REVIEW: Magenta Players Shine in the Dark Comedy "The Cemetery Club"

Magenta Theater presents Ivan Menchell's dark comedy "The Cemetery Club" as their first production of their 2013 Season.

The cast of Magenta Theater's "The Cemetery Club."

In the play three East Coast Jewish widows meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands' graves. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life, Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun, and Doris is a master at one-liners. But all this starts to change when Sam the butcher visits his wife's grave and bumps into the threesome. Doris and Lucille plot to squash the budding romance between Sam and Ida, and the surprise appearance of 'cheap and cheerful' Mildred seems to help their ploy. The play is filled with witty lines and fascinating characters as well as touching and solemn moments.

The Stars

Magenta's Artistic Director, Jaynie Roberts, has directed the production with great aplomb. Roberts' approach is deft and delightful.

Lucille, Doris and Ida rehearse a scene from "The Cemetery Club."

Well-known Portland entertainer Francine Raften plays Lucille, Amalia Alarcon de Morris plays Ida, Patti Reynolds (the lone Vancouver resident) plays Doris, Tony Provenzola the pursued Sam, with KC Cooper rounding out the cast as Mildred. Patti and KC were most recently seen in Magenta Theater's production of "12 Angry Women," Tony in "The 39 Steps." Raften and Alarcon de Morris make their Magenta debut in this production. All of the cast members were stellar, with Raften shining so brightly she almost steals the show. She has great comic timing, physicality and a deep sensitivity.

The first half is a gas, full of humor, albeit at times leaning toward dark humor. The second act begins with several surprises and has the funniest bits, but then turns angry and ends on bitter-sweet note touched with humor. After all, the play deals with death.

WARNING: There is some language, smoking and drunkenness (as well as the death issue), so I wouldn't recommend it for young children (or even those suffering a recent loss, though, for some, this could bring healing).

The Setting

This photo does not depict the actual set which is really quite good.

The living room set is one of the best I've seen at Magenta, though the cemetery set suffered from several elements. Since the theater lacks a FOH curtain, the graves were set in front of the living room set. Even though lighting pools were utilized to separate the area, the effect did not create enough of a distance for the proper emotional remoteness. Other than that all things technical were top notch.

Performances are: Evenings at 7:30 p.m., February 16, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, and March 1; 2 p.m. Matinees, February 23 and March 2. Tickets here.

Review by Gregory E. Zschomler

All photos provided.

[Editor's Thoughts: Is it still SW Washington theater if you have a token resident in the show? Or is it Portland theater presented in a Vancouver venue? Would I be covering Vancouver theater if the play was in Portland and all the players were from Vancouver? Hmm, I have to think this over. Where are my coverage boundaries and loyalties?]

Comedy "The Cemetery Club" Opens Friday at Vancouver's Magenta Theater

Magenta Theater presents Ivan Menchell's "The Cemetery Club" as their first production of their 2013 Season. 

Three East Coast Jewish widows meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands' graves. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life, Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun, and Doris is a master at one-liners. But all this starts to change when Sam the butcher visits his wife's grave and bumps into the threesome. 

Doris and Lucille plot to squash the budding romance between Sam and Ida, and the surprise appearance of 'cheap and cheerful' Mildred seems to help their ploy. The play is a delightful yet touching comedy filled with witty lines and fascinating characters.

Magenta's Artistic Director, Jaynie Roberts, is directing the production.

Well-known Portland entertainer Francine Raften plays Lucille, Amalia Alarcon de Morris plays Ida, Patti Reynolds (the lone Vancouver resident) plays Doris, Tony Provenzola the pursued Sam, with KC Cooper rounding out the cast as Mildred. Patti and KC were most recently seen in Magenta Theater's production of "12 Angry Women," Tony in "The 39 Steps." Francine and Amalia are making their Magenta debut in this production. 

Performances are: Evenings at 7:30 p.m., February 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, and March 1; 2 p.m. Matinees, February 23 and March 2. Tickets here.

Our Review will be posted Saturday, by noon.

[Editor's Thoughts: Is it still SW Washington theater if you have a token resident in the show? Or is it Portland theater presented in a Vancouver venue? Would I be covering Vancouver theater if the play was in Portland and all the players were from Vancouver? Hmm, I have to think this over. Where are my coverage boundaries and loyalties?]

Theater Woman of Excellence, Jaynie Roberts, Recognized with Iris Award

Jaynie Roberts

Jaynie Roberts is one of three recent winners of the 2013 Iris Awards. The annual awards are supported by Clark College, the Clark College Foundation and the Vancouver Business Journal, and "celebrate the lasting and far-reaching contributions of women in Southwest Washington and beyond."

Roberts is founder of Vancouver’s Magenta Theater Company and the Vancouver Area Theater Alliance. She will be honored 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 7 at Clark College. A reception will follow the awards ceremony at 6 p.m. According to the Daily Insider, KGW news anchor Laural Porter will emcee. Tickets cost $25 per person and are available here until Friday, March 1. The event is sponsored by Riverview Community Bank and YWCA Clark County.

For further details, visit www.clark.edu/news. See the original article. 

See our Artist Profile Roberts.

Magenta Theater Academy Offers Class for Kids

TALES from the WARDROBE: 

A theatrical tribute to the wondrous tales that C.S. Lewis wove into our lives

Instructor: Jaynie Roberts, Artistic Director for Magenta Theater.

Ages: 8-17 (The class will be capped at twenty students to ensure individual attention.)

Classes: 4 to 6 p.m., Thursdays, Jan. 10 through March 14, 2013.

