Always the Best Friend, Never the Groom

I'm a single man going to a wedding this weekend, so it's seemingly ironic that I'd be writing about Significant Other right now, a story about a man who is always the best friend, never the groom. 

Truthfully, I'm thrilled to be writing about it...Joshua Harmon has done it again! Written a magnificently brilliant play, that is. One that's as funny as it is heart-breaking, as relevant as it is heart-touching. Significant Other wraps up the 2015-2016 Actor's Express season, but leaves you wanting more of this fantastic cast!

Significant Other | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

Lee Osorio, born and raised in Georgia, is the star of the show, and I don't use the word "star" lightly...he's brilliant! He plays Jordan (above left), the gay best friend, a role typically relegated to quirky comic relief. Not so in this show. His longing for love is center stage. His happiness for his friends' wedded bliss vs. lonely night after night after wedding after wedding plays out before your eyes, elating and crushing your heart. 

Lee just earned his MFA at Brown University in Rhode Island, but I sincerely hope he'll stay in Georgia and treat Atlanta to his acting brilliance! He's definitely a new favorite of mine.

Diany Rodriguez (Into the Woods, Informed Consent) plays Laura (above right), Jordan's closest and dearest friend. Throughout the play you see the strength of their friendship, but it's in the final act when you see, hear and feel how deep and honest and loving their relationship truly is. 

I would venture to say that true friendship is not without its trials and a few tears, but those can strengthen a friendship to the point of lasting a lifetime. Suffice it to say that you're in for quite an experience when you see Significant Other. Open your heart to a great time.  

Significant Other | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

Cara Mantella, who plays the role of Kiki (above center), is side-splitting hilarious and perhaps one of the most honest characters in the show. You certainly never have to wonder what she's thinking, yet you're continuously laughing out loud at her I-can't-believe-she-said-that comments. She so reminds me of some of my best friends...the ones who always speak their mind! 

Significant Other | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

Edward McCreary (Carousel, Memphis, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) is one of two actors who performs the roles of three characters: Tony, Will and Conrad (above right)...quite brilliantly, I should add! Edward's roles range from hottie coworker and love interest of Jordan's to fiance-husband of one of Jordan's dear friends. 

Edward is an excellent actor with quite the breadth of skill. I personally think he's most brilliant in the heavier roles, but certainly entertaining in a lighter, playful role...either way, I don't think anyone is going to storm out of the theatre when he bares his chest. 

There is a pair of green gym shoes that practically have their own story arc...keep an eye on them, and their ultimate, hilarious fate.

Significant Other | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

Brittany Inge, who has quite the impressive resume, plays Vanessa (above left), one of Jordan's best friends. She's real, wholly believable and I would guess is somewhat playing herself—she's that convincing. Vanessa is hilarious, fun-loving, and totally, gushingly in love when she unexpectedly meets the right guy.

Significant Other | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

Significant Other is more than a story about a gay best friend who is desperately seeking love, and despite his desperate measures finds that love is frustratingly, seemingly everlastingly evasive. In the end, he's not so desperate that he's going to sacrifice love just to be in a relationship—thank goodness! But his desperation (notice how often I'm using the word desperate?) is his undoing, a time or two.

I've never found desperation to be an attractive quality, but Jordan personifies not only how ridiculous it is, he shows how heart-breaking and real loneliness can be. I've always thought desperate people were out of touch, but I guess in the end they just want what all of us want...to be loved. Their particular methods are just more visible to the world. I judge no more.

Don't get me wrong. This is definitely a romantic-comedy and go into it knowing and expecting that. I'm just saying that in more way than one, Significant Other brings to light the sometimes too long odyssey of yearning for love.  

Significant Other | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

Jeremy Aggers is the other actor who performs the role of three different characters: Evan, Gideon and Roger (above right). I've never seen anyone play a range of fiercely annoying to charmingly smitten the way Jeremy does. Seriously...if the fingernails-on-a-chalkboard laugh doesn't send you running for the exit, his Prince Charming love for Vanessa will definitely keep you in your seat.

I've not seen Jeremy onstage before, but I certainly hope I will again.

Significant Other | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

Judy Leavell, who plays Helene (above right), Jordan's grandmother, is the one character who never gives up hope, who remains steadfast confident that Jordan will find love in his life, even through living with a medication-necessary memory ailment. She's endearing, caring, loving...she will either remind you of your own grandmother or make you wish she was yours.

Now, have a look at a few moments of hilarity that Significant Other is bringing to audiences...



If you saw Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon, then you already have an idea of how brilliant Significant Other is. Bad Jews, which I did not see, but have heard so much about, became a huge hit in New York and was widely produced in America, and it was the highest grossing non-musical play in Actor's Express history! 

Significant Other is Harmon's newest play and wraps up the 2015-2016 Actor's Express season, closing Sunday, June 19. What a magnificent way to finish up the year!

Up next at Actor's Express, Company, winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and directed by Freddie Ashley, who said of Significant Other, "Joshua Harmon finds humor in the complexities of contemporary life like no other young writer in American today. I'm thrilled to follow up his play Bad Jews with this fresh, funny, moving comedy."

