One Bug Turns Into a Life Threatening Event

By Tracy Letts
Directed by Michael Colucci
Redtwist Theatre
Through August 7, 2011

It’s rare these days to watch something these days so exciting and exhilarating that it keeps you on your toes and makes your mind ask for more. The experience I took away from Tracy Lett’s Bug was a very pleasing and satisfying one. It’s a full-packed drama that explores paranoia and corruption of humans.

Agnes (Jacqueline Grandt) lives by herself in an Oklahoma motel room. But she isn’t just renting this room. No, she lives there. And that’s not the only thing with Agnes. She also has to deal with her ex-boyfriend Jerry Goss (Tommy Lee Johnston), a violent individual who constantly barges into the room, fights with her, steals her money, and then leaves. Even worse, Agnes is addicted to drugs and alcohol. Her son has been missing for years; she doesn’t even know if he’s dead or alive. But her life soon takes a turn when her lesbian friend R.C. (KC Karen Hill) brings in a man named Peter.

Even though Peter (Andrew Jessop) may be a complete stranger, he immediately provides Agnes with support and love. Standing up for her when Jerry almost hurts her is just one of the things that puts Agnes at ease. With all the dismay and turmoil occurring in Agnes’ life, she develops feelings for Peter, and it doesn’t take long for the two of them to have sex.

Unfortunately, after the night of sex, things go completely wrong. Agnes and Peter discover a bug in their bed. The bug, an aphid, begins eating away at the lives of Agnes and Peter, literally. Peter reveals some of his darkest secrets to Agnes, ones that deal with the government, a group of doctors that are out to get him, and where the bugs really came from.

Grandt shines once again with Bug. She brilliantly captures the emotions of Agnes, making her performance believable. Her frazzled hair, tight shorts, and bare feet portray her frail personality and relationship toward Peter, and it doesn’t go unnoticeable when things heat up between the couple after the bug problem is discovered. With an unforgettable ending, deep and thorough character backstories, and splendid performances from all actors, this dark piece will not disappoint.

Anyone Can Cook... Even a Rat

Written and Directed by: Brad Bird

Disney and Pixar have done it again with this mind-blowing animated masterpiece of a rat that wants to learn how to cook. “Anyone can cook,” says Gusteau, owner of a famous five-star restaurant before he passed away. Directed by the man who brought us The Incredibles and The Iron Giant, Brad Bird creates another successful film, one that keeps your eyes glued onto the screen.

After learning about Gusteau’s (Brad Garrett) fame from and old woman’s house, Remy (Patton Oswalt), a rat, decides he wants to make a change to this world by learning how to cook. He already has developed an excellent sense of smell and becomes the official “rat poison sniffer” for his family and friends. After getting separated from his family, he watches Linguini (Lou Romano), who has been assigned “garbage boy” duties from the chef Skinner (Ian Holm) at Gusteau’s restaurant. Remy quickly recreates a soup, and it becomes an instant success. Thinking Linguini was the mastermind behind the soup, Skinner realizes that Linguini may be more than a garbage boy and wants Linguini to cook more recipes. Linguini and Remy team up to cook, but if anyone found out a rat were on restaurant premises, it would be closed down forever.

The fine performances from all actors, top-notch animation, and original story all make Ratatouille a huge hit. Brad Bird brought the same elements to The Incredibles, and he does not disappoint with Ratatouille. Great comedic timing, excellent character designs, and a story that one can relate to populates the film that Bird and the entire Disney/Pixar team bring to the big screen. It’s everything one would expect from a Disney/Pixar movie. Do not miss it!

Cast: Remy (Patton Oswalt), Skinner (Ian Holm), Linguini (Lou Romano), Colette (Janeane Garofalo), Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole)

IMDb Page: http://imdb.com/title/tt0382932/

Click to view Movie Pictures

A Life Where Robots Serve Humans

Written by: Timothy Hyde Harris & David Bowers
Directed by: David Bowers

David Bowers directs Astro Boy, an animated film about a utopia where robots serve humans in almost every way possible. To treat everyone with respect, dignity, and love is the central theme, and we see this between humans and robots and between civilizations (Metro City and “The Surface”). No question about it, your kid will definitely take something away from watching this film. Unfortunately, this film just doesn't meet the expectations of a Disney film or Pixar film, even with some celebrity actors.

When Dr. Tenma’s (Nicolas Cage) son Toby (Freddie Highmore) dies after an accident in the laboratory, he decides to construct a robot clone of his son, using the Blue Core, a sphere that produces positive energy. After a day with Toby, his father sends him away, knowing that the robot boy will never replace his real son. Toby heads down to the surface where he meets human children, who are orphans. Befriending them right away, Toby gets the name Astro from the kids. Astro does not immediately tell the children that he's a robot, but Hamegg (Nathan Lane), the adult who's looking after the children, discovers Astro's secret right away. President Stone (Donald Sutherland) wants the power of the Blue Core, however, and he will do anything to get his hands on Astro.

