As I begin rehearsals for my next project (“Chicago” at Seattle Musical Theatre), I wanted to take a quick look back at some of the great stuff I’ve seen over the past few weeks.
First off there was “Sleuth” at Tacoma Little Theatre featuring my friend Alan
Wilkie (and Christian Doyle, pictured). Great set by Blake R. York. Both actors did nice work in a show where the twisty plot is best left to be discovered than analyzed.
The very next week I went over to Seattle Musical Theatre to see their production of “Camelot.” I have to admit here that this is not my favorite o
f musicals, but the cast and crew at SMT did a very capable job. Director Ward Scott Brown made some efficient cuts in the script that kept the evening at just over two hours. I’ve seen productions of “Camelot” that went on and on and on. Tops among the cast for me were Jared Michael Brown as King Arthur and Spencer Fairbanks as Squire Dap.
Then there was “Judy Sings Judy,” starring my friend Judy Ann Moulton singing the songs of Judy Garland backed by a great band. A lovely evening (I especially enjoyed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “The Man That Got Away”). Additional shout outs to director David Koch and the always lovely D.J. Gommels at the piano.
The last of the group was “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at Renton Civic Theatre. I’ve seen a tour of he show before and it is pretty darn adorable. One of the actors was actually absent the night I went and the rest of the cast had to delay the start time for the show, regroup and work around her. Delightful work all around. Standouts for me were Nancy Fisher as Rona Lisa Perretti and Heather Edwards McRobbie as Olive Ostrovsky. And the always capable Kim Douglass and Jim Fisher did great work as the onstage band. I also got to be one of the spellers chosen from the audience. It was fun, but I went out on the word “mizzle.”
Butlers I Have Known 