If you’re not convinced, read a few reviews:

StageSceneLA:

http://stagescenela.com/html/a_wither_s_tale.html

ArtsBeatLA:

http://www.artsbeatla.com/2010/08/serious-and-soulful-a-withers-tale-from-the-troubies/

LA Stage Blog:

http://www.lastageblog.com/2010/08/25/summers-shakespearean-tales-topdogsunderdogs/

LA Times:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/08/theater-review-a-withers-tale-at-the-falcon.html

Glendale News Press:

http://www.glendalenewspress.com/entertainment/tn-gnp-withers-20100828,0,1159038.story

NoHoArtsDistrict:

http://www.nohoartsdistrict.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=744:a-withers-tale&catid=103:theatre-reviews&Itemid=77

Backstage:

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-la-theatre/la-review-a-wither-s-tale-1004111331.story

‘Hermione’ (Monica Schneider), ‘Polixenes’ (Matt Merchant) and ‘Leontes’ (Matt Walker) in the Troubadour Theater Company’s A WITHER'S TALE at the Falcon Theatre.

The Troubadour Theater Company’s “A Wither’s Tale“, the first play in our 2010-2011 season, officially opened last Friday to a standing ovation!  The Troubies have quite a show on their hands – using the soulful music of Bill Withers (“Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone”, “Lean On Me”, “Grandma’s Hands”) to tell the Bard’s complicated romance, “A Winter’s Tale” – often referred to as one of Shakepeare’s “problem plays.”  And they don’t disappoint.

Before officially opening, director Matt Walker sat down with the LA Stage Blog and talked about working with the Troubies and this show in particular.

It's not Opening Night without our famous meatballs...

Our opening night reception went swimmingly – with champagne and meatballs aplenty.  And we’ve had some great reviews so far.  Here are some of the highlights:

“Matt Walker leads an astounding ensemble and proves once and for all just how intensely versatile an actor he really is…This is a stellar evening of theatre with one great surprise that proves the Troubies rise to any occasion. The quintessential acting troupe…they are once again in rare form!” – Don Grigware

“Kennedy, in typical fashion, never disappoints – a wonderful actress, straight or hilarious, as the play demands.” –Don Grigware

“The trajectory of Leontes’ personal tragedy is handled with a rare finesse here.  Walker, who…is a superb clown, proves that he can also portray real anguish – the tragic clown, if you will.” –Santa Monica Mirror

“Cudos to the adroit comic performance of Valenzuela’s other role as Leontes’ jolly son Mamilius, to Katherine Malak’s beautiful singing voice as Perdita, to the dancing and physical comedy of the ensemble, and to the hot Troubie band, led by Eric Heinly.  A Wither’s Tale is a nice change of pace for the Troubadour Company…” – Santa Monica Mirror

“Bill Withers’ soulful, heart-felt songs perfectly enhance the play’s plot and character…As always, Walker is fascinating as Leontes and hilarious as the Clown.  Equally powerful as Paulina, Troubie veteran Bethe Kennedy also provides many belly laughs as the Shepherd with her flock of one lamb…this is one terrific show.  Another triumph for the Troubies not to be missed!” – Candyce Columbus, Examiner.com

“The somber saga builds to Walker’s showstopping rendition of ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’, enhanced by Jeremy Pivnick’s elegant lighting design…the entire cast can sing, harmonize and dance exquisitely.” – LA Weekly

‘Camillo’ (Mike Sulprizio), ‘Leontes’ (Matt Walker) and ‘Paulina’ (Beth Kennedy) in the Troubadour Theater Company’s A WITHER'S TALE at the Falcon Theatre.

]]> http://www.falcontheatre.com/blog/2010/08/24/a-withers-tale-opening/feed/ 0 http://www.falcontheatre.com/blog/2010/07/02/falcon-announces-its-2010-2011-subscription-season/ http://www.falcontheatre.com/blog/2010/07/02/falcon-announces-its-2010-2011-subscription-season/#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:19:25 +0000 FalconTheatre http://www.falcontheatre.com/blog/?p=327 The Falcon is Cultivating Comedy in the Community!

The 2010-2011 5-Play Subscription Season begins on August 11, 2009.

