The Herndon Times Review
THEATER
Critic's Pick
By Michael Birchenall
Weekender Theater Critic
Splendid is one word that could be used to describe the
1998-1999 community theater season.
The best play of the season was the strong, honest presentation of
"Raisin in the Sun," by Elden Street Players. Winner of four of my
"best" notations, the play was presented on its 40th anniversary of
the first play by an African American made it to the Broadway stage. Hansberry's
story is one of a working class black family's struggle on the South Side of
Chicago and the airing of their dreams. Audiences were left with a baring of
feelings that are rich today in relevance, passion and love. This was
"industrial-strength" theater.
The best musical was the witty, urbane revival of the Betty Comden, Adolph
Green and Jule Styne 1956 Broadway show "Bells Are Ringing" by the
Springfield Community Theatre.
Robin Lynn Reaves wins as my best actress award as Lena Younger, or mama,
in "Raisin in the Sun." She commands respect on the stage, as did her
character as the matriarch of the black family making their move from the ghetto
with dignity.
For best supporting actor, it had to be the tremendous performance given by
Larry Lee Conklin in "The Foreigner," at the Vienna Community Theatre.
The best supporting actress came from "Raisin in the Sun" with
the superb performance of Karen Saunders as Ruth Younger. She moved on the stage
as if this was her home and her family. She was the heart and soul of Ruth
Younger.
The best actress in a musical goes to Gilly Conklin for her role as the
optimist dreamer Ella Peterson in "Bells Are Ringing" on the
Springfield Community Theatre stage. Every song she sang was memorable-it's too
bad musical theater doesn't have encores, Conklin would still be singing to an
enthralled audience.
My choice for best actor in a musical is for Toby G. Messitt's exuberant
role as the diva of "La Cage aux Folles" in the summer musical of
Elden Street Players. He took the show by the hair of its many wigs and turned
it into his own star showcase.
The best supporting actress in a musical goes to Tammy Roberts as Ado Annie
in the C.A.S.T. of McLean production of "Oklahoma". She was a constant
source of pure pleasure with a delightful delivery of music, lyrics and
dialogue.
The best supporting actor is David Henderson as Sandor in "Bells Are
Ringing" for Springfield. He gave the audiences a gusto that kept the show
on its happy, entertaining pace. My choice for best director is shared by the
extraordinary work of Leslie A. Kobylinski in the complex, and wildly rewarding,
"Arcadia" by the Reston Community Players and Diane Yates-Biggs for
her intelligent interpretation of "Raisin in the Sun" by the Elden
Street Players. They both took acutely complex themes and kept the vision of the
actors clear and gave audiences the best work of the season. For direction of a
musical, the best work was that of Lisa Messitt Bailey for meeting and
conquering the challenge of "La Cages Aux Folles" at the Elden Street
Players.
If this were a seat in the audience and not a page in the newspaper, I would
be standing and applauding them all.
© Copyright 1999 Times Community Newspapers
