OLETA ADAMS AT THE RRAZZ ROOM

By Lee Hartgrave
April 29, 2009


SPOTLIGHT ON OLETA ADAMS

Oleta Adams is a honey voiced musical star. And lucky for us in San Francisco, she will be appearing at the Fab Rrazz Room in the Hotel Nikko on O’Farrell Street.

One of the reasons that Adams is so great is probably due to her early training in classical music. It paved the way for her to find her own niche in the music world where she was able to extend her vast talents beyond just vocals into songwriting as well. Adams has a vast dedication to bringing out the sparkle.

She can take songs of Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Gershwin and make them glitter like newfound Gems. Her quality of singing and performing is right up there with Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday. Adams can bring you to tears with songs like “We Will Meet Again” and “I Knew You When.”

Her styling is truly original. This soulful and jazzy singer is just the kind of thing you need for these cool and breezy San Francisco nights. Have some wine – mellow out, and let O.A spark your evening. If you liked the legendary Anita Baker – then you are going fall in love with Adams. Oleta Adams will only be at the Rrazz Room Thru this coming Sunday. The opening is tonight, and I think that you should surrender yourself to a great treat. Forget politics and the office. Just kick back and fall into a dreamy, glossy evening of upbeat and fantastic singing.

The Review will be up on www.beyondchron.org this coming Friday on www.beyondchron.org.


(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many stories to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook section and produced a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))

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THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE

(Pictured to the Right. Daniel Krueger (hanging) and Blake Ellis. Photo Courtesy Mellopix.com)

HARTGRAVE POST
by Lee Hartgrave
April 22, 2009


THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE

In Martin McDonagh’s black comedy ‘The Lieutenant of Inishmore’ -- Padraic, is a man who was refused entry to the I.R.A. for being ‘too insane’. He was just finishing up torturing a young man who is hanging upside down. Padraic has already pulled some of the mans toenails off, and he is just about to cut off one of his nipples when the phone rings. It’s not good news for the torturer – his cat Wee Thomas was a friendly cat. “He is my best friend says Padraic.” He loves that cat more than life itself. In his life – humans are expendable – even his own Dad.

The voice on the phone tells Padraic that his cat is ill. The man hanging from the ceiling upside down pretends that he has a cat and sympathizes with his torturer. It works and Padraic cuts the rope and lets him go, telling him that he should put something on his bloody feet before his toes gets infected.

This funny play, which was banned in many parts of Ireland, is political satire and at times, extremely shocking. There is lots of violence along with a not-so-subtle statement about the nature of Ireland and it’s competing population. However, the violence is tempered by witty writing. Humor is the main engine in the play. Without it, you would just end up with a horror story.

The cats name is ‘Wee Thomas’. “He was a friendly cat. He would always say hello to you were you to see him sitting on a wall. He won’t be saying hello no more, God bless him.” Who killed ‘Wee Thomas’? Was it a neighbor or someone who had it in for ‘Mad Padraig’? Paidraig will go to any lengths to find out who killed his cat. Here is another warning. There are very loud gunshots during the play that lead to many bodies strewn about the stage. Some people in my aisle were covering their ears and their eyes. It gets that brutal – all of course, with that great Irish humor.

Most of the audience enjoyed the show, even giving it a standing ovation. The language is salty, colorful and quirky in this comedy drama. And it is utterly spellbinding! It’s clear from the opening scene that the play is loaded with solid acting.

The ending is a complete surprise in this stunning and memorable Theater piece. I won’t tell you what happens in the end, but it is staggering.

HERE IS THE RIVETING CAST: Blake Ellis (Padraic) – Magnificent portrayal! James Carpenter (Donny) Compelling acting of the highest order! Molly Camp (Mairead) Entertaining and seductive, Great Performance! Daniel Krueger (James) Amazing performance! Absolutely terrific! Rowan Brooks (Brendan) Extraordinary acting! Adam Farrabee (Davey). Nutty and hugely entertaining! Michael Barrett Austin (Joey) Pitch Perfect! Everyone was marvelous – add this show to your must-see-list!

RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! –trademarked-

NOW PLAYING AT THE BERKELEY REP THEATRE

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook Section and produced a long-running arts segment on PBS KQED)))

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THE HARTGRAVE POST

Lee Hartgrave Post
4/22/09

THRILLPEDDLERS KNOW HOW TO THRILL

LET ME TELL YOU, THE THRILL IS IN HIGH SPEED AT THE HYNODROME THEATER ON 10TH STREET.

This time they have whipped up a really quirky evening of four classics from the horror vaults. The absurdly enjoyable evening is about as guilty as pleasure gets, starting with “Private Room Number Six”. A very attractive and sexy woman visits a man who is robust, drinks too much and is basically a crowing boor. He is a domineering male who becomes dangerous when he drinks too much. And the woman that he intends to abuse turns the tables on him. She has other plans for his family jewels. Both in his pants and his checkbook. Creepy yes, but the exhilarating acting keeps you on the edge of your chair as the play creeps you out. It’s Cat and Mouse – and it doesn’t go where you expect it too.

The great thing about the “Thrillpeddlers” is not only the great acting -- it’s the atmosphere of the Theatre. The minute you walk in you feel like you have stumbled into some old Castle that needs repair. Then of course there is the piano that people can play during intermission. That is if they know how to work a piano that has the ancient music rolls that play themselves. You just have to sit there. Never seen one? Then that’s another reason to buy a ticket. You’ll also discover other wonderful things. Like the sections of the Theatre that are designated “Psychiatrist office, or The Architectural Office. “Each one has unique views” – says the greeter as he explains the advantages of each section.

The next play: “Tics, or Doing the Deed” is quite a show and a jazzy crowd pleaser. And, I do mean JAZZY! Men will be men and will generally sleep with anything. Well, in this upper class house – not only do the men sleep around (even with servants) but the women do as well. Yes, everyone in this house is ‘needy’. The fun of this story is that two of the men have a strange tic about their habits after having sex. One cannot speak for Ten minutes. And strangely enough another man – a Doctor gets a strange Tic in his right leg after having sex. His affliction also lasts about 10 minutes. This show is one of the funniest that I have ever seen. It’s exciting fun – with an out-of-this-world cast. It couldn’t be better even in 3D!

THE HEAD HUNTERS is really scary. Some may even close their eyes as the danger in the jungle becomes really bizarre. The lesson that you will learn from this intriguing play is that “sometimes it is better to travel alone” A man has disappeared, and his family begin to look for him. They know that he was on an excursion in the Jungle. They fear for him and begin to search. What they find – will horrify them. ‘The Head Hunters’ was written in 1958, the peak era of men’s magazines.
Let me tell you – this is intense and chilling stuff. Powered by great breakout performances.

THE DISCIPLINE is laugh out funny. Nuns are not immune to sexual drives. This play has a horny man who works at the nunnery. He has convinced the Nuns that sex will make them more spiritual. Heck, he is already saving the Mother Superior – so they might as well take a ride on the “Thing down there”. And when the handsome dude comes into to the room with a huge impression sticking out from under his pants – the nuns have no choice but to raise their habits and let him ‘save’ them. Some of the fun is done behind a screen where the lighting makes the manhood look enormous. I think everyone in the audience was turned on. Especially at the end – when by some magic, huge penises were floating in front of the audience and headed right for an open orifice. So keep your mouth shut. Scary, but exciting. I’ve never seen anything like it and haven’t laughed so much in years. They should make a movie of this and put it on “You Tube” – I predict billions of hits. Everyone was ‘Pleasured”! You know what I mean?

You must see these plays. Once you go to a Thrillpeddlers show – you will be hooked.

THE ACTING IS SUPERB AND INCREDIBLE! Here is a the cast to die for: Lanny Baugneit, TJ Buswell, Russell Blackwood, Kara Emry, Jonathan Ingbretson, Ann Vand, Erick Tyson Wertz, Gina Seghi, James Toczyl, Maria Leigh. (Most of the actors appear in all the plays and appear as different characters). And they are all absolutely extraordinary.

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook section, and produced a long-running Arts Section on PBS KQED)))

Twitter Lee Hartgrave or Google him to see what else he’s up to.

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