Falcon Theatre Founder, Garry Marshall, is thrilled to announce the Falcon Theatre’s 2010-2011 5-Play Subscription Season. The Falcon’s 8th subscription series is cultivating comedy through the voices of veteran stage actors and newcomers alike, featuring two new musical parodies from the Troubadour Theater Company, a hit one-woman show staring Stephanie Zimbalist, a new comedy by the up-and-coming talent Annie Hendy and an international hit presented in association with the Falcon’s long-time friend Rita Wilson.

The season begins in Bohemia as the Troubadour Theater Company stirs up Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale with the soulful music of singer/songwriter Bill Withers, in their musical parody A WITHER’S TALE. Next, Stephanie Zimbalist stars as Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn in the critically acclaimed one-woman show TEA AT FIVE.  For the holidays, the Troubadour Theater Company returns with a [...]

Continue reading Falcon announces its 2010-2011 Subscription Season!

Buying your tickets online is a convenient and easy way to make sure you get the seats you want for the great Falcon Theatre shows!  Our Box Office staff is still ready and waiting for your phone calls or to see your smiling face at the ticket booth window, but now, if you stay up until midnight and suddenly want to buy those tickets to the show on Wednesday – you don’t have to wait until noon the next morning, or leave a sleepy message on the Box Office voicemail!

Visit our website at FalconTheatre.com to buy online!  A link to the ticket purchase page is also on the left side bar on this blog.

Happy online ticketing!

For more info about Phil Proctor, check out his website here.

Phil Proctor

Falcon: What was your first experience with the theater?

PP: I’m  Irish and Amish on my mother’s side of the family (read “Rosannah of the Amish” for the whole story), and I inherited some extraordinary talents from my musical, multi-lingual great-uncle Joe Yoder.  Legend has it that as a baby in Goshen, Indiana, I hummed back a hymn my grandfather was singing over my crib and he brought me downstairs to repeat the feat for the rest of the family.  That was my first public performance — and I’ve insisted on being paid for ever other one since!  Later, I played a town burgher in a second grade (but first-rate) production of The Pied Piper of Hamlin at the Allen-Stevenson School in Manhattan, and being a boy soprano, I went on to play female leads in the annual Gilbert & Sullivan productions. God, how I miss those days…

Falcon: What is your favorite part about the character you play in “The Psychic”?

PP: As  a classically trained actor, I love the fact that my detective character speaks in such a “dignified and refined” manner. I’m also delighted to be portraying another role from the brilliant comic mind of Sam Bobrick, whom I met at the International Mystery Writer’s Festival in Owensboro, KY a few years ago when I performed in his award-winning play Flemming after which we were both appointed Kentucky Colonels for our exceptional patronage of the local BBQ joints.

Falcon: What is it like to originate a role in a world premiere play such as “The Psychic”?

PP: It’s always a thrill because we get a chance to establish characters that others will emulate in future productions. Working with our wonderful director, playwright, and exceptional stage manager and staff,  we’ve also been encouraged to make suggestions and adjust lines, many of which have been incorporated into this production.

Falcon: What is your favorite mystery novel, play or movie?

PP: I love Agatha Christie’s mysteries and had the pleasure of playing ‘Poirot’ at last year’s Mystery Writers’ Festival with my wife, Melinda Peterson, as ‘Agatha’. Then, of course, there’s The Maltese Falcon. It inspired me and obviously inspired our playwright as well… the cheap hack.

Falcon: What is the funniest thing that has happened during a rehearsal, either for this show, or another one?

PP: Every day is filled with laughter with this brilliantly talented ensemble and our equally witty director Susan Morgenstern and our stage manager, Deidre Murphy.  It is so important when preparing a comedy that we amuse one another.  Finding comic rhythms and the humorous balance between characters is an instinct that cannot really be taught and this cast is perfectly pitched, thanks in no small part to ingenious casting. Comedy does not need to be hard, and  if everyone is focused on developing their characters’ honest commitment to the author’s intentions, the result will be the interaction of eccentric but real people who are silly in spite of themselves. Well — come and see for yourself.  You’ll be well rewarded and hopefully will have as much fun seeing the results of our efforts as we had a fun time getting there!

