Late Posts... Jupiter, Kingsman, and my new Kindle!!! =)

Kingsman: The Secret Service

I kind of stopped reading comic books a few years ago. I’m familiar with many of the titles that still hang around but they’ve been priced out of my range for continued collection. I have nothing against comic books- they’re just too pricey and I prefer purchasing books instead. So I never caught up on the comic book release for “The Secret Service”- but the truth be told, I probably would not have been caught up even if I were still collecting. I’m not a big fan of Mark Milar- “Wanted” was okay, “Kickass” sucked, and his take on the Ultimate series just reeked of “mature cleverness” (IE, rape, abuse, foul language and other ‘big shock’ in place of compelling story) that dominates the majority of Milar’s work. I’m not a fan. But I didn’t walk in to Kingsman with any previous knowledge of the comic book history or Mark Milar’s involvement and that left me free of the burden of any expectation- and I really enjoyed this film.

Okay, with that out of the way; Kingsman is pretty much a retread on familiar territory. We have a smart alec youngster taken under the wing of an older mentor-type and brought into the world of a super secret spy organization. So we’re pretty much looking at MiB, RIPD, Hellboy formula for deconstruction aimed at the “superspy” Bond-like films of days gone by. They sort of slip into a little bit of satire in the film, but the film straddles a fine line a little too carefully. It self-references the spy genre repeatedly but ramps up the gory violence, downplays the immortality of both hero and villain, and gives a couple of glances into the real world consequences for our Secret Organizations activities. I happen to like those kinds of movies (although some are far more successful than others) so I just sat back and had a shit-ton of fun with this picture.

Brain off. Eye candy. Googly moogly action sequences. Gory violence. Unapologetic series of gruesome scenes and so on so forth- there’s an especially effective scene taking place in a church, one of the most impressive visual spectacles I’ve ever seen. That much information may border on spoiling, but who cares? This movie isn’t going to offer any great revelations or try to trick you with a bunch of twists and turns you don’t see coming- nearly every twist is foreshadowed early enough in the story. It’s not insulting, but it’s not exactly the epitome in shocking storytelling.

4 out of 5.

Jupiter Ascending

The Wachowski’s return!!!

Yeah, I wasn’t all that excited myself. They made a good movie, followed up with a couple of lame-duck sequels, followed those up with a couple of lamer adaptations of old material, and are back again with a little space opera yarn-

But this time the story is pretty good. I don’t know if it’s based on any previous work or series of novels or comic books or anything like that, but Jupiter Ascending is a fairly standard action “Hero Quest” with cool visuals. The acting isn’t all that spectacular, with the bulk of any real emotional resonance coming from familiar face Sean Bean in the role of Sean Bean. You sort of want to set a stop watch to what you’re certain will be his eventual demise, though I won’t spoil any details in that regard. And Bean is really barely present through most of the narrative.

Here’s the basic story: A girl with the matching DNA of an intergalactic ruling family’s matriarch is hunted by the surviving offspring of that Matriarch for “reasons” that the Wachowski’s probably believe are deeper than they really are. There’s an alien DUDE (Channing Tatum) who is assigned to find her, protect her, and bring her to outer space, and then stares at her throughout the movie with a set of eyes that say “What will I order at the commissary when we break for lunch?”. The chemistry between the two leads is- I’m certain the word “something “ is as far from a definition as could possibly exist. But the story would have us believe that there’s something between them- I guess? I don’t know.

Things go boom.

The villain comes on the screen and offers an amazing Voldemort impression- truly, it’s spot on. So spot on that he couldn’t possibly be THE Villain in this space opera- he has to be a red herring. He has to be. There’s no way anyone that cheesy could possibly be the masterminding villain behind this unbelievably complex scheme to “Do stuff”. I’m sure he’s a red herring. Right? Anyway, he’s sort of in this silent war with his other two siblings- his sister, who Does Stuff and his younger brother, who also Does Stuff. And then there’s more Stuff- and a brilliant scene that delves into the deep bureaucracy surrounding this Galactic Government body that is never made truly clear but it most certainly exists in some way, shape, or form. And Stuff happens.

There’s a lot of Stuff happening. More stuff… good looking stuff, some aliens, some robots, some lasers, some fighting, and then more stuff. Stuff Stuff Stuff.

