#1
Posted: 1/21/15 at 10:10pm
In those much-missed, fondly-remembered, golden-aureoled good old days, attending the theatre meant experiencing feelings of rapture and wonderment on a daily basis. Thanks to the Storm Theatre's loving and lovely revival of Anita Loos's Gigi, we can now feel them yet again.
With a thorough understanding of period and milieu, and a meticulous attention to detail in both performance and design, the production uses a dexterous sleight of hand to craft a theatrical experience that is touching, humorous, and thoroughly enchanting. With consummate skill, the actors bring their characters winningly to life. In the author's wise and engaging text, under the director's caring and compassionate hand, the most seemingly quotidian moments touch the heart, the most offhand remarks warm the soul. In the final scene, two of the simplest observations were so profound, so moving, so beautiful--- how could one ever hope to stay a tear --- or several? I confess to having shed more than a few --- of joy and gratitude. And miracle of miracles, wholly cognizant and considerate of the audience's wishes, the play favored us with the most beautiful of happy endings: a loving couple about to embark on life's journey together. (What a welcome change from the rancid venom and bile and spat in our faces these past forty years!) As the lights faded out on the final magical tableau, the audience came to know bliss, radiant and glowing.
As I left the theatre, I recalled a lyric from our greatest living composer-lyricist, "Someone gave me a wonderful present." That someone was the entire Storm Theatre company, and that something was Gigi, by Anita Loos.
My deepest thanks to both.
With a thorough understanding of period and milieu, and a meticulous attention to detail in both performance and design, the production uses a dexterous sleight of hand to craft a theatrical experience that is touching, humorous, and thoroughly enchanting. With consummate skill, the actors bring their characters winningly to life. In the author's wise and engaging text, under the director's caring and compassionate hand, the most seemingly quotidian moments touch the heart, the most offhand remarks warm the soul. In the final scene, two of the simplest observations were so profound, so moving, so beautiful--- how could one ever hope to stay a tear --- or several? I confess to having shed more than a few --- of joy and gratitude. And miracle of miracles, wholly cognizant and considerate of the audience's wishes, the play favored us with the most beautiful of happy endings: a loving couple about to embark on life's journey together. (What a welcome change from the rancid venom and bile and spat in our faces these past forty years!) As the lights faded out on the final magical tableau, the audience came to know bliss, radiant and glowing.
As I left the theatre, I recalled a lyric from our greatest living composer-lyricist, "Someone gave me a wonderful present." That someone was the entire Storm Theatre company, and that something was Gigi, by Anita Loos.
My deepest thanks to both.
