2012 REVIEWS
This year...WE WON & had SEVERAL NOMINATIONS in the
WILMINGTON THEATRE AWARDS &
in ENCORE'S BEST OF 2012!
WILMINGTON THEATRE AWARDS &
in ENCORE'S BEST OF 2012!
|
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING:
CAST & CREW OF "THE LION IN WINTER" FOR BEST PLAY RICK FORRESTER FOR BEST ACTOR BELINDA BIZIC KELLER FOR BEST ACTRESS AND... to the CAST & CREW of
THE FOREIGNER for being named BEST PLAY OF 2012 BY ENCORE! |
AND ... TO EVERYONE IN THE ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS:
CAST & CREW of GOD'S FAVORITE for Nomination for BEST PLAY ROBB MANN (Lion In Winter) & TONY MOORE (God's Favorite) for Nomination for BEST DIRECTOR TAMARA MERCER for Nomination for BEST ACTRESS & RON HASSON for Nomination for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR |
WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU!
ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE
"Big Dawg scores another hit..." - Carver, ENCORE
|
Extra! extra! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
|
The Lion in Winter
"Robb Mann directs the play... and he does an exceedingly fine job of balancing the script's mix of humor, intrigue and shouting."
"...Rick Forrester [King Henry], is full of vigor and virility"
"...Belinda Bizic Keller [Eleanor of Aquitane], [was] the perfect mix of cordiality and ruthlessness..."
"...Zach Pappas [Geoffrey], putting on a fine display of sly obsequiousness..."
Ashley Grantham played King Philip of France "...with an impish glee, and hilariously decked out in a wig that makes him look like Little King Fauntleroy..."
"It all plays out on a very cool set designed by Mann. The upstage wall is emblazoned with a giant map of Britain and France. Set pieces, painted to look like the walls of a stone castle, swivel around to create several locations, from bedrooms to a dungeon."
"The play is full of delicious lines... the play is undoubtedly fun, and funny..."
"Forrester and Keller are a great pair, and they make endearing a couple who love each other almost as much as they love causing each other pain.
"It's a ripping yarn, that's for sure...."
Full Review
"The two main adversaries of the show—or the matriarch and patriarch, depending upon one’s perspective—namely Henry and Eleanor, played by Rick Forrester and Belinda Keller, are fabulous."
"Forrester is a physical powerhouse exuding passion, charisma and virility, strutting about the stage, bending each player to his will. His ability to lie to everyone equally with such force and conviction is startling and frightening. Keller matches him toe to toe. His Henry is a fire: always burning, sometimes raging, often smoldering but never quite out."
"Forrester plays that cold, frightening, Hannibal Lector-maniacal insanity frighteningly well (but with considerably more charm than Hannibal Lector)."
"Keller plays Eleanor as the most powerful woman in the world (which she arguably was at the time). She is cunning, charming and incredibly believable, even in her most surprising and revealing dialog. To make her revelations in the final scene authentic would be difficult for many actresses, but Keller lays the groundwork all through the show, so that when it comes, though it is surprising, it all 'clicks.'"
"The most surprising performance of the evening goes to Zach Pappas as Geoffrey... He listens well onstage and is a much more convincing performer when he is understated, which is exactly what this role demands."
"All three of the brothers work really well together, too." Hank Toler's "...naturalness of... physical movements in crisis, while still seeking an honorable end, is heart-wrenching to watch."
"John might be the role written for Chase Harrison. Though the words are not his, all the body language, inflection of voice and subtext is like spending any afternoon with him.... His performance is excellent..."
Full Review
"...Rick Forrester [King Henry], is full of vigor and virility"
"...Belinda Bizic Keller [Eleanor of Aquitane], [was] the perfect mix of cordiality and ruthlessness..."
"...Zach Pappas [Geoffrey], putting on a fine display of sly obsequiousness..."
Ashley Grantham played King Philip of France "...with an impish glee, and hilariously decked out in a wig that makes him look like Little King Fauntleroy..."
"It all plays out on a very cool set designed by Mann. The upstage wall is emblazoned with a giant map of Britain and France. Set pieces, painted to look like the walls of a stone castle, swivel around to create several locations, from bedrooms to a dungeon."
"The play is full of delicious lines... the play is undoubtedly fun, and funny..."