In the end, the movie was a good popcorn muncher with lots of “stuff” but isn’t any sort of breakthrough film and isn’t going to shatter new records. It’s a cheap Star Wars knock off with a couple of bad words and violence thrown in so the Wachowski’s could get a steeper rating and maybe lure people in with that “mature content” warning label.

3 out of 5. 

What have I been doing?

Not a lot of updates to my blog this 2015- I never did get my top ten lists out for 2014 and it’s probably far too late at this point. And, to be honest, I’m not sure I can actually FILL a top ten list with “Best” movies to come out. The list of films that even stand out in any way is extremely small to me so I didn’t bother- and this year began with my first Stage Directing job for Paper Wing Theatre.

Hey, I put my money where my mouth is- I don’t just write about what I see, I make  few things of my own every now and again. I act, I write, I direct, and that’s basically what I’ve been up to this past year with my theatrical home. And the experience was both exhilarating and a little bit humbling. It’s something I definitely want to do again- but in the meantime, my blog’s been a little bereft of my opinions.

And here’s an opinion- I was way too technophobic regarding the Kindle device. I got one for Christmas from my in-laws and the thing rarely ever leaves my side- it’s amazing! I get books- so many books, so many of them free, so many of them just mowed through and so many wonderful stories just wrapped up in my little brain. It’s brain melting and amazing!

And that meant I could download a story written by a friend of mine, someone I intended to review at my earliest convenience- So here it is!

Blackstone’s Captive By Tom Doolan

I’m a big fan of Pulp and this story is as fantastic pulp as it gets when a marauding band of Orcish Space Pirates (!!!)  overtake a human space ship. They quickly put the crew down and the courageous actions of a young passenger manages to impress the Orc Captain and the protagonist quickly becomes the titular Captive of the story. It’s definitely an intriguing concept and Doolan writes in the first person from the captives point of view. There are some interesting concepts explored throughout the narrative- the Boy struggles to maintain what he sees as his own humanity and civilized nature yet he’s repeatedly “impressed” with the savage simplicity of the Orcs. Are the Orcs really he Savages he believes them to be? Is his humanity really all that precious?

The writing moves quickly, despite the overly “civilized” flair of the lead character. Captain Blackstone is an interesting antagonist, a black hearted captain with a strange personal code. He’s an Orc who respects strength, daring, and bald-faced courage in the face of danger. But he’s ultimately a violent and unforgiving sort. There’s a strong influence from the older “sweats” of the Pulp genre going on here and I love that.

Ultimately, I thought the story felt like only a small part of a great whole and hope that Doolan returns to these characters at a later date. There’s enough potential here to give way to a decent “Cat and Mouse” chase between the two lead characters and I can’t entirely side with the Protagonist in the direct aftermath of the tale. If you’re looking for some fun, pulpy, and fairly streamlined genre bending in your fiction then a quick download for only .99 cents  is the way to go. I’ll be looking into Doolan’s other writings as time and wealth allow, but my recommendation is to put a copy on your own kindle device.

3.5 out of 5.

On the Twelfth Night of Christmas my true love gave to me... (Twelfth Night at Paperwing Theatre thoughts)

 Twelfth Night  (or, "What you Will") at the Paper Wing Theatre Company. 

This show is funny!

That’s it, the beginning, middle, and end of the “review” of this show. It’s funny. I’m done.

Not enough? Did you not notice the exclamation point at the end of the sentence that encapsulated my sum total thoughts regarding the show? You, dear faceless reader, are a demanding little snot-muffin. I tell you the show is funny and you want more. You expect more. You demand more. Very well-

This show is VERY funny!

There. Are you happy now?

Oh, you’re not. I’m sorry, I thought that would settle the matter. But I suppose you want to read a little more, something a bit more in depth, and that’s where I’m going to have to grind through the muddled thoughts in my holiday soaked skull to find a way to express the pure comedy that is 12^th Night at the Paper Wing Theatre. I suppose it starts with the direction from Jody Gilmore, one of the most gifted comedians here on the Central Coast. This is a dream project for the man and I expected nothing short of comedic brilliance and yet he still managed to exceed my high pedestal expectations.  As a fan and student of classic comedy, Gilmore pulled out all the stops to bring Shakespeare to a contemporary audience who may not have all the patience in the world for “thee” and “thou”- Gilmore succeeds in making the show accessible to any age. He incorporates tried and true physical comedy and characters to tell a story that is hundreds of years old.

