Blackbird's unique 'If Only in My Dreams' offers something non-traditional for the holiday season
Anyone looking for something a bit different in holiday-themed entertainment might just find it in “If Only in My Dreams,” a fascinating pre-Christmas offering from Ann Arbor’s Blackbird Theatre.
The show, which opened Thursday at Blackbird’s intimate SH\aut\ Cabaret and Gallery space on Braun Court, is a selection of seasonal monologues from the likes of Truman Capote, Groucho Marx, Dylan Thomas and Roch Carrier, among others.
It’s the second year for “Dreams,” directed this time around by Patricia Wheeler, and although some of the selections remain the same as were offered in ‘09, new ones have been added and others (like a Jack Kerouac excerpt) dropped.
This year, like last, the production features Blackbird co-founder/actor Barton Bund and actor Will Myers assuming the personas of writers Capote (“A Christmas Memory”), Dylan Thomas (“A Child’s Christmas in Wales”) and Carrier (“The Hockey Sweater”). Also included are bits from Henry Miller (a passage from “Tropic of Cancer” that tells the story of Miller living on the streets during the Depression and during the holidays), Groucho Marx and Leigh Hunt.
This is pretty personal stuff, emotional and not all holly-jolly, although there were a few good laughs. The key here is that Bund and Myers are terrific character actors, able to dig deep inside the heads of the writers they are portraying, each delivering a memorable performance.
Myers, in particular, was amazing. He had Capote down to perfection — the voice, mannerisms and even the clothing — as he reminisced about buying whiskey to make a fruitcake from the scary HaHa Jones. Myers also did an endearing Groucho to open the show on a light note, while his nostalgic portrayal of a young Canadian junior leaguer humiliated by being forced to wear the sweater of arch rival the Toronto Maple Leafs rather than one bearing the name of his beloved Montreal Canadiens, tugged on the emotional heartstrings.
The Blackbird’s compact new space is perfect for this kind of intimate show, with the actors inches away from the up-front seats. Monologues always fascinate me — how can it even be possible to commit to memory not just one, but several? — but Bund and Myers seldom stumbled, especially in their Thomas and Capote guises.
Sweet-voiced singer Gayle Martin offered Christmas songs snippets between pieces, weaving wraith-like around the room as she moved props (OK, a booze bottle and some glasses) from one table to another. Both actors capped the show by teaming up for a lovely Christmas duet, with Bund on guitar and Martin singing backup.
One thing that needs serious improvement is the size of the crowd. Thursday’s opener had only six people in the audience, and one of them was me.
Anyone who has had their fill of “The Nutcracker” and “A Christmas Carol,” and are looking for something a bit less traditional this time of year, will probably find "Dreams" to their liking. This might not be everyone’s idea of a holiday outing to the theater, but it gets my vote for being one of the most unique shows I’ve seen. During times of relentless renditions of "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls," that’s a welcome gift in and of itself.
Roger LeLievre is a freelance writer who covers entertainment for AnnArbor.com
Comments
rusty shackelford
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 3:20 p.m.
I'm not sure what Blackbird Theatre hopes to gain by its extremely petty response to critics. I can't imagine it makes many people want to attend their shows or donate money to them. Seems like a waste of time with negative side effects. What might make more people (including myself) more inclined to attend performances is lower ticket prices. Most current information I can find on their site has tickets at $25 general admission for most shows, $20 is their discount price. In Chicago, for example, companies of comparable size generally charge like $15 or less, especially if they aren't paying much in script fees, etc. (I assume, maybe wrongly, that BT isn't paying that much for scripts because it seems the majority of their plays are either in the public domain or written by the founder of the company.) It also helps that in Chicago there are more reliable and/or objective theater reviewers, so you can have a decent idea of whether something is going to be good before you pay for it. Not much BT can do on that front. I can't speak to one commenter's particular reasons for not seeing Fences seasons ago, but it is true that PN's posters are notoriously bad. That said, the one for Fences was pretty good by comparison.
Blackbird
Sun, Dec 12, 2010 : 11:48 p.m.
UPDATE! At the time of this posting, A2lover has still not provided us with his name and address. C'mon man! Two free passes, plus a chance to get backstage!
