddenly on the day of the first off-Broadway preview of that musical.  The show went on to be a huge success on Broadway and internationally.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the famous actor and composer of the musical, ‘Hamilton’, has now produced and directed a movie of ‘‘tick, tick…BOOM!’.  It is Manuel’s first direction of a feature length movie.

Starting and ending with, and frequently returning to, a concert performance in a nod to the stage show’s original form, the movie is a straightforward telling of Larson’s struggle for success as a writer of musicals as well as offering an insight into his personal relationships of the time.

Andrew Garfield as Larson gives a winning performance in the leading role.  He captures the drive of this young man desperate to succeed and sings with skill and sincerity.  While this man’s drive affects his personal relationships, Garfield’s powerful and likeable portrayal of Larson keeps us constantly on his side, hoping his dreams will be realized.

Robin de Jesus as his gay buddy, Michael, and Alexandra Shipp as his girlfriend, Susan, give excellent and moving performances.  There is strong support and fine singing by Joshua Henry and Vanessa Hudgens and Bradley Whitford is startlingly good as the living composer, Stephen Sondheim.

The rock music score is tuneful and dramatic and has been very well produced.  As with ‘Rent’, some of the lyrics occasionally jar but overall, it’s an enjoyable musical experience.

One of the songs, ‘Sunday’, is an homage to Larson’s greatest musical influence, Stephen Sondheim, and the scene, set in the diner where Larson worked for many years as a waiter is peppered with cameo appearances of Broadway stars including Brian Stokes Mitchell, Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth, Phillipa Soo and many others.  Broadway fans will enjoy playing ‘spot the stars’.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has done fine work bringing this show to the screen.  His direction is constantly assured with many exceptional moments.  A swimming pool sequence involving some digital magic works very well.  He handles the emotional scenes between the characters with realism and depth.

While this type of story could easily become clichéd, Miranda knows this theatre world and its people and ensures that it stays real throughout.  For those who love theatre, this is a movie not to be missed.

This review was first published on the Canberra Critics Circle blog. 

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’, ‘Arts About’ and ‘Arts Starter’ programs.

 

THE BROADWAY MUSICALS YEARBOOK 1940 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

“The Broadway Musicals Yearbook” will be heard on Artsound FM 92.7 at 5pm on Sunday 21^st November and repeated at 11pm on Monday 22nd of November.  The show is produced and narrated by Len Power, Canberra theatre critic, music critic and radio presenter.

This week – the musicals of 1940

1940 was a memorable year on Broadway with Irving Berlin’s ‘Louisiana Purchase’, Cole Porter’s ‘Panama Hattie’ with the great Ethel Merman and Ethel Waters in the all black musical, ‘Cabin In the Sky’ with music by Vernon Duke.  It was also the year of Rodgers and Hart’s ‘Pal Joey’ and Al Jolson’s last show on Broadway, ‘Hold On To Your Hats.’

Songs in this program include ‘Bewitched, (Bothered And Bewildered)’ (from ‘Pal Joey’), ‘Honey In The Honeycomb’ (‘Cabin In The Sky’), ‘What Chance Have I With Love?’ (‘Louisiana Purchase’) and ‘I’ve Still Got My Health’’ (‘Panama Hattie’).

Performers in this program include Ethel Merman, Bobby Short, Debbie Gravitte, Lena Horne, Bing Crosby, Kim Criswell and Vivienne Segal.

 
Listen Now: https://artsound.fm/shows/the-broadway-musicals-yearbook/

 

 

THE GERSHWIN PROJECT – EPISODE 9 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

‘The Gershwin Project’ is a 26 episode series about the life and works of the 20th Century American music composer, George Gershwin.  Each episode runs for 30 minutes.

The series was first broadcast on Artsound FM in 2008.  The show was written and produced by Len Power and is narrated by Bill Stephens.

With access to the vast music library of local Gershwin collector, Bert Whelan, the programs include not only Gershwin’s well-known music but also an extraordinary number of Gershwin rarities.

After the biographical focus of the first 8 programs, the rest of this series looks at specific aspects of George Gershwin’s works in more detail.