"Forrester and Keller are a great pair, and they make endearing a couple who love each other almost as much as they love causing each other pain.
"It's a ripping yarn, that's for sure...."
Full Review
"The two main adversaries of the show—or the matriarch and patriarch, depending upon one’s perspective—namely Henry and Eleanor, played by Rick Forrester and Belinda Keller, are fabulous."
"Forrester is a physical powerhouse exuding passion, charisma and virility, strutting about the stage, bending each player to his will. His ability to lie to everyone equally with such force and conviction is startling and frightening. Keller matches him toe to toe. His Henry is a fire: always burning, sometimes raging, often smoldering but never quite out."
"Forrester plays that cold, frightening, Hannibal Lector-maniacal insanity frighteningly well (but with considerably more charm than Hannibal Lector)."
"Keller plays Eleanor as the most powerful woman in the world (which she arguably was at the time). She is cunning, charming and incredibly believable, even in her most surprising and revealing dialog. To make her revelations in the final scene authentic would be difficult for many actresses, but Keller lays the groundwork all through the show, so that when it comes, though it is surprising, it all 'clicks.'"
"The most surprising performance of the evening goes to Zach Pappas as Geoffrey... He listens well onstage and is a much more convincing performer when he is understated, which is exactly what this role demands."
"All three of the brothers work really well together, too." Hank Toler's "...naturalness of... physical movements in crisis, while still seeking an honorable end, is heart-wrenching to watch."
"John might be the role written for Chase Harrison. Though the words are not his, all the body language, inflection of voice and subtext is like spending any afternoon with him.... His performance is excellent..."
Full Review
The Dixie Swim Club
Encore:
"...Cape Fear Playhouse is an incredibly intimate space.... shows here have to be about more than high-concept production values. The scripts and the performances must carry the evening. Based on the sell-out shows Big Dawg has encountered over the last year, it looks like they have it figured out nicely."
"Big Dawg Productions presents a touching homage to the power of female friendship in their latest (... sold-out) run of “The Dixie Swim Club....”
"Saperstein’s Dinah as the strong, driven woman...is played to a “T....”
"By contrast, Lexi exudes sexuality from every movement. Pam Smith really revels in her growth..."
"Brandy Jones brings such a quality to Jeri Neal tenfold.... Jones imbues her with a quiet strength and resourcefulness...."
"Whitson... plays Sheree like a rock, which is of course what she is written to be."
"Tamara Mercer outdoes herself as Vernadette.... Her comedic timing fleshes out the show, and her biscuit monologue is incredible to behold. Where her real acting skill shines is in the final scene... Mercer plays an aged person remarkably: the paced walk that forces everyone to slow down around them, her fidgety fingers on her walker. All encapsulates superb attention to detail, which makes the performance real for anyone who has spent time with the elderly."
"Director Michele Seidman assembles a fun-loving group to put on an evening of heartfelt entertainment. She and set desigenr Audrey McCrummen create a veritable playground for these ladies to show off and let loose. The cutaway motif of the picture window seems particularly effective for the staging." Full Review
StarNews:
"the show works well thanks to dedicated director Michele Seidman and a five-woman cast that throws itself headlong into performances to make this comic play a crowd-pleaser for Big Dawg Productions."
"The actresses have good chemistry but Mercer's performance stands out. She fully commits to the role of Vernadette, creating a wacky Southern woman who's over-the-top but familiar. Mercer shows a talent for physical humor (Vern is continually hustling to the bathroom) and, with great comic timing, lands most of the play's best lines. ("Put on your fat pants and embrace your heritage," she tells the girls after whipping up a batch of buttery biscuits.) Mercer also makes an amazing transformation in the play's final scene, turning into a wizened old lady."
And that final scene? It's engrossing. It's like that "very special" episode of the sitcom that makes you tear up, even though you feel silly for doing so." Full Review
"...Cape Fear Playhouse is an incredibly intimate space.... shows here have to be about more than high-concept production values. The scripts and the performances must carry the evening. Based on the sell-out shows Big Dawg has encountered over the last year, it looks like they have it figured out nicely."
"Big Dawg Productions presents a touching homage to the power of female friendship in their latest (... sold-out) run of “The Dixie Swim Club....”
"Saperstein’s Dinah as the strong, driven woman...is played to a “T....”
