COMPANY -- Saint Mary's Univeristy

book: George Furth
music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
director: Judy Myers
stage manager: Timothy Markus
conductor: Tony Freeman
costume design: Janis Martin
choreographer: Christine Martin
lighting designer: Walt Claassen
scenic designer: Kit Mayer
sound designer: Alex Downes Borowski
cast: Peter Snell, Whitney Rappana, Mark Skrade, Jeff David, Bernadette Raspant, Patrick Mack, Rachel Crawford-Miller, Sarah Jane Engle, Alex Gorgone, Kristina Perkins, Danny Pancratz, Ali Fisch, Erin Hendricks, Alyssa Schlageter

The musical comedy of a single man, surrounded by married friends.

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This college production was very well done. A very talented cast that mostly performed very well. Lots of strong voices made the songs a treat to listen to.

Lead, Peter Snell, was very good as Bobby, though he did seem a bit one-dimensional as the play went along. Alyssa Schlageter as "Marta" was tremendous -- her singing voice strong and her looks perfect. Aside from the good looks and hip costuming, she had an incredibly strong singing voice.

Probably the best performance of the evening was put in by Kristina Perkins as "Joanne." She seemed to have the most, best-defined character and managed to maintain it all the way through. She had just the right bit of drunkeness and bitterness and lovability and honesty to keep us liking her.

The direction was a tad boring, even though the set managed to offer multiple levels.

The lighting was somewhat dull, but the costumes were incredible. I actually gasped as I saw the color-scheme and how well it all blended together.

A very well done performance.

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH -- Winona State University

script: Richard R. George (based on the book by Roald Dahl)
director: Vivian Fusillo
cast: Kerry Danielson, Lisa Michaels, Eve Cowan, Peter Armstrong, Anthony Giebel, Allison Sweeney, Rachel Muonio, Daniel Evashevski, Brian Rice, Caitlin Puckett, Thomas Brunner, MaKenzie Birchell
technical director: Jim Danneker
set design: Peggy Sannerud
lighting design: Peggy Sannerud
sound design: Nicole Volner
costume & makeup design: Erin Dostal
stage manager: Eileen Moeller
assistant stage manager: Katy Stein

With the help of some magically enhanced (or nuclear enhanced) gems, a giant peach grows in James' yard, complete with human sixed bugs. Adventure ensues.

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Oh, how sad. This play lacked everything. With some wonderful opportunities for wild action, this play delivered up nothing but static dialog delivery. When the most enjoyable part of a performance is the delightful characterization of the two aunts (wonderfully, wickedly played by Lisa Michaels and Eve Cowan), then you must realize that something is horribly wrong.

Ginat insects, inside a giant peach! And yet by being confined to the limiting set, these giant insects never got to display and character. They stood around and talked and worried about things, so that James could solve their problems.

Where is the action in a play like this? There was none. The action consisted of talk. In an adult play, this is not unusual. In a children's play, it's highly boring.

Costuming was okay, but it still would have been better served to display something even more. Why didn't we see any sea gulls? Why only two sharks (rather lamely identified)? The earthworm looked like what he probably was ... a man in a multi-colored sleeping-bag.

I once adored Vivian's children's plays. The last few that I've seen have been a colossal disappointment. Has she lost her touch? Judging by what I've seen lately...yes.

PUBLIC LECTURE BY JAMES DELGADO -- Minnesota Marine Art Museum/WSU Lyceum Series

Somsen Auditorium, WSU
Presented by the Minnesota Marine Arts Museum
"Dr. Delgado will speak on his visit to the shipwreck RMS Titanic and the discovery of RMS Carpathia."

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This was a fascinating, multi-media lecture by James Delgado, the executive director of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology and host of National Geographic and History Channel's The Sea Hunters.

Mr. Delgado is very charismatic, a wonderful public speaker. He spoke of the human aspect, of the lives lost, of the Titanic, and how he thought about the individuals as he navigated among the ruins of the sunken ship.

He showed photos that he took through the windows of the submersible he was in, and also showed video footage of the Carpathian wreck.

My nine-year-old son attended the lecture with me, and was completely absorbed by it. He said that the 90 minute program felt like it wasn't even an hour long, and that it got him "right here" (as he pointed to his chest).

A wonderful lecture.