Category Archives: Uncategorized

May 28

From Denmark With Love: Closing Weekend!

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Photo courtesy of Vaquero Playground and John J King’s sexy booty.

You Only Live Twice!

Today, May 28 2013, would have been Ian Fleming’s 105th birthday.  But he was a life long smoker; that shit’ll kill you.Unlike Fleming, Tomorrow Never Dies.  But come this weekend, DENMARK must close.  Give yourself a Quantum of Solace and come enjoy the show before it does!

Senior Mirth Manager John J King has vowed to do his curtain speech as an iconic Bond Girl for every show that sells out – see his gold-plated Tilly Masterson, from Goldfinger, above.  Who knows what this week will bring?! Continue reading →

May 25

Too Much is Never Enough: FROM DENMARK WITH LOVE

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photo by Omar Robinson

(This post brought to you from Paris where the Queen Geek is currently on vacation. Don’t say I never got you anything.)

presented by Vaquero Playground 
By John J King
Directed by Barlow Adamson

Boston Playwrights Theatre
Boston, MA
May 10th – June 1, 2013
Vaquero Playground Facebook Page

The Compilation Album (featuring Queen Geek, Kitty Drexel on All’s Well That Ends Another Day)

(Boston) Review by Craig Idlebrook

When I was in college, a friend of mine decided the best birthday gift for his jock roommate would be a striptease, and he would not be dissuaded. As the birthday party was winding down, my friend burst into the party wearing nothing but terrible lingerie and he proceeded to slowly strip. His roommate laughed as the joke began, but he grew increasingly alarmed, realizing that my friend might go the Full Monty. The jock began to plead with my friend not to go all the way (this was Indiana in the nineties, after all), but with a big build-up, my friend took it all off anyway. It has become the most memorable striptease in my (cough) semi-extensive memory. Continue reading →

May 17

Kicking Ass and Taking Names: Meeting “The Opera Guy”

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The Opera Guy, Wesley Ray Thomas’ MySpace Page

This morning I had the pleasure to hear and meet Mr. Wesley Ray Thomas, The Opera Guy, at Alewife station. He was singing some lovely arias and it appeared he had been doing so since early in the morning. His commitment is exemplary.

He is a perfect example of seeking performance at every opportunity. He was at Alewife at 8:30AM on a FRIDAY singing the crap out of a Verdi aria. The aria was semi-staged, beautifully sung and, equally as important, this busker was making dough rise out of his pockets. Ladies and gentlemen, put this man in your shows.

Opera isn’t everybody’s thing. It doesn’t have to be to appreciate the fine art of performance and a dedication to craft.

Keep on rocking on, Mr. Thomas.

Wesley Thomas singing Jago’s Creed: “I believe in a Cruel God” from Verdi’s Opera “Otello” from Lowell House Opera’s 2009 production. Channing Wu conducts.


The Opera Guy busking on the Prado in Boston’s Historic North End. Sung in the original Baritone key.

May 10

Sexy: Shaken, Not Stirred

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Velkommen to Denmark!

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have landed in Denmark.  To your left you will see Elsinore Castle. To your right is the MI6 Headquarters.  Enjoy your stay!

From Denmark With Love opens tonight!
We hope to see you this weekend or sometime soon.
In the meantime:
Check out a preview article about us in the Boston Metro!
Check out the same on WBUR!
Get your copy of THE ALBUM: 11 original James Bond theme songs by local Boston Bands! (SHAMELESS PLUG: featuring Queen Geek Kitty Drexel)

TICKETS ON SALE http://www.vaqueroplayground.com/

by John J King
Directed by Barlow Adamson
Starring: Daniel Jones, Bridgette Hayes, Janelle Mills, Chelsea Schmidt, Bob Mussett, Terrence Patrick Haddad, and Brett Milanowski

May 06

Struggling with Genius: AMADEUS

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Photo: Andrew Brilliant / Brilliant Pictures

Presented by New Repertory Theatre
A play with music by Peter Shaffer
Directed by Jim Petosa

Arsenal Center for the Arts
Watertown, MA
April 28th – May 19th, 2013
New Rep Facebook Page

Review by Craig Idlebrook

(Watertown) The story goes that an earnest young monk once asked a Zen master to describe the immaculate nature of the Buddha.  The Zen Master, most likely with an insufferable grin on his face, pointed to a pile of dung.

