Here is Part 1 of our favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ in March 2015. Congrats to our honorees!
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Alex Alburqueque, as Leporello, in Don Giovanni at The In Series singing “Lovely Lady”
“Don Giovanni would be nothing without his sidekick, Leporello. The In Series sets this Mozart classic in the American bible belt during a tent revival. In a night of highlights, one singer stood out as the comic relief and conscience of the piece. Alex Alburqueque acts with his entire body – mining every moment for hidden comedy or pathos. He especially shines on his aria “Lovely Lady,” thriving on the tricky arpeggios that Mozart is so fond of.”-Jessica Vaughan.
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Lisa Anne Bailey, as Sister Aloysius, Finally Having Her Own Doubts in Doubt: A Parable at City of Fairfax Theatre Company
John Loughney, as Archibald Craven, and Bobby Libby, as Dr. Neville Craven, Singing ‘Lily’s Eyes’ in The Secret Garden at NextStop Theatre Company
“Just as the test of an Irish pub is the billowy Guinness pour or an Indian curry is judged on its layered onion base, productions of The Secret Garden are judged by the soaring, first-act male duet, “Lily’s Eyes.” Like Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers’ Duet” or even hot and cold taps fusing into one stream, this number pours out in glorious tenor and baritone tones — two brothers captivated by the same dearly departed woman.
John Loughney’s afflicted Archie is endlessly satisfying. (As a prelude to “Lily’s Eyes,” he slayed with the aria “A Bit of Earth,” and I was reduced to just another weeping willow.) His singing is like a stairway to heaven, shedding every earthly burden and flaw – pure, bright, astonishing, nourishing.
Archie’s brother, the crafty Dr. Neville Craven, has afflictions that are not as visible – he secretly coveted his sister-in-law and his motives remain murky toward Archie and other inhabitants of Misselthwaite Manor. Groomed like Simon Legree, he seems suspicious. But, oh, how Bobby Libby inhabits him! Every fiber tingles with desire, and it’s all about the baritone.”-Terry Byrne
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Katie McManus, as Norma Desmond, Singing ‘With One Look’ and “As If We Never Said Goodbye” at Sunset Boulevard at Reston Community Players
“Norma’s songs, especially the musical’s two showstoppers “With One Look” and “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” require a big voice with range and control…Katie McManus successfully takes on the challenge. Her powerful, soaring voice and expressive face deliver a Norma Desmond that gives the show its foundation.”-Kim Moeller
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Tessa More, as Katisha, Singing “For He’s Going to Marry Yum-Yum” at Hot Mikado at Glenelg Country School
“One wonders what Arthur Sullivan would have made of such decorous English ditties as “For He’s Going to Marry Yum-Yum” delivered with the bluesy flair of a nightclub torch singer. This show’s most accomplished vocalist, Tessa More as Katisha, knocks that one out of the ballpark, then turns “Hour of Gladness” and “Alone and Yet Alive” into reward enough for attending.”-John Harding
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Eric Owens, as The Dutchman, in Washington National Opera’s The Flying Dutchman, singing “Die Frist ist um, und abermals verstrichen” (The time is up, and to Eternity’s tomb consign’d)
“In his role debut, Eric Owens captivated the audience in the opera house with his rendition of the Dutchman’s first tortured aria. He arrives draped and chained to the set and bemoans his curse in a powerful bass-baritone and a perfect union of technical prowess, emotional impact, and sheer vocal power. Nobody does tortured anti-heroes like Wagner and Owens has proven himself a Wagnerian star.”-Jessica Vaughan
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Cosette Rosales, as Edna Turblad, and Adam Russell, as Wilbur Turnblad, Singing “You’re Timeless to Me’ at Hairspray at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
“Another showstopper comes when two very impressive high school students capture the sweet, albeit off-beat, middle-aged romance of Tracy’s parents… The role of Edna Turnblad, Tracy’s “larger than life” mother, is typically played by a male actor. However, in this production the ultra-talented female Cosette Rosales plays the part. Adam Russell is appropriately quirky as Tracy’s father, Wilbur Turnblad, the owner of a joke and novelty store. Wilbur is a man of modest means, but he loves and supports his wife and daughter and treats them like royalty. Edna and Wilbur show their love for each other by singing and dancing to a challenging number, “You’re Timeless to Me,” and performing turns and dips with confidence and ease.”-Paul Bessel and Barbara Braswell.
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Joshua Simon as Tucker Playing a Video Game in ‘Bigger Than You, Bigger Than Me’ at Field Trip Theatre
“In this subtly paced drama about post 9/11 paranoia (which may be perfectly plausible premonition, who knows?), Joshua Simon plays Tucker, a guy with an important position in the Department of Homeland Security. At home Tucker escapes from his work into video games, which he plays obsessively, as if in a digital mancave, even when talking with his wife, Beth (played by Sophie Schulman). Throughout Simon portrays Tucker in an understated, amusingly nuanced way that is well worth watching from the get-go—he definitely does the dude that playwright Kathryn Coughlin has written.
At one point, lacking a hand to hold a slice of pizza Beth has served him because both his hands are on his joystick, Tucker simply lets the pizza dangle from his mouth while he keeps playing—and suddenly the scene is all about Simon’s comic noshing-gaming business.”-John Stoltenberg
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Mia Sterbini, as Motormouth Maybelle, Singing “I Know Where I’ve Been” in Hairspray at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
“The host of Negro Day on the Corny Collins Show (and also Seaweed’s mother) is the golden-haired Motormouth Maybelle who introduces herself as “Big, Blonde, and Beautiful.” This sweet and sassy adult role is soulfully played by sophomore Mia Sterbini. Later, Sterbini stops the show when Maybelle teaches the young people that, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again, with the heartfelt “I Know Where I’ve Been.”-Paul Bessel and Barbara Braswell
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Paul Tonden, as Max, Singing “New Ways to Dream” in Sunset Boulevard at Reston Community Players
Ethan Van Slyke, as Colin Craven, and Katie Keyser, as the Ghost of Lily Craven, Singing “Come to My Garden’ in The Secret Garden at NextStop Theatre Company
“The scene stealer on the night I attended, though, was Ethan Van Slyke, as the impudent yet haloed Colin, another “forgotten” bud in need of tending. Comparing him to Haley Joel Osment seeing dead people is irresistible, yet his angelic duet with his mother, “Come to My Garden,” is to die for. Van Slyke simply glows with promise.”-Terry Byrne
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LINKS:
She’s Ready for Her Close-Up: Meet Katie McManus, Star of Reston Community Players’ ‘Sunset Boulevard.’
New Ways to Dream: Meet Paul Tonden, Star of Reston Community Players’ ‘Sunset Boulevard.’
DCMTA Scene Stealers-January and February 2015-Part 2.
DCMTA Scene Stealers-January and February 2015-Part 1.
In the Moment: ‘A Tip of the Hat to Mary Stuart’s Todd Scofield‘ by David Siegel.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week Ending 11/27/14-Part 1.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week Ending 11/27/14-Part 2.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week Ending 11/7/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week Ending 10/24/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week Ending 10/12/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 9/28/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 9/18/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 9/11/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 9/1/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 8/24/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 8/17/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 8/9/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 8/2/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 7/5/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week- Week Ending 6/28/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 6/21/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 6/13/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 6/06/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 5/29/14.
Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 5/22/14.
Capital Fringe Scene Stealers Part 1 and Part 2.
