Category: The Arts

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Kith & Kin Theatre Collective: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder! Lyric Storytelling In A Grand Style!

A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder! could also be called the Land of a Thousand costumes. This boisterous comedic musical runs across Turn of The 20th Century England landscape and cultural environs. And with four named characters who appear in any number of situations and an ensemble who play multiple roles and at times act as a Greek Chorus, costumes abound. And that doesn’t even include the D’Ysquith Family! More on them later. But my sincerest thanks to Costume Designer: Cas Mayhall for pulling this off.

This is a highly effective send up of rom-coms, murder mysteries, musicals, English operettas, colonialism, and the British aristocracy. Not even the Earl of Highhurst can maintain his stiff upper lip. And for those of you of a certain age you might detect a tip of the hat or two to Monty Python gags.

The chorus. Photo by Adam Laberge. Photo courtesy of Kith & Kin Theatre Collective

But first we meet our Greek Chorus, warning us of the mayhem and the gore that is to follow and the squeamish may want to leave now…and then a warning is sent to the first two rows…that they may be splattered with blood and such and that they may want to move back. Ignore them! This is a small intimate theater with general admission seating. Get there early to secure the front rows! I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

left to right: Emily Mertens, Jonathan Riker, and Shannon Messplay. Photo by Adam Laberge. Photo courtesy of Kith & Kin Theatre Collective

And now to the real story. We find Monty Navarro sitting in a jail cell waiting for the jury to decide if he is innocent or guilty of murder. Concerned that no one will understand how he came here, he is writing his ‘true’ memoir. That is the major conceit of the musical, Monty narrates a bit and then the cast plays out the story for our ears and eyes. Jonathan Riker gives us a determined but unconcerned Monty. Telling his story seems more important than his potential fate. But once we get the story underway, Riker is the main boisterous voice and is the center of attention from here on out…but Riker still plays it cool as he learns he is eighth in line to be Earl of Highhurst…a discovery brought to him by his mother’s best friend after her funeral. She had married for love and was disowned and cast out from the family. His disbelief turns to acceptance and he begins the journey of ‘joining’ the family while improving his chances to be Earl…with a bit of cleverness and steadiness that Riker playfully brings to the stage.

Jonathan Riker and Emily Mertens. Photo by Adam Laberge. Photo courtesy of Kith & Kin Theatre Collective

Oh and the guide to love? Monty is in love with Sibella Hallward, a charming young lady who also happens to be in love with Monty. Emily Mertens is very effective as the sexy and flirtatious Sibella and she seems quite attached to Monty. But his low class position doesn’t suit her ambitions and she marries another gentleman with a motor car. But that doesn’t mean she and Monty are through…not by a long shot.

Shannon Messplay and Jonathan Riker. Photo by Adam Laberge. Photo courtesy of Kith & Kin Theatre Collective

Shannon Messplay is the shy, coy, and cool as a cucumber Phoebe D’Ysquith. She is completely taken with Monty’s mother’s story…able to marry for love! And is equally attracted to Monty himself. And not being in line ahead of Monty for the Earldom, he too is taken with her and wholeheartedly accepts her proposal to wed. Messplay is a delight as Phoebe.

Ezra Quinn. Photo by Adam Laberge. Photo courtesy of Kith & Kin Theatre Collective

And then there is The D’Ysquith Family! Every single one of them played in joyous over the top performances by Ezra Quinn! From the pastor, sister, cousin, son, father, janitor, and Earl, Quinn leaves nothing behind…having far too much fun I would hope! And Quinn is one of the reasons you want to be down in front…Quinn gets to act out one grisly death scene after another and produces some of the best laughs in the play. You don’t want to miss a single overwrought death throe!

Ezra Quinn. Photo by Adam Laberge. Photo courtesy of Kith & Kin Theatre Collective

And my congratulations to Director Kimberly Laberge for convincing this gang of talented people to play this treasure trove of misfit characters and making it all work so smoothly and without any missed bits or false steps.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder was written by Robert L. Freedman, Book and Lyrics, and Steven Lutvak, Music and Lyrics, and based on a novel by Roy Herniman. (still feeling a bit silly after attending yesterday’s matinee, I wanted to write: based on a novel by a man named Lear so so bad…if you don’t know…you can Google it)

left to right, Shannon Messplay, Jonathan Riker, and Emily Mertens. Photo by Adam Laberge. Photo courtesy of Kith & Kin Theatre Collective

Kith & Kin Theatre Collective will continue to present A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at Inspiration Studios (1500 S. 73rd St, West Allis) through May 18, 2025.