Program 9: George Gershwin’s Song-Book Part 1

In 1932, ‘George Gershwin’s Song-Book’ contained 18 songs chosen by George Gershwin himself.  Over the years, most of these songs have become ‘standards’ for singers who have interpreted them in many styles.  Alberta Hunter, Glenn Miller and his orchestra, Mitzi Gaynor, Michael Feinstein, Liza Minnelli and others perform songs in this program.

Listen now: 

https://www.mixcloud.com/artsoundfm/the-gershwin-project-episode-9/

 

BRIGHT STAR - ART SONG CANBERRA (CONCERT REVIEW)

Sarahlouise Owens, Soprano

Ronan Apcar, Piano

Art Song Canberra

Wesley Music Centre, Sunday 14 November

 

Reviewed by Len Power

 

For the first concert after the Covid lockdown, Art Song Canberra presented soprano, Sarahlouise Owens and pianist, Ronan Apcar, at the Wesley Music Centre in Forrest in “Bright Star”, a concert of songs by living Australian composers.  Two of the composers, Michael Dooley and Margaret Legge-Wilkinson were present at the performance.

Sarahlouise Owens explained at the start of the concert that the songs had been chosen in a spirit of optimism and hope at the end of the lockdown.  They promoted connections with each other and the environment and a sense of looking forward as life goes on.

The first song, “Hymn To The Trinity” by Michael Dooley was a sensitive work with a Christian message that we are all one and need to unite in brotherhood.  Sarahlouise Owens sang it with warmth and clarity as well as a restraint that nicely underlined the emotions in the song.  There are some especially beautiful melodies in this work and they were well-played by pianist, Ronan Apcar.

Sarahlouise Owens

The second work, by Margaret Legge-Wilkinson, was “Girls And Horses In the Fire”, based on a poem by Lisa Jacobson, written in a response to the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.  This highly dramatic work full of intense emotions was very well sung by Owens and there was notably fine piano playing of the challenging score by Apcar.

Michael Dooley’s “Bright Star”, based on the poem by John Keats is a hauntingly beautiful work.  The music brings out the sensitivity of the words perfectly and it was given a luminous performance by Owens and Apcar.

Sally Greenaway’s “Cocooned For Breathing” was an unusual work for soprano, piano and singing bowl.  The bowl was played by Sarahlouise Owens while she sang.  The sounds produced by the bowl give the work a meditative quality and the overall effect of voice, piano and bowl was haunting and ritualistic.  It was an excellent performance of this unique and memorable work by the Canberra composer.

Ronan Apcar (piano), Sarahlouise Owens

The final work, “To A City Cousin”, by John Martin celebrated the environment and was given a joyful and sunny performance by Owens and Apcar.  For an encore, Sarahlouise Owens gave a sensitive, heart-felt performance of the Irish song, ‘Bonny Portmore’.

This was a performance where all the elements came together especially well.  Ronan Apcar played superbly, Sarahlouise Owens sang beautifully and really connected with her appreciative audience.  It was a highly memorable concert.

Photos by Peter Hislop

This review was first published in the Canberra City News digital edition of 15 November.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’, ‘Arts About’ and ‘Arts Starter’ programs.

 

THE BROADWAY MUSICALS YEARBOOK 1964 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

“The Broadway Musicals Yearbook” will be heard on Artsound FM 92.7 at 5pm on Sunday 14^th November and repeated at 11pm on Monday 15th of November.  The show is produced and narrated by Len Power, Canberra theatre critic, music critic and radio presenter.

This week – the musicals of 1964

1964 produced three of the most legendary shows ever to open in a single year on Broadway.  There was ‘Hello, Dolly!’ with Carol Channing, ‘Funny Girl’ with Barbra Streisand and ‘’Fiddler On The Roof’ with Zero Mostel.  There was also Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Anyone Can Whistle’ with Angela Lansbury.

Performers in this program include Carol Burnett, Topol, Barbra Streisand, Lee Remick, Carol Channing and Robert Preston. 

