FIDDLING ON THE ROOF AT THE BUSHNELL

Imagine a plate of stuffed cabbage, at once spicy and sweet, tangy and tasty, brimming with chopped meat, wrapped in a cabbage coat, swimming in tomato sauce. Hungry, yet? The recipe is waiting for you at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford from Tuesday, November 6 to Sunday, November 11, so don’t miss the symbolic meal.

More than fifty years ago, the tales of Sholem Aleichem were immortalized by Jerry Bock for music, Sheldon Harnick for lyrics and Joseph Stein for book in the classic musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” This is a stunning, new version of this traditional favorite, with an Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter taking wing from the original stylings of Jerome Robbins.

It’s1905 Russia, in a shtetl called Anatevka, where the dairy man Tevye lives with his opinionated wife Golde, his five unmarried daughters, three of whom are determined to marry against his wishes, a cartful of poverty, a lame horse, and a Tsar who wants to force the Jews from their village to scatter with the winds.

Can Tevye endure the changes that assail him, while still maintaining his faith and shaky position as father, husband and friend, that cause him to be as insecure as a fiddler perched on a roof? As each one of his strong willed daughters comes to him wanting his blessing, each abandoning the old honored traditions of using a matchmaker, a yente, to arrange a marriage, Tevye is tested.

First Tzeitel wants to marry Motel the tailor for love, then Hodel falls for Perchik the teacher and finally, hardest to believe, Chava wants to marry out of her faith, to a Russian soldier. Tevye is like a tree, willing to bend but afraid he will surely break.

Songs like “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Tradition,” “Miracle of Miracles,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker” and many more swirl to greatness.

For tickets ($23-113), call the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5900 or online atwww.bushnell.org. Performances are Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 pm. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Travel back in time with Tevye and his family to a long forgotten corner of the world where the villagers take pride in minding your business for you and are willing to share your laughter and your tears.

HARTFORD STAGE INVITES YOU TO THE COURT OF “HENRY V”

A stark stage, in the round, without benefit of scenery, save for a floor map of the world, is the only introduction to the Hartford Stage’s dramatic production of Shakespeare’s intense history play “Henry V” until Sunday, November 11.

Upon the shoulders of a king, leadership and responsibility to his people lie heavily   Can a good ruler be moral and put the fate of his subjects before his own needs and status? King Henry V, embodied in all his feelings and his flaws by Stephen Louis Grush, struggles with choices that will define his position of power.

King Henry V of England has the ability to be a hero but in achieving his goals his conduct is less than noble.  With determination and diligence, he sets his crown on defeating the French for he truly believes the throne of France belongs to him.

The audience is encouraged to imagine the multitude of war scenes and get into Henry’s head, much as they would have in Shakespeare’s time.  We must anticipate his conflicts and his need to prove he is a genuine king, one quite different from the impetuous youth who partied all too well. He must convince himself and his people that God will reward him for his military deeds.

Winning the Battle of Agincourt is a decisive act on Henry’s part, ensuring him as one of the most successful and famous rulers in English history.  His Crispin’s Day speech calls on the English to rise to glory and commit to the task of victory.

A stellar cast includes Peter Francis James as the Chorus and Sir Thomas Erpingham,  Felicity Jones Latta as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Nym and Alice, Miles Anderson as  Bishop of Ely and Pistol,  Karen Aldridge as Exeter,  Evelyn Spahr as Lord Scroop, Katherine, Kate Forbes as the Constable of France and Burgundy and Governor of Harfleur and Baron Vaughn as Captain Gower, Mistress Quickly and Fluellen.

Thanks to director Elizabeth Williamson we feel we are planning the strategies, in the counsel room and on the battlefields.

For tickets ($25 and up), call the Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street, Hartford at 860-527=5151 or online at www.hartfordstage.org.  Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m Saturday and Sunday.

Go to war with Henry V as he calculatingly plots to add France to his empire.