"By contrast, Lexi exudes sexuality from every movement. Pam Smith really revels in her growth..."
"Brandy Jones brings such a quality to Jeri Neal tenfold.... Jones imbues her with a quiet strength and resourcefulness...."
"Whitson... plays Sheree like a rock, which is of course what she is written to be."
"Tamara Mercer outdoes herself as Vernadette.... Her comedic timing fleshes out the show, and her biscuit monologue is incredible to behold. Where her real acting skill shines is in the final scene... Mercer plays an aged person remarkably: the paced walk that forces everyone to slow down around them, her fidgety fingers on her walker. All encapsulates superb attention to detail, which makes the performance real for anyone who has spent time with the elderly."
"Director Michele Seidman assembles a fun-loving group to put on an evening of heartfelt entertainment. She and set desigenr Audrey McCrummen create a veritable playground for these ladies to show off and let loose. The cutaway motif of the picture window seems particularly effective for the staging." Full Review
StarNews:
"the show works well thanks to dedicated director Michele Seidman and a five-woman cast that throws itself headlong into performances to make this comic play a crowd-pleaser for Big Dawg Productions."
"The actresses have good chemistry but Mercer's performance stands out. She fully commits to the role of Vernadette, creating a wacky Southern woman who's over-the-top but familiar. Mercer shows a talent for physical humor (Vern is continually hustling to the bathroom) and, with great comic timing, lands most of the play's best lines. ("Put on your fat pants and embrace your heritage," she tells the girls after whipping up a batch of buttery biscuits.) Mercer also makes an amazing transformation in the play's final scene, turning into a wizened old lady."
And that final scene? It's engrossing. It's like that "very special" episode of the sitcom that makes you tear up, even though you feel silly for doing so." Full Review
**Hear the great things Encore and StarNews had to say before we even opened!**
Read their Preview articles now!
Read their Preview articles now!
|
|
The Foreigner
Encore:
"'The Foreigner' by Larry Shue might be the best show I’ve seen by Big Dawg Productions yet. The night I saw it, the cast was firing on all cylinders."
"This cast was wonderful"
"Charlie Robertson... is wonderful. [He] without question truly evolves from a sniveling worm into a beloved heroic figure—it is remarkable... Robertson hits all the subtleties and nuances—even the ones I didn’t expect."
"Ashley Grantham especially deserves some recognition.
I love the way all the mental processes are so visible on Grantham’s face."
"Charles Auten, on the other hand, really made my skin crawl. He and Hasson play the bad guys so well it is frightening.
"Suzanne Nystrom’s Betty Meeks is far from meek.... Wow! Nothing is too big, nothing is too extreme, and the more she gets into it, the more the audience falls in love with her. I think it’s her best work I’ve seen."
"Karen Pray as Catherine Simms... displays an incredible range as an actress.."
"The cast truly make this production an ensemble performance, and though they all definitely enjoy the humorous part of the show, they don’t shy away from the heavy work either. Big Dawg’s “The Foreigner” proves to be a very funny yet poignant presentation built on incredible acting." Full Review
StarNews:
"[The Foreigner] is... powerfully relevant and somewhat healing.
"Suzanne Nystrom is delightfully eccentric"
"The subtle edges of Ashley Grantham's interpretation of Ellard make him as much of a hero as Charlie. Near the end of the play when he declares "I'm a wealthy, brick-layin' English teacher" the audience almost bursts into cheers."
"There is a message in "The Foreigner," which director Pam Grier lets emerge from the plot... It is that how we view those from other cultures often says more about us than about them." Full Review
WECT: Preview & Interview w/the Cast - Charlie Robertson and Ashley Grantham
"If you're looking to laugh, Big Dawg's Cape Fear Playhouse may be the place."
"'Hilarity ensues and everybody tells him their secrets and tells him all kinds of crazy things,' said Grantham. 'Charlie gets to see... the dual sides of [some of the characters] and sort of the things about them that make them not so nice.' And so does the audience. They're in on everything, and it's easy to see how this situation could get out of hand and hilarious!"
"'I honestly believe that if people come out to see this, it will be one of their favorite plays' said Robertson." Full Preview
"'The Foreigner' by Larry Shue might be the best show I’ve seen by Big Dawg Productions yet. The night I saw it, the cast was firing on all cylinders."
