Review: I usually usher at MTC, but since country music is not “my thing”, I wasn’t enthusiastic about ushering the Woody Guthrie show thinking I could leave after the intermission since I would probably not want to stay for the last act. WRONG!!! I was so impressed by the professionalism of the production (I was in theatre when I was younger) and enjoyed the music and superb acting as it told the story of events I had observed during my 84 years on this earth. This is a GREAT show – GO!!!

Review: I grew up in southern Oklahoma listening to my parents both singing and dad playing guitar and I realize on seeing MTC’s “Woodie Guthrie’s American Song” that most of those songs were Woodie’s. I don’t remember their ever mentioning his name – I’m not sure they even knew who he was – but the songs told the stories of our lives and those of our neighbors.

As terrific as Woody’s music is, I think he would have been gobsmacked by hearing how great this cast makes his music sound. These five actor/singers have such beautiful harmonies and sounds, sung from the heart, that they really outshine the material. And the three instrumentalists (who sing beautifully, as well) make the voices sound even better.

I’m telling everyone I know that this is a must-see!

I got a chance to see Woody Guthrie’s America Song last night and I’ve been thinking about the real achievement that it is ever since. I’ve run my mouth non-stop to friends and families and have now come here to run it some more.

See…

I’m what you might call a Woody Guthrie fan first and foremost. Before I get too worked up to see a show in a place that calls itself a “theatre” I’m more inclined to put on an old record (78 rpm if you please, on any of the Victrolas that litter my house) and stay home to listen to an old fashioned, scratchy, off-key stomp. Call me crazy, but that’s where you might most find the spark that all this high-minded art tries so hard to illuminate. So, I figured going to a fancy musical about Woody would be more something I could rant about later than something I’d leave telling friends to go see. I more figured I’d tell people to stay away from it and come over to listen to records with me.

But…

What I saw last night is EXACTLY what I’ve never managed to do in my whole life as a Woody fan. This show manages to get folks to hold still long enough to hear, feel, and see what makes it so easy for us fans to say that Woody was a real genuine article. I can’t count as high as the number of times I’ve said Woody is great only to hear people use words like “twangy” or “caterwauling” or even just “boring” in reply to my best efforts to show them what I mean. The voice isn’t technically great, but Woody wasn’t singing for the notes. He sang for the meanings of what he had to say, and his voice only underscores the sincerity and accuracy of his insight. But, tell that to the rabble…

Peter Glazer and company have managed to put together a magical combination of “nice” singing and “pleasing” sounding presentation that takes that immediate edge out of the equation. Then, he sits the people down and puts Woody on the stage for all to see. He gets well out of the way when it is time for Woody to take charge but knows how to gently tell him and his legacy that he might need a minute to sing more like people nowadays wanna hear songs sung. I’m glad Woody obliged on this one…so to speak.

What didn’t happen is a catastrophe I feared most. These songs are NOT over-produced or over-updated (see: Across the Universe) and they are not made so comfortable and pleasing that the meaning is lost. In fact, this performance does just what Woody did. It manages to make it easy for would-be adversaries to sing the same songs and to see the same things without pulling any punches when it comes to calling out what is wrong with the way things are.

Woody’s music, if nothing else, shows us that nothing has really changed. In a way, these songs are just songs to us now. But, we all can feel how it was to know what was right and what was wrong. What Woody did so well, and this performance manages perfectly, is to show that there is a great deal of stuff in the world that a great deal of us all accept and promote that is just plain wrong. The world is not much different, but we forget that sometimes. To have it so gently shown to us is truly something to cherish and promote. To have us remember what we have in common without compromising on where we disagree is the shared experience of Woody Guthrie as presented in this show.

I realized watching that I was in the middle of a room full of people who were doing pretty well. Some of them were “liberal elite” as they say, and some were just plain “old school conservative” types. They were all singing and clapping. They were all sharing the moments that put our shared humanity in front of us all. They all knew the words. In that context, Woody sang to us through these talented performers about our very present-day topics like economic opportunity, systemic hardship, compassion fatigue, survival, and even xenophobia and prejudice. Woody got it right then, and this company got it right now.

So…maybe what Woody said is true. He should be known as the guy who told us what we already knew. He saw it, or heard it, from someone who told him what he already knew to be true. So it goes. What has happened in this performance is a lot of talented people managed to get out of the way of the message and power of these things in a way so skillful that we almost thought they were the ones making the art. And, of course, they are.

Woody Guthrie’s American Song can be summed up in three words:
Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous!

Folks, You don’t need to go to Broadway. I seldom recommend entertainment online, as people’s tastes vary. Today is an exception. The MTC production of Woody Guthrie’s American Song, his life performed through his music is Not To Be Missed. Set in a small theater, this production features highly professional actor musicians telling his life story through his songs and knitted together by brilliant dialogue. The Company consists of 5 main characters, three men and two women who actually exchange roles throughout, very capable musicianship (guitars, mandolins, bass) by those actors as well as their clear, extremely well arranged vocals. They are backed up by a three piece band onstage-playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, harmonica. Every song was arranged differently, with the instruments actually passed around to the performer/actors.

The story travels around the US with Woody on his rambles from the Oklahoma dust bowl to California crop pickers to New York to LA. Railcars, shantytowns, New York Bar scenes are beautifully depicted in the sets as his songs are played. Woody wrote his music as if the people of the thirties and forties were describing their daily lives. There wasn’t a person in the audience who wasn’t smiling throughout the production, and most, like myself, couldn’t stop tapping their feet. We were even encouraged to sing along on his standards like This Land is Your Land. I will see it again, probably with my grandchildren.

Rarely has one an opportunity to witness the simple/complex artistry of such a professionally produced musical play in your local theater at a very reasonable price. It plays until June 20th.

Review: A family drama revolving around 9/11 and torture? I must admit I came to the theater with low expectations. Sharr White and MTC succeeded well beyond any reasonable measure. The story unfolds on several levels (family dynamics, political ideology, loyalty and love) and is punctuated by sharp humor and dialogue. Thank you, MTC, for allowing your audience the privilege of seeing the premier of this work.

Review: My husband I enjoyed the play Sunlight. Apart from a slightly slow start, we liked the way the plot details were revealed bit by bit. All of the actors were very good. I don’t usually pay attention to sets one way or another but I loved this one. Most impressive, the playwright did a remarkable job of showing both sides of a very controversial issue.

Review: The play was captivating from start to finish. The characters were so well portrayed and so completely believable and engrossing. I couldn’t believe how many lines the actors had memorized, and how perfectly delivered they were, even in previews. The story was good, building steadily to a stunning climax, the staging of which was truly a moment of great theater. I found myself in tears at the end, and I thought to myself this is a performance I want to give a standing ovation for, and I don’t give standing ovations easily. Everyone around me must have felt the same way, as the audience rose unanimously and applauded. I’ve never seen an audience do that at MTC, in many years of attending. What a great play!

Review: WOW! What a performance. The subject matter was universal: the struggle between what is expected of us and the need to be who we are. The three actors were outstanding, but the young lead who plays Asher was absolutely incredible. Hats off to MTC, this is the best play I have seen there in years!

Review: Must See!

On 9/13, I saw a preview of My Name is Asher Lev.

From beginning to end, without an intermission, I was mesmerized by this play & the outstanding actors. The family dynamics & intense struggles between Asher Lev & his religious family are a universal theme. One need not be Jewish to feel the depth of emotion felt by each family member as we connect with them through Asher Lev’s early years & into young adulthood.

Don’t miss an extraordinary, live theater experience. You, too, will tell your friends to be sure to get their tickets immediately!