ANSWER THE DOOR FOR “THE ROOMMATE”

LINDA POWELL (ON FLOOR) AND TASHA LAWRENCE

PHOTO BY T. CHARLES ERICKSON

The first time most of us encounter a roommate situation, we are freshmen at college, anxious to please, uncertain of all the new and untested options at our disposal.  The occasion might be scary …what if we don’t like each other or get along?  The occasion might be joyous…we are soul mates destined to be bff’s forever.

How much more daunting is it to be fifty-somethings and opening your heart and home to a complete stranger?  Will you be compatible or drive each other bonkers?  Will you cook and break bread together and celebrate holidays or will you tiptoe around each other and pretend you are each alone?

Come make the acquaintance of Sharon, an eager to please Linda Powell, who lives in the conservative mid-western state of Iowa.  Probably for financial reasons (we are never quite sure), she has invited Robyn, a more sophisticated and worldly Tasha Lawrence, to share her home in Jen Silverman’s play “The Roommate” at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven until Sunday, November 4.

Talk about your odd couples. These two, on the surface, have little in common, Sharon loves all kinds of food and Robyn is a vegan.  Sharon is originally from Illinois while Robyn hails from the home of danger and decadence, the Bronx, New York.  Each is divorced and has relationship issues with their offspring.  Sharon is

straight as an arrow and Robyn is gay. As the pair tentatively get acquainted (softly hum “Getting to Know You” from “The King and I”), Sharon confesses the highlight of her week is attending a reading group/ book club, while Robyn admits to a past that includes  writing slam poetry  and making voodoo dolls from pottery.

Quirky revelations drop like articles of clothing off a dress store’s rack and we learn real history about these two unlikely housemates. Can the insecure but sincere Sharon find happiness with the power driven and ambitious Robyn?  Hold your breath as roles are reversed to the astonishment of both. Mike Donahue directs this intriguing foray into these diverse female personalities, on a comfortable set designed by Dane Laffrey.

For tickets ($35.50-91.50), call Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Drive, New Haven at 203-787-4282 or online at www.longwharf.org.  Performances are Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Thursday at 8 p.m.,  Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Walk into Sharon’s home in the corn fed state of Iowa and experience the whirlwind effect that Robyn, the new roommate, has on both their lives.

"THE DROWSY CHAPERONE” IS NO SLEEPER

If you love musical theater, a special treat is waiting for you at Goodspeed Musicals until Sunday, November 25 so don’t be caught napping. To guide you on this journey of discovery, you first have to make the acquaintance of The Man in Chair, a truly delightful character who is most anxious to share his love for the genre and guarantee that you love it as much as he does. John Scherer couldn’t be more charming and personable as our host as he serves as commentator, putting on a phonograph record of his favorite show from 1928, an homage to the Jazz Age, stuffed with magical characters, “The Drowsy Chaperone.” His little apartment suddenly morphs into the show as it comes to life before our unbelieving eyes. Wow!

As it delightfully spoofs the musical comedies of the past, we learn we are participating in the wedding of the century, when Robert Martin (Clyde Alves) meets the sparkling show star Janet Van de Graaff (Stephanie Rothenberg) on a cruise and instantly falls in love. The nuptials are slated to take place immediately, with best man George (Tim Falter) as wedding planner. Unfortunately Janet’s producer Feldzieg (James Judy) can’t afford for her to retire from show biz and plots to stop the couple from saying their “I dos.” To motivate Feldzieg a little more, there are two gangsters at the house, a comic duo (Blakely Slaybaugh and Parker Slaybaugh), who are posing as pastry chefs and threaten him at every turn.