Final Performance: 7:30 p.m., March 15 at Magenta Theater, 606 Main, Vancouver, Wash.

Cost: $140. A registration link can be found at the Magenta website. No other money is required (except for performance tickets) and no parental obligations are expected. Registration closes when twenty students have registered and paid.

In class, students will bring to life characters such as Peter, Susan, Lucy, Edmund, Mr. Tumnus, Dr. Cornelius, Prince Caspian and more. Students will be taught a realistic/natural acting style utilizing such skills as character development, natural stage movement, script memorization, simple costuming and makeup.

Please Note: Attendance at all classes is essential. If absences are unavoidable, please advise instructor when registering. Ability to read is important as we will be working with scripts. Hesitant readers will be given smaller roles to help them feel more comfortable.

For more information: Email: director@magentatheater.com, or call 360.635.4358.

REVIEW: Magenta Theater's "Something To Hide" is Really Something

"Something To Hide," a British murder mystery by Leslie Sands and directed by Jaynie Roberts, opened last night at the Magenta Theater, 606 Main St. in downtown Vancouver.  It runs through Saturday, October 27. Check their website www.magentatheater.com for complete details.

Murder Most Foul

You've got to hand it to the Brits, they do, indeed, have a corner on the market for murder mysteries. Probably the best mystery writer in the world was Agatha Christie. And  this play is very much in line with her complex plots and twists in the story.

The time is the 1950s, and the setting, a vacation house in England. It is the home of the Holts: Karen (Brenda McGinnis), the purse-strings of the family and her gad-fly husband, Howard (Glenn Chipman). He is having an affair with Julie (Suzanne Vannatter) and, well, this accident happens and all their lives are never the same again.

Something to look forward to

If I seem vague about the plot, it’s because I don’t want to give too much away, as it would spoil the several twists along the way. Let’s just say there is a nosy neighbor, a greasy garage mechanic, a bothersome maid and a Columbo-like detective that add to the intrigue of the convoluted plot. But it does have all the ingredients of the traditional thriller: Blackmail, deception, larceny, and, of course, murder.

Something "rawther" lovely

The highlight of the show was Shaye Eller as Inspector Davies. She, alone, is worth the show! The Columbo mannerisms were perfect for the character, even down to the rumpled overcoat in one scene. Davies continues to tie up those little, seemingly insignificant, loose ends until the whole plot is revealed. And, with Eller at the helm, you are cheering for her every step of the way.

Also, quite good, is Brenda McGinnis, as the long-suffering wife, Karen. She does well in showing the complexities and changing moods of the character. And Glenn Chipman, as the rotter of a husband, is a thoroughly "dislikeable" chap. One wants to boo the character off the stage.

Something blimey

The play is wordy and overlong, but that is the nature of these classic English mysteries. But the Director, Jaynie Roberts (also Magenta’s founder and Artistic Director), keeps the action flowing so that you always have to be on the alert for what comes next. And the British accents are spot on, which is refreshing. Doesn’t hurt to have a Director that is also from “merry ole…”

There did seem to be a mixing of genres, which was not altogether successful. At times a character might play it like a melodrama, then another character would play it as a complete, comic farce. It plays best, I think, which was most of the time, as just a straight British thriller. Eller and McGinnis played it just that way and were most successful.

The set by Dave Roberts, was very functional in such a constricted space. And the music from the '50s also helped set the mood. It should be noted that the house was nearly full on opening night and many of them were first-timers. This is a great compliment for Magenta after 10 years in the  biz. Congrats!

Show Dates:
October 13, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m.
October 20 and 27 at 2 p.m.

Review by Dennis Sparks. Mr. Sparks was formerly a Portland theatre reviewer for the Vancouver Voice (now defunct), and is currently a free-lance reporter with his own blog site for Portland and Ashland theatre reviews: www.dennissparksreviews.blogspot.com

     

"Twelve Angry Women" to be Presented by Vancouver's Magenta Theater in Black and White

The Magenta Theater Company will present Sherman L. Segel's "Twelve Angry Women" adapted from the television movie "Twelve Angry Men" by Reginald Rose, June 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and June 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. Performances will take place at the Magenta Theater, 606 Main St., Vancouver, Wash.

A 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open-and-shut case until one of the jurors begins opening the others' eyes to details revealed in the courtroom.

This exceptional piece of dramatic literature will be directed by Jaynie Roberts and staged by an all-female ensemble consisting of Magenta Theater's finest actresses. Set, costumes and props will all be black, white and gray to reflect the black and white television era.

Tickets, $15 VIP seats, $12 general. Reservations recommended. Limited seats may be available at door for slightly higher price.Visit http://magentatheater.com/ for more information and tickets.

OPENING THIS WEEKEND: "Sealegs: Board to Death" by Jaynie Roberts

"Sealegs: Board to Death," written by the director, Vancouver playwright and Magenta Theater founder Jaynie Roberts opens this weekend.* The shows are being presented by Vancouver's Magenta Theater at Rosemary's Cafe.

I saw the play ten years ago when it and Magenta Theater debuted and I enjoyed it very much. However, I've been told that this new production is quite different from its original. For one thing, it is no longer a musical.

I will not be reviewing this show, as Magenta has opted out from participation in our review process. Though I cannot recommend the show to you with a formal review, I do wish to support their work.

"Sealegs" shows this weekend and next at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for the dinner theater at Rosemary's Cafe, 1001 Main St. are $30.  For more information or tickets: www.magentatheater.com or 360-635-4358.

*My apologies, I erroneously included it in last weekend's openings as I was going on hearsay because Magenta is not yet sending me their press release information directly. 

By Gregory E. Zschomler