"This cast was wonderful"
"Charlie Robertson... is wonderful. [He] without question truly evolves from a sniveling worm into a beloved heroic figure—it is remarkable... Robertson hits all the subtleties and nuances—even the ones I didn’t expect."
"Ashley Grantham especially deserves some recognition.
I love the way all the mental processes are so visible on Grantham’s face."
"Charles Auten, on the other hand, really made my skin crawl. He and Hasson play the bad guys so well it is frightening.
"Suzanne Nystrom’s Betty Meeks is far from meek.... Wow! Nothing is too big, nothing is too extreme, and the more she gets into it, the more the audience falls in love with her. I think it’s her best work I’ve seen."
"Karen Pray as Catherine Simms... displays an incredible range as an actress.."
"The cast truly make this production an ensemble performance, and though they all definitely enjoy the humorous part of the show, they don’t shy away from the heavy work either. Big Dawg’s “The Foreigner” proves to be a very funny yet poignant presentation built on incredible acting." Full Review
StarNews:
"[The Foreigner] is... powerfully relevant and somewhat healing.
"Suzanne Nystrom is delightfully eccentric"
"The subtle edges of Ashley Grantham's interpretation of Ellard make him as much of a hero as Charlie. Near the end of the play when he declares "I'm a wealthy, brick-layin' English teacher" the audience almost bursts into cheers."
"There is a message in "The Foreigner," which director Pam Grier lets emerge from the plot... It is that how we view those from other cultures often says more about us than about them." Full Review
WECT: Preview & Interview w/the Cast - Charlie Robertson and Ashley Grantham
"If you're looking to laugh, Big Dawg's Cape Fear Playhouse may be the place."
"'Hilarity ensues and everybody tells him their secrets and tells him all kinds of crazy things,' said Grantham. 'Charlie gets to see... the dual sides of [some of the characters] and sort of the things about them that make them not so nice.' And so does the audience. They're in on everything, and it's easy to see how this situation could get out of hand and hilarious!"
"'I honestly believe that if people come out to see this, it will be one of their favorite plays' said Robertson." Full Preview
GOD'S FAVORITE
Encore:
"Closely paralleling the Book of Job, the next two hours unfold in hiliarity rarely connected with human trials of faith..."
" When the physical afflictions begin, Coxe’s humor really comes through. The “itching scene” is an especially good example of his abilities."
"The memorable performance...is Hasson as a surprisingly creepy and extremely unsettling Sidney Lipton. He is... incredibly nimble on his feet, has great physical comedy and is slippery like an eel. 'God’s Favorite' is his best performance yet."
"The show is a much more technically demanding than any I have seen in a while at Big Dawg. I was really impressed how the beautiful set they started with could go so far downhill for act two, following a lightning strike. Hats off to set designer Doug Dodson, stage manager Rhoda Jane Gary and stagehand Brandon Leatherman for making that transition so powerful."
"The visual jokes are wonderful and really drive the show... Moore helps his actors accentuate the humor of the writing at every turn...These guys are still having fun onstage and so is the audience."
"...the most entertaining rendition of the Book of Job one could never imagine..."
" Big Dawg sold out houses the first weekend and probably will for the remainder of this very funny show." Full Review
StarNews:
"Under the taut, tonally astute direction of Tony Moore, Big Dawg Productions delivers one of the strongest local productions of the year so far."
"It’s a well-cast show, from the not-always helpful help (Chase Harrison and Beth Raynor, both funny) to Joe’s clueless younger kids (Erika Hendrix and Jordan Stallings) to his drunken, resentful oldest son, David (Nate Kistler, balancing indifference and indignation)."
"'God’s Favorite' isn’t just about the comedy. Toward the end it makes an effective swerve into righteous anger that gives it some heft before ending on a lighter note." Full Review
"Closely paralleling the Book of Job, the next two hours unfold in hiliarity rarely connected with human trials of faith..."
" When the physical afflictions begin, Coxe’s humor really comes through. The “itching scene” is an especially good example of his abilities."
"The memorable performance...is Hasson as a surprisingly creepy and extremely unsettling Sidney Lipton. He is... incredibly nimble on his feet, has great physical comedy and is slippery like an eel. 'God’s Favorite' is his best performance yet."
