ACTORS SOAR, SCRIPT BORES IN `GRAVITY.Byline: Daryl H. Miller Daily News Theater Critic It's a great idea: a play that looks behind the scenes of a small-theater production to reveal the hilarity, heartache and gnashing of teeth that so often turn out to be more dramatic than what's presented on stage. In a city chockablock with small theaters, such a play could be painfully, riotously RIOTOUSLY, pleadings. A technical word properly used in an indictment for a riot, and ex vi termini, implies violence. 2 Sess. Cas. 13; 2 Str. 834; 2 Chit. Cr. Law, 489. funny. Alas, this is not what we get from the zanily staged but woefully woe·ful also wo·ful adj. 1. Affected by or full of woe; mournful. 2. Causing or involving woe. 3. Deplorably bad or wretched: underwritten ``Gravity Shoes'' at one of those small houses, the Hudson Avenue Theatre in Hollywood. The situation is doubly unfortunate since the people involved are so talented, including playwright John Bunzel, whose credits include the antic - if uneven - ``Death of a Buick'' at the Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic theatre located in Pasadena, California. History The Playhouse's history began in 1917 when actor/director Gilmor Brown began producing a season of plays at an old burlesque house, which he renamed the Savoy. a few years back. Then there's director Ron Link Ron Link (Nijmegen, 22 September 1979) started his career in 2004 in the Dutch edition of Idols. He managed to reach the final round. In 2006, he was chosen in the TV show "The Next Tarzan" to play Tarzan in the Dutch version of the musical. , fresh from his adrenaline-pumped stagings of ``Blade to the Heat'' at the Taper and ``Twist of Fate'' at the Tiffany, and a cast of recognizable faces that includes Thomas Calabro Thomas Calabro (born on February 3, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor. His most notable role was playing Dr. Michael Mancini on Melrose Place. He was the only cast member to stay on the show throughout its entire run from 1992 until 1999. (devious Dr. Michael Mancini on ``Melrose Place''), Richard Kind (a gifted comedian you might have glimpsed on ``Carol Burnett and Co.'') and Dan Gerrity (star of such Link stage productions as ``Melody Jones'' and ``Twist of Fate''). The bizarre title is also the name of the play that all the characters are so hot to produce. In the chaos of their efforts to mount an off-off-Broadway showcase, Bunzel depicts the incredible lure of show business - how people will do just about anything to be associated, however tangentially tan·gen·tial also tan·gen·tal adj. 1. Of, relating to, or moving along or in the direction of a tangent. 2. Merely touching or slightly connected. 3. , with that hallowed world of power and prestige. For good measure, he also throws in the usual art-vs.-schlock debate. We have to smile at Link's edgy staging, as well as the crackling performances - especially Kind's snarling snarl 1 v. snarled, snarl·ing, snarls v.intr. 1. To growl viciously while baring the teeth. 2. To speak angrily or threateningly. v.tr. pit bull of an investor. But the story never takes off for the giddy territory we've visited in such theater-world comedies as ``Noises Off'' or ``Jitters jitters 'Butterflies' Psychology An episode of nervousness or anxiety that often precedes a public event; jitters is a type of performance anxiety which may affect actors in a stage production–stage fright or soloist musicians; it may respond to anxiolytics .'' In many ways, the real-life disappointments of this production are more telling than what's chronicled in the script. Ah well, that's life in the theater. THE FACTS The show: ``Gravity Shoes.'' Where: Hudson Avenue Theatre, 1110 Hudson Ave., Hollywood. When: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays; through July 21. Running time: Two hours, 10 minutes; one intermission. Tickets: $18.50, available by calling (213) 660-8587. Our rating: Two Stars. |
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