Pittsburgh CLO’s “Peter Pan”
From first spectacular midair appearance to last, “Peter Pan” star Jenn Colella dazzles as the boy who won’t grow up.
In her second gig for Pittsburgh CLO (she starred in “Annie Get Your Gun” in 2008), Colella projects a tomboyish bundle of athletic grace as she soars through the air with the greatest of speed — some Kennywood rides are slower, I’d wager — and is every bit the Tony-nominated Broadway star of “Come From Away.”
* The Broadway company of a brand-new “West Side Story” was announced last week, and it includes 23 newcomers plus a few veterans. Among the latter is Point Park University alum Ahmad Simmons as Diesel. This will be his fourth Broadway show — most recently, he has been in the Workers Chorus and understudying two roles for Tony-winning “Hadestown.” The leads are Shereen Pimentel, who made her Broadway debut at age 9 in “The Lion King,” as Maria, and Isaac Powell (the revival of “Once on This Island”) as Tony. Previews begin in December.
* When the Walt Disney Co. acquired 21st Century Fox, it also obtained Fox Stage Productions, which this month was folded into Disney Theatrical Productions. Broadway-bound musicals now under the Disney banner include “Mrs. Doubtfire” and the Elton John-scored “The Devil Wears Prada.” Emily Skinner, a Carnegie Mellon University grad who played Miranda Priestly in readings of the musical, has been on Broadway this season as a young Cher in “The Cher Show,” which will close in August.
* Point Park alumna, Gabrielle Hamilton, who already this year has earned Broadway's top dance honor — the Chita Rivera Award — is a nominee for another prize: the 2019 Bessie Awards, recognizing achievements in dance. Hamilton is nominee for her acclaimed work in the ballet of the Tony Award-winning revival of “Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!” Pittsburgh native and MacArthur genius Kyle Abraham also received a nomination.
* Michael Potts stepped away from “The Prom” in its final weeks on Broadway to play the character of Slow Drag in the Netflix movie of August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” now filming in Pittsburgh.
“Peter Pan” is CLO firing on all cylinders, packed with local talent. From Broadway veteran Lori Eve Marinacci as Wendy to Erika Strasburg as Mrs. Darling and the Darling boys, Daniel Frontz and eighth grader Mario Williams, Pittsburghers go toe-to-toe with Colella and television actor Charles Shaughnessy, who has a grand time hamming it up as Mr. Darling and Captain Hook.
In the ensemble, Point Park grad Callan Bergmann is back at CLO for the first time since 2012, after four Broadway shows, while for fellow alum Mei Lu Barnum, this season marks her CLO debut.
This is the company’s fifth production of the musical, based on J.M. Barrie’s classic play and novel, and CLO knows it well, from London to Neverland and back. There are thrills to be had if this is your first time seeing a musical version of “Peter Pan,” or if you’re a boomer who grew up on Mary Martin’s Golden Age teleplay. I got goosebumps hearing Colella on classics such as “I’ve Gotta Crow,” “I’m Flying” and “I Won’t Grow Up.”
Shaughnessy’s Hook and Patrick Richwood as Mr. Smee make for a fun slapstick duo, too, and Desiree Davar, making her CLO debut as Tiger Lily, dances up a storm.
Peter’s pack of Lost Boys, Hook’s pirates and Tiger Lily’s Indians (from the imagination of Barrie, a Brit, at the turn of the 20th century) boast stage veterans and newcomers such as Kahlil Cabble, a rising sophomore at Point Park, all under the direction of Patti Colombo. Her dance numbers, inspired by Jerome Robbins’ original Broadway choreography, offer many thrills beyond the impressive flying sequences, choreographed by Paul Rubin.
On opening night Friday, the green ball of light that represents the fairy Tinker Bell had a couple of miscues, but those were few. The Neverland quick-change sets are designed for crowds making a splash, including Peter’s below-ground home and the pirate ship’s deck, but navigating them isn’t always easy. Best is the Darlings’ home, where there’s room to move — and fly.
The CLO Orchestra has had some great moments this season, particularly the classic overtures that are mostly absent in postmodern musicals. Instead of bolting for the door, make note of the orchestra as the musicians play you out — and there’s a goodbye surprise you won’t want to miss.
Through July 21 at the Benedum Center, Downtown. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. only Sunday, July 21 Tickets: $26.25-$81.25; pittsburghclo.org or 412-456-6666.
Kinetic Theatre’s “Scapino”
Even if you don’t know Moliere from your Shakespeare, classical Greek plays from “The Godfather,” there’s something much to smile about in “Scapino.”
The new comedy at Kinetic Theatre brings a modern mobster twist to the conniving commedia dell’arte archetype known as Scapin, immortalized by the French master Moliere — and that’s enough theater history. To the beach!
“Scapino,” set in the sands of Naples, Fla., was created by Broadway veteran Jeffrey Binder, who plays the title role of a scheming lawyer (a redundancy, in his case). Scapino is drawn into the world of two warring mob dons and their children, who seem to be finding love in all the wrong places — but really, is true love ever wrong?
Binder’s Scapino is back in the sun after a prison sentence that has a certain mob boss written all over it. He quickly becomes embroiled in the affairs of two feuding dons, David Whalen as Don Albert and Wesley Mann as Don Jerry.
Let the fast-paced farce and fast-talking foolery begin.
Binder, who has played Zazu in “The Lion King” onstage, is an adept physical clown who offers up Groucho-style asides, keeping the audience in his confidence. He also says so many words so fast that there are times he could step right into the rap battle in “Hamilton” and hold his own.
We discover quickly that Whalen’s Don Albert wants to settle a turf feud and marry off his son, Octavio (Ethan Saks), to his rival’s daughter. But Octavio has already married Boca girl Chloe (rising Point Park senior Morgan Snowden). Meanwhile, Leo (Jack Lafferty), the son of Don Jerry, has fallen in love with — horrors! — a crystal-wielding peacenik named Feather (Sara Silk). These matches are definitely not what the mobsters ordered.
Phillip Taratula as Octavio’s “man servant” Sylvester — “I am a personal assistant!” he insists — is used and abused by all as Scapino agrees to help the lovers, but mostly to help himself.
Much silliness, comedic violence and fourth wall-breaking ensue. Mann’s Don Jerry, for example, takes more hits than he gives, and he gets to show off some soft-shoe skills, while Whalen postures from his perch of power and powerlessness to control his son.
The pairing of lovers is blissful — Saks, a Kinetic regular, preens like his pop as pretty-boy Octavio, who loves Chloe, played to the hilt by Snowden. Scottish actor Lafferty makes for a lean, “manly” Leo, as he’s described by his opposite, equally smitten Feather — Silk, delivering some of the show’s funniest monologues.
Taratula, who has come north with Binder from Naples’ Gulfshore Playhouse, is a fun foil for all as Sylvester, whose role in Scapino’s skullduggery is key.
On opening night Saturday, the farcical day at the beach began as patrons walked into the intimate Heymann Theatre, with actors Saks and Lafferty playing some competitive cornhole and audience members joining in.
There’s so much going on in “Scapino,” it’s bound to tickle your funny bone one way or another, and if that’s not enough, there’s interactive action for some front-row patrons.
Got a problem with that? Luckily for all concerned, there’s a lawyer in the house.
Through July 28 at the Henry Heymann Theatre, 4301 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; $42; kinetictheatre.org, showclix.com or 1-888-718-4253.
Sharon Eberson: seberson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1960. Twitter: @SEberson_pg. Sign up for the PG performing arts newsletter Behind the Curtain at Newsletter Preferences.
First Published: July 15, 2019, 4:53 p.m.
