ROBIN'S SHOW REVIEW: Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating & Marriage

After a successful run at The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center), Ken Davenport is presenting the New York City premiere of Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, & Marriage (http://www.missabigailsguide.com/). The open-ended engagement is playing Off-Bway at the Downstairs Cabaret Theater at Sofia’s (221 West 46th Street, next to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in NYC). Eve Plumb, TV’s famed Jan Brady, is making her New York theatrical debut in the lead role of Miss Abigail.

Written by Ken Davenport (Altar Boyz, My First Time, The Awesome 80s Prom) and Sarah Saltzberg (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, & Marriage is based on Abigail Grotke's popular book—the comedy’s namesake—that promises "classic advice for contemporary dilemmas." Davenport directs as Miss Abigail takes you back to a simpler time, before booty calls and speed-dating, back when the divorce rate wasn’t 50 percent and “Fidelity” was more than an investment firm.

It's the story of Miss Abigail, the most sought-after relationship expert to the stars—think Dr. Ruth meets Emily Post—and her sexy sidekick Paco, as they travel the globe teaching Miss Abigail’s  tongue 'n cheek (and sometime cheeky) “how-tos” on dating, mating and marriage.

During this nearly 90-minute comedy (no intermission), you’ll learn a thing or two . . . like how to have a perfect kiss (it’s all about lip position) . . . what you should and should not talk about on a date (don’t mention your troll doll collection) . . . and how to let a man think he wears the pants.

It makes for a fun afternoon or night out with girlfriends, and it's suitable for couples as well.  There's audience particpation, and a riotous short film on the subject of sex education.

Manuel Herrea, who plays Paco, provides sex appeal and considerable comic relief.

And, Ms. Plumb is in fine form....it was fun to see her morph into a dating expert.....from her days of Jan Brady.  She's come a long way and has aged well!

With the code FUNNYDATE, you may purchase $45 tickets (regular price: $75) to Miss Abigail's Guide To Dating, Mating, & Marriage.  Check out more about the show at: http://missabigailsguide.com/



Eve Plumb & Manuel Herrera

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: AMERICAN IDIOT

(photo credit: Paul Kolnik)

AMERICAN IDIOT follows the exhilarating journey of a new generation of young Americans as they strive to find meaning in a post 9/11 world, borne along by Green Day’s electrifying score. The musical includes every song from the acclaimed album American Idiot, as well as several songs from the band’s GRAMMY® Award-winning new release, 21st Century Breakdown, such as “21 Guns.”

Called a “masterpiece” by TIME Magazine, Green Day won two GRAMMY® Awards for the groundbreaking rock opera American Idiot, which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide. Now Billie Joe Armstrong and the band collaborate with one of the theatre's most acclaimed creative teams, led by the Tony Award-winning director of Spring Awakening, Michael Mayer, two-time Tony Award-winning composer and orchestrator Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett (Black Watch), to bring this explosive, iconic album to the stage.

Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening) stars in AMERICAN IDIOT alongside Tony Award Nominee Stark Sands (Journey’s End), Michael Esper (A Man For All Seasons), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Strange), Christina Sajous (The Wild Party), Mary Faber (Avenue Q) and Tony Vincent (Jesus Christ Superstar). The cast also features Declan Bennett (RENT), Andrew Call (Cry-Baby), Gerard Canonico (Spring Awakening), Miguel Cervantes (…Spelling Bee), Joshua Henry (In The Heights), Van Hughes (Hairspray), Brian Charles Johnson (Spring Awakening), Joshua Kobak (RENT), Lorin Latarro (Movin’ Out), Omar Lopez-Cepero (North American tour of Evita), Leslie McDonel (Hairspray), Chase Peacock (High School Musical), Theo Stockman (Hair), Ben Thompson (Cyrano with Placido Domingo), Alysha Umphress (bare), Aspen Vincent (Dirty Dancing) and Libby Winters (White Noise).

The cast is amazing.  Young, sexy, raw and super talented.  You can't take your eyes off them.  They perform with abandon.

