Kenny D.
Yelp
The Ohio Theatre is a wonderful establishment that lives up to its great reputation. With an incredibly beautiful architectural design it's reminiscent of the theatre houses of old.
Whether your observing the marquee, looking "up to" / "down from" the balcony or curving staircases, enjoying the awesome acoustical sounds or looking around the spacious area from the seats, you can appreciate the design of everything around you.
I've attended various musicals and concerts there, even commencement ceremonies. It is indeed of the classiest venues in central Ohio and everyone needs to pay it a visit.
I recently attended the opening night of the Broadway musicals "The Bodyguard" and "Waitress". I'd like to share my experience of the latter.
The "Waitress" is based on the 2007 film of the same name, starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion and Jeremy Sisto (also starring Adrienne Shelly, who wrote and directed it).
The story revolves around of a young, waitress (with exceptional baking skills, particularly in pies), dealing with the anxiety of preparing to be a first-time mother, while stuck in an unfavorable relationship.
This musical was fantastic, with an extraordinary cast, possessing great dancing, acting and most importantly, singing ability. Being a Broadway musical, you're sure to witness the very best that is offered and last night was no disappointment. From the lead's angelic voices to the strong tenors, boisterous thunder and innocent playfulness of the various singers, you get it all. These performers are obviously well-trained with great base personalities to fuel their abilities.
For those that remember the 70s sitcom, "Alice", you may detect slight similarities in characters with Alice, Flo, Vera and even Mel. Did I just date myself with that reference? Ahhh. Oh well. Anyway...
The set was awesome and, despite a brief technical difficulty, things moved with precision and in sync with the comedic, yet deep storyline. Thankfully, being a musical, it presented strong adult themes in light-hearted fashion. I was particularly impressed with the backdrop containing the never-ending road, touched with the leading lines of its path and powerlines in conjunction with the negative space provided by the sky. It did well to represent the location of the diner and her life, being in the "middle of nowhere" with the hopes of destiny on the horizon.
The music was also top-notch. The mini-orchestra was an extraordinary ensemble of musicians with a perfect selection of instruments to accommodate the acts, themes and songs. I especially loved the use of the cello during the dramatic tunes and the "walking bass" used in the semi-jazzy upbeat pieces. They also had a very tight rhythm section that fellow musicians can truly appreciate as being the foundation of all of the musical performances.
Group all of this with the great transitions in lighting from the golden to blue hours to the soft lavender and tight spotlights, reflecting her inner thoughts and you have one incredible experience.
It's a must-see for all, which will give you a greater appreciation for what service workers endure daily. Her determination to build a better future, despite the emotional abuse and lack of support from her husband was heartwarming as it was inspiring.
...and I can't forget the smell of those wonderful pies, baking before and during the show. Now THAT was a true test of will power. This was worse/better than the old 50s trick of pumping popcorn smell through the vents...
Be sure to check it out!