Listen Now: https://artsound.fm/shows/the-broadway-musicals-yearbook/

 

THE WHARF REVUE: CAN OF WORMS (THEATRE REVIEW)

Created by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe, and Phillip Scott

Performed by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe, Phillip Scott and Mandy Bishop

Presented by Canberra Theatre Centre and Soft Tread Enterprises

Canberra Theatre to 20 November

 

Reviewed by Len Power 9 November 2021

 

With the end of Canberra’s lockdown at last, ‘The Wharf Revue: Can Of Worms’ is the Canberra Theatre Centre’s first re-opening presentation.

Although previously presented annually by the Sydney Theatre Company, this new show is produced by Soft Tread Enterprises.  It’s the same tried and true format of sketches which satirise current political issues hand in hand with witty songs and amusing character assassinations.

At the start of the show, the cast make it clear that this is a more intimate show focussing on the content and characters rather than offering dazzling production values.  There was still the careful attention to detail in the costume designs by Phillip Scott and Hazel Fisher to add credibility to the characterisations.

Regular performers Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe, Phillip Scott and Mandy Bishop were in fine form and the ninety minute show moved at a cracking pace from one sketch to another.  Expertly produced video sequences by David Bergman added variety and kept the action moving while cast members changed for their next appearance.

Amongst the highlights of the show was a take-off of the opening number of the musical, ‘Come From Away’, renamed ‘Go Far Away’, fashioned as a damning comment on Australia’s refugee policy.  Composer, Phillip Scott, also produced other clever tunes again this year.  His writing and performing of ‘ScoMo’, cleverly using the calypso ‘Banana Boat Song’, was especially smart and hilarious.

 Drew Forsythe was a chilling Rupert Murdoch in conversation with Jonathan Biggins’ gangsterish Mephistopheles and his warm and dizzy President Joe Biden was a new delight.  His turn as the Queen seemed unusually affectionate until the clever sting at the end of the sketch and it wouldn’t be The Wharf Revue without his devastating Pauline Hanson.  He does Ms. Hanson better than she does!

Mandy Bishop was in fine voice for her songs and gave sharply etched caricatures of Gladys Berejiklian, Michaelia Cash and Jacqui Lambie.  Phillip Scott was a smarmy Kevin Rudd and dim John Howard and Jonathan Biggins got further wicked mileage out of Donald Trump amongst other clever characterisations.

As usual in a revue, some sketches work better than others.  Some of the longer ones sagged, especially the final sketch, a ‘Wizard Of Oz’ parody on the spiralling cost of Australian homes.  While most of the character satire in the show is harmless fun, some of the content of the Jacqui Lambie sketch was bordering on cruel, producing what sounded like shocked murmurs from the audience.

 ‘The Wharf Revue’ delivers an enjoyable evening of irreverent political entertainment.  It’s a welcome live theatre experience after such a long drought.

 

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’, ‘Arts About’ and ‘Arts Starter’ programs.

THE BROADWAY MUSICALS YEARBOOK 1933 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

“The Broadway Musicals Yearbook” will be heard on Artsound FM 92.7 at 5pm on Sunday 7^th November and repeated at 11pm on Monday 8th of November.  The show is produced and narrated by Len Power, Canberra theatre critic, music critic and radio presenter.

This week – the musicals of 1933

In 1933, Bertolt Brecht’s and Kurt Weill’s revolutionary musical from Germany, ‘The Three Penny Opera’, opened on Broadway.  George and Ira Gershwin produced two shows that year – ‘Pardon My English’ and ‘Let ‘Em Eat Cake’.  Irving Berlin provided the music for the revue, ‘As Thousands Cheer’ and Broadway first heard the exquisite music of Jerome Kern’s ‘Roberta’.

Songs in this program include ‘Heatwave’, ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’, ‘Isn’t It A Pity’, ‘Yesterdays’, ‘If I Love Again’ and ‘Mack The Knife’.

Listen Now: https://artsound.fm/shows/the-broadway-musicals-yearbook/

 

THE GERSHWIN PROJECT - EPISODE 8 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

THE GERSHWIN PROJECT –EPISODE 8

 ‘The Gershwin Project’ is a 26 episode series about the life and works of the 20th Century American music composer, George Gershwin.  Each episode runs for 30 minutes.

The series was first broadcast on Artsound FM in 2008.  The show was written and produced by Len Power and is narrated by Bill Stephens.