More information here and ticket information here.

And Extra Credit Reading: The Playbill

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First Stage Presents The World Premiere Of: Esperanza Rising.

Esperanza Rising is a world premiere commissioned by First Stage. It is adapted for the stage by Alvaro Saar Rios with original music by Dinorah Marquez and is based on the book by Pam Munoz Ryan. This is the most personal and poignant play that First Stage has presented this season and maybe in the period that I have been enjoying their plays.

First Stage is a tremendous youth theater opportunity for both audience members and young aspiring actors. When they play at the Todd Wehr theater they usually present large scale musicals with wonderful choreography and of course, music, with large ensembles of adult and young actors, and dynamic presentations around characters well known to their young audience.

(left to right) Ashley Marie Rodriguez, Laura Crotte, Miranda Rose, and Aria Martinez in ESPERANZA RISING. First Stage, 2025. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

Esperanza Rising is a bit different. Dinorah Marquez has provided some very memorable songs and music that celebrates Mexican culture and family. These songs are sometimes sung by the ensemble and sometimes by individual characters in the play. But here they support the storytelling instead of being a major force in the play. And that adds to the personal. And the storytelling is key.

And a quick reminder. When First Stage presents these larger plays at the Todd Wehr, the core cast of adults remains constant, but the young actors rotate via alternating casts. So I saw the Hope cast on Sunday May 4th, 2025. So if you are hoping to see a particular young actor, check the link below to see which cast (Hope or Dream) they are a part of and when they are performing.

The play is set in the 1930s and begins in Mexico where Esperanza is growing up on her family’s farm. Her father is a very wealthy land owner and the 1930s were a turbulent time and after a pair of family tragedies, Esperanza’s mother decides to move to California along with some of the staff from their farm. They settle in a migrant farm camp and for the first time in her life Esperanza confronts hardship and poverty and the need to work. It is a growing experience for a young girl who is about to turn 13 when we meet her. And this is a very special story about the importance of family and community.

Laura Crotte (left) and David Flores in ESPERANZA RISING. First Stage,
Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

There are five adult roles around Esperanza, but three adult actors. Ashley Marie Rodriguez is Mama. A confident and strong woman who so obviously loves her family but makes a tough decision in the face of adversity and wishes nothing more than a better future for her daughter. Laura Crotte plays both Abuelita and Hortensia. As Abuelita she is the doting grandmother to Esperanza who lovingly teaches her to knit. She too has to make some tough decisions. And Crotte smoothly transitions to Hortensia, a practical and emphatic woman who befriends Esperanza’s family in California. And David Flores is Papa and Alfonso. First a caring and doting father who always gives his daughter a doll for her birthday and does so again for her 13th. But this one takes on more meaning and Esperanza cherishes it. Flores is also simply solid and practical as Alfonso as he moves his family to California and helps Mama and Esperanza reach there as well.

Now, there are two storytellers per the cast list. They are the narrators who fill in the back story and history of the period as well as fill in the relationships of the characters and at times tell us what the characters are thinking. They also get to play a number of small parts: the ‘bad’ guys in Mexico in silly silly mustaches, the immigration agent in California, and a police officer. The storyteller roles are played by young actors from the alternating casts. On Sunday they were played by Lucia Harris and Eleanor Dysart with flair and grace but a bit of comedic posturing when on stage as the ‘bad’ guys, and a certain bit of menace as the border agent or police officer.

Miranda Rose (left) and Thomas Alberto Bastardo (right) in ESPERANZA
RISING. First Stage, 2025. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

There are three other young person roles. Miguel who is Alfonso’s son, childhood friend of Esperanza, and shall we say, love interest. Thomas Alberto Bastardo makes a suave and thoughtful Miguel, an optimistic youth and like his father, someone who can get things done. And Isabel, a young girl at the migrant farm who is paired with Esperanza to baby sit Isabel’s younger siblings. Aria Martinez is a delight with her curious questions and disbelief that Esperanza needs to be taught to change a diaper. They end up being very close in the end. And Marta, an activist and union organizer on the farm. Erin E. Frailing presents a very determined and focused Marta but… The storytellers are eager to march and chant her slogans.