Falcon: Why should people come see you in “The Psychic”?

PP: Me? Well, although I started as  child actor on live TV in New York, most of my recent work has been as a voice-over artist due to  a 43-year long success as part of the 4-man Firesign Theatre satirical recording group; but my theatrical background includes a BA in Drama from Yale University and an extensive history of stage roles from Broadway to the Mark Taper, to a 14-year run with the celebrated Antaeus Classical Theatre company in North Hollywood.  This role’s a rare chance for me to appear in a contemporary and hopefully, wildly popular comedy, not unlike a part I played in Samual Warren Joseph’s dark comedy Window of Opportunity a while back at the Met Theater. I like working with funny Sams…

Why do you think theater in general is important for Los Angeles audiences?

It’s LIVE!  I tell you – LIVE!!!!

Anything else we should know?

If you were psychic, like Adam, you wouldn’t have to ask that question…

Phil Proctor (Detective Norris Coslow) Phil met Sam Bobrick at the International Mystery Writers’ Festival in Owensboro, KY while performing in his Angie-winning comedy, Fleming with his wife, Melinda Peterson, where all were appointed Kentucky Colonels – another honor in a long career on Broadway, screen, TV, records and touring with the LA Guitar Quartet.  Proctor’s musical and linguistic talents have made him one of today’s most sought-after voice artists: ‘Howard’ in Rugrats, the ‘drunken French monkey’ in the Dr. Doolittle movies, and characters in Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., The Princess and the Frog and interactive games.  He was cited as Best Actor by the LA Free Press, won a Theatre World Award, LA Weekly and Drama Critics’ awards with the Antaeus company, three Daytime Emmys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Rugrats, and three Grammy nominations with the Firesign Theatre, one of whose recordings was inducted into the Library of Congress.

Here are what the reviewers are saying about SOUVENIR:

“Constance Hauman gives a superb, “je ne sais quoi” performance as Foster…”Souvenir” is art and entertainment at its best.” - Tolucan Times

“…a hysterical telling of this unlikely soprano’s rise to fame…Brent Schindele is magnificent as McMoon, and it’s a wonder how he manages to keep a straight face throughout all of his co-star’s well-timed one-liners…Only a skilled vocalist could be terrible on command, and Hauman is about as good as bad can be…Schindele and Hauman are an effective odd couple, good for plenty of laughs and well worth the price of admission.” – Burbank Leader

“Good comedic direction, fine performances! Today’s audiences will eat it up.” – BroadwayWorld.com

“Three cheers for acclaimed opera singer Constance Hauman’s bravura performance of a different kind in Stephen Temperley’s funny and touching Souvenir…Brevoort elicited tender, sincere and humorous performances in this endearing love letter to Jenkins from this talented duo. Hauman and Schindele also displayed some of the funniest facial expressions ever seen on the Falcon stage…Costume Designer Terri A. Lewis rose to the occasion with flare… Mike Jespersen’s set design is elegant made more so by lighting designer Nick McCord…Souvenir offers a splendid evening of theater.” – Examiner.com

“Like Mike Jespersen’s elegant music room set, Gregg W. Brevoort’s production is smart and unfussy…the charming Hauman offers plenty of dowager yucks.” – LA Times

“Constance Hauman’s excellent performance in The Falcon Theatre’s terrific intimate production of Souvenir is reason enough to head on over to Garry Marshall’s theater in Toluca Lake-adjacent Burbank…Brent Schindele is one of the few in Los Angeles equipped to play the part and he nails it from start to finish. Schindele’s facial reactions to Florence’s wrong notes and his double-takes at her mistaken self-confidence are priceless…It’s not often that a play can provide laughs and gasps in almost equal measure, but Souvenir does just that.” -StageSceneLA

“Schindele’s performance is superb; he brings a true feeling of sensitivity to the role of Cosme, and proves his talent on the piano as well. His singing voice is pleasant, too. But the real charmer and tour de force is Constance Hauman as Florence Foster Jenkins. Hauman is a trained opera singer, and it takes someone like her with a flair for comedy and an unusual ability to be able to sing such offensive tones and still bring so much enjoyment to her audience.” – StageHappenings.com