"The show is a much more technically demanding than any I have seen in a while at Big Dawg. I was really impressed how the beautiful set they started with could go so far downhill for act two, following a lightning strike. Hats off to set designer Doug Dodson, stage manager Rhoda Jane Gary and stagehand Brandon Leatherman for making that transition so powerful."
"The visual jokes are wonderful and really drive the show... Moore helps his actors accentuate the humor of the writing at every turn...These guys are still having fun onstage and so is the audience."
"...the most entertaining rendition of the Book of Job one could never imagine..."
" Big Dawg sold out houses the first weekend and probably will for the remainder of this very funny show." Full Review
StarNews:
"Under the taut, tonally astute direction of Tony Moore, Big Dawg Productions delivers one of the strongest local productions of the year so far."
"It’s a well-cast show, from the not-always helpful help (Chase Harrison and Beth Raynor, both funny) to Joe’s clueless younger kids (Erika Hendrix and Jordan Stallings) to his drunken, resentful oldest son, David (Nate Kistler, balancing indifference and indignation)."
"'God’s Favorite' isn’t just about the comedy. Toward the end it makes an effective swerve into righteous anger that gives it some heft before ending on a lighter note." Full Review
THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT
WECT:
"Clashing personalities can make for an interesting night of entertainment. Big Dawg Productions' newest show pits intellect against emotion."
"It's an explosive two-man show, and the actors are up for anything every night."
Full Review & Slideshow
Encore:
I love Wharff onstage and have for 15 years. He has great comedic talent and timing..."
"I personally liked the growth of Doris’ character in Grier’s hands...When we see her transformation, we realize what Grier is doing with the character."
"She (Grier) and Wharff have really good chemistry, and she is sexy enough to pull off the seduction of Felix (Katie Allen’s costumes are really wonderful, especially the great visual comedy of Doris’ nightie)."
"Big Dawg’s Cape Fear Playhouse is an interesting space that has more flexibility than might first meet the eye." Full Review
Audience Member Reviews on Encore:
"This was an awesome show and I am going to see it again next weekend and bringing friends." Brittany
"I thought Katzmann did an amazing job of utilizing the entire stage and commend her for being able to pull off such a great show in such a complicated setting (theater in the round)" Sarah
StarNews Review:
"the performers... score laughs during one notable scene when their characters are simultaneously mad and turned on"
"Katzmann, an actress, is directing for the first time and she clearly has an affection for this material. She makes a strong statement with a bold set design, which thrusts the kitchen area of Felix's apartment into the first two rows of the audience while placing seats on the wings of the set, bringing the audience closer to the actors, both physically and emotionally" Full Review
"Clashing personalities can make for an interesting night of entertainment. Big Dawg Productions' newest show pits intellect against emotion."
"It's an explosive two-man show, and the actors are up for anything every night."
Full Review & Slideshow
Encore:
I love Wharff onstage and have for 15 years. He has great comedic talent and timing..."
"I personally liked the growth of Doris’ character in Grier’s hands...When we see her transformation, we realize what Grier is doing with the character."
"She (Grier) and Wharff have really good chemistry, and she is sexy enough to pull off the seduction of Felix (Katie Allen’s costumes are really wonderful, especially the great visual comedy of Doris’ nightie)."
"Big Dawg’s Cape Fear Playhouse is an interesting space that has more flexibility than might first meet the eye." Full Review
Audience Member Reviews on Encore:
"This was an awesome show and I am going to see it again next weekend and bringing friends." Brittany
"I thought Katzmann did an amazing job of utilizing the entire stage and commend her for being able to pull off such a great show in such a complicated setting (theater in the round)" Sarah
StarNews Review:
"the performers... score laughs during one notable scene when their characters are simultaneously mad and turned on"
"Katzmann, an actress, is directing for the first time and she clearly has an affection for this material. She makes a strong statement with a bold set design, which thrusts the kitchen area of Felix's apartment into the first two rows of the audience while placing seats on the wings of the set, bringing the audience closer to the actors, both physically and emotionally" Full Review
|
Non-Profit Theatre Company in Historic Downtown Wilmington
613 Castle St Wilmington NC 28401 *(910) 367-5237* bigdawgpro@gmail.com |
|
|