Lynch Travis
Sun, Dec 12, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
A couple of seasons ago, a reader said in this space they didn't go see Fences because they didn't like the lobby poster. It was me holding a bat, so I ondered if they were afraid of big Black men with bats? Seriously A2L, have you been to the Network, the Rose, the Rep, the Ant, all would be described as cozy. Sure we could use a nice airy lobby space, but there is a great courtyard and two accomodating restaurants (one with a bar) just paces away. Mmmm, what is it about our location that bothers you...mmm. Oh, the biggest venue in the country is MI Stadium, ever been there? Talk about cramped! The shows in the space have been wonderful, focused, tight, and allow audiences a unique perspective on the production. Go the Fisher if you must, sit miles from the stage if you must, in seats designed for people size's in the Roaring 20's and leave us alone. Lynch R. Travis Blackbird Company Member Blackbird Board of Directors
Blackbird
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 5:10 p.m.
Thanks, doh! I love saying your name too. Doh! Anyway, it's a nice thing to hear. I hope this becomes a holiday tradition for people. As I've said before, I love the Dickens and the Nutcracker and all of that stuff. This show was born out of a desire to express our own ideas about the holiday. We are very close to the material, and the stories are more than just stories. Every year, we would read "A Child's Christmas in Wales" on xmas eve, and the images of the postmen, "making ghosts with their breath" left an indellible mark on me. Now that I have a daughter, it becomes a whole new thing for me. She is a child, at Christmas, and it will become her story too. Intimacy is the strength of our space. Last week we staged a full Shakespeare, and it was a revelation. This week we're solo performers, talking directly with our audience, like we're all sitting round the fire. Maybe you're afraid of intimacy, A2Lover. That's what I heard from your A2Ex-Lover.
doh
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 4 p.m.
I saw last years version of this show and it was terrific. Heartfelt stories but lots of laughs. Can't wait to see this years version. Come on, small space, big space, who cares, its a great time.
Blackbird
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 2:14 p.m.
John likes a big room. His Mark Twain solo act is on a colossal scale; he needs a lot of room to move around. Sadly, we had to eliminate the flying trapeze from this year's Truman Capote segment, but we make up for it by stepping out after the show and shooting off a few bottle rockets. The dancing girls also had to go. It's a shame, since the Henry Miller piece really benefitted by our rousing rendition of "We Need a Little Christmas." We encourage audience participation, but there won't be any room for the conga line at the end of my tribute to Peter Allen's "Rio De Janeiro." Sorry to everyone for the inconvenience. I am happy to refund the tickets you haven't bought yet, A2Lover. That name is kind of sexy if you say it right.
John Manfredi Owner Etico Productions
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 1:45 p.m.
"The Blackbirds compact new space is perfect for this kind of intimate show" I, for one, just hate shows that are appropriate for the size of the venue, and I like my theatre BIG! I mean you just can't be a reputable company unless you get some size to ya-How you ever gonna get a helicopter in there or fly Spiderman in that space-not that I've ever been there, I'm just saying
Blackbird
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 1:26 p.m.
Is there an echo in here or something? Lover, you are repeating yourself. You just can't help yourself, can you? YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE SHOW, and you have already spread your famous derision all over it. We are opening in an unconventional space, and this show, for one, is stronger than ever. And the space has a lot to do with that. Read the article above and you will see what this show is all about. Heartfelt performances, in an intimate atmosphere. I think you ought to reveal your identity. The days for hiding behind a screen alias are over. We want to know who you are. Disgruntled actor? You have that air about you. Until you have the courage to make yourself known, then readers have no reason to take you seriously. Your chip-on-the-shoulder opinions are laughable. Behind that snobbish phony persona you have created lurks a failed artist. That's my guess. I have offered you free tickets to see shows at our theatre. I have gone out of my way to be nice and accommodating, but you prefer to stay hidden behind a very ironic screen alias. A2Lover? It's a funny name for someone who seems to have nothing substantial or positive to say about anything. Stay home. Don't come see theatre. You clearly don't like it. Patrons walked out last night very moved and affected by what we share with them. The offer stands: send me your name and address to blackbird_theatre@yahoo.com and I'd gladly have you as our guest, any time during the run. Come see a show before you trash it. And be sure to join us for a drink. I have some friends in the community who are just dying to meet you. Barton Bund Founding Artistic Director
A2lover
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 12:37 p.m.
I think the theatre is hampered by the size of the space. I, for one, won't bother to see a show there because of the cramped conditions. A poor choice for a performance space, especially for an up and coming theatre trying gain some recognition and an audience.