This movie will please any kid due to the great acting, fun characters, and warming story. Unfortunately, for those of us who are older and more critical, this film just does not cut it. As one of Summit Entertainment’s first animated film, Astro Boy lacks the quality that Disney and Pixar bring to the table. This may be due to the lack of experience. The huge round eyes and slick hair for Astro did not appeal to me as some of the other characters. Even some of the robots that are constantly shown felt rushed and weak.

Some elements of this film were excellent, however. The brilliant and consistent voice acting breathed life into these characters and made up for some of the animation and design mistakes. These characters are likeable, the story is simple but well-crafted, and the actors all have solid performances. If you’re watching this movie with your kid, your kid will definitely have a fun experience. But for you or another adult who have seen many movies in the past, this one just does not meet their level.

Cast: Astro/Toby (Freddie Highmore), Nicolas Cage (Dr. Tenma), Donald Sutherland (President Stone), Dr. Elefun (Bill Nighy), Kristen Bell (Cora), Nathan Lane (Hamegg)

That Face

By Polly Stenham
Directed by Michael Colucci
Redtwist Theatre
From July 2, 2011 to August 14, 2011

Polly Stenham’s That Face is a drama filled with excitement, guilt, and a hint of danger. You’ll know what I mean when you watch Redtwist Theatre’s latest production. Ever wonder what children experience when their mother is addicted to drugs and alcohol, is completely unstable, and imagines her only son as a Russian soldier? The answer lies in this show.

When Mia (Rae Gray) and Izzy (Lindsay Leopold) decide to bully twelve-year-old girl Alice (Page Weaver) in a London boarding school by forcing drugs into her, their lives change. Mia risks expulsion from school, and Izzy soon begins to have relations with Henry (Nick Vidal), Mia’s brother. But Henry is tied up with someone else at the moment: his own mother. His mother Martha (Jacqueline Grandt), a drug and alcohol addict, is completely obsessed with her son to the point that they actually sleep in the same bed together. And Henry is an adult! She’s not angry that Mia got in trouble; instead, she’s upset that Mia interrupted her time with Henry. The drama escalates as Hugh (Andrew Pond), Henry and Mia’s father, decides to come for a visit after hearing the bad news.

The cast was great, but the outstanding performance came from Jacqueline Grandt, who takes on this very emotional and demented character. Her character convincingly gets drunk and seduces Henry many times. It’s hard to imagine that this was only an act. Andrew Pond also gave a powerful performance. Playing the father and husband, he delivered fully from the beginning by speaking in a loud, commanding voice and not letting the nags from Martha, Mia, and Henry get under his skin. The last scene of the play can be described as “pure enjoyment.”

Go see That Face. Only nineteen years old when she wrote this play, Stenham lets us in on a life that most will never experience. Spectacular performances from the actors and sleek production design make this show worth seeing.

Middletown

By Will Eno
Directed by Les Waters
Steppenwolf Theatre
From June 16, 2011 to August 14, 2011

If you're a big city person, then plan to be dragged into a new culture and atmosphere because that's what Will Eno's Middletown brings. Centered in a town of few people and where most of the street signs are named after trees, it's a play where loneliness heightens the drama and the townspeople struggle restlessly for the answer to life. The story, actors, and different theatrical elements make this show an unforgettable adventure.

Mary Swanson (Brenda Barrie) has just moved into Middletown to start a family of her own. She crosses paths with a librarian (Martha Lavey), who enjoys the simplicity of her life; a cop (Danny McCarthy); a disabled hoodlum, who longs for love (Tim Hopper); unimpressed tourists (Tim Hopper and Molly Glynn); and many more. It's when she meets John Dodge (Tracy Letts) that her life takes a turn. As the acts unfold, these two characters form a friendship from sheer loneliness.

Good things come to a halt soon enough, though. Eno adds a scene in which audience members reflect on the progress of the Middletown play. This scene doesn't add much to the story. As more time is spent in the hospital during the second and third acts, the pace and suspense slow down. Mary delivers her baby, while John gets treated at the hospital. Finally, we are left with a predictable ending.

Both Antje Ellermann's scene design and Matt Frey's lighting design establish the play's mysterious mood and keeps the audience awake and alert. These elements gave a bit of pizazz to the performance by helping breathe life into the characters' surroundings. The actors, including Brenda Barrie, Martha Lavey, Danny McCarthy, Tim Hopper, and Tracey Letts, are the bread and butter of the production. Their portrayal of the fragmented characters shows the distorted nature of the town in which they are living, as the theme suggests.

Seeing the actors navigate their way through the characters makes this performance worth seeing. Go out there with some friends and see it.

Welcome to my blog

Hi, welcome to my blog! I will be using this space to write reviews of live theatre (plays, improv, musicals) and share my thoughts of the acting business. If I find anything interesting or fun, I will definitely post it here. Also, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Facebook. I will be using that space to share some acting tips, recommended books to read, experiences, thoughts, and lots more. One of my goals is to serve as a resource for actors, especially those in Chicago, and I hope my efforts can help you all out.