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Edited and Published by Robert W. McDowell
April 11, 2024 Issue |
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A FREE Weekly E-mail Newsletter Covering Theater, Dance, Music, and Film in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill/Carrboro Area of North Carolina Since April 2001. |
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PART 4A: TRIANGLE THEATER REVIEW BY JAYE BULLOCK |
Theatre Raleigh's Presentation of Jonathan
Larson's Tick, Tick... BOOM! Is a Smash!
Theatre Raleigh's April 10-21 production of Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick... BOOM! stars (from left) Ian Fairlee as
Jon, Lawrence Dandridge as Michael, and Ellie Barone as Susan (photo by Jennifer Robertson Photography)I must admit, I went into this one blind. I had heard of Jonathan Larson before, his fantastic musicals, his tragic death, but I never actually saw his work. However, a few nights ago at Theatre Raleigh, I saw something of beauty. Tick, Tick... BOOM! opened on the 10th, and everyone, the cast, the crew, the band -- they DELIVERED.
The story follows Jon (Ian Fairlee) -- a fictionalized version of the playwright -- as he nears his 30th birthday. He is struggling to get his play off the ground as everyone around him seems to be moving up and out.
His best friend, Michael (Lawrence Dandridge) has moved from the stage to the boardroom (with an upscale apartment and BMW to match) and his girlfriend, Susan (Ellie Barone) is wanting to settle down.
Lawrence Dandridge stars as Michael in Tick, Tick... BOOM! at Theatre Raleigh (photo by Jennifer Robertson Photography)Everyone, including Jon himself, is wondering when he will finally arrive. Through sight and song, the story -- familiar to many young actors -- is fully realized.
This is due in large part to the fantastic acting. Ian Fairlee's Jon is believably anxious about the future -- every fidget and grimace is well-timed, but never false. Lawrence Dandridge's Michael is confident and charismatic, yet also sensitive and earnest, looking out for Jon as best as he can while privately dealing with a personal crisis.
Ellie Barone stars as Susan in Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick... BOOM! at Theatre Raleigh (photo by Jennifer Robertson Photography)Ellie Barone is the love interest with dreams of her own, clearly concerned for her boyfriend, but wondering if it's best to part. She plays her role fantastically. Well, I guess I should say “roles,” as both she and Dandridge play about a dozen other characters. This includes Jon's agent, Rosa Stevens; Jon's father and mother; a store clerk; an actress in one of Jon's plays; and a series of pompous brunchers. Of note to me was Barone's portrayal of a manic businesswoman that Jon meets with for the prospect of a job -- it was so physical and so funny.
Of course, the music sounded amazing. The actors' harmonies were on point, and the solos were beautiful. I must also give props to the band, which includes music director and keyboardist Cole P. Abod, bassist John Simonetti, drummer Vince Moss, and lead guitarist Warren Sharp. They worked together with sound designer Parker Gagnier to make every note pop (The band also served as entertaining marketing group members in one scene.)
Ian Fairlee (left) and Lawrence Dandridge star as Jon and Michael in Tick, Tick... BOOM! (photo by Jennifer Robertson Photography)All that said, the most interesting thing about this show was the fact that the addition of a single coat or pair of glasses, a slight change in lighting, the addition of a table or even something as simple as going up a flight of stairs effectively took the actors to a whole new location. The two-story set had a detachable staircase, a working lamppost and bench off to the side, and even featured subtle wall decorations reading Tick, Tick... BOOM!
From that one setup, we were taken to a diner in NYC, to John's parents' house, to a workshop theater, and even to the inside of Jon's head. Many props to Becca Fowler (set), Tim Domack (props), Kishara McKnight (costumes), and Kiahana Toomer (lighting) for their work.
Of the entire evening there was only one concerning moment -- during Barone's solo towards the end of the play, it appeared that the detachable staircase did not lock into place, and it moved as she stood at the top of it. However, this should be an easy fix, and for everyone's sake, I hope there are no mishaps.
In the end, I fully enjoyed myself. Director Amy Spanger and assistant director and choreographer Brian Shepard have done very well in fashioning this play, and I can safely say that Tick, Tick... BOOM! is a smash hit.
Tick, Tick... BOOM! at Theatre Raleigh stars Ellie Barone as Susan and Ian Fairlee as Jon (photo by Jennifer Robertson Photography)Jonathan Larson's TICK, TICK... BOOM! (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12-14 and 17-21), directed by artistic director Amy Spanger and choreographed by assistant director Brian Shepard, with music director Cole P. Abod, and starring Ian Fairlee as Jon, Lawrence Dandridge as Michael, and Ellie Barone as Susan (Theatre Raleigh in the De Ann S. Jones Theatre at the Theatre Raleigh Arts Center at 6638 Old Wake Forest Rd. in Raleigh). PRESENTER/VENUE: https://theatreraleigh.com/, https://www.facebook.com/TheatreRaleigh, https://www.instagram.com/theatre_raleigh/, https://twitter.com/theatreraleigh, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBrPHqUNhtfRMWQ2Ej8Fxeg. 2024 SEASON: https://theatreraleigh.com/2024-main-stage-season/. DIRECTIONS/PARKING: https://theatreraleigh.com/location-parking/. COVID REQUIREMENTS: https://theatreraleigh.com/covid-19-updates/. TICK, TICK... BOOM! (2001 Off-Broadway and 2009 West End musical): https://www.mtishows.com/tick-tick-boom, http://www.iobdb.com/Production/54, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8721424/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick,_Tick..._Boom!. JONATHAN LARSON (White Plains, NY-born copmposer, lyricist, and playwright, nee Jonathan David Larson, 1960-96): https://www.mtishows.com/people/jonathan-larson, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jonathan-larson-6927, http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/938, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1170227/, https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/theater-biographies/jonathan-larson, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Larson. TICKETS: $37.20-$50, plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-832-9997, info@theatreraleigh.com, or boxoffice@theatreraleigh.com. PLEASE DONATE TO: Theatre Raleigh. Kurt Benrud's Triangle Review Review Permalink. Susie Potter's Triangle Arts Review Review.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Jaye Bullock has settled into the Triangle arts scene, and is eager to contribute pieces to this newsletter. Though they went to school to study biology, they have decided to expand their horizons and embrace their creative side. Though they have been involved with performance arts since they were very small, it's only recently that they've decided to get serious about it, and they take delight in appreciating others who have also gotten serious about their artistic pursuits. In their free time, they like to try new recipes and read webcomics, and they love to sing. Click here to read Jaye Bullock's reviews for Triangle Review. |
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