With access to the vast music library of local Gershwin collector, Bert Whelan, the programs include not only Gershwin’s well-known music but also an extraordinary number of Gershwin rarities.

Program 8: Hollywood Ending - 1935 to 1937

Between 1935 and his early death in 1937, George Gershwin wrote the music for the movies ‘Shall We Dance’ and ‘A Damsel in Distress’ and commenced work on the ‘The Goldwyn Follies’.  Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Kenny Baker and Australia’s Kerrie Biddell sing some of the memorable songs from these movies.  Interviews include choreographer Hermes Pan, Ira Gershwin and Michael Feinstein.

Listen now: 

https://www.mixcloud.com/artsoundfm/the-gershwin-project-episode-8/

  

NO MAPS ON MY TAPS (FILM REVIEW)

 

Directed by George Nierenberg

Streaming on Kanopy

Reviewed by Len Power 3 November 2021

The golden age of tap dancing spanned the first half of the twentieth century, but by the 1950s, the form fell to the likes of rock 'n' roll and modern dance.  In 1979, a documentary, ‘No Maps on My Taps’, aired on television outlets across the world, inspiring a new generation of dancers to slip on their shoes and tap away.

The featured performances by dancers Bunny Briggs, Chuck Green, and Howard ‘Sandman’ Sims, were a revelation.

The dancers all recount their biographies and influences while rehearsing for a gala performance at Smalls Paradise nightclub in Harlem.  Scenes of the performers dancing and kidding each other are interspersed with archival images and film footage of their early days.  Also shown are archival film scenes featuring performances by John W. Bubbles and Bill Robinson.

One of the dancers explains that there was no money for dance lessons growing up.  Black kids learned to dance in the street from soul and rhythm while the white kids went to dance school and learned to dance by counting.

Watching these men dance is an uncanny experience.  It’s beyond skilful – the dance is part of them.  They don’t dance choreographed routines, they ad lib the steps in a style that is uniquely personal to them.

The film ends with a climactic dance-off in front of a live audience, with music provided by a jazz band fronted by Lionel Hampton.

Bunny Briggs was born under the name Bernard Briggs in Harlem, New York in 1922.  When asked about his nickname, Briggs said ‘Well, I'm fast.’  In the 1960s, Briggs was known to dance with the likes of bandleaders Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington.

Howard "Sandman" Sims was born in 1917 and began his career in vaudeville.  He was skilled in a style of dancing that he performed in a wooden sandbox of his own construction, and acquired his nickname from the sand he sprinkled to alter and amplify the sound of his dance steps.

Charles Green was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia in 1919. He would stick bottle caps on his bare feet as a child and tap dance on the sidewalk for money.  He and his childhood friend James Walker teamed up and found fame as the dance act, "Chuck and Chuckles," playing New York's Palace Theatre and touring Europe, Australia, and the United States.

The documentary director George Nierenberg's love for the dancers and their art elevated his film above your run-of-the-mill documentary and into the ranks of dance canon.

This memorable one hour documentary film has been restored and is available for streaming free on Kanopy, through your local library membership.

THE GERSHWIN PROJECT - EPISODE 7 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

‘The Gershwin Project’ is a 26 episode series about the life and works of the 20th Century American music composer, George Gershwin.  Each episode runs for 30 minutes.

The series was first broadcast on Artsound FM in 2008.  The show was written and produced by Len Power and is narrated by Bill Stephens.

With access to the vast music library of local Gershwin collector, Bert Whelan, the programs include not only Gershwin’s well-known music but also an extraordinary number of Gershwin rarities.

Program 7: A ‘Second Rhapsody’, more Broadway shows and an opera - 1931 to 1935

While writing more serious music like the ‘Second Rhapsody’, George Gershwin continued to produce music for Broadway shows.  This program includes music from ‘Pardon My English’, ‘Let ‘Em Eat Cake’ and his opera ‘Porgy And Bess’.  Barbra Streisand, Frances Gershwin (George Gershwin’s sister), Todd Duncan and Ann Brown, the original stars of ‘Porgy And Bess’, and George Gershwin himself on the piano provide the musical highlights of this program.

Listen now: 

https://www.mixcloud.com/artsoundfm/the-gershwin-project-episode-7/