Veteran and Award-winning Chicago-born and Los Angeles-based Theatre Artist and Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Actor Darryl Maximilian Robinson shares information and insights regarding his more than five decades of involvement in The Performing Arts.
Darryl Maximilian Robinson Faced The Great Challenge of Appearing as Vladimir While Directing Three Different Excaliber Shakespeare Company Multiracial Cast Revivals of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot"!
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MULTIRACIAL QUARTET IN "WAITING"!: Actors DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON as VLADIMIR,
MICHAEL ALT as ESTRAGON, CAREY S. MEANS as POZZO and PATRICK HENSLER as
LUCKY in the 1992 EXCALIBER PRODUCTIONS LTD. multiracial cast revival of
the great SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT" directed by Mr. Robinson
and presented at THE HISTORIC SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in The Central
West End of St. Louis, Mo. 1992 Excaliber Productions, Ltd. in St.
Louis "WAITING FOR GODOT" Archival Photo by CARL VALLE.
Between 1992
And 2001, In St. Louis And Chicago, Excaliber Shakespeare Company of
Chicago Founder Darryl Maximilian Robinson Performed As Vladimir And Directed A
Trio of Revivals of the Great Irish Playwright Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot,
And In The Process, Winning A 1998 WKKC Radio Critic's Corner Fine Arts
Award for Outstanding Director of A Play for His 1997 Staging of The
Work at The Windy City's Heartland Cafe Studio Theatre With A
Multiracial Cast!
"At the Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre, 208 W. Harrison
Street, the multicultural Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago is
currently putting on "Waiting for Godot," an existential dramatic and
comedic piece by Samuel Beckett. And seeing Godot is worth waiting for.
The play features Darryl Maximilian Robinson, founder and artistic
director as Vladimir, Tom Carlson as Estragon, John Martin Keenan as
Pozzo and Bruno Bafia as Lucky. Both Carlson and Robinson shine in their
roles, playing off one another with challenging dialogue of over two
hours in length. What is needed to keep the audience engaged are lots of
changes in speech - including sounds, dialects and points of emphasis -
and both Carlson and Robinson are successful in their efforts." -- D. Kevin McNeir, The Austin Weekly News ( Chicago ), Dec. 13, 2001.
"If one has to wait over two-and-a-half hours for someone who
never arrives, it's hard to think of more engaging company than Darryl
Maximilian Robinson. The versatile actor and director has cast himself
as Vladimir in Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago's intriguing
production of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot"." -- Myrna Petlicki, The Pioneer Press Oak Leaves, Nov. 21, 2001.
"We never learn much about this pair of funny, sad vagrants.
DiDi, the more hopeful and confident of the duo, seems to be a dandy
fallen on hard times. With impeccable timing, Robinson incorporates
everyone from Looney Tunes cartoon characters to Marlon Brando's Vito
Corleone into his performance. With eyes dancing gleefully one moment,
he shifts from shtick to pathos - complete with tears streaking his
cheek - in a split second. His bits of inventive comic business
punctuate even the dullest of lines to "sell" them to the audience." -- Doug Deuchler, The Wednesday Journal of Oak Park, Nov. 21, 2001.
"If one must see that old groundbreaker of Theatre of the Absurd -
Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" - you couldn't do better than
Shakespeare Excaliber Company's superb production currently mounted in
the tiny Heartland Cafe Studio. The cast exceeds expectations in this
existential tragic-comedy, which has been called everything from a comic
masterpiece to a depressing, tragic play that is terribly difficult to
sit through. Designer / Director Darryl Maximilian Robinson is brilliant
in the role of Vladimir. His vocal power and range are reminiscent of
Paul Robeson, and his chameleonlike variety of facial expressions,
sinuous body language, bold stance and total charisma are captivating."
-- Beverly Friend, The Chicago Skyline, June 19, 1997.
EXCALIBER'S BEST DIRECTOR'S NOTE EVER!: Bestowed upon him exactly 22
years ago by experienced Chicago area radio theatre critic and
performing arts talk show host NATHANIEL McCLIN, Excaliber Shakespeare
Company of Chicago Founder, Artistic Director and Producer DARRYL
MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON displays his 1998 CHICAGO WKKC RADIO CRITIC'S CORNER
FINE ARTS AWARD for Outstanding Director Of The Play for his staging of
ESC'S 1997 multiracial cast revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S
"WAITING FOR GODOT" at The Heartland Café Studio Theatre in The Windy
City. 2017 photo of Darryl Maximilian Robinson In His Awards Room by J.
L. WATT. ( who also served as Production Stage Manager of the 1992
EXCALIBER PRODUCTIONS, LTD. multiracial cast revival production of
"WAITING FOR GODOT" at The Historic Second Presbyterian Church in The
Central West End of St. Louis, Mo. ).