This sums up the life of Antonio Salieri (Benjamin Evett) in the spirited production of Amadeus being staged at the Arsenal Center for the Arts.  Salieri, an accomplished composer who writes operas for Hapsburg monarchs, dedicates his life to capture the music of God.  Instead, he discovers his own private dung heap in the form of a foul-mouthed former child prodigy named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tim Spears).  Salieri is crushed to learn that Mozart, a drunk, womanizing jerk, has a much clearer channel to God’s radio station and can compose the most beautiful music the world has ever known, even while playing billiards.  It drives the devout Italian composer to lose both his faith and his scruples. Continue reading →

May 04

Happy Birthday Becca!

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The happiest of birthdays to Creation Geek, Magnificent Friend and Theatrical Inspiration

Becca Kidwell!

You are much loved!

From us to you, here’s a kitten in a bowtie:

No bowties were harmed in the making of this post.

 

Apr 29

Universal Humiliation: GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS

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Todd Licea, Charlie Kevin and Will LeBow. Photo by Meghan Moore.

Presented by Merrimack Repertory Theatre
By David Mamet
Directed by Charles Towers

50 East Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA
April 25th – May 19th, 2013
MRT Facebook Page

Review by Craig Idlebrook

(Lowell) If you want to see inside the male workplace psyche, you must see the new Merrimack Repertory Theatre production of Glengarry Glen Ross, but I warn you: it’s not a pretty picture.  It’s every man for himself and there is no mercy in David Mamet’s brutal examination of greed. Continue reading →

Apr 21

We Are The Casualties of War: “Trojan Women”

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PHOTO CREDIT - Richard Termine

Rich scene painting, solid theatre. Bravi tutti! PHOTO CREDIT – Richard Termine

 

My sincere apologies to the cast and crew of Siti Company and ArtsEmerson. This review is late because of the traumatic events of Friday, April 19. In my own personal turmoil, I was unable to write your review. I humbly beg your pardon!

presented by ArtsEmerson
adapted by Jocelyn Clarke from Trojan Women (After Euripides)
directed by Anne Bogart
created and performed by Siti Company
Original music composed and performed by the insanely talented Christian Frederickson

The Paramount Center
Paramount Mainstage
559 Washington Street
Boston, MA
April 17 – 21
ArtsEmerson Facebook Page
Siti Company Facebook Page
90 minutes with no intermission because the subject matter is so heavy that people might leave.

(Boston) The bodies of women are the casualties of wars. Even today in places such as The (Republic of) Congo, Uganda, Afghanistan, Syria, Steubenville and even late night in Harvard Square, women are held responsible for the violent decisions of men eager to wield their entitlement in public arenas. There is a political war in The Congo and every Spring there is a war against women on the streets. In any situation, women are blamed for the violence. Excuses range from acting in ways unbefitting a lady or luring men with our bodies. In reality, it is the perpetrators who are to blame. Rape, like other acts of violence, is never about sexuality; it is always about power. In Siti Company’s production of Trojan Women, this is still true. Continue reading →

Apr 08

Revenge is a Dish Best Served Shaken, Not Stirred

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TICKETS ON SALE http://www.vaqueroplayground.com/

COMING IN MAY 2013: FROM DENMARK WITH LOVE
The Hamlet/James Bond MashUp You’ve All Been Waiting For!

by John J King
Directed by Barlow Adamson
Starring: Daniel Jones, Bridgette Hayes, Janelle Mills, Chelsea Schmidt, Bob Mussett, Terrence Patrick Haddad, and Brett Milanowski

Apr 08

Timeless Greed is Coming to MRT with Glengarry Glen Ross

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Glengarry
presented by Merrimack Repertory Theatre
MRT Facebook Page

Directed by Charles Towers
Listing by Craig Idlebrook

Greed may not be good, as fictional stockbroker Gordon Gekko once famously espoused, but it never goes out of style.

In the 1987 film Wall Street, Gekko’s ode to greed was devastating to hear for Americans who had just suffered through insider trading and junk bond scandals.  The late eighties also produced Glengarry Glen Ross, a razor-sharp play by David Mamet which examines greed on the micro-level, as bottom-feeding real estate agents in Buffalo lie, cheat and steal to sell tracts of land in Florida.  While focusing on everyday financial crimes, Mamet creates an allegory for Wall Street greed that resonated with Main Street theatergoers in the late eighties. Continue reading →