By the way, just in case you were wondering, I'm grateful that I'm not going to the wedding this weekend alone, but I would have. It's the wedding of one of my dearest, most trusted friends...a beautiful, bright-blue-eyed, lovely woman who I've had the honor and pleasure of calling friend for nearly 30 years. This is going to be a memory-making occasion!

Into the Woods to Fairy Tale Land We Go...

Imagine all your favorite children's books weaved into one magnificent tale, rife with drama, laughter, struggle, celebration...and a challenge of gigantic proportions!

Who will get what they dream of...and who will live? Yes, yes, we're talking some serious drama, but with lots of laughs, too. Are you wondering if any of your beloved character's dreams do come true?

That's a Reader's Digest teaser of what you'll wonder and experience when you see Aurora Theatre's rendition of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, playing now through Sunday, April 17.

Shellie Delgado and Googie Uterhardt
"Into the Woods" | Aurora Theatre | Photo by Chris Bartelski

There are many truly outstanding actors in this performance, some I've had the pleasure of seeing perform in other plays and some who mesmerized and made me laugh for the first time. Not that they didn't before...it was just the first time I'd had the honor to see many of them.

If there was a single character who enraptured my attention, across the board—dramatic, funny and wholly entertaining—it was Shelli Delgado, who performed the roll of Little Red Riding Hood. She made me laugh with every line delivered, every exaggerated expression and by turning lemons into lemonade...rather, an enemy into a new cape.

Wendy Melkonian, Evan Jones, Brian Walker
"Into the Woods" | Aurora Theatre | Photo by Chris Bartelski

Aurora Theatre's Into the Woods is told through the eyes of a youngster who finds a book in a library, where the show opens. Evan Jones plays the Narrator absolutely brilliantly. He's one of the best young actors I've seen in a long time. He's fully engaged, focused and easy to follow. Keep an eye on this young man's acting career...he's going places!

Jack's cow is a hilarious, laugh-out-loud prop, with more personality than perhaps I've ever seen in an inanimate creature. And the cow you see pictured above isn't the only rendition of this bovine you'll see during the performance. This cow, as white as milk, becomes "hell on wheels". 

The the expertise of this performance encompasses talent in many disciplines. The acting, the singing (which is glorious!), the set, the costumes, the props, the lighting, the audio...everything about this show is world-class! 

Caroline Arapoglou
"Into the Woods" | Aurora Theatre | Photo by Chris Bartelski

Caroline Arapoglou (Rapunzel), also in Aurora's award-winning Memphis, was not too long ago wedded with another of my favorite Atlanta actors, Nick Arapologu (Toxie, Princeton). Congratulations, you two! Caroline, you totally rocked that "hair as yellow as corn".

Another I've seen before and loved in the production was India Sada Tyree (Florinda) who I'd met when she was Nina in Aurora Theatre's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. She's so delightful in person and brilliant on stage! Diany Rodriguez (Cinderella) also is magnificent. I had the honor of meeting her when she was in Informed Consent, and she too is delightful, and talented in range from a Native American leader (2015) to a beautiful fairy tale princess.

The whole of the cast is remarkable...they make you feel like you're in the fairy tale that's playing out on stage. 

Brooke Owens interviewed Into the Woods set designer Jason Sherwood and one of the questions was about inspiration: "...our question was how can we take this hall of the greatest stories of all time and put it through a child's imagination and then let it get a bit out of control. There are some elements to the set that appear as one thing and then change or move in a way you didn't expect them to...to create a place that feels like you've got a handle on what's going on and then things radically change."

The set morphs time and again, for various characters and story arcs. Things indeed do radically change. Especially in Act II... 

Shelli Delgado, Bernadine Mitchell, Kristin Markiton
"Into the Woods" | Aurora Theatre | Photo by Chris Bartelski

I've not seen Disney's 2014 cinema version of Into the Woods, which hosts a fantastic, well-known Hollywood cast. Aurora Theatre has successfully endeavored to make cast selections not only based on phenomenal acting skill, but also to cast actors who reflect the local citizenship. And this cast wholly represents the fact Aurora is Gwinnett County's only professional theatre.

Cast of "Into the Woods" | Aurora Theatre | Photo by Chris Bartelski

A few words of wisdom, if I may... 

Do not have a jumbo margarita across the street and then go straight to your seat in the theatre. The first act is nearly 1.5 hours. If you conduct such an act—as I did in haste—you're going to hear your mother's voice in your head for at least the last 20 minutes of Act I..."I told you to go before we left the house!"

On the wonderful side of that first hour and a half, by time the first act gives way to intermission, you feel like you've seen an entire musical...and indeed you have. The second act makes a departure from the land of fairy tales and goes in the direction of an epic fantasy battle. A battle! There are losses and there are heroes.

Is there a happy ending? You'll just have to go to Aurora Theatre by April 17 and experience the ending of this magical story for yourself. Just prepare to be whisked away to other times, other places and other realities...in a totally fun and entertaining way, of course. 


