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Monday, 16 January 2006 02:54 pm
D*** Motorists
I see a pattern to the lineup of Arena Stage performances this season: the last three have been set here in DC. (The first, Passion Play, briefly had a character visit monumental Washington, but that was it.) Last Friday, it was Damn Yankees in the round theater. For those who haven't seen it, you don't have to like baseball to like it.
I saw the movie years ago, and I'm pretty sure that this stage version was more visually entertaining, even if it required a little more imagination for the magic. Mainly it's in the dance, which included a strange coordination of bogus '50s TV sets for one number. This Lola is a little more suited to a modern audience, not that the movie is so terribly dated. The biggest difference was in the playing of Mr. Applegate: where Ray Walston had made him so charismatic I almost felt sorry for him, this rendition was loud, intimidating, and more devilish-looking. I'm not complaining; it's good to vary interpretations. The resolution(?) is still weak in my mind, but not enough to ruin the musical for me.
Oh, and about the title of this entry... The same evening, I saw a black stretch limo run a red light. The District of Columbia, ladies and gentlemen.
I saw the movie years ago, and I'm pretty sure that this stage version was more visually entertaining, even if it required a little more imagination for the magic. Mainly it's in the dance, which included a strange coordination of bogus '50s TV sets for one number. This Lola is a little more suited to a modern audience, not that the movie is so terribly dated. The biggest difference was in the playing of Mr. Applegate: where Ray Walston had made him so charismatic I almost felt sorry for him, this rendition was loud, intimidating, and more devilish-looking. I'm not complaining; it's good to vary interpretations. The resolution(?) is still weak in my mind, but not enough to ruin the musical for me.
Oh, and about the title of this entry... The same evening, I saw a black stretch limo run a red light. The District of Columbia, ladies and gentlemen.