Acting? I’m not really sure I saw a lot of that Shakespeare-type prancing on the stage this past weekend- I saw characters.  I almost immediately started to love these characters and these personas and that’s so much better than simple “acting”. I became a fly on the wall for some of the funniest performances I’ve ever seen- Penelope Morgan is our “every-man” central character to the plot; Viola. Her brother’s died in a recent boat wreck and the woman is alone in the world, left to make her own way. She dons a man’s guise and finds employment with the pining Duke of Illiria, Orsino. Our Duke is head over heels in LOVE with- well, he’s definitely in love. He’s so absolutely devastated by the impact of that LOVE, he’s left to wander in a robe and lament the lack of reciprocation for his great and heedless LOVE. Christopher Sullenger is hilarious as the pining Orsino as he laments the need to share the full boundless passion of his love. And the object of his passion? Mindy Whitfield’s “Olivia” isn’t in love- she’s in mourning. Oh, yes- her dearest brother has passed to the next world and Olivia will see no light in her misery. Others seek her hand in marriage- but she has no time for any of that nonsense, nothing should interfere with her mourning. At least until the Duke’s latest envoy seems a little too dismissive of her renowned beauty- and then Olivia’s own interest is piqued. Whitfield is both beautiful and charmingly spoiled as she desperately seeks to gain the attention of the one man in all the island who isn’t totally enamored with her- and the love triangle is further complicated when Viola’s twin brother; Sebastian (Eric James Morton) is revealed to have not drowned in that shipwreck.

And then there’s the “other” story- Olivia’s Uncle is a mooching drunken lecher named Toby Belch (Patrick Golden). His best friend and drinking partner is one of Olivia’s many suitors; a bumbling fool with a thick purse by the name of Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Nicholas Kelley). The two are joined in their jolly romps by one of Olivia’s other servants, Fabian (Allison Smith). And the three rapscallions are opposed by the oppressively proper Steward, Malvolio (Jay Devine). When the group are confronted after a particularly rowdy night, Belch declares vengeance on Malvolio and it’s the Lady’s own Maid, Maria (Beverly Van Pelt) who concocts the device by which the others will have their revenge. And let me be as clear as I can- this whole story could stand on its own as a play in and of itself! This is Shakespeare as played by the Marx Brothers with a little Burns and Allen on the side.  

Round out the cast with the Dukes’ men, (Adam Kinkade and (on this night) Jody Gilmore) who are left with the responsibility of apprehending known pirate and fugitive, Antonio (Played by Ralph Cordoza). Antonio has his own stake in events because he’s the man responsible for saving Sebastian- and in bestowing great affection on the man, the pirate puts himself at risk.

And twining her way between both stories is the ever present tramp of a jester, Feste. I mean “tramp” in the comical sense with a nod of respect to Charlie Chaplin and other great comedic performances through the years. Jourdain Barton struts around the stage with quips, one-liners, scathing criticism of the people around her, a hand out for coin, a nose up to arrogance, and she is constantly speaking truth to power. She challenges with a jest- the mourning, the LOVE, the stodginess, the drunkenness, the cowardice, and the rest of the world surrounding her straight up to the closing moments of the production. As an admitted fan of Barton’s previous work as an actress and a director, I’m not going to make any secret of saying that this may be my favorite onstage performance from the young woman and I absolutely wish I had a second set of legs upon which I could stand and applaud.

But the thing is- I was already standing. I was already applauding. Because the moment the first person came out for their bow, I was up on my feet. This cast deserved an eruption from the audience in attendance I did my best to give it to them for the joy they gave to me. I was enthralled from beginning to end, I was laughing, I was filled with joy, and this show made me feel some genuine happiness in a season filled with great highs and great lows.

I can’t tell you any more without heading into big time spoiler material- these are performances that should be seen, appreciated, and encouraged. This is a great show and a great holiday closer for the Paper Wing Theatre.

                                                      

This show is funny!

5 out of 5.