Aurora Theatre wraps up its 2015-2016 Signature Series with I'm Not Rappaport, on stage May 5 through June 5. And they have LOTS of other programming, so visit their website to see what else might entertain you. 

I'd like to offer a huge wanderlust ATLANTA "Thank you!" to Aurora Theatre and Brave PR for the tickets to the performance. As always, my posts are my own opinions. And my opinion is that Into the Woods is a fantastical, must-see show!

Informed Consent raises introspective questions...

Informed Consent is not, in my opinion, meant to create controversy, but to encourage one to think about how and why one's beliefs formed, why we hold them so dear, and to consider the possibility that we're not necessarily all correct, nor are we all necessarily wrong. What do our beliefs mean for humanity and which of them are right?

Inspired by a real-life story of a Native American tribe and a genetic anthropologist, Informed Consent asks some difficult questions. I, for one, like it like that. At the same time, I enjoyed the healthy dose of humor throughout the play.

Informed Consent | Horizon Theatre

Horizon Theatre has once again brought to Atlanta performing arts enthusiasts a play, and magnificent performance, that entertains, as well as is incredibly thought-provoking.

From Horizon Theatre's website:

"Jillian, an ambitious geneticist, is racing against her own genetic clock to solve scientific mysteries that will save both a Native American tribe and her own 4-year-old daughter. She jumps at the chance to do ground-breaking research to find out why an ancient tribe in the Grand Canyon is being devastated by diabetes. But as Jillian uncovers the truth about the tribe’s origin, her research threatens to destroy their most sacred traditions. At the same time, she and her husband face off with a monster lurking in Jillian’s own DNA—and possibly her daughter’s. With today’s science moving at breakneck speed, how much knowledge is too much?"

Informed Consent | Horizon Theatre

I've shared before that my grandmother and great grandmother were born on a Cherokee reservation in North Carolina. I know I don't look Indian and that LOTS of people claim to have Indian blood, but I do. I just look like the English-Irish side of my biological father's family.

My point is that while I fully relate to scientific exploration for medical advancement, I totally get the incredibly strong desire to preserve a relatively untouched Indian (Native American) culture—a culture in America's West in the case of this play. 

The battle on stage is one that I live with daily. I side with science, but loath that the Cherokee, and other Native American cultures, are practically extinct. Don't even get me started on the genocide that took place in our country's early history. That's a discussion for another forum, but that's what this play brings to the table...it's a segue to conversations about medical advancement possibilities, as well as the importance of preservation of cultures.

Informed Consent | Horizon Theatre

I totally understand that reviews of plays are—hopefully—a composition of words and phrases to entice or discourage. I don't consider what I write to be reviews, but a sharing of a personal experience. I'm not critiquing performances. I'm sharing with my readers what I found to be interesting, educational and entertaining.

This play, for me, exited my tendency to question! Not to question others in an attempt to convince them to join my point of view or to dissuade others to not side with an alternate line of thought, but just to share my own personal revelations, challenges, and experiences...and sometimes I use questioning as an avenue to enlightenment or greater understanding.

Informed Consent | Horizon Theatre

Seeing more and more theatre all the time, of which I've been a fan since I was a youngster, I love that I'm seeing actors in multiple performances across Atlanta. When I saw that Neal Ghant, who performs Graham, Jillian's husband, was in the play I knew that it would be spectacular. 

I'd seen Neal not too long ago in the 20th Anniversary performance of Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre. Having loved that play when I'd seen it debut at Woodruff Arts Center 20 years ago, starring Phylicia Rashad, I had to see the anniversary show...and did...twice!

Other actors in the all-star Atlanta cast of Informed Consent, which I'd see three times, include Bethany Anne Lind as the central role of scientist Jillian, Diany Rodriguez as Native American leader Arella, Carey Curtis Smith as professor Ken and Tonia Jackson as several important women in Jillian’s life. 

I had the awesome pleasure of seeing Informed Consent on Opening Night, which was followed by a reception at the home of a generous and hospitable local couple, regular supporters of Horizon Theatre. They were delightful hosts and the entire cast from the play was in attendance, socializing with everyone who had just seen the performance.

I very much enjoyed discussing Indian culture with Diany Rodriguez, as well as meeting and talking with the other actors. I didn't know about the Opening Night Reception until the pre-show announcements...what an awesome surprise!

Informed Consent | Horizon Theatre

The final lines of the play felt like a compromise to me personally, but I imagine that much of the rest of the audience was put a little at comfort—a happy ending of sorts. Again, it challenged me to consider if I'm open to other ideas or stubbornly set in my ways. This is a good conundrum.

I've observed the human condition all of my life. I've observed different cultures all of my life, including one observation (read: experience) that was the straw that broke the camels back and why I moved thousands of miles away the summer before my senior year in high school. But that's another story, too.

Quite, little shy me had learned to question authority....a decision that change my life's path for the better! That's to say that I felt at peace with the heavy-hitting questions this play presents.

Informed Consent is in its final weeks at Horizon Theatre, on stage through Sunday, November 8, 2015. This was one of the more cerebral, yet entertaining, performances I've seen in Atlanta in the more than five years since I moved back. I highly recommend seeing this superb performance.