by Patrick Shannon, III
CrescentCityChronicles.net
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
 

All in the Timing

Stacy Taliancich Vicki Lovelace & Michael Sullivan in All in the Timing

David Ives’ hilarious evening of one-act comedies All in the Timing was presented by the Actor’s Theatre of New Orleans.

The one-act plays were directed by Rene J. F. Piazza with a fine sense of pacing and a depth of humor that really made the whole evening of theatre like a well served and seasoned meal at a great restaurant. We enjoyed every delectable element of this production.

The cast included Michael Sullivan, Stacy Taliancich, Vicki Lovelace and Leon Contavesprie. The show, normally consisting of six one-acts, was trimmed to four for this production. English Made Simple and The Universal Language were cut.

Sure Thing, follows Betty (Stacy Taliancich) and Bill (Leon Contavesprie), two people who meet in a bar only to find they are able to correct their conversational missteps courtesy of an offstage bell. This was a clever concept and these two performers made acting seem as easy as eating pie.

Variations on the Death of Trotsky shows the famous Russian Revolutionary Trotsky (Michael Sullivan) as he attempts to figure out the mystery behind the mountain climber’s axe in his skull. Mrs. Trotsky (Viki Lovelace) and Ramon (Leon Contavesprie) offer clues to this mystery. The inimitable Michael Sullivan played Trosky with perfect timing. His sense of comedy is always droll and delightful. He is one actor who never disappoints. Viki Lovelace as Ms. Trotsky was right on key and brought a quirkly sense of hilarity to her role which worked with Mr. Sullivan’s fine performance very harmony and high humor. Leon Contavesprie with a crooked fake moustache; a manic stage presence and speaking with a Mexican accent did the role of the murderous gardener, Ramon with perfect pitch adding a Marx Brothers movie style to the dizzy comedy of this clever play.

Words, Words, Words answers the eternal question: what would three chimpanzees discuss as they try to complete the task to which they are assigned, namely, to write Hamlet on typewriters. Milton (Michael Sullivan), Swift (Viki Lovelace), and Kafka (Stacy Taliancich) were the hapless primates. And what a wonderfully goofy bunch of chimps they were! The chemistry between these actors was enough to turn lead into gold. High camp chimps quoting occasional lines for Shakespeare, movie classics, bad puns, hokey platitudes and the like kept the delighted audience laughing throughout this play.

The Philadelphia show is about a Mark (Michael Sullivan) who is trapped in a bizarre state of being called a Philadelphia where he cannot get a anything for which he asks. Al (Leon Contavesprie) helps his friend deal with the strange situation, as a waitress (Stacy Taliancich) serves them. Once again, under the apt direction and well timed acting, this group of performers proved their mettle with very well done performances in a short psycho-funny drama of weird mind-sets.

The whole collection was as well done as an ensemble of chamber music artists, each selection like variations on an unusual theme of unexpected word play by the playwright and played with a wonderful expertise and abandon by the entire cast. Director Rene J. Piazza is a very gifted member of our town’s theatre community, who seems able to do anything theatrical with a sure hand and a uniquely wonderful vision.

Chelle Duke was the Stage Manager. The Assistant Stage Manager was Sarah Fontenelle.

Technical Director was by Daryl Cade. Simple and effective set design was by Gerald Monica. Costume design was by Mary Ellen Reed. Jeff Peters was the lighting and sound operator. All technical aspects of the production were faultless.

Trinity Artists Series Presents Albinas Prizgintas

Personally, I never enjoyed pipe organ music until I began attending the concerts of Maestro Albinas Prizgintas presented at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans. Especially moving was the latest concert done on November 6. Most people know this event occurs every Sunday for free at the same time. But this time the church was packed. New Orleans needs music, and theater more than ever these days. Maestro Prizgintas is not only a master of the classical repertoire, but is also well known as a jazz musician; and the concerts vary considerably every week and should not be missed.

This concert was music entirely done on the great pipe organ of the church and as you will read in the following statements of Rev. Kaofed, all of which I agree with, the performance was stunning. Especially when one considers how wonderful it is that we have such a talent in our town as we all ponder the wrath of nature and the tragedies of so many thousands in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

(Also with the wonderful music, slides of the Prizgintas’ trip to Europe were projected. The images were of the beautiful buildings and churches they visited; with Albinas playing on church organs.)

Rev. Kafoed wrote: "Thank you so much for inviting me to Albinas Prizgintas presentation at Trinity yesterday evening.

Aside from the magnificent organ recital, the meeting Albinas and Manon, his lovely wife, was an extra pleasure.

Albinas is such an accomplished artist! Each of the extremely varied selections were accomplished with such empathy and sophistication; the breath and depth of his talent was brilliantly displayed. It was heartening for me to hear such music being celebrated by a local artist, especially considering the recent devastation and emptiness which our city has had lately.

I found the Albinoni Adagio to be especially moving, as was the Bach Toccata in F. The Buxtehude Prelude and Fugue in G Minor was expressed with comprehension and delicacy. The Prelude and Fugue in E by Bruhns was crystalline - soaring and celestial.

I was particularly interested in hearing the more contemporary pieces transcribed and adapted for the pipe organ. I was surprised and delighted to hear Albinas’ interpretation of Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog; but his presentation of Iron Butterfly’s In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was such a virtuoso performance that, if I had a cigarette lighter in my pocket, at the conclusion I would’ve lit it and held it up!!

(Although, I have to tell you I wonder if there wasn’t something of a musical joke being told to us by the artist since I was, inescapably, reminded of The Simpson’s episode in which Bart switches the organist’s music to that same song, one Sunday morning, and Homer leans over to Marge and says, 'Marge, remember when we made out to this hymn?'!!!)

Albinas’ superb presentation of Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix was really overwhelming and delicious. The element which impressed me most was the artist’s ability to allow Hendrix to 'come through' the instrument and not become overwhelmed by it.

At the conclusion when the artist presented a composition of his own - Save the City (played on piano) - tears welled in my eyes and I knew he, a local treasure, was singing about our own dear city.

All in all the evening was uplifting and delightful."

To which I add: "Hearing Maestro Prizgintas play the organ in such a setting makes one realize why it was such an important musical invention used by the various churches of the world. When he plays this mighty instrument one can hear the imperious footsteps of God as he walks among a billion nervous and timid angels fluttering their wings with awe and anxiety. I was especially amazed by his transcriptions of the mentioned rock classics. Who would have thought, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Iron Butterfly, and Bach all played on the same soaring sounds of a great pipe organ could sound so heavenly!"

---