Blog: Summer Theatre in Rhode Island

Blog: Summer Theatre in Rhode Island

It’s not just the beautiful beaches that make Rhode Island a go to place in the summer.

I just experienced a wonderful weekend of warm weather theatre.

First stop: Perishable Theatre on Empire Street in Providence…for “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

 Don’t try and guess what the title means…..just yet.

 I always wanted to see the original in New York, but never got the chance.

 John Cameron Mitchell wrote the monologue/musical and starred in it in the big apple.

 It’s the story of Hedwig, a transgender rocker, finding his way in Communist East Berlin before the Wall falls in 1989.

 Hedwig, born Hansel, falls in love with an American G.I., wants to get married and flee to the west.....for opportunity.

Before that, he undergoes a botched sex change operation, hence the title, need I say more…actually I can’t!!!

  She ends up broke in a trailer park in Kansas.

  All this told in a ninety minute rock musical with the help of a five piece band, interspersed with Hedwig’s monologue.

  IT’S A BLAST!!!

The Pell Chafee Center is turned into a cabaret of sorts for the show with the audience sitting at small tables, giving Hedwig room to slither about and tell her story , one on one with the audience.

  Alexander Platt is first rate as Hedwig, real Broadway material.

  He wears his costume and role well and has a dynamite singing voice.

  Ditto for the five piece band led by musical director, David Tessier and Liz Gotauco as Yitzhak, Hedwig’s new husband who also tours with the band.

 At the beginning of the show, they tell you ear plugs are available for the loud music, didn’t need them.

 I was semi dancing in my chair the whole time…Hedwig runs through July 31^st.

 After the show, it was such a great feeling to see the hustling and bustling on Empire Street at night, with restaurants packed and Improv going on next door at AS220 .

  Next Stop: (not the same day)… Theatre by the Sea at Matunuck.

  What a gem of a place and how it’s grown.

   I was in summer stock there when I was 12 in “Wait Until Dark,” with the late actress Nikki Bruno.

  What a great way for a kid to learn the craft!

   You built scenery during the day and rehearsed, then performed at night…with your new friends composed of cast and crew mainly from New York….all thanks to the late Tommy Brent.

   Now the Ocean State Theatre Company brings it new  life with a  restaurant Bistro By the Sea, located on the property….a great pre theatre alternative….five of us dined…terrific…

   Then there’s the brick walkway and gardens leading to the theatre….on a nice night…you find yourself staring at the stars.

  The play of the night in the former barn, “Man of La Mancha,” the classic story of Don Quixote told in the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition.

  You can always tell when someone has Broadway experience and Bruce Winant as Don Quixote has that under his belt.

    He brings this musical within a play to life

    Roughly, it’s the story of Miguel de Cervantes put in prison by the Inquisition with his trusty companion, Sancho.

     He fights to save his unfinished novel from being taken away by prisoners…. by re enacting its story of Don Quixote of La Mancha before them.

  The novel is about Quixote, a noble knight who fights for chivalry, his love Dulcinea , and to “Dream the Impossible Dream.”

    The experience level of the cast varies, but that’s what Matunuck is all about, giving young actors as well as seasoned ones…. a stage…and it DID NOT take away from the enjoyment of the evening.

   After, you get to view the stars again.

    We should all have a little Don Quixote in us.

    Man of La Mancha at Theatre by the Sea through July 16^th.

   R.I.P. Tommy Brent.