The Little Matchstick Girl thoughts-

The Little Matchstick Girl

The cold night falls on Manhattan's Five Points and the immigrant Irish community struggles to make ends meet at the turn of the century- fighters, promoters, barmaids, businessmen, and street urchins ply their trades and a lone girl tries to sell her matchsticks to any one that wanders by. The original story is a Christmas classic, a heart wrenching story about closing our hearts and the terrible price others may pay. Adapted for the stage by local playwright; Marjorie Lowry and directed by Kelsey Posey, The Matchstick Girl is currently playing at the 425 Carmel Avenue in Marina. And although the story itself is fairly bare bones, Lowry takes advantage of the streamlined nature of the tale and uses it to frame a story about intersecting lives during the early days of the last Century. Urchins struggle with their position in life, a fight promoter mixes his hand in several shady deals, a business man tries to get some last minute shopping done for his children, immigrants work to make a new life for themselves, and so on, so forth- the cast is fairly large and incorporates a number of meaningful vignettes into the full narrative.

And, okay, let me be honest- I misplaced my program. And this is the part where I would be talking about the cast, but I don’t have any names to put to the characters- save for the few people I’ve previously seen or worked with on other projects. And every performance deserves praise, not just the few people I’m familiar with. So what would you like me to do here, Faceless Reader? The villains were dastardly villainous, the children were appropriately adorable, the downtrodden were trodden, and so on so forth. It was a fantastic cast that seemed to be having fun on that stage, as if they were having the time of their lives, which is always fantastic to watch and feel from the audience. I honestly loved this cast, though I can't resist mentioning the heart melting antics of the little Pick Pocket as she nibbles a stolen cookie. She'd make Grumpy Cat smile.

Did I mention the music, too?

Nearly every scene featured a Holiday Standard sung by the performers, some in chorus and others with strong and heart-felt solo performances to piano accompaniment. This gave the show another strong backbone to fall upon as the cast doubled as a carol troupe and the only thing missing was a warm cup of cocoa with marshmallow. In particular, the duet between grandmother and child brought a few tears to my eyes.

4.5 out of 5.

Dracula at MPC

First, a word of caution: I have a warped sense of humor. Am I clear on that? Good? Let me continue-

The Holiday Ham was served a little bit early this year- MPC's production of Dracula ramps up the camp with snarling vampires wearing teased hair, modern "Goth" sensibilities, and plenty of stage make-up for the Halloween season. Necks aren't the only things to get chewed up in this melodrama as the cast revels in performances that are mostly way over the top- but in a good way. It's obvious most of the actors are having fun with their performances and it keeps the energy going through most of the show when the exposition threatens to drag the pace down at points-

 James Brady totally nails the role of Professor Van Helsing, a man of medicine and the occult who arrives at Dr. Seward's (Dale Thompson) sanitarium to answer a call for aid. The good doctor's intended has recently passed away and her friend is now suffering the same symptoms. It doesn't take long to track down that the problem is a significant loss of blood and that Van Helsing may know more than he initially reveals. Complicating issues are the insane ramblings of a resident lunatic with the name of "Renfield", whose dialogue is magnificently chewed up by Matt Pardue in another highlight performance. The most effective scenes of the show are when Van Helsing is forced to match wits with the lunatic, and I had a blast watching those two characters play off one another.

The titular character- that's what you all really want to know about, right? Well, Matthew Pavelis tackles the role with incredible enthusiasm and great energy. He snarls, he growls, and he chews up the dialogue with an Eastern European accent while strutting around the stage on huge platform boots and swishing his cape. There are huge moments of exaggerated menace that plays straight to the audience and it never lets up. He successfully channels Bela Legosi and Gary Oldman (The set design and general look of the show seems to show a strong affinity for the Coppola film), so it works on those levels.

This isn't the Dracula I know and I love, though. Names are changed, characters shifted, and events transpire out the usual sequence. I'm not a stickler for a faithful rendering of the classic novel, however. My favorite Dracula film remains the Hammer production (which is not at all faithful, but if you're expecting something closer to the novel then at least be forewarned. Lucy (Westfall, here, rather than Westenra) switches places with Mina in the order of victimization- and the suitors are reduced to only Dr. Seward and Jonathan Harker, respectively. We have Abram Van Helsing father than Abraham, and so on so forth. All the changes don't need to be mentioned, sufficed to say that they're present and so you should be prepared.

4 out of 5.

Some Deadte Press Books I recently got: Wooohooo! BOOKS!

