High School Musical

Blue Monkey Theater Co.
August 1 - 31, 2008

Review by peanutduck

These kids deserve voice work; mics don’t suffice, especially given the poor sound system. And this is a major detraction from an effortful production of Disney’s cheeseball musical. Acting is so-so, but during well-choreographed group numbers the primarily teenage ensemble works together excellently, and their enthusiasm and energy are infectious.

Robin Hood

Blue Monkey Theater
May 9 - June 8, 2008

Summary:

Sword fights! More sword fights! Get whisked away to Sherwood Forest for this swashbuckling adventure comedy filled with youthful energy, daring-do and a hip, whimsical sensibility, as Robin (Kendall Wells) and his Merry Men join a surprisingly liberated Maid Marian (Kristen Martz) to outwit the Sheriff of Nottingham (Corey Brunish).

Twelfe Night (Intern Showcase)

Blue Monkey Theater
May 10 & 18, 2008

Summary:

This performance will be done using the Unrehearsed First Folio technique. This means that the actors have not rehearsed the show, other than songs and fights. They have not been allowed to read the whole script. They only have small scrolls with their cues and their own lines on them.

columbinus

Blue Monkey Theater
April 4 - April 12, 2008

Review by Mint Tumbles

Overlong first act by turns insightful, funny, cliched - examines high school through use of eight stereotypes. All eight teens feel rage, isolation, but only two come back from intermission as Klebold and Harris. Brutal second act flays you with actual transcripts. Strong ensemble work on demanding script. Stay for talkback.

Antigone

Blue Monkey Theater
February 1 - February 24, 2008

Review by Thursday:

Anouilh's modern interpretation of Sophocles' ancient play follows same story-line. Show includes audience interaction, and smartly plays up ironic comedy of piece. Overly obvious blocking continually places Antigone "outside the circle." Pretty, well-integrated design is occasionally intrusive. Teen actors' performances noticeably weaker than adults in cast. Sikking, Porter, and Fletcher shine.

Cinderella

Blue Monkey Theater Company
November 30 - December 30, 2007

Review by peanutduck

Ban mics from musical theatre: they distort and distract, distance the audience from performance, and detract from actors who can sing. Kudos to terrifically over-the-top Steps, interns, white mice cameos, King´s boxers. Otherwise, production amateurish and poorly executed, with sluggish pacing, spiritless lovers, including self-conscious, superior Cinderella, disappointingly non-fantastical Godmother.

Night of the Living Dead

Blue Monkey Theater Co.
October 19-31, 2007

Disney’s High School Musical On Stage

Blue Monkey Theater
Posted by Followspot May 5, 2007; closes May 27, 2007

Somewhere between Saved by the Bell and Fame. What worked: Refreshingly contemporary, age-appropriate material; huge, energetic, gregarious, fun-loving cast clearly celebrating process. Without scoring on curve, however, final grade dips mostly due to muddled staging of another medium’s book. Two leads earn extra credit when they present their natural charm.

Portland Actors Ensemble 2007 Season

Portland Actors Ensemble

The Taming of the Shrew
Romeo and Juliet (a collaborative re-staging of Blue Monkey's recent production)

Romeo & Juliet

Blue Monkey Theater Co.
Posted by Followspot February 25, 2007; closes February 25, 2007

Mixed success: Earnestly engaging with respectably direct, concise introductory performances featuring Paul Pistey’s fiesty Mercutio, Grey Pearmine’s supportive Benvolio, Matt Miller’s tender Romeo. DeeDee Remington’s couture sexed up otherwise inconsistent, artificial concepts. Insufficient, black-eye lighting. Second-half of second-act faints when it should gain strength to culminate consequences. Noisy stage, backstage.

Aladdin

Blue Monkey Theater Co.
Posted by Followspot December 29, 2006; closes December 31, 2006

Plastic tween-park theater. Cheesy book, unimpressive score piped from lifeless compu-orchestra didn’t pare well with natural young talent. More uneven-tracing than coloring-outside-the-lines. What worked: cast’s lively complicity, most (Bryan Hunt, particularly) ready for bigger, bolder. Monkey has potential to be Portland’s missing link by focusing exclusively on teens, young adults.