REVIEW: 'My Fair Lady' at Asolo Rep in Sarasota is fantastic

ANNAMAE BAFIA/PUBLICITY PHOTO of  Andrea Prestinario

It’s hard to imagine a much more brilliant stage production of “My Fair Lady” than the one being presented by the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota.

Leads Andrea Prestinario (Eliza Doolitte) and Jeff Parker (Henry Higgins) joust with just the right bit of bite and make you believe they’re falling in love without so much as even sharing a kiss.

It’s the 1956 Broadway smash (turned classic 1964 film) brought into the beautiful Mertz Theatre and given a most wonderful intimacy courtesy of music director Doug Peck and assistant music director Ian Weinberger playing all of Frederick Loewe’s glorious melodies on a mere pair of facing pianos.

Sans the orchestra, the characters are free to deliver those loverly lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner with gripping nuance and grace.

Lerner’s dialogue, largely derived from George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion,” teems with welcoming believability. Whether witty, comic, morose or whimsical it works extremely well when delivered by Prestinario, Parker and the rest of the superb, 19-person cast working under the masterful direction of Frank Galati.

The director allows Prestinario to play Eliza as the proto-feminist I believe Shaw and Lerner intended all along. Remember, she’s the lowly flower girl who goes to the misogynistic and elitist phonetics professor demanding he allow her to pay for speech lessons. By show’s end, Eliza has made a lady of herself and turned bachelor Higgins “accustomed to her face.”

Who knows?

Maybe she won’t even get him those slippers after the final curtain and continue teaching him how women should be treated.

"Asolo Rep opens season with special staging of 'My Fair Lady'"

Regardless, Eliza’s character arc has always been the most fascinating aspect of this practically perfect musical and Prestinario shines with ample help from Parker, whose Higgins also goes through a satisfying transformation.

In addition, what has always made “My Fair Lady” such a terrific show is that the scenes and musical numbers are equally strong. Galati and cast maintain the extraordinary level of sustained greatness throughout. It's what makes the nearly 2 1/2 hour performance (not including intermission) zip by.

Prestinario has a big, beautiful voice but also understands the subtly required to sell a bittersweet kiss off such as “Without You.” Parker smartly nods to Higgins originator Rex Harrison's speak-sing approach while allowing his sonorous pipes to take over when appropriate. (Yes, Parker is a better vocalist than Harrison was.)

BIO | Frank Galati

As for the rest of the cast, each person contributes strongly. Joel Hatch plays Colonel Pickering — the one who makes the wager about Eliza becoming a lady — with a winning amount of snobbery and empathy. Sean Effinger-Dean makes Freddy Eynsford-Hill a most believable boy in love, especially when he sings “On the Street Where You Live.” And that scene-stealing Bryan Torfeh is outright hilarious as the villain Zolton Karpathy.

For all the charm of the cast, I would be remiss without mentioning the look of the show. Set designer Russell Metheny, costume designer Mara Blumenfeld, lighting designer James D. Sale, sound designer Kevin Kennedy as well as resident hair/wig and makeup designer Michelle Hart do a tremendous job of transporting the audience to the London of 1912.

Voice and dialect coach Patricia Delorey, with help from English-schooled cast member Cliff Roles, also deserve applause for making sure no one sounded silly with the Cockney or upper-class British accents.

Sure, you can sit at home and watch the excellent film version of “My Fair Lady.” But what the Asolo Rep has done with this spectacular musical shouldn’t be missed. It will make you fall in love again even with the most familiar scenes and songs all over again.

If you go
What: “My Fair Lady”
When: Through Dec. 23
Where: Asolo Repertory’s Mertz Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Tickets: $27-$71
Information: 941-351-8000 or www.asolorep.org

Neil Diamond has Tampa date at St. Pete Times Forum

Neil Diamond, who finally received some much-deserved cool points this year when he became a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, has a June 3 date at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

Tickets for the greatest-hits show go on sale 10 a.m. Dec. 5th. Ticket prices for this event are $52.25, $82.25, and $117.25 (Facility fees and service charges are not included. Charge by phone at 800.745.3000. VIP Packages are also be available.

My first and, so far only, Diamond experience came at the Forum in 2008:

The 67-year-old crooner threw himself into every self-penned lyric, turning decades-old chestnuts into in-the-moment jolts of emotion that rocked a crowd of 13,000-plus — myself included.

Yeah, good times.

In addition, Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings recently announced it would release "The Very Best of Neil Diamond – The Original Studio Recordings" Dec. 6. The album  features 23 songs and is being billed as the first Diamond collection to draw from the artist's complete studio discography.

It includes tracks such as “Forever In Blue Jeans,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Sweet Caroline,” “I’m A Believer,” “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon, ” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “Red, Red Wine,” “America” and all the others that have been making people smile for the past half century.

Diamond becomex a Kennedy Center Honoree on Dec. 27. He will also perform at the 85th Anniversary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the "Today Show," NBC’s Tree Lighting at Rockefeller and the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in upcoming weeks.

Photo: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw tour headed to Tampa

Country kings Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw's "Brothers of the Sun" tour will be making a stop at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for a big Saturday bash June 2 that also includes Grace Potter & The Nocturnals as well as Jake Owen.

Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Dec. 9 and will be available at the Raymond James Stadium box office, via Ticketmaster or by phone at 800.745.3000.

"Additional fees may apply to ticket prices" (which means count on 'em).

Prices haven't been announced yet.

