By Tina Arth and Darrell Baker Broadway Rose’s current show, Lucky Stiff, is the first product of a highly successful collaboration between lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty (Once on This Island, Ragtime, Seussical). It is an absurdist murder farce – sort of “comedy of errors” meets “Dashiell Hammett” – but with lots of singing and a fair amount of dancing. Luckily for the audience, Broadway Rose never does anything by half-measures, and the quality of this production transforms what could be two hours of formulaic fluff into a great evening of entertainment. The story itself is predictably convoluted and nonsensical. Harry Witherspoon, a downtrodden, dog-hating British shoe salesman, inherits six million dollars from his long-lost American uncle, Tony Hendon – but there are strings attached. In order to claim his inheritance, Harry must treat Uncle Tony’s embalmed corpse to a weeklong vacation in Monte Carlo – gambling, sky- and scuba-diving, the works! Should Harry fail, Uncle Tony’s millions will go to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. Harry’s efforts to fulfill Uncle Tony’s wishes are countered by the machinations of Tony’s lover, Rita LaPorta, and by Universal Dog Rescuer Annabel Glick. Suffice it to say that things get complicated. Robert Winstead brings his extensive experience as a vocalist and a comic to the role of Harry Witherspoon. His English accent is convincing, and his marvelously expressive face clearly conveys both the pathos and the determination of his character. Winstead sings on more than half of the show’s songs, and his solid vocal performance buttresses several fine ensemble numbers. His duets with the lovely soprano Ecaterina Lynn (“Annabel Glick”) are especially effective - comic or poignant as the story demands. Lynn’s earnest, dog-loving fanaticism is a perfect foil for Winstead’s befuddlement, and the two share many of Lucky Stiff’s funniest moments – especially in the brilliantly staged bedroom/dream sequence. Amy Jo Halliday brings a frenetic bimboism to the part of Rita LaPorta, Uncle Tony’s extraordinarily classless half-blind lover (she refuses to wear her glasses) and accidental murderer. Her over-the-top character is matched by the power of her brassy vocals, and she knows just how far she can push the role. David Smidebush displays remarkable physical fluidity throughout; his spectacular tap dancing helps to make “Harry’s Nightmare,” a captivating bit of stage magic and choreography, the high point of the show. Other noteworthy performances include Darren Hurley’s turn as the lounge-lizard/maître d’hotel/singing nun/Arab and Catherine Bridge’s portrayal of Dominique, part b-girl, part Spanish dancer, all femme fatale. The ensemble, as expected with any Broadway Rose production, is flawless. Music director/conductor/pianist Alan D. Lytle once again brings vocal and instrumental magic to the New Stage. Director/choreographer Dan Murphy presents what may be the cleverest staging of any show we have seen in recent years. In addition to the above-mentioned bedroom/dream sequence, the series of vignettes showing Witherspoon, Uncle Tony, and Annabel parachuting, scuba diving, and fishing their way across the stage keeps the audience in stitches. Lucky Stiff may not be terribly profound, but this production provides high quality musical theater and immerses its audience in an evening of beguiling entertainment. Lucky Stiff is playing at Broadway Rose’s New Stage, 12850 SW Grant Avenue, Tigard through October 13th.
Lucky Stiff is a thoroughly enjoyable example of good old fashioned musical theatre, that has some great performances from a very talented cast...
Before Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty teamed up for iconic works like Ragtime, Once on this Island, and their current Broadway hit Anastasia,they wrote a crazy little musical called LUCKY STIFF. It was their first collaboration and, though it never made it to Broadway, it won the pair a Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre and launched a 30-year partnership that has helped shape the genre ever since.
Art.com | We Are Art We exist so you can have the art you love. Art.com gives you easy access to incredible art images and top-notch craftsmanship. High-Quality Framed Art Prints Our high-end framed wall art is printed on premium paper using non-toxic, archival inks that protect against UV light to resist fading. Experience unmatched quality and style as you choose from a wide range of designs to enhance your room décor. Professionally Crafted Framed Wall Art Attention to detail is at the heart of our process, as we exclusively use 100% solid wood frames that include 4-ply white core matboard and durable, frame-grade clear acrylic for clarity, long-lasting protection of the artwork and unrivaled quality. With a thoughtfully selected frame and mat combination, this piece is designed to complement your art and create a visually appealing display. Easy-to-Hang & Ready-to-Display Artwork Each framed art piece comes with hanging hardware affixed to the back of the frame, allowing for easy and convenient installation. Ready to display right out of the box. Handcrafted in the USA. THE LUCKY STIFF, Brian Donlevy, 1949 The Print This photographic print leverages sophisticated digital technology to capture a level of detail that is absolutely stunning. The colors are vivid and pure. The high-quality archival paper, a favorite choice among professional photographers, has a refined luster quality. Paper Type: Photo Finished Size: 9" x 12" Arrives by Thu, Mar 7 Product ID: 59961681949A
For your consideration... A Lucky Stiff: Vocal Selections in Brand New condition! At Evolution Music of Des Plaines, we attempt to highlight cosmetic defects (if any) by picturing every angle of every piece of gear so you know exactly what you are getting. We always picture any and all accessories too. What you see is what you will get so please check out the pictures! Everything we sell has been tested and is fully functional unless otherwise noted. We have a 5 star rating from 1000+ happy customers across our six locations. Please message us if you have any questions. We are always happy to help and will respond asap!
Suit Patrick Kelly, 1980s 1stdibs.com
Authored by Dale Nickey: Britain in the late 70’s was the place to be if you were a strong, creative and unusual woman artist. 1977 gifted the world with Kate Bush, 1978 brought us Chrissie Hynde. …
Vocal selections from "Lucky Stiff" A Musical Comedy published in1998 (see pictures for song list). Has piano, vocals and guitar chords. New old stock, cover and edges are shopworn.
In March 2009, Golan Levin, the director of Carnegie Mellon University’s interdisciplinary STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, invited an enigmatic and famed ...
Exterior view of the Valley Shopping Center and the attached Valley Theater , Cincinnati, Ohio, 1949.
We'll start with the Disclaimer - Yes we did receive complimentary tickets, but this just means we're able to offer you a chance attend too! Enter the contest at the end of this post. As many of our readers know we enjoy heading to the theatre for musical performances as well as comedic plays. The Kitchener Waterloo Little Theatre has them both rolled into one this fall with their upcoming LUCKY STIFF show. A quick synopsis of this musical farce is “A murder throws English shoe salesman Harry Witherspoon into a chaotic adventure: taking his dead uncle on a vacation to Monte Carlo in exchange for a $6 million dollar inheritance” Basing it on the movie trailer below we think it would make a great PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT or could be a hilarious time for families with older children (the KWLT is rating it PG-13 with adult content). Just For Fun Just for fun try out the WHICH LUCKY STIFF CHARACTER ARE YOU QUIZ As you can LUIGI GAUDI was picked for me. I’ll have to see if it rings true after we attend the performance. With the affordable ticket prices and various dates available it could be a great wall to kick off autumn. Be sure to grab your tickets before they are gone! Plus, we are excited to giveaway a pair of tickets in the contest below. Enter To Win Enter the rafflecopter contest below (it may take a minute to load) and tell us which character you got in the WHICH LUCKY STIFF CHARACTER ARE YOU QUIZ. It may just win you a night out for you and a guest to attend LUCKY STIFF @ KWLT! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Lady Chablis The Lady Chablis (born March 11,...
