Adam's Call: Mark Jason Williams' Straight Faced Lies: Left Me Wanting More

Playwright Mark Jason WilliamsRising playwright, Mark Jason Williams, has a new play in town as part of Planet Connections Theatre Festivity at the Rober Moss Theater in NYC called Straight Faced Lies. A smart, well-written, humorous, and intricate script, Straight Faced Lies left me wanting more. Taking the audience inside the home of a family's Thanksgiving celebration, Straight Faced Lies revealed one secret after another and just when you thought you knew them all, another secret came out.

Cast of "Straight Faced Lies" (from left to right): Thom Christensen, Ann Farthing, Hannah Logan Wolfe, Danny HiltThe twists and turns in this hilarious drama is a testament to the strong writing of playwright Mark Jason Williams. I have only seen one other show written by Mark, The Other Day, and was impressed by his writing then too, but with Straight Faced Lies, Mark's writing as really grown. This cast did a fantastic job of bringing Mark's words to life. The cast consisted of Linda Blackstock, Thom Christensen, Ann Farthing, Danny Hilt, Josh Krebs, and Hannah Logan Wolfe. Each of these actors brought something special to Straight Faced Lies. Ann Farthing really stood out to me because of the way she delivered her lines. Whether it was her inflection or facial expression, Ann got the laugh every time, even though behind the laughter, there was quite a story to her character. Linda Blackstock also shined bright as her character went through a real transformation from beginning to end. 

Stringing the story together was wonderful direction by Melissa Skirboll. I really liked how she linked the scenes together, which helped peel back the pieces of Mark's fantastic script. Combing multiple talents, the cast and creatives made a great team.

With just two performances left in the festival, get your tickets to Straight Faced Lies. It's important to support original new work by young playwrights! Mark has a long road ahead of himself as a successful playwright. Let's all help him get there for his work deserves wider exposure! Straight Faced Lies plays Sunday, June 9 at 7:30pm and Saturday, June 22 at 4:30pm at Robert Moss Theater in NYC (440 Lafayette Street). Click here for tickets!

That's Adam's Call and I Stand For Entertainment!

Adam's Call: At Hand Theatre's I Wanna Destroy You: Hilariously Provocative

Cast of "I Wanna Destroy You", Photo Credit: Murphy Made Photography (Matthew Murphy)At Hand Theatre company is going out with a bang as their final show, Joshua Conkel's I Wanna Destroy You, is hilariously provocative. I Wanna Destroy You takes the audience on a search for love, purpose, strength, and self-worth. When "Beau" is dumped by his lover on his 30th Birthday, the journey begins.

Anthony Johnston, Kieran Mulcare, and Geneva Carr, Photo Credit: Murphy Made Photography (Matthew Murphy)Joshua has written a play that made me laugh, think, and be entertained, which is the kind of show I enjoy most. Dan Horrigan has done a great job directing the play, while the cast of six bring this story to life! Geneva Carr, Jamie Jackson, Anthony Johnston, Preston Martin, Kieran Mulcare, and Kathy Searle all do an excellent job. Their comedic skills are on par while some (Kieran, Kathy, Preston, and Geneva) excelled to bigger heights. Everyone seemed to be in tune with their characters' personality and path, which helped make this story work.

Kathy Searle and Preston Martin, Photo Credit: Murphy Made Photography (Matthew Murphy)I Wanna Destroy You showed me that we are all on a path to desruction, some of us detonate, while others are able to put the fire out or at least keep it contained for longer. I have always enjoyed attending shows at At Hand Theatre company because they took risks on new playwrights, especially many new gay playwrights. I sure am going to miss this gem of a company, so here is hoping their hiatus is not a permanent one! With only 3 performances left, I suggest clicking here to get your tickets!

I Wanna Destroy You plays at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenue) through June 1!

That's Adam's Call and I Stand For Entertainment!

Adam's Call: Charles Busch at 54 Below: Divine Tale

Charles Busch can do it all...acting, playwriting, screenwriting, and now cabaret star! Until tonight, I had never seen Charles Busch do a cabaret show, but I was thrilled to have this opportunity at 54 Below. If there is one thing Charles Busch knows how to do, it's entertain a crowd. And entertain he did!