I’ve recently broken down and taken to ordering a few items here and there from Amazon- which is to say, there are no bookstores nearby that sell new releases, much less carry an individual “Horror” section for those of inclined toward literary bloodletting and terror. I don’t get a chance to catch up on my favorite authors all that often and so many of my “reviews” of these sort may be a bit old- but I’m an avid reader and tend to mow through books with a voracious appetite for the especially sick and twisted. So buckle yourselves in for a quick jaunt through my recent finds:

The Innswhich Horror: By Edward Lee

Edward Lee is considered one of the genre’s sickest writers. And when he decided to tackle some Lovecraft, I eagerly leaped at his “Travel Journal” book- but the one I really wanted to read was based entirely on the title; “The Innswhich Horror” brings to mind the very crux of Lovecraftian lore- the towns of Dunwich and Innsmouth with a little nod to the familiar strain of titles in the genre. I didn’t really care what the book was about, I just loved the title-

This book could read as a sequel of sorts to his previous “Journal” effort, this time following a devotee of the writer as he traces the “Master’s” path throughout New England. He comes a town that shares far too much in common with the protagonists beloved “Innsmouth” and he discovers that not all of Lovecrafts’ amazing tale was one of fiction. There are certainly changes since the Masters’ last visit and visceral gore replaces some of the atmospheric purple prose of Lovecraft’s style, but the story moves along at a quick pace and delivers the goods so far as the gore and blood and disturbing imagery are concerned. My one concern is that I don’t feel as though I had enough time with the lead characters to form a connection. There was something missing here that wasn’t missing in the much shorter “Journal” and felt a little rushed. I still enjoyed the story, but would’ve preferred more “bang” for my buck.

3 out of 5.

Last of the Albatwitches : By Brian Keene

I love love LOVE Brian Keene, even if I do find his work to be an exercise in suffering and total masochism on my part. The guy tears me apart with his prose and renders me little more than a gibbering fool by the time I’ve finished most of his stories. But ever since he left the crappy publishing company that screwed him over on royalties and went to Deadite (which upped the price of nearly every title I already had and any forthcoming by maybe a little more than 50%) it’s been hard to catch up on his latest outings. But I was eager to catch up on the adventures of his recurring “Powwow” Wizard and former Amish-man, Levi Stolzfus.

And talk about wishing for more “Bang” in my buck- Levi appears in two short stories here, fighting a demon in the first and then facing one of the erstwhile terrors from Keene’s previous effort in “Castaways”. And what we have here are the beginnings of a better story, but not enough to justify spending $12 on a paperback book. $3 less and I might not have such a negative opinion of the book- but it’s that $10.00 limit that just sort of sticks in my craw and leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth for the little bit of income I can afford in keeping books in my hands.

“The Witching Tree” is the first story and is the better of the two as we find Levi doing what he does best- fighting evil. We see what he’s willing to do, the cost he’s willing to pay, the doubt in his heart, and the fear that leads him to make what might be the biggest mistake in his career as a “Mean MF’in Man of God” (quote to Tarantino via “From Dusk Til Dawn”). I loved this story and would’ve enjoyed a second chapter in the longer tale-

“The Last of the Albatwitches”- however, only peripherally continues the story as Levi is forced to deal with the consequences of his actions in the previous story. The focus, however, is on the hunt for a monster baddy straight out of the pages of a previous work from Keene (“Castaways”). This monster escapes from Captivity and Levi tracks it down- there are some passing references to a Pennsylvania legend known as the “Albatwitch”- a creature I am wholly unfamiliar with despite having grown up in and around the New York area and not so far from Pennsylvania Amish country. So I’m not entirely certain whether this creature is a creation of the writer or if this thing (A close cousin to Big Foot, by description) is a real legend from the back country. Be that as it may, the story felt a little rushed and maybe a little lighter than many I’ve read from the Pennsylvania native.

3 out of 5.

There are a few other titles I’d like to read from Deadite Press, but the problem is that these books cost money that I just don’t have available to me. It seems the titles are almost half the price in Kindle format, but that means purchasing an electronic device for the sole purpose of purchasing a product. I’ll probably come to terms with it eventually, but it still grates in my engine block.

Ugh.

Why living near the Monterey Peninsula is so awesome...

