D Wars Awful, Full Monty Great. You Make the Choice

Dragon Wars is One Awful Movie

I chose D (for Dragon) Wars for my Friday night movie. It looked OK in the trailer and my friend Nolan and I were ready for an escapist action movie. Well, we should have escaped the theater and run away from this piece of pure garbage. Based on some Korean legend that unknown creatures will return and devastate the planet a reporter is called in to investigate the matter as The Imoogi Dragon makes its way to Los Angeles, wreaking havoc and destruction. If it was not for my personal policy of not walking out on a movie or play I am reviewing, I would have been out the door on this one 20 minutes into it. This movie is the worst thing I have seen in years. Combine bad acting, the worst special effects since the rubber snake in Anaconda and a plot that makes absolutely no sense and you have the first movie in several years to get the dreaded NO DICE. The D in D-wars stands for DISASTER. Skip this one. You have been warned!

Full Monty is Full of Fun

On stage right now at the Riverwalk Theatre in downtown Lansing is “The Full Monty”. This is a musical that features steelworkers who lost their jobs and decide that since the Chippendales make money stripping, they can too. The problem is they don’t look like the typical male dancer, but set out on a mission to glorify the working man. This endearing story from Terrence McNally takes us into the lives of these men who are proud and strong, but show us they can be sensitive too. With Music and Lyrics by David Yazbewk, this show is a treat from one of our great local community theaters. A lot of hard work went into it and it shows.

There is a large cast of guys and gals and they all work well together, so this is one of those reviews where I hate single out anyone, since they all make this show a success Those who go will enjoy Ethan Link and Anthony Sump. They are paired perfectly as Jerry and Dave, the two guys who come up with the idea to perform. Director Veronica Wing Quick did a wonderful job and she was smart to grab talented local actors Joe Quick and Keith Gracia Wing as Malcolm and Ethan. OK, she is married to one and the other is her brother but she made the right choice keeping it in the family. Keith, who played in Godspell a few months back is one of my favorite local actors and Joe is a talented young man who overplays the Malcolm character just the way he is supposed to. Kerry Waters is perfect as Jeanette, the hard driving show biz matron who helps the guys. Jace McCloy is Nathan. This 5th grader from St. Gerard School charms the pants off all of us.

Up until this production, I had only scene “The Full Monty” on large Broadway type stages. The intimate RWT setting added a dimension to this show I had not scene before. The audience couldn’t help becoming part of the finale. Most of us were hooting and hollering right along with the “on stage audience” . I know I had fun and that means this show gets a perfect four out of Fordyce. It has something for everyone except the kids, this one is recommended for adults only..

Also Don't Forget to catch Warren’s Profession at Boarshead!

The Boarshead Theater has opened its season with “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” Movie and TV legend Paula Prentiss. She plays the title role and her real life daughter Prentiss Benjamin plays her daughter. In this story, from the pen of George Bernard Shaw, Mrs. Warren runs a chain of Brothels across Europe. While, the business brings her wealth and the attention of men, it has estranged her from her now adult daughter who has developed a whole different set of values while she was raised in expensive boarding schools and college all paid for by Mommy. This is a comedy with a very serious story line, something Shaw does well. And the cast does it well, too. First of all, Paula Prentiss is marvelous. She plays Mrs. Warren with style and grace and wit and charm. She proves why she is a legend. Her daughter has inherited her mother’s talent and developed it well. She is a delight t watch and her scenes where she deals with mom are a treat. Also in this cast is a young actor named Jack Moran who plays Frank, the young rogue. He is charming to watch, quick with his lines and is charged with being the most animated character in this play and he does it well. When you add in Lansing’s own veteran actor, Ken Beachler, along with the talents of Gary Houston and Paul Murphy, you get another must see hit from the Boarshead.

This ensemble cast was directed by James Glossman and helped out by the unsung heroes backstage who mixed costumes, lighting, sound and scenery in to a gets the blends together to get a show that earns a perfect Four out of Fordyce. The show runs through September, but don’t wait. Get your tickets now. This show is sure to sell out.