Charles' show was a mixture of song, homages to Hollywood starlets, personal stories, and lots and lots of laughter. Assisting Charles was Tom Judson, Musical Director and Pianist. They did a wonderful duet together of The Carpenters' "Close To You." Prior to that, Charles opened the show with a great original song about what he should sing. The song consisted of everything that makes Charles Busch who he is...humor, imitations, and creative writing. One of my favorite song performed tonight was a great cover version of Gene Raskin's "Those Were The Days." I adore this song and was so happy to hear Charles sing it.

In between songs Charles delighted the crowd with readings from Conversations with Bette Davis and Conversations with Joan Crawford as well as Ask a Man: The Key To Feminity by Arlene Dahl as well as his own monologues performed as some of his favorite Hollywood starlets. Another great thing about Charles Busch's performance style the way he maneuvers from original work to reading others work while making it his own. He had the audience in stitches the whole evening with his comedic genius!

The best part about Charles' cabaret show was when he performed the original skit that inspired his Tony Award nominated play The Tale of the Allergists Wife. I had seen the play on Broadway, so it was a real treat to see the actual piece that led to the full-fledged production.

Photo Credit: David A. LeeCharles has found a wonderful niche with his cabaret work. I think this is the perfect venture for him to take in between his theatre and film work. He knows how to work a crowd and just looks so happy to be performing. From songs to monologues to readings, Charles Busch definitely tells a Divine Tale up on that stage. The next time Charles is performing his cabaret act, treat yourself to this delightful, wonderful, and hilarious evening!

That's Adam's Call and I Stand For Entertainment!

Adam's Call: David Drake's The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me: Holds The Test Of Time

Cast, creatives and Larry Kramer, Photo Credit: Jenny AndersonTwenty years ago, David Drake won an OBIE Award for his one-man show The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me, and twenty years later his show still holds the test of time. I was fortunate enough to attend the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS 20th Anniversary Benefit performance on Monday, May 20 at the Gerard W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College.

I was first introduced to The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me when I met David Drake in 1998 at the American Repertory Theatre. I had never seen the play live, but did read the script after meeting David. Then in 2000, David released a DVD of The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me and that was my first time seeing him perform the show. But it was something else to be at this benefit and get to see David perform his work on stage alongside these other extremely gifted actors.

Originally performed as a one-man show, David brilliantly re-imagined The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me as an ensemble cast for this special 20th Anniversary Benefit. Bringing David's timeless and moving words to life were the talents of Brandon Cordeiro, two-time Tony Award nominee Robin De Jesús, two-time Tony nominee André De Shields, Claybourne Elder, Tony nominee Rory O'Malley, Anthony Rapp, Chad Ryan, Donald C. Shorter, Jr., Wesley Taylor, Aaron Tone, Tony winner BD Wong, and of course, David himself.

The talents of these actors all blended together perfectly. The simplistic, yet powerful staging worked excellently with the ensemble cast. From coming out to the AIDS epidemic to fighting back through ACT UP, The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me is a touching story of one-man's journey through this time in our history. David's writing is so strong which is why it continues to ring true today. One exciting part of the evening was that David added an adendum to the show, which focused on how our past got us to today and beyond. 

I do hope after last night's benefit performance that The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me gets a bigger revival. While we have come a long way in our history, we do need to revisit the past to help us have a prosperous future.

That's Adam's Call and I Stand For Entertainment!

Adam's Call: Spandex the Musical: Heartfelt Campy Fun

There is a new show in town that is going to get you moving...Spandex the Musical. Written by Daniel Levin and and Annie Grunow with direction by Andrea Andresakis, Spandex the Musical is heartfelt campy fun that will inspire you to do better. With it's catchy title song "Spandex," the score of this show is enjoyable.

Mixed with in the exercise routines, camp, and spandex-laced costumes is actually a poignant heartfelt story of two woman who find the strength to better themselves. One finds her self-worth and one pushes through her fears, while both come out on top of their game!

Bringing this story alive is a very talented cast of performers whose voices wowed me everytime they sang. I was particularly moved by the vocals of Jerielle Morwitz, Brian Drummy, Sims Lamason, Zachary Karon, Paige Sommerer, and Brandon Stansell! Additionally, Paige and Brandon's comedic talents got me laughing everytime! They were born to make people laugh!

As much as I enjoyed the show, I do think, if the show has a larger life beyond this initial run, it would be a stronger production with a running time of 90 minutes instead of 2 hours. Still worth your time, I do suggest taking a jog over to 777 Theatre (777 8th Avenue, between 47th & 48th Street), to see Spandex the Musical, which plays through May 26 only, so get your tickets now!

That's Adam's Call and I Stand For Entertainment!