"Brothers of the Sun" marks  the first time in 10 years that Chesney and McGraw have toured together.

Not a huge Chesney fan but do enjoy his touching version of this great Guy Clark song:

TONIGHT: Blues supergroup Southern Hospitality makes Bradenton debut at Aces Live

From left: Damon Fowler, Victor Wainwright and JP Soars of Southern Hospitality. Publicity photo.

As first reported here, Blind Pig recording artist and Bradenton Beach resident Damon Fowler joined forces with fellow Florida guitarist/singer JP Soars and Memphis-based piano man/singer Victor Wainwright for the blues super group Southern Hospitality, which also includes Fowler's forever bassist Chuck Riley and Soars' drummer Chris Peet.



Southern Hospitality makes its Bradenton debut tonight at Aces Live as part of Damon Fowler's Sugar Shack Mondays.

It's going to be a special night. See ya there or watch below. Both options are free.

Damon Fowler's Sugar Shack Mondays

Showcasing the best in touring talent

8:30 p.m. Mon., Nov. 21
and special guest
Southern Hospitality

Ace's, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., Bradenton

No cover

Click to watchat

8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21

Watch live streaming video from sugarshackmonday at livestream.com

/center>

TONIGHT: Dangerous Dan Toler's VIP Kick Off Party in Lakewood Ranch

Dan Toler  honoring his brother on June 25, 2011. Photo by Wade Tatangelo

Guitar great Dangerous Dan Toler's VIP Kick Off Party starts at 6 p.m. today at Ed's Tavern on Rodeo Drive in Lakewood Ranch.

The former Allman Brothers Band member will be playing with his Toler/Tucci Band and there will also be a performance by the Matthew Facciolla Band. Both acts are highly recommended.

The live music will take place on the patio.

The event is a fundraiser for Toler, who is battling ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease.

There will be drink specials, food specials, raffles and prizes.

It's a pre-party for this weekend's Dan Toler ALS Support Benefit Concert Festival, which I wrote about here: "Betts, Bramlett, more to play Toler benefit"


Click for more of my stories/interviews with Toler, whose many credits include playing with the Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts &Great Southern as well as the Gregg Allman Band.

TONIGHT: Cork's Cigar Bar throwing reopening bash on Old Main St. in Bradenton

A significant player in the downtown Bradenton nightlife scene just announced a move that has been in the works for months.

"Cork's Cigar Bar will be open at 5 p.m. today!" reads the Facebook message posted by bartender Meagan Miller about two hours ago. "Come on in and see our new beautiful building (across street from old)."

A call to her father, Cork Miller, confirmed the relocation of his family's establishment from 425 Old Main St. to 424 Old Main St.

"The downstairs bar is all ready to go," he said. "But the upstairs won't be open yet."

A grand opening is planned for the near future to coincide with completion of second story lounge.

As for tonight, RJ Howson (guitar/vocals), Devin Neel (drums/vocals) and Gerry Neel (bass) will be hosting an open, blues-based jam starting at 9:30 p.m.

Trivia with Pennijo Beaucamp starts at 7:30pm

I first broke the news about Cork's changing locations in March and reported about it again, among other Old Main St. developments, in June.

REVIEW: FST’s ‘Next to Normal’ is crazy good

From left Ashley Picciallo, Leo Daignault, Stacia Fernandez, Mike Backes in FST's winning production of 'Next to Normal.'

Its finger right on the pulse of the real modern family, the one with madness always bubbling near the placid surface, “Next to Normal” works tremendously well on an abnormal number of levels.

Featuring music by Tom Kitt with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama recipient and winner of three Tony Awards is a rock musical that manages to deftly make the most of melancholy, with sharp satire, smart observations, provocative questions and endearing humor.

Credit Florida Studio Theatre for not just doing an excellent job with an intricate show of often cleverly matched vocals performed from a tight stage and three risers over the rousing sonics of an accomplished live band but taking a chance:

The subject matter is heavy and the characters sing or say just about every dirty word George Carlin ever rifffed on.
But this cussing isn’t without purpose.
Just like nothing in the potent production isn’t without purpose.

Even if at the end audience members are forced to find his or her own definition of “normal” — or decide if it’s OK to just be “next to normal.”
Or maybe conclude “normal” is a silly, way-too subjective and hurtful word, one that deserves banished from the lexicon.

The mother Diana (Stacia Fernandez) grapples with bipolar disorder that manifests itself in a most frightening way at times. Namely in the form of her son Gabe (Mike Backes), resulting in a jolting surprise to anyone not paying close attention.

Natalie (Ashley Picciallo) plays the neglected, good girl daughter who begins to stray from her high school studies after meeting pot-smoking boyfriend Henry (James LaRosa). She quickly leapfrogs his occasional bong blasts for drugs-n-clubs benders largely fueled by Mom’s powerful, prescription stash.

Dan (Leo Daignault) is the father forced to make tough decisions regarding his wife’s well being. Scott Guthrie plays both doctors charged with treating Diana.

The show is sans flat characters — save for the doctor, who makes the most of his relatively perfunctory but often hilarious role — and the other actors shine in their juicy, largely unprecedented parts. The songs interweave wonderfully with just enough spoken lines salted throughout to create an even stronger ebb and flow.

“Next to Normal” might not be for everybody but it’s must-see performance art for anyone interested in what the exciting possibilities are in musical theater.

Details: Nov. 2-Jan. 1, FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Tickets: $29-$39. Information: 941-366-9000 or www.florida studiotheatre.org.