It's Not A Wrap!

By: Dan Martin

This was the First Run Poster by Producer Jim Belanger (Click image for Theatre Website)

Hello dear readers and art bleeders. Welcome to my first show review. I know, first a book now a play! Don't worry there is no homework. I find it difficult myself to find under the radar projects that hold my interest. Daydream Theatre Company and I have been working together on and off for the past ten years or so now. They are the foremost DIY theatrical company working out of RI. There will be a chance for you to see this wonderful show in the coming year and I am very proud to say that...

(I Loved) LUCY!

Writer, Director, Werewolf? Lenny Schwartz!

This review really begins about eleven years ago. I first met Leonard Schwartz at an audition for an offbeat comedy play, "Barry Weintraub: Intergalactic Explorer." It was my first venture into what I would later learn to identify as Fringe Community Theater. I attended the audition because I had met Lenny while he was working for a chain Video Store... remember those? Sheesh! I could tell right away that this guy was on to something. He wrote original scripts and produced them through a non profit company that he started with help from his Wife, Sarah Hutchins-Schwartz and long time friends, producers Jim Belanger and Lloyd Felix. [DayDream Theatre] This wasn't your grandfather's theater. 

Don't get me wrong, there are lots of non-profit theater organizations that raise money for charities and employ local actors volunteering their time and if you want to see conventional theater for the umpteenth time its not so bad. I can only take so many modernized Shakespeares and Christmas Carols before my brain jumps out of my head and sneaks into an indie film. 

I landed the role of "Mr. Whisper" in that show and went on to portray him a second time in "Barry Weintraub: Man Of Tomorrow." As well as a bevy of off beat characters. Including portraying Lenny himself in "A Playwright's Notebook." I have even designed practical effects for shows such as "Wire Game" where we did exploding blood bags. Lenny is always taking risks. The comedies always had central themes that spoke to the audience. Themes that sometimes even the actors couldn't handle, like impotency, infidelity and incest to name a few. As Lenny moved into more drama based shows he never forgot his comedy roots. Some shows contained dark comedy that kept the drama rolling while others had over the top moments for comic relief. His sense of timing for a joke is impeccable. While working with Schwartz an actor is given the freedom to create their own characters and in some instances, their lines. Everything goes through the Director's unique filter of course. Lenny is very hands on, even improv, once decided on, is canonized. I have done shows where I would be off on my own for a page or two and some where one stray word would get a, "That's great but we can't use it." Lenny's way of saying, stick the script you ingrate! At least that's what I hear. 

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Lucy: Original Cast Photo 2013

Leonard has now written three biographical plays. Each time focusing on tragic comedy icons. The first of which was Buster Keaton, in "Buster Keaton: Fade To Black," in April, 2011. He then took on The Marx Brothers in "The Brothers Marx," in November, 2012. All performers that dealt with alcoholism, jealousy and tragedy. Lenny is no stranger to using his own experiences and pain of life to create his own unique stories. In "Playwright's Notebook" I played Lenny as he was in college. Writing a show within the show about his own struggles with his health and family. That play was called "The Scarecrow" and was reproduced a few years ago and was one of the first to travel to NYC. 

Even when writing his own biography, Lenny tends to keep his primary character on stage for every page and uses the periphery characters to strip the layers away of our protagonist. Which brings us finally, to Lucy. (I know, I thought we'd never get here too.)

The show opened November 7th and ran for three weekends until the 23rd. The script was published and picked up for off-off-broadway for a run in June, 2014. Every performance was Sold Out or nearly sold out, they even added a rare Sunday Matinee to get it in front of every possible person interested. I am also told that every showing garnered a standing ovation. I was part of one myself when I saw the show on the final Friday. Why is this the first thing I am telling you all? You may think I am partial, I say let the work speak for itself. Lucille Ball is one of my favorite performers, I myself suffered from Arthritis in my legs and on top of that a staggering obesity that made it difficult for me to get roles and be myself. And as I get older I find myself identifying with those that didn't make it until later in life. Going in I knew all of the facts and this cast and the writing still managed to keep me guessing. How would they get there? It was a fantastic journey and I enjoyed every minute of it.

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The show begins with Lucy in acting school, being told she will never make it. Her class mate, Bette Davis was there to witness the haranguing from the drama coach. The set is simple, there is a couch and side table with a telephone upstage. Downstage, chairs are brought in and taken off by other actors. Scene changes are seamless. It's as if the play is one large scene composed of well choreographed moments. Lucy, played by Andrea Flax, is on stage for the entire show. With the exception of hiding behind the side curtains from time to time, utilizing all parts of the simple set. Just like in film, nothing is arbitrary. Lucy is on stage the entire time and is visited by characters as though they are thoughts in her head. Its as if the show is comprised of her memories and is ultimately taking place at the end of her life. Bette Davis' character is almost a personification of Lucy's jealousy from being in the same acting school and yet not becoming the caliber Silver Screen actress that Davis achieved. Actress Jamie Lynn Bagley played a sharp tongued Bette Davis, voicing all of Lucy's insecurities and effectively haunting the actress with expectations of failure. 

Ball remained on stage and was victim to her own memories. RKO Executives and Sponsors alike would rotate out and recreate seminal moments in her career. And of course the love in I love Lucy, Desi Arnaz, played wonderfully by Gio Castellano was a major part of the show. The story was unflinching. We as an audience were exposed to the drinking, womanizing and even a physical fight where Lucy calls him a "Wet Back." No punches were pulled in the telling of this great story. The script even shed light on the tumultuous relationships between Lucy and her cast mates, Vivian Vance and William Frawley, played by Lauren Ustaszewski and Geoff White, respectively. The timeline of the show goes in order from school to work and into marriage, Television and eventually death. There is something in this show for everyone. Whether you are a big fan that wants to fact check or someone new to the characters, you will walk away having learned something.

The show will return in May, 2014 at Bell St. before it heads to NYC. All of the funds raised for performances are donated to the space, Bell St Chapel, as it is a historical building. However money is raised to pay for cast travel and living for the road shows. You can find out how to donate and when and where performances are on their site. The link once more... DayDream Theatre.

Leonard Schwartz is scheduled to appear on The Comic's Corner, December 4th 2013! We will talk more about this (or I will just blog on forever) and his latest DVD release and film projects.