Thursday, November 17, 2005

Owen Meany’s Christmas Pageant

Artists Repertory Theatre
November 16, 2005; closes December 18, 2005

Bad news: Book-It again shows us an audio book, this time with loud, monotone affected, often shouting literary narrative not unlike Sunday-School recitations. Even if style mirrors story, it’s still too much tinsel on otherwise naturally beautiful tree. Since the author himself is a character, at least give him the voice-overs.

Good news: A gleeful, ecstatic performance; a sugar rush of sour Christmas candy; a snowball in the face. On-point cast could’ve really stormed a full-out script. Matthew Kern’s scheming Owen was both funny-haha and funny-strange; Paul Miller delivered best of meek Harold; and Margaret Chapman’s 1950s costumes fit just right.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

You cheated! That's way more than 50. A lot of shows have good and bad news but they only got 50 words!

Anonymous said...

Much like, in a previous post, he refused to comment further when asked, but then proceeded to extend his critique on a different show in the comments section?

It's his website, sugar. He makes the rules and chooses when he can and cannot break them.

Anonymous said...

I don't really care how many words posts or comments are -- I just like to talk about shows and hear what other people think.

Anonymous said...

"followspot:
Focusing on the local Portland theatre scene in precisely 50-word increments."

Taken, precisely, from the top-left corner of the home page.

That's why you should care.

followspot said...

"Owen Meany" has been extended through December 24.

Anonymous said...

Is it me or was OWEN MEANY a one-act?
The show ended and I was like "that's fun, I wonder what happens in the second act." I think most of these blogs were longer than the script.
I don't have a problem with one-act plays (it's an underappreciated play form that pretty much only defunkt will go near these days. Anyone remember Beth Harper's One Act Festival?) but I kept thinking, this is a pretty hefty ticket price for 55 minutes of live theater. I kind of wanted a cartoon or some coming attractions (a few quick scenes from FROZEN maybe?) to pad out the evening. My date and I had to pick up a movie on the ride home because it wasn't even 9:30 yet.
Was anyone else bothered by this? I mean it was really well acted and directed and everything but the play itself seemed really thin. More like a long sketch.

Anonymous said...

Who cares if he used more than 50 words. He's hot.