In desperation, Feldzieg employs a Latin lover Aldolpho, a slickly sauve (not!) John Rapson to seduce the bride-to-be but he mistakes her chaperone (Jennifer Allen) for Janet and woos her into submission. “The Drowsy Chaperone” began its stage life as an entertainment for a stag party for the wedding of theatrical couple Bob Martin and Janet Van De Graaff in Canada and has grown, after several reincarnations, into the show the Goodspeed is presenting so wonderfully. Hunter Foster directs this joy stuffed musical adventure, with glorious costuming by Gregg Barnes, a remarkable set by Howard Jones and clever choreography by Chris Bailey.

With book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, winner of two Tonys for best score and best book and four Drama Desks for outstanding musical, book, lyrics and music, this is a show-within-a-show, centering around a conceited showgirl who decides to marry a man she’s known for two New York minutes and a producer who sees his meal ticket waltzing away. The show depends on every campy device known to musical comedy and happily exploits them all. Meanwhile The Man in Chair comments as he tries hard not to jump into the action and save the day and the damsel.

Eccentric and memorable characters lead us on a merry parade to the wedding day, with wannabe stars (Ruth Pferdehirt), dowager ladies (Ruth Gottschall), Trix the Aviatrix (Danielle lee Greaves) and even the butler (Jay Aubrey Jones) insinuating themselves into the bride and groom’s big day and into the pleasure filled plot.

For tickets ($29 and up), call the Goodspeed Musicals, East Haddam at 860-873-8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org. Performances are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select 2 p.m. shows), Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. (with select 6:30 p.m. shows).

Come to the wedding and no gifts are required on your part. You'll be the recipient of a gift of laughter and joy and musical merriment as “The Drowsy Chaperone” bursts into life magically before your eyes. If you are like I am, you’ll want to take The Man in Chair home, with his phonograph, to introduce you to more of his favorites. What fun!

TAKE A DIP IN “THE RIVER” AT HARTFORD THEATERWORKS

Mystery swirls in the dark waters that conceal schools of silvery sea trout in the river. A fisherman’s paradise, they are a challenge to catch, especially if you refuse to cheat in the process by using a “monster munch,” a pickle and olive flavored lure which is tantamount to poaching.  Sea trout move like a lightning bolt and are huge creatures, a delight to the purist fisherman to land.

Jez Butterworth has hooked a fascinating line in “The River” now being baited at Hartford TheaterWorks until Sunday, November 11.  The play is set in an isolated cabin, accurately detailed by Brian Prather, where we first encounter The Man, Billy Carter, who lives and breathes his fascination for fish.

He definitely wants a female companion to share his love of the shiny and elusive creatures, a woman who will stand along side him in his river of dreams. Does such a woman exist?  To add to the drama, these amazing beings can only be caught on one moonless night of the year, lucky for us, and this is the night.

Does The Man lure his female friends to his lair as carefully and systematically as he sets out to catch his sea trout?  He clearly loves both pursuits, proclaiming affection for each, only destined to be disappointed if his “lures” don’t work. Andrea Goss and Jasmine Batchelor serve the story as the much desired ladies who ultimately disillusion him.  In the process, The Man prepares a sea trout for tasty consumption.  The fish, fortunately, lives up to its reputation.  Rob Ruggiero directs this simple on the surface tale that has plenty of intrigue underneath its deep waters.

For tickets ($45-70), call TheaterWorks, 233 Pearl Street, Hartford at 860-527-7838 or online at www.twhartford.org.  Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

You don't have to be an angler to get hooked on this poetic homage to the art of catching creatures, both animal and human.

AN INTRIGUING SPIDER’S WEB AT SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY

If you are a promising writer, actor, sports personality, model or musician, in the public eye on the brink of fame and fortune, beware the predatory trap of a master spider maker.  Alexa Vere De Vere is a fictional creation designed for herself, by herself, and she is dangerous to anyone who is caught in her web of lies.

Douglas Carter Beane has placed Alexa in the center of his intriguing comic drama “As Bees in Honey Drown,” a phrase Alexa is wont to say as she drops names and places to impress.  Nothing she says or does is true so be careful before she catches you in her calculated hands.