I can’t begin to explain how unbelievably lucky and unbelievably overwhelmed I am by the Halloween season here in Monterey County. I like to write about all the things I do and I like to promote them as much as possible, but I can’t be everywhere or do everything and I’m stretched thin enough as it is despite my girth. But, really, the Halloween season is just the beginning and as I’m perusing our local “alternative newspaper” for events and things to do I am absolutely astounded by the opportunities present. You’ve all had a chance to read my thoughts regarding Belladonna’s Mysterious House of Mysteries and The Rocky Horror Show, respectively- but now I find myself wishing I were made of money to support all the local performers- as it is, I’m only made of words and I’m sort of going to have to share some info in hopes that my name carries enough weight to lead a few stragglers through a few doors here and there.

1.      Dracula: I want to see this show SO bad! I love Dracula- I love the horror, the not-so-subtle allegories to be found in the story, the dramatic flair of our villain, the assurance of Professor Van Hellsing- I’ve seen faithful and not so faithful adaptations and I’ve been thrilled and amazed with both. So I’m hoping to catch this show before it’s far too late. The show’s only playing for a short time so catch it before it’s too late!

2.      Harvey: And on the opposite side of the spectrum, we have the Western Stage production of Harvey. There are already big tears in my eyes every time I even think of this story- the Jimmy Stewart movie is one of my all-time favorites and is a story I absolutely love and identify with on so many levels.

3.      Castle of the Dead: This isn’t a stage production, but is rather a Haunted Attraction where the proceeds benefit the Sun STREET Center in Salinas. It’s a fun little scare-trip. You walk in, the actors perform in each room with a specific thematic element- vampires, a visit to the barber, some delicacies for sale, and on through a twisting maze of horror.

4.      Remo D.’s Manor of Mayhem’s Halloween Episode: He’s been on the Peninsula for over ten years where he’s shown the best in horror, sci-fi, and creature features. He’s broadcast on channel 24, the local access channel, and he’s sure to have a surprise or two in store for this production!

5.      Puppet Up Company’s Puppet-making and Cos-play class: Fresh on the heels of a successful latex mask class, Ricki Vincent sets up shop at the Paper Wing Fremont location for his next class in theatrical designs. There’s a sign-up and cost for materials, but the skills attained are an invaluable asset to any theatrical company.

Rocky Horror Returns: Is there more to say here? YES!!!!

One year ago I wrote my thoughts regarding the Rocky Horror Show at Paper Wing Theatre- and so here I am a year later and with another performance I was afraid I'd have nothing to write about. My last experience was amazing, fantastic, glorious, and very entertaining. And so there couldn't be anything more to add to that, right?

Leave it to Koly McBride to kick me in the face with a reminder that no two shows are really the same and that there's always something to think about after an experience. Because not only am I blown away by my experience this year, but there's plenty of things to write about, talk about, and just generally GUSH all over regarding this show. (That pun regarding "gush" is a blatant and perverted reference to ejaculation, for those of you who missed it. Did you miss it? It missed you.)

I mention McBride for two reasons- first, she's the director. Her vision guides the project each year that Paper Wing tackles the show and each year she comes up with new ways to make it new, fresh, and interesting. She knows she has to hit all the familiar notes, she knows she has a huge landmark show to produce that will bring in hardcore fans and new faces alike, and she knows she can't afford to just bring out the same set, the same routines, the same look each and every year. She has to make it interesting- and she does. Last year saw the music coming from a "big band" perspective with horns and rhythm and a distinctly "upper class Jazzy" kind of motif- this year she takes us on a ride through Glam-Rock Punk 70's-80's motif with a that same edge through the music. (I've been told musician Christopher Lopez should get a shout out here, so here it is.)

Second: She fucking nails it as Trixie- though this is a role she shares with actress Kate Hill. I rarely get a chance to see Koly shine as a vocalist, but she has an awesome voice and is always a great performer.

Let me start with LJ Brewer as Frankenfurter- it's always the first place to start and with everything I wrote last year still being in full effect, Brewer's performance takes on a slightly new look along with the whole rest of the show. Yes, he's the rock star. Yes, he's carrying so much of the show across his capable shoulders. Yes, he's glorious. Yes, he gave me and my wife a little shout-out during his opening number with a "Happy Anniversary" (It was our 11th, did I mention? Eleven years of marriage.. wow! Back to the show... ) and the show rocked on with his amazing vocals. Is it any wonder that this is the Paper Wing Theatre's signature show with LJ Brewer in this role?