There is some Spanish spoken at times but you don’t need to be bi-lingual to understand the meaning…it is apparent from the situation. And First Stage recommends Esperanza rising for young people 7 to 17 and theater lovers of all ages, I highly recommend this to adult theater goers even if you don’t have a child in tow. This story and these situations are pure drama and I think anyone interested in theater will enjoy this. And despite the era, the topics are very contemporary in their feel. First Stage has done an incredible job and again, I will say, this is a very poignant and rewarding presentation.

Cast in ESPERANZA RISING. First Stage, 2025. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

Esperanza Rising will continue from now until May 18, 2025 at the Todd Wehr Theater in Marcus Performing Arts Center. The play runs about 75 minutes with a short intermission.

Additional information and tickets can be found here.

And extra credit reading: The Playbill

Ashley Marie Rodriguez (left) and Isabel Scardino (right) in ESPERANZA
RISING. First Stage, 2025. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

And the final word from Isabel: “My Heart Is Dancing”.

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UWM’s Peck School of the Arts: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is an award winning play by Simon Stephens based on a novel of the same name by Mark Haddon. It is a multi-faceted theatrical gem.

Christopher is the protagonist here, a 15 year old math genius who is somewhere on the autism spectrum. And one night just before midnight, he discovers that his neighbors dog has been killed by being stabbed with a pitchfork. While surveying the incident and mourning the loss of the dog, he is discovered by the neighbor who, of course, immediately suspects him. Christopher decides to become a detective for the moment in investigate Wellington’s death (that’s the dog) and discover the person who murdered him. His father forbids it. But Christopher determines that it is the right thing to do and continues on his quest anyway. And the drama begins…

The deeper subjects of the play are readily apparent in the text and actions on stage. Of course there are the stories around family and neighborhood and village…but we go on to get a glimpse into how people with autism perceive the world around them…and how the world around them reacts to them…there are myriads of subtle cues. But Christopher steps completely outside his comfort zone and shows remarkable focus and bravery, a positive message for all of us.

We have two Christophers here. Zane Kurs for the first half and then Skylar Staebler post intermission. Both young actors personified the goals and struggles that Christopher exhibited in his quest. The only quibble I have here is Kurs speech was lost or indecipherable at times in his efforts to adopt an English accent.

Despite not being the focus of the play, for me, I see Christopher’s dad, Ed, as the most dynamic character in the play. Played by Gabe Rodriguez, Ed swings from doting father, to demanding father, to angry spouse, to a confused and desperate adult in the just that moment’s notice that the play requires.

One other actor that I’d like to single out is Autumn G. Gill as Siobhan. Siobahn is Christopher’s personal support staff and mentor at the special school he attends. Gill is remarkable in providing the stable support and empathetic help he needs to find his way.

Christopher’s mother, Judy, is lovingly played by Mikaela Bowers. We don’t get to meet her directly until late in the play, but Bowers brings out a loving and protective mother who despite her feelings doesn’t quite always know how to react to Christopher’s needs.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has dozens of other characters who a played by an ensemble of remarkable young actors. Each one of them has to assume a number of roles (that is the way the script is written), from policeman, to principal, to a number of neighbors, to strangers on the street and train, to train station staff.

Director Ralph Janes is presenting this play in the round, using the Mainstage Theatre’s thrust for most of the action. In addition, a fair amount of technology is involved. Large screens are set up around the theater and behind the proscenium, as well as a half dozen monitors just about the stage. These were used to project scenic bits at times, like the train station that Christopher is looking for, and other times, video shots taken by ensemble actors with handheld cameras in the pit or the camera mounted to Christopher’s chest. I found these a bit confusing and distracting. If they were meant to signal the confusion that Christopher experiences outside his normal world, well maybe. But I think the action that Janes choreographed on stage with the cast was far more effective and deserved our full attention.

A better use of technology here might have been mics on the actors.

As I write this there are only two more performances….tonight at 7:30 and tomorrow, May 4, 2025 for a 2 PM matinee. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is being performed on the Mainstage Theatre in the Theatre Building at 2400 E Kenwood Blvd (just west of Mitchell Hall and North of Mellencamp Hall).

Ticket Information Here!

Extra Credit Reading: The Program is here.