36 THE QUEENS COURIER • MOTHER’S DAY • MAY 9, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
mother’s day
Sondheim’s ‘Assassins’ no laughing matter
The deeply dark musical comedy
“Assassins” off ers a powerful insight
into the tortured minds of society’s most
despicable outcasts. With music and lyrics
by the great Stephen Sondheim, this 1990s
production is shockingly relevant in 2019.
On opening night, the audience at the
Secret Th eatre is bombarded by a carnival
of infamously dysfunctional misfi ts.
Some swagger, some whine, some stumble
and some sob. But all display a craving
for importance. Th ey may be portrayed
as victim or as ruthless antagonist.
No matter their strategy, they seek validation
through horrible destruction.
An extremely talented and mesmerizingly
intense cast is directed by Lauren
Shields. Th ey eminently succeed in generating
an unlikely combination of terror,
paradox and humor. Th e Balladeer
(McLean Peterson) transforms from nice
to notorious as she raises a rifl e. She is
now JFK’s assassin Lee Harvey Oswald
as tears stream from her eyes. Wild-eyed
Squeaky Fromme (Hannah Howzdy)
and bumbling Sara Jane Moore (Leanna
Rubin) are extraordinarily well played.
Arrogance, futility, insecurity and lust
for power are some of the motivations
behind John Hinckley (Tim Realbuto)
and John Wilkes Booth (Evan Teich). Both
deliver their theatrical interpretations with
eerily haunting strength. Other ruthless
revolutionaries are riveting as they sing
of their pains and powerlessness. Kudos
to Robert Farruggia, Aaron Gooden,
Jaime Hall, Savannah Lloyd, Jonmichael
Tarleton and Grant Snuff er. Well-earned
curtain calls belong to the entire cast.
Th e production team, led by executive
producer Richard Mazda includes choreographer/
assistant director Christopher
Noffk e, musical director Morgan Morse
and many more too numerous to acknowledge
by name. For further information on
this and future projects, click on www.
secrettheatre.com or call 718-392-0722.
As always, save me a seat on the aisle.
‘Catch Me If You Can’ in Douglaston
An elegant Catskills chalet is the scene
for murder, mayhem and madness. Th is
clever comedy is completely unrelated
to the 2002 movie and subsequent stage
musical. Nevertheless, “Catch Me If You
Can” by the Douglaston Community
Th eatre is equally entertaining.
Director Bernard Bosio continues his
multiborough directorial blitz in his latest
Queens project. A “whodunit” with
a decidedly comical edge owes its charm
to a cast of community theater veterans.
Frank DiSpigno is the wonderfully
wisecracking Inspector Levine. His
not-to-be-underestimated investigative
style is the lynchpin of the surprisingly
complex subplots. Frank Freeman as
Father Kelleher is equally well recognized
on city stages. Th is particular role off ers a
sinister twist that is very well played.
Terri Matassov is quite convincing as
scheming Mrs. Corban. She is determined
to drive her husband to the very brink of
insanity. Will she succeed? Meanwhile,
Mr. Corban (Jef Lawrence) reaches the
heights of hysteria as the shocking climax
unfolds. Is he merely an innocent victim?
Delightful comic input by Gary Tifeld
as Sidney the sandwich guy adds just the
right amount of fl avor to the show. Th ere
are more lighthearted touches from Marty
Edelstein as Everett Parker and Renee
Cohen as Mrs. Parker. Are they just comic
relief or are they hiding something much
more devious? Overall, the murder mystery
combines classic Catskills “schtick”
with a good old-fashioned surprise ending.
Kudos as well to stage manager Robert
Gold, assistant stage manager Marleen
Rothstein, set design and construction
by Ian McDonald and lighting design by
Robert Stivanello. For information on this
and future productions by the Douglaston
Community Th eatre group, check their
website at dctonline.org or call 718-482-
3332. As always, save me a seat on the
aisle.
A VIEW FROM
THE CLIFF
BY CLIFF KASDEN
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