Reverend's Reviews: Playing Politics

The Kennedy and Bush dynasties (not to mention the currently on-trial John Edwards) can't hold a candle to the Chandlers, the scheming political family at the center of The Fix. This stage musical was first presented by impresario Cameron Mackintosh (Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera) in London in 1997 but is only now receiving its West Coast US premiere through May 20th courtesy of Long Beach, California's renowned International City Theatre (ICT).

When presidential front-runner Reed Chandler suddenly dies during sex with his mistress, his Oval Office-obsessed widow (a delicious Alix Corey) sets her sights on their decidedly deficient but photogenic son, Cal (the vocally- and physically-gifted Adam Simmons), as the new candidate. With the aid of Reed's polio-afflicted but politically-experienced brother, Grahame (a superb Sal Mistretta, who theatre buffs may recognize as Pirelli in the home video version of Sweeney Todd with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury), Cal's unlikely rise to power begins.

The musical's book and score (by John Dempsey and Dana P. Rowe, who went on to adapt The Witches of Eastwick as a musical for Mackintosh) aren't the greatest, leaving virtually no scandalous-cliche stone unturned: adultery, drug abuse, questionable paternity, mob ties, affairs with strippers, and even a creepy touch of homosexual incest.  A couple of these would have been adequate.  It also features only one particularly memorable tune (the seductive "I See the Future," which is brilliantly staged here) while at least two songs, "First Came Mercy" and "The Ballad of Bobby 'Cracker' Barrel," are redundant and/or excessive (though "Ballad" is undeniably amusing).

Criticisms aside, this is a superior production boasting an excellent cast.  ICT director Randy Brenner definitely elevates the material, with strong support provided by choreographer Heather Castillo and musical director Darryl Archibald. This is one of only a handful of U.S. mountings of The Fix since an initial, 1998 staging in Virginia where, interestingly, Mistretta first played Grahame.  ICT has wisely, economically pared the cast down to nine actors from an original count of 19. Also, while The Fix is billed as a rock musical, Archibald's handling of the score is more subdued in its current Long Beach presentation.

Stephen Gifford's scenic design evokes the center ring of a circus, and is beautifully lit by Donna Ruzika.  It is the very talented, totally game cast, though, that truly makes this production soar.  In addition to the previously mentioned Simmons, Corey and Mistretta, William T. Lewis is most effective as the observant ghost of Chandler Sr., Melanie Fernandez sizzles as Cal's stripper-lover, Carrie St. Louis is great as Cal's Nicole Kidman-esque wife, and David Michael Laffey is terrific in a variety of roles but especially as Bobby "Cracker" Barrel.  The remaining cast members, who are deserving of equal mention and praise, are Jay Donnell and Stephanie Hayslip.

Not unlike our two chief options in the 2012 presidential race, The Fix is less than perfect but nonetheless demands consideration thanks to ICT.

Reverend's Rating: B

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Rage Monthly Magazine.

Monthly Wallpaper - May 2012: Classic Tearjerkers

Get out your handkerchiefs this month as the Movie Dearest Calendar Wallpaper celebrates our favorite Classic Tearjerkers.

Cry away in May along with Bambi, Ennis, Jack & Rose, Rick & Ilsa, Sophie, Stella and all the rest of the stars of these beloved weepers.

Just click on the picture above to enlarge it to its 1024 x 768 size, then right click your mouse and select "Set as Background", and you're all set. If you want, you can also save it to your computer and set it up from there, or modify the size in your own photo-editing program if needed.

Reverend's Reviews: Hole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Love her or hate her, Courtney Love certainly did spice up the music scene back in the 1990's with her almost all-female band, Hole. Love's onstage shenanigans tended to get more attention than the group's songs but Hole's drummer, Patty Schemel, garnered nearly universal praise from critics and audiences.

Schemel herself became known for more than just her music when she came out as a lesbian in a 1995 Rolling Stone interview. The new documentary Hit So Hard, subtitled The Life and Near-Death Story of Drummer Patty Schemel, opens today in Los Angeles. Focusing on a turbulent time not only in Schemel's journey but in the evolution of popular music, P. David Ebersole's film functions on several levels: as biography; celebrity expose; concert movie; a GLBT coming-of-age saga; and a requiem for both Love's late husband, Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, and former Hole bassist Kristen Pfaff. Cobain and Pfaff both died tragically in their 20's from drug overdoses.

