May brings flowers

Darren Ritchie and Co., exterminating those nasty pests

The NoHoArts Center has opened an original work of blockbuster proportions as far as production values are concerned: Pest Control, The Musical. I was intrigued and mesmerized by James Mellon's terrific staging and choreography (not since Cats, have so many creatures made so grande an entrance!), blown away by the nightmarish lighting design (Luke Moyer) and brilliant costumes (Scott Lane), and enthralled with the fabulous performances from among others: Beth Malone, Darren Ritchie, John Allsopp (so happy to see this talented Actor's Co-op man in NoHo), Joanna Glushak (giving new meaning to the word BITCH), and the formidable Cleavant Derricks. With the look of Tim Burton's Batman - yes, it's very dark and cartoonish, my main gripe with this project is that it is too 'out there', too broad and much too vague. Yes, good wins out over evil, or does it????? Book by John Jay Moores, Jr. could use some fine tuning. Young theatre aficionados will exult in the hip hop dancing and glaring music by Vladimir Shainskiy and Scott DeTurk (lyrics). This show did not grab me, but it will appeal to many. There is a place for it. But guys, please add more heart and likeability to the characters. Without some human touches, they just do not hold up! The dynamite actors playing them deserve more!!!!!!!!!
May brings flowers, at least to LA Theatre folk! Great Expectations, the Musical, playing at the Hudson Backstage and directed by Jules Aaron, has ben extended to May 11. It's grrrreat! My word, I think Charles Dickens would exult!

More to come!