Summer of Theatre

It has been another whirlwind couple weeks of theatre for me.  Why do these things come in such spurts?
First up was Rent, this year's American Stage in the Park production.  I originally had tickets for April 24th but it decided to rain that night.  My son was in town on the reschedule date of May 7th but opted not to go because "Rent is so dated."  Evidently, according to most 20 somethings AIDS doesn't matter anymore.  I guess that's a good thing, the stigma is gone, we know how to treat and prevent it, there may even have been someone cured.  I still enjoyed the show.  The talent in the cast was incredible. Light My Candle is a bit stilted but La Vie Boheme, Tango: Maureen and Take Me or Leave Me make me want to get up and dance. Seasons of Love still gives me shivers.
It may have been Friday the 13th, but it was Twelfth Night for me.  Groupon had an excellent deal a few weeks back to get $9 tickets for the show, it was a deal I couldn't pass up.  I did a quick google search to refresh my memory about the story (it has been a long time since my high school Shakespeare class).  At the start of the show we found out that the part of Feste would be played script in hand by a last minute substitution due to illness.  I'm sorry to say that I did not get this actor's name, but he did an awesome job! Brian Shea (Malvolio) stole the show.  It was great to see a nearly full house.  Can't wait to see more productions from this group.
The following night was 8 o'clock Theatre's The Drowsy Chaperone.  Before I left for the show my son asked me if I was familiar with the story.  "Someone gets drunk so kids can make out?" was my guess.  Boy, was I wrong!  It is an absolutely delightful story of a man in a chair (John Forgione) sharing his love of musical theatre with the audience.  Forgione was perfect in the role.
The final show in this week's adventure, was reasons to be pretty, Jobsite's latest production. I will take free tickets whenever I can get them (Twitter) but I was prepared to shell out my hard earned $10 for student rush tickets.  After their last production, Yellowman, I knew I would not be disappointed. The acting was superb and the fight scenes beautifully choreographed but I think I may be a little too.....ummmm....mature....to understand Steph's (Kari Goetz) reaction to Greg's (Dayton Sinkia) guy talk comment that she had a "regular" face.  I wanted to shake her and tell her to get over it, couldn't she see what a great guy Greg was???  I guess I've known too many Kents (Chris Jackson) in my day.  Grace Santos Feeney was achingly clueless as Carly.
I feel so blessed to live in an area of such great theatre.  Next on the radar Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune at American Stage,  I Hate Hamlet from 8 o'clock Theatre, Jobsite's The Taming of the Shrew and American Duet by Mark Leib, theatre critic for Creative Loafing and my professor for "Film and Literature" last semester at Eckerd College (I got an A).  I'm more than willing to scrounge around for deals and new venues in my pursuit of the "Summer of Theatre."  If you hear of a good deal or show please let me know!