"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Tears of Joy Theatre

Tears of Joy Theater is best known for their family-friendly puppet shows, but they have also not been afraid to delve into more disturbing subjects from time to time. The first of these darker shows that I saw was "The Long Christmas Ride Home" at Theatre Vertigo a few years ago--that show explored many disquieting subjects, but there was also something deeply un-nerving about an actor manipulating a puppet made to look like himself......  "The Long Christmas Ride Home" taught me that puppets need not be confined to children's entertainment, they can be truly frightening.... It was with this in mind that I jumped at the chance to see Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" get the Tears of Joy treatment, and I wasn't disappointed, to say the least.

This was a fantastic show, and the puppetry was phenomenal. The bulk of the play features only two characters, Adam (David Clemmer), the human student of Herr Gossvetter, a renowned philosopher, cantankerous old man, and puppet, though it doesn't take long for the audience to forget the latter fact. The puppeteers, (Jon Plueard, Bill Holznagel, Jason Miranda) are shrouded in black from head to toe, making them look a bit like apparitions, this is especially effective in a nightmare sequence.

Unfortunately, I became aware of the production rather late, and it closes tonight, but if you can make it, it will certainly put you in the mood for Halloween, and it appears that the show might be an annual event, though I may have misheard an answer during the Q&A regarding sadness as the show nears closing, but I think they intimated that they took solace in knowing it would be back in a year.... Oh, and the Q&A was with the puppet, and the improvisational skills of the puppeteers were remarkable. They gave a brief explanation of the workings of the puppet, and then opened it up for questions, most of which were light-hearted... One person asked if the old man could head-bang, and the otherwise stodgy Herr Gossvetter obliged. So, I thought I'd ask who Herr Gossevetter wanted to win in the upcoming election, and very quickly he answered "Taft", and even made an excuse for any discrepancy in the timeline by noting that he was a philosopher, not a historian... To summarize, you get an inspired retelling of a classic dark tale, a splash of improv comedy, and a scene of puppet dismemberment, all in one show. I suspect you wont find that anywhere else.....  

(Showing tonight at Lincoln Hall Studio Theatre, beware at least one ticketing site erroneously says The Winningstad....)

"The Body of an American" by Dan O'Brien at Portland Center Stage

"The Body of an American" is a play of intersections-the intersection of art and journalism by way of photography, and how they each again intersect with theatre. The play tells the story of playwright Dan O'Brien and war-photographer Tom Watson. Mr.Watson's photograph of a soldier dragged through the streets of Mogadishu forms the heart of the play.

As William Salyers re-enacts the taking of the photograph, he says the voice of the dead soldier warned him, "if you do this, I will own you forever", and much of the play deals with the truth of that statement. Mr. Watson desperately wishes to exorcise this spirit from his thoughts and dreams, and in the days following the performance I shared the feeling. This is an intense show. All of the elements come together with a common purpose--to burrow deeply into your brain and unnerve you. The starkness of the studio is a well-suited space, and the projections are used effectively, but it was the sound design that made me realize just how far I'd been pulled in.... There's a moment in which Paul describes stepping back to properly compose a photograph, and in the process he steps on the bones of an old woman, upon hearing the crunch I involuntarily let out a truly disgusted groan.....

Paul tells the story of The Pentagon being able to deny an atrocity because he was not able to obtain photographic evidence--proof of the truth--and that is what the play is about most of all. If you are prepared for truth, I recommend that you see "The Body of an American"....

August Wilson's "Seven Guitars" @ Artists Rep

"Seven Guitars" has ample amounts of what we love about August Wilson:  poetic language, symbolism, and an epic scope, (this play is nearly three hours itself, and it is a companion-piece to the equally sweeping "King Hedley, II" which will open December 6th at Portland Playhouse.)Reflecting back on Wilson plays I have seen or read, I realize that many of them had violent scenes, but both "Seven Guitars" and "King Hedley, II" seem to thrive on their darker edge, which puts them in my top-three favorites of the 10-play Pittsburgh Cycle.

"Seven Guitars" centers around Floyd "Schoolboy" Barton and his attempt to improve his luck in Chicago with a new record deal, after a long-ago hit song, and the poor decisions that followed it. He wishes to rekindle his relationship with his old girlfriend and have her join him on this all-important journey. Along the way, he faces resentment from friends, and obstacles that would rival Ulysses, all without leaving...

The play is performed by a top-notch cast, quite a few of whom were part of Portland Playhouse's Wilson productions, including director Kevin Jones. Victor Mack (Canewell) has a presence that can only be described as charisma unhinged.

It is so gratifying to see August Wilson presented again by one of Portland largest theatre companies. (Portland Center Stage provided my first exposure to his work-"Fences" at the inaugural-season at the Armory, and I was sad to see them abruptly pull "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" a few years back......) To see Wilson preformed is a privilege, one we get to enjoy twice this year....

"Little Shop of Horrors" @ Broadway Rose Theatre Company

The first word that comes to mind to describe "Little Shop of Horrors" is "fun." There are plenty of shows that are fun, but "Little Shop" just seems to be overflowing it; it's fun to watch, and it looks really fun for the performers. And yet, elements of it are really dark-- the ending of the film version was famously changed after focus groups reacted with intense negativity....

 Portland-area theatres seem to be getting into the ghoulish spirit of Halloween. We've had the cannibalistic "Sweeney Todd" at Portland Center Stage, and now the saga of Seymour and the Man-Eating Plant Audrey II in "Little Shop of Horrors" at Tigard's Broadway Rose.

"Little Shop" is the first show I've seen at Broadway Rose's New Stage Auditorium and like the theatre's other auditorium on the campus of Tigard High School, the New Stage has excellent wheelchair-seating....

"Little Shop of Horrors" has a characteristic that is unusual in shows--one of its biggest roles is played by an unseen actor, the voice of Audrey II, and lets just say that Jerrod Neal chews more than scenery.

Rebecca Teran makes Audrey's sweetness believable and her voice is excellent. Brian Debmar Jones plays Orin the dentist with um, appropriate menace. 

Don't miss this show, it runs from now until Oct. 21, and several dates have sold-out....