Rumors by Neil Simon, the Phantom of the Opera - Essay Example

10 May Theater reflection: Rumors (by Neil Simon Recently, I had an amazing opportunity to watch a critically acclaimed comedy performed in a local theater which was directed by Sid Curl. The name of the comedy is Rumors and it is written by the famed playwright Neil Simon. The thing which struck me the most about this play is than it is based on a very unique concept which explores the experience of four wealthy couples in the house of the Deputy Mayor of New York. Following discussion seeks to scrutinize the kind of experience I had by watching this play performed in theater as one of the many audience members. Rumors is an unforgettable play which should be essentially watched by everyone interested in theater due to its highly intriguing nature. Everything from acting to stage design to costumes is so impressive and well-chosen by the director that the audience is never distracted or bored. Rumors is basically a comedy which means that it is very easy to digest, yet it should not be forgotten that the play is very maturely choreographed. It can be most satisfying to those who wish to indulge in light humor for some time. All eight guests or four well to-do couples are seen arriving at the residence of Charlie and Myra to celebrate their 10th anniversary party. They are all in fancy evening attire which adds to the charm of the story because it acts as a counterpoint to the otherwise chaotic mess which happens during the show. Due to light mood of the performance, it can make for a beautiful experience for anyone seeking a little relief from taxing routine of everyday life. Personally, i found myself almost hysterical with laughter and feeling very light-hearted by the end of the performance. The play revolves around the actions of some upper class New York couples. The fact that the hosts and servants are missing adds a suspicious factor to the plot which was very well-executed by all actors. Research also confirms the precision of acting claiming that every single moment is carefully “executed with military precision by the terrific performers” (Beachy). In short, Neil Simon’s Rumors could go awfully wrong in less experienced hands, but it shines with maturity and excellence in the highly capable hands of Sid Curl. As you like it (by William Shakespeare): The Shakespeare Theater Company’s production of As You Like It is absolutely wonderful and mesmerizing. Despite the fact that this particular comedy written by Shakespeare is quite confusing involving many romantic subplots, the performers still using awesome skills managed to attract a large number of theatergoers. Throughout the play, I found myself highly fascinated by the colorful nature of the stage and costumes. The highly famed director Michael Attenborough directed this play expertly managing to highlight myriad marvels of the comedy based on love and foolishness. Over the course of the play, it became very hard for the audience to remain oblivious to the beautiful way in which different themes were intertwined. The show’s aesthetic quality was very impressive and enticing. It managed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats because everyone was so captivated by the art demonstrated by performers in front of them. The overall design of the stage was a little underwhelming because of the minimalist approach used by the set designers. Focus was concentrated on simplicity, but the design work only managed to convey a sense of underachievement. This was, however, compensated by the high level of performance executed by artists in the play. Also, the costumes were so radiant and rich that it became very hard to focus on any inadequacies related to set design. Besides incorporation of myriad other interesting elements, the gowns used in the opening scenes were very attractive. I also found myself responding to the light work in As You Like It because it brought out artistic genius in the overall performance. All elements were so cleverly crafted that they seamlessly fitted into the overall picture. Research also confirms the brilliance of different moments in the play claiming that they “feel almost like picturesque still-captures from a film” (Gunther). In short, As You Like It proved to be a wonderful experience for an avid theatergoer like me because of the high level of performance and brilliant costumes used by the director. All moments should be commended for their artistic genius because of their potential to stir emotions in even the most stoic viewers. The show never for a moment feels like stagnant waters, rather it keep moving building the momentum which we all found absolutely fascinating. The Phantom of the Opera: The Phantom of the Opera is one of the best shows one could ever wish to see in theater. Laurence Connor directs this show in Chicago and takes a very unique approach to recreating this show which has run for past 26 years always managing to attract global audiences. Recreating a kind of show which has successfully run for past so many years puts a great amount of load on the shoulders of a director. But, Connor seems to execute his job flawlessly here by not reimagining the show, but by focusing on giving it a refreshed look instead. Research also claims that the staging of the new “Phantom” is cleverly “refreshed rather than significantly reimagined” (Oxman). This is saying something about a show which has been created so many times before. Taking a show to the next level which is already at its finest is not something easy to accomplish. Having personally witnessed the new production of Broadway megahit titled The Phantom of the Opera, I can easily say that this version attracted a lot many newspaper headlines due to completely new and innovative set and stage design work. The thing in this show which attracted me the most was its minimal reliance on special effects which instead of adding any thrill to the show, just serve to distract viewers from the plot and performance of actors. Connor focuses on giving the audience “a subtly refreshed but not re-imagined “Phantom”” (Oxman). This refreshed look comes from an innovative set design and highly creative choreography which has never been seen before in any of previous versions of the show. The rarity of Connor’s Phantom is also characterized by “a tendency toward realism rather than parodic buffoonery by the supporting players” (Oxman). Those trite special effects which have been used so frequently before in previous productions of the Phantom had long ceased to add any charm to the show. This is why Connor carefully refrains from employing those in his version of the show. Instead, he introduces creative additions which even the laziest of viewers could easily appreciate. A large chandelier was used to decorate the set which lent a magical effect to the overall design. Connor’s Phantom was also younger and a lot less pretentious which made it fitting that abstract light fixtures and abstract design was used for his space to give it an emptier look. His space in the show only consists of “an organ, a bed, some light” (Oxman). There are other minor changes in the show also like in contrast to previous conventional versions in which Christine removes Phantom’s mask to look at his face, here she directly watches his face when he is caught in the act of washing it. Such changes appear to be small shifts, but they cast a big and influential effect on the show. Here, the Phantom is clearly obsessed with Christine and yet despite his increasing obsession, his emotions appear to be quite chilly which lend “a decidedly muted quality to the passion” (Oxman). Overall, the play came across as a version laced with ambiguity which could have been because of the director’s intention “to change and not-change something at the same time” (Oxman). Works cited: Beachy, Mark. Theatre Review: Neil Simon’s ‘Rumors’ at Twin Beach Players. Mdtheatreguide.com, 13 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 May. 2015. Gunther, Amanda N. REVIEW: AS YOU LIKE IT AT SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY. Theatrebloom.com, 04 Nov. 2014. Web. 10 May. 2015. Oxman, Steven. “Chicago Theater Review: ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ the New National Tour.” VARIETY. Variety.com, 17 Jan. 2014. Web. 10 May. 2015. Read More