Jay DeVine also returns in the role of the narrator. Now, many of you faceless readers who are familiar with my earlier thoughts regarding previous performances know damn well that I think Jay is one of the best and most endearing actors on the Central Coast. Firstly, the guy is a work horse- from comedy to horror to serious drama, he can do it all. He plays bigger than life characters and I've never seen any two be the same person. His performance as the Narrator is something very special- not only does he play it well, but he handles audience participation like a pro and often rolls with the punches and comes back up with a few one-two knockouts of his own to throw back at the audience.

 But I wrote about all of this last year- and I said there was more to write about this year, didn't I?

Reprising their roles from last year are Nick Kelly as Brad (asshole), Heather Hahn as Janet (slut!), the very beautiful and capable of cutting, smashing, and slashing with a glance Jourdain Barton as Magenta (She's your sister!) and Taylor Landess as Riff Raff- all of whom are amazing. They always are. But let me take a moment to talk about Landess, who last night took his role to a who'nudda'level last night! GOOD GOD!!! I thought he was going to kill himself during the "Timewarp" with an energy level that just has to be seen to be believed. He was leaping, sliding, jumping, running, and belting out those notes with an absolute FEVER and he didn't need any goddamn cowbell to cure it. Good Fucknuggets, this kid just poured something acidic into his performance and MELTED the goddamn stage down. So what do you do when all of this is going on? What do you pour on top of it?

You bring in a few new cast members to fill out the ranks.

 I've now seen three different ladies play Columbia- each one brings a special something to the role and this occasion is no different. Mindy Whitfield's comedic timing is excellent. I genuinely felt badly for her when she bore the brunt of Frankenfurter's abuse, also. Her tap-dancing routine is definitely something to watch- and watch out when she has her big hissy fit. Hilarious!

And then there was Rocky- I'm speechless. Not a knock any previous Rocky's I've seen before this show but Dan Kutter breaks the goddamn mold up there! Kutter's performance is going to be one to remember for a long time to come- It certainly helps that the guy is cut and defined, has amazing looks, and also looks like he's having a blast up there on the stage. He also knows how to work an audience- he connects with people in the crowd, he offers winks, a flirtatious smile, a flex here and there, and then tops it all of by remaining in the "moment" on stage and continuing to interact with his cast mates. Kudos to Kutter for this performance.

Now, there are two specific roles I haven't mentioned yet: This is because I need to write about the show I see, not the show I don't see an that requires clarification. The roles of Eddy and Dr. Scott are played by multiple people at various points- Ron Moore tackles both roles on some performances while the roles are divided between Michael Alliman as Scott and Andrew Nava as Eddie. So with that said, the performance I saw featured Nava and Alliman in the performance-both are amazing.

Nava's strong vocals have a chance to shine in "Hot Patootie"- the young actor is reprising his performance from last year and he has a whole new comfort level that shows. He's fantastic!  I've enjoyed watching him grow as a performer over the past year and look forward to future stage appearances.

Alliman is hilarious! He tackles Dr. Scott with fervor and chews up the German accent with a love for the show and the theater. He's another one who shows how much fun he's having on the stage with a couple of playful antics with Brewer and some others.

And now I'm going to bring this all around again to talk about the last three performers returning to their roles- all three of whom I've written about plenty in the past but the truth is that something is missing from these thoughts if I don't expound a little on their performances. Nick Kelly is pitch perfect as Brad- he has that cheesy "ham" performance down with a few challenging "poses" to Frank followed by the crumbling realization of his characters nebbishness. Hahn- seriously? The woman come back year after year and fucking kills it over and over again. But let me add something that maybe I haven't mentioned before but bears mentioning... her vocals during "Heroes" have always always always sent chills down my spine from the first time I heard her sing it to last night. So many other songs on the show are considered highlights, but that one moment (at least for me) is a huge moment that shows just how powerful, emotional, and heart-wrenching a performer that Hahn is. She's gifted in so many ways and I love watching that moment.

And Jourdain Barton? Magenta haunts the whole of the production with her withering glares, a few rolling eyes, and a slightly sadistic chuckle regarding the plight of our "would-be heroes" and her employer. I mentioned Landess earlier performance during the "Time Warp", all of which is possible because Barton matches his vocal strength perfectly an shows terrific restraint in sadistically watching her brother go fucking bonkers-

In other words: All three fucking deliver year after year.

5 out of 5.

Photos Courtesy: Robbie Ann Cunningham