|
Volume 3, Issue 18
Acting UpCilicia Yakhlef Top 5 TheatersHoly Cow! Who says Denver isn't a backwoods cow town? Bovines and bugs rule the roost as two of this year's top five theatres. The past year has seen loads of development for the subliminal world of small theatre in Denver. The good are getting better, and new theatres, along with increasingly gifted actors and companies, are moving in to boost the dramatic contingent of Denver artists over the top and into the conscious minds of the general public. I've made it a policy to review only small theatre productions during the last year-and-a-half because one of the many attributes this city has is an abundance of theatre artists who somehow manage to eke out a living here. In my experience, the very best of these practice their art because they love it, and they are driven to do it, not because they are paid to do it. Most of them can be found hanging around the dark recesses of black-box theatres. These are the people who appreciate mainstream theatre, but don't endeavor to copy it. They are the directors who push far beyond the edge, the producers who don't scare easy, but rather take artistic risks with pride. They are the set designers who invest small black boxes with vision, climate and movement. They are the actors who leave their day job in a frenzy to make rehearsals on time, the thespians who stay awake late into the night, repeating lines and phrases, coordinating blocking with dialogue, struggling to coalesce their gifts with the character's intentions. They are at the center of a theatre community for whom paying the rent is secondary to making art. I appreciate them all greatly, and salute the entire community, along with those who have made the top five. There are several new theatres on the scene this year, thanks to increasing support from audiences who seem to be catching on to the notion that innovative, moving, local theatre is far superior to pre-packaged Broadway cud. Thanks to the fertile ground laid by an intelligent and artistically astute public, this year's top five sports a brand new arrival. BUNTPORT THEATERThe Buntport Theater group recently opened its new venue at 717 Lipan Street. The quality, creativity, intelligence and ingenuity of this group's productions make the theatre a shoe in. Buntport is unique in that the measure of their productions transcends drama. A Buntport production is never just "great." Buntport leaves you thinking, laughing, marveling at sets and props, anxious to relocate stories you haven't read since you were forced to do so in college. The group takes classical pieces of literature and rolls them around until they become something recognizable, but totally different. Dealing deftly with comedy and drama alike, and interchanging elements of both, the six person team at Buntport never disappoints. E-mail them at stuff@buntport.com or call 720-946-1388. BOVINE METROPOLISBovine Metropolis rolls into the picture with a steady stream of sketch and improv comedy. Improv comedy is an original American art form, developed in Chicago by Paul Sills who founded Second City. Eric Farone was trained at Second City, but came west with his wife Denise Maes. The couple bought the space that formerly housed the Changing Scene Theatre a more than a year ago, and the stage has been full of riotous behavior and raucous laughter ever since. There is almost always something playing at the Bovine Metropolis. You can find a full menu of stage play almost every night of the week, along with late night offerings on weekends. Located at 1527 Champa, Bovine Metropolis can be reached at 303- 758-4722 or on the web at www.bovinemetropolis.com THEATRE ON BROADWAYTheatre on Broadway makes the top five this year because of an impressive retinue of directorial and design talent, and a proclivity for taking on the best musicals ever created. This year's production of The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told was outstanding, as was last year's nearly eternal, sold-out run of When Pigs Fly. Whether Theatre on Broadway endeavors to or not, the organization brings issues facing the gay and lesbian community to the forefront of Denver's collective consciousness. Providing entertaining theatre and a strong sense of social conscience, Theatre on Broadway is an important artistic voice in Denver. Theatre on Broadway is located at 13 S. Broadway, and can be reached at 303-825-8150. DENVER CIVIC THEATERTwo stages grace the Denver Civic Theater, one a large proscenium, the other a small black box. House manager Brantley Dunaway has consistently brought a wide variety of shows to the venue, with plays that run the gamut from experimental to classic. This year's production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was a winner, along with many others. Bad productions are as rare as tsunamis at the Denver Civic, so for the second year in a row, this house makes the top five. Denver Civic Theatre can be reached at 303-595-3800, and is located at 721 Santa Fe Dr. BUG THEATREDonna Morrison and Alex Weimer have found the magic formula for theatre, and yes, it does involve bugs ... or at least one bug. The Bug Theatre also remains in the top five for the second year in a row thanks to innovation, creativity, quality and artistic endeavor. Donna and Alex have surrounded themselves with some of the most talented people in the industry, and those same people grace the stage of The Bug regularly. Producing experimental work, and coloring mainstream plays with a tint of fringe, Donna and Alex bring much light and life to the local theatre community. Along with consistently staging signature theatre that can't be replicated, those involved with The Bug have built a loving home for theatrical arts in Denver. Most impressively, they've left the porch light on and laid out a welcome mat for others who love theatre as much as they do. Visit The Bug at 3654 Navajo St., or call 303-477-9984. Kudos and thanks to everyone involved in Denver's small theatre movement, and to those who support it by attending. COMEDY ACROSS BORDERSDenver laughs at America, Canada, and England
Three old biddies roam the halls of an office, offering comedic advice with a bite that leaves you wondering if their bridgework comes with attachments. A stilted heavy metal band weaves through the crowd at a trade show, offering signature buffoonery with a swagger that seems to take over the room. Kilted Irishmen stand on long sticks and try to dance a jig as though there were something natural about the lunacy of life. Various sightings have been reported. Senseless acts of silliness abound in unexpected places. Buses are commandeered, sidewalks are assailed, even the light rail might not be safe. All evidence points in one direction: the A.C.E. Comedy Troupe. A.C.E. stands for American, Canadian, and English. Linda Klein, the American member of the group, has been on the Denver comedy scene for many years, appearing in more than 300 shows locally. Barbara Gehring, the Canadian, has specialized in improv and sketch comedy since her arrival more than five years ago. Matthew Taylor traded a seaside village in England for a lucrative commercial career in Denver. The group joined forces in 1998, and won acclaim on many fronts almost immediately. Its brand of comedy is unique and expansive. The trio takes pride in the limitless reaches of its work. Although its comedic escapades are character motivated, the material doesn't stop there. The audience engages with the theme, and the external environment inspires the evolution of the plot while laughter incites riotous action that keeps people clamoring for more. The group has taken audiences on interactive "walk-arounds," involving city buses and tours of the 16th Street Mall. It has been hired by firms to lighten up executive meetings, and has developed and performed several comedic theatre productions. Classic characterizations have developed along the way. The Biddies, a threesome of grannies, crack smiles better than they crack eggs. Death Puke is band that evokes the natural satire of heavy metal shock-rock. Next up for the group is Cowboys On Stilts. Oh!, a recent theatre piece, explored the many different facets of water, and what it means to us. The audience's sensory perceptions were infiltrated by languid liquids, steaming hisses and chaotic crystals of ice, as Oh! broke loose from the amniotic sea of creation, birthed by audience and performers alike in a collaboration of the highest comedic order. If you missed this one, though, take heart, there will be more. Although the shows generally have a one-night run, the group is committed to staging at least one major production every month. Themes are varied, but the process is always inclusive and engaging. Comedy with an experimental edge is always hot, and this group might soon have enough groupies to make the members feel like their rock-star characters. If you think you might have done one too many Time Warps at the Esquire, or if certain, unnamed survivors have you nodding off on the couch, check out the A.C.E. website and book yourself a trip on the newest wave of comedy in Denver. Information on upcoming shows or professional services can be found on the website also. Since the shows generally only run one night, it is best to check the site regularly. The group also recom-mends that people planning to attend an event check the site to see what they should bring with them. Contact A.C.E. at www.acecomedy.com for information on upcoming shows or professional services.
APTLY NAMED
|