The Performing Arts Department of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield offered up “As Bees in Honey Drown” until October 14 in their Little Theater.

Evan Wyler, a new and promising writer, is her latest victim.  Evan, a naïve Paxton McLane, believes everything this unscrupulous smooth talking grifter is selling.  Delaney Lynch is all too believable as she entices Evan into writing her glamorous life story, purported to be for Hollywood consumption.

When Even discovers his credit card has been maxed out and Alexa has conveniently disappeared, he realizes he is only one victim of many.  He soon meets

the producer Kaden (Andrew Peloquin),  Bethany the wannabe actress (Allison Campbell), Illya the model (Olivia Porriello) and Mike, her dead husband who is very much alive (Kevin Carlson).

Can Evan and this string of victims achieve a level of revenge?  Should he just forget and forgive and go on with his career? Will this powerful self -assured potential star maker get what she deserves? Jim Schilling directs this foray into this sting and scheme operation manipulated by one devilish dream maker and destroyer.

Imagine the chutzpah it takes to feed this line of lies and have no conscience or concern when lives and hopes and promises are destroyed.

“BEAT BUGS” A NEW MUSICAL ADVENTURE ENCHANTS IN MILFORD

Mr. Mustard  and the Five Bugs he is trying to destroy but can't!

A colony of bugs are bopping to the beat of the Beatles’ music:  who could ask for anything more?  Credit the creative talents of Pantochino Productions for being the first ever to bring this new  children’s musical to the stage at the Milford Arts Council weekends until Sunday, October 28.   

Based on the animated Netflix series,  “Beat Bugs” was created

By Josh Wakely and written by Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti, with garden set by Von Del Mar, cute and clever costuming by Jimmy Johansmeyer, musical direction by Justin Rugg and staging and direction by Bert Bernardini.

A community of bugs with a slowish slug Walter, Barret Crowder,  an inventive cricket Crick, David Katz, a friendly 

fire fly Buzz, Sydney Maher, a lovely ladybug Kumi, Ariana

Morales, and a brave beetle Jay, Gian Raffaele DiCostanza, revel in taking an adventure, a magical and mysterious journey in their backyard. Led by a host of fire flies, these five pals are

busy celebrating Crick’s birthday together.

Soon they find themselves in a land blessed with strawberry fields forever and deem it heavenly.  Unbeknownst to them, in another part of town, a mean Mr. Mustard, Jimmy Johansmeyer, without the aid of his loyal assistant Prudence Mary Mannix , is plotting  to build a Premium Power Solution Plant that would pollute and, ultimately, destroy all the flora and fauna, bugs and berries, and force any living creature to move their home to a new location in order to survive.

With echoes of “Strawberry Fields Forever,” the pals discover this wondrous new nature preserve and conjure up the Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band, led by Justin Rugg, to express their joy. Tunes like “All You Need is Love,” “We Can Work It Out,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “Yellow Submarine” and “With a Little Help From My Friends” create a new Woodstock, in this case Bugstock.  They are helped in the song fest by Doris, a spider (Anna Hicks) and Postman Bee (Michael Battista).

Will Mr. Sun  (Don Poggio) or the Queen Bee (Shelley Marsh Poggio) be able to save the day and the garden preserve?  Can Prudence persuade mean Mr. Mustard to mend his mischievous manners?  The show is thoroughly delightful and may make you itch for more.  The cast is totally enchanting, even the nasty you know who.

For tickets ($22 online, $25 at the door), go online to www.pantochino.com.  Performances are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Milford Arts Council at the train station, 40 Railroad Avenue South.  Free parking is at the bank lot nearby.  A selection of

“Beatles” cupcakes from Sweet Cupcasions are available at the lower level speakeasy to enjoy at your cabaret table. Bring your own goodies to share.

Take the family to this new novel musical show with a message: wherever your friends are is home and love is sure to fill every room.