The show features scenic design by Tony-nominee Christine Jones (Spring Awakening), costume design by Baryshnikov fellow Andrea Lauer (The Butcher of Baraboo), lighting design by two time Tony-winner Kevin Adams (Hair), Sound design by Obie Award-winner Brian Ronan (Cabaret), as well as video design by Darrel Maloney. The Music Director is Carmel Dean and the Associate Choreographer is Lorin Latarro.

The set is inventive, riveting, pulsating, stimulating, you name it.  Electrical eye candy.

What the show lacks in character development and story line, it makes up for in energy.  From the moment it open with the title song, you are pulled in for the ride, and your attention is held closely for the 90 minutes of the production (no intermission).

AMERICAN IDIOT is produced on Broadway by Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman, in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

The playing schedule is Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm & 7pm. Tickets range from $127.00 - $32.00 and can be purchased at The St. James Box Office beginning Monday, February 22, 2010 or via telecharge.com (212-239-6200).

Visit http://www.americanidiotonbroadway.com/

Robin's Show Recommendation -- THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS

Two-time Tony winner Judith Ivey stars as legendary advice columnist Ann Landers "THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS" Off-Broadway. I had the opportunity to take in a dress rehearsal earlier this week, and felt like I was in the presence of the famed columnist herself. Ivey's performance is captivating, and she has an endearing way of pulling in the audience, as if she's speaking to you personally. It's a warm and witty show that is both touching and amusing.

Presented by Cherry Lane Theatre, and directed by BJ Jones, the production is running through November 29.

For decades, newspaper columnist and American icon Ann Landers dispensed wit and wisdom to lovelorn teens, confused couples and countless others in need of advice in her enormously popular, nationally syndicated column. In THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS, Landers finds herself writing a column about a new kind of heartbreak -- her own. Drawn from Landers' life and letters, THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS is a touching and comic portrait of a wise, funny, no-nonsense woman who was, in fact, one of the most influential figures in America by virtue of the millions of readers who wrote to her seeking her indispensable advice and sometimes controversial opinions on matters ranging from marriage, divorce, life, death and sexuality, to the proper way to hang a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom.

Ann Landers, who was born Esther "Eppie" Pauline Friedman Lederer in 1918, wrote her first advice column in 1945, and the column ended with her death in 2002.

Judith Ivey won Tony Awards for her performances in the plays STEAMING and HURLYBURLY. She is presently playing Amanda Wingfield in THE GLASS MENAGERIE at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, giving a performance acclaimed by Charles Isherwood in The New York Times, and others. Her many stage credits include having played "Mommy" in Cherry Lane's celebrated productions of Edward Albee's "AMERICAN DREAM," directed by the playwright last year, and the solo play WOMEN ON FIRE. Ms. Ivey's film credits include "Devil's Advocate," "Washington Square" and "Brighton Beach Memoirs," and she starred in four television series including "Designing Women."

Playwright David Rambo's plays include GOD'S MAN IN TEXAS, THE ICE-BREAKER, THE SPIN CYCLE, a new adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' "Babbitt" and an all-new book for the Lerner and Loewe musical PAINT YOUR WAGON. He has adapted several screenplays for live performance including ALL ABOUT EVE, CASABLANCA, ADAM'S RIB and SUNSET BOULEVARD performed at the Hollywood Bowl. He is a writer and producer of the hit TV series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

This Off-Broadway production of THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS is produced by The Cherry Lane Theatre in association with Northlight Theatre.

SPECIAL OFFER!
For Members of MotherhoodLater.com
$26 (a 50% discount) to any preview performance.
October 7 – 12; Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and 8pm;
Thursday and Friday at 8pm; Sunday at 3pm; and Monday at 7pm.
USE CODE LADYPV
Order online at BroadwayOffers.com or by calling 212-947-8844
For all other performances through November 29, call Telecharge.com: 212-239-6200

Cherry Lane Theatre
38 Commerce St, NYC
http://www.cherrylanetheatre.org/