Schemel speaks candidly about her struggle not only with her sexuality but with addiction. She had her first drink of alcohol when she was 12 and eventually worked her way to crystal meth and heroin. Schemel finally entered a rehab program and is happy and healthy today. One of Schemel's role models, the out lesbian singer Phranc, appears in the film and makes the not-irrational argument that the "grunge" style Cobain & Co. made popular evolved from lesbian fashion styles of the 1970's.

Hit So Hard also reveals the gay men behind Hole's success, Joe Mama-Nitzberg and Roddy Bottum. They were and remain two of Schemel's closest allies, and they provide valuable insight into Cobain's suicide as well as the challenges presented by being gay in the predominantly straight world of rock 'n roll. If all this wasn't gay energy enough, director/editor/writer Ebersole (Death in Venice, CA) is gay too or, as he puts it in the press notes, "proud to be a lesbian filmmaker."

This is a well-constructed, enlightening documentary about a challenging period in music and society at large. Whether you are a Hole or Nirvana fan or not, check it out.

Reverend's Rating: B+

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Rage Monthly Magazine.

Reel Thoughts Interview: The Ape Man Cometh

One thing that is certain about Arizona Broadway Theatre’s Arizona premiere of Disney’s Tarzan: Rhys Gilyeat, who plays the title character, will be comfortable in his loincloth. The New York-based actor is in the best shape of his life, and as anyone who saw his previous performances in Take Me Out or The Full Monty can attest, Gilyeat was in pretty great condition to begin with. His commitment to the part went so far as to include visiting a local waxing salon to achieve the hairless Tarzan seen in the 1999 animated film. Gilyeat admits that his reaction to pain is to laugh, which he demonstrated on a funny but painful-to-imagine video he shot at his first waxing session.

“It’s a really great script,” Gilyeat explained “and I am watching every single (Tarzan) film I can find and the music is wonderful. Phil Collins wrote it, so it’s very pop, which is right up my alley.” Regarding his trademark “Tarzan Yell”, he laughed "It’s going to need some work.”

The show coincides with the hundredth anniversary of Edgar Rich Burroughs’ character, a boy who was adopted by apes when his parents were killed, who must save his habitat, and rescue Jane, before it is destroyed by greedy explorers. Songs include Collins' Oscar-winning hit “You’ll Be In My Heart” along with songs written especially for the musical like “Like No Man I've Ever Seen” and “For the First Time.”

When asked what he is most excited to do in the show, Gilyeat replied, “It’s going to be the flying. I am really stoked, because this is the first time that I’ve ever done true stage flying. This is the first time I’ll be hooked up to a harness... it’ll be great! I get an adrenaline rush from all of that stuff, so I’m really excited.”

ABT has hired Flying by Foy, the professional agency in charge of Broadway flying productions like Peter Pan and The Phantom of the Opera. It means that Gilyeat will be swinging over the heads of the audience with the same finesse as the Phantom’s chandelier, although he won’t crash on the stage in the same way.

“It’s the story of a boy becoming a man, but he has this massive discovery arc that goes through the entire show,” Gilyeat explained, adding that he has to imagine having been raised by apes his whole life and then having to grow up in a human sense and perhaps find love with Jane.

Gilyeat was born in Utah and raised Mormon, but moved to Mesa, where he graduated from Dobson High. He became involved in theater at a young age, which he says, helped him with his coming out process. “Fortunately, I was able to discover myself quite easily, and I had a support group behind me. Not everyone is that lucky as we are in the arts. For me, Pride is about nurturing and helping others get to the point that I was already at. I started the coming out process when I was about fourteen. Obviously, you go in stages. First, your friends, and then go to your family, depending on the relationships. It’s takes time,” he added. “I was raised very religious in a Mormon family, so there were those elements to go through. I have a very large family and opinions vary, but at the end of the day, we’re still family. So it’s been wonderful and they’ve been very supportive. At this point in my life, it’s almost a non-issue.”

Like a lot of notable performers such as Emma Stone, Chelsea Kane and Max Crumm, Gilyeat got great training at Valley Youtheatre, and he also performed with Jordin Sparks when both were finalists in the Arizona Idol promotion for American Idol. Gilyeat’s favorite role was his award-winning performance as The Who’s Tommy, as well as Dean in ABT’s hit All Shook Up last season.

When asked how he was enjoying living in New York now, Gilyeat replied that he and New York have a love/hate relationship, but that he’s made his peace with the fast-paced city. He says that he’d love to return to the Valley and do more parts, and he is excited for audiences to get their first look at Tarzan.

Interview by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.