NOTHING TO BE DONE!Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Excaliber Productions, Ltd. in St. Louis Founder, Artistic Director, Producer and Principal Actor Darryl Maximilian Robinson considers Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godotone
of the finest pieces of drama written for the stage. He also considers
it one of the most difficult stage plays to act in or to direct. It is
also, however, an economically easy play to promote and produce due to
its long and illustrious history as a groundbreaking work in The Theatre of the Absurd
and a classic piece of World Literature. It therefore, due to its small
cast and managable technical requirements, and not entirely defined
characters ( the characters and direction ofGodot are
truly what the performers and director choose to make them! ), became a
piece members of the multiracial chamber theatre in both Chicago and St.
Louis would embrace and perform with passion, commitment and skill. Mr.
Robinson first mounted and played Vladimir in Godot in the Fall of 1992 at the historic Second Presbyterian Church in The Central West End of St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to Mr. Robinson as Vladimir, this Excaliber Productions, Ltd. revival featured Michael Alt as Estragon, Carey S. Means as Pozzo, Patrick B. Hensler as Lucky and Philip Alexis Watt as The Boy. J. L. Watt served as Production Stage Manager, Lighting Designer and Sound Technician and Visual Artist Todd Micheal Fichter created the Scenic Road Painting. In the Spring of 1997, Mr. Robinson returned to the Beckett Piece again! On this occasion Mr. Robinson directed, designed and played the role of Vladimir opposite Mark Poremba as Estragon, Kym Crawford as Pozzo and Chicago Theatre newcommer Shawn Lee Martin as Lucky and The Boy. The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago revival production was co-designed and co-produced by ESC dramaturg and noted Chicago playwright Jeff Helgeson in the intimate confines of The Heartland Cafe Studio Theatre of the Rogers Park neighborhood of The Windy City. The 1997 ESC revival received several fine notices, and early in the folowing year,
on Feb. 14, 1998., broadcast live locally with Theatre Critic and
Host Nathaniel McClin on-the-air at 89. 3 FM., Darryl Maxmilian Robinson
was named winner of a 1998 WKKC Radio Critic's Corner Fine Arts Award
for Outstanding Director of A Play for the ESC's 1997 staging of Godot,
and Shawn Lee Martin was named winner of a 1998 WKKC Radio Critic's
Corner Fine Arts Award for Outstanding Debut Performance By An Actor In A
Play for his portrayal of Lucky and The Boy. Mr. Robinson and Mr.
Martin were both present to accept their honors and to discuss their
work in the Beckett play on-the-air on that occasion. In the Late Fall of 2001, with plans to close and shutter The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago looming, Mr. Robinson returned toGodotfor a third and final staging of Beckett's work, this time at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of Oak Park, IL. Mr. Robinson directed, designed, produced and played Vladimir opposite Tom Carlson as Estragon, John Martin Keenan as Pozzo and Bruno Bafia ( who also served as Production Stage Manager ) as Lucky and The Boy. The 2001 Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago revival of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godotearned
fine reviews and ( with its closing on Dec. 30, 2001 ) was the final
public production staging of a play by the multiracial, non-Equity
professional chamber theatre. Now, 27 years after he first directed the
play in St. Louis, and 18 years after he last directed the piece in The
Greater Chicagoland area, Darryl Maximilian Robinson still has fond memories and takes great pride in having staged Beckett's most acclaimed work,
and he expresses his deep gratitude and thanks to the trio of talented
casts and crews who joined him in the huge challenge and true journey
that is Waiting for Godot!
"...Darryl Maximilian Robinson vividly demonstrates how astute
direction, superior acting and a wonderful sense of irony and humor can
transform an intellectual masterpiece into an effervescent and lively
evening of theatre." -- Mike Spitz, Nightlines Theatre, June 4, 1997.
WAITING FOR GODOT, Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago, at
the Heartland Studio Theater. For much of its three-hour span, Darryl
Maximilian Robinson's revival digs deep into a great play's fusion of
gallows humor and genuine despair. But sometimes this production
overstates the crisis, as in Vladimir's belabored final breakdown.
Beckett's two tramps are unforgettable prisoners of habit and
victims of memory; loudly desperate to prove they were here, they also
fear there's "nothing to be done." Robinson's Vladimir and Mark
Poremba's Estragon are often worthy of Beckett, but Poremba's flat
delivery can make Estragon's thickness more irritating than pathetic,
and Robinson's grandiloquent Vladimir sometimes explodes into Robin
Williams-style impersonations that seem more auditions than cries for
help. (Bert Lahr, the most famous Vladimir, had only to imitate
himself.) But the eloquence comes through: the play abounds with such
minimalist gems as Vladimir's poignant "The air is full of our cries,
but habit is a great deadener." Given the production's slow pace, few of
these are lost, though a brisker tempo would have driven home the
comedy.
Kim Crawford's pompous, privileged Pozzo is full of violent
affectations in the first act but becomes more real in the second, when
he's blinded into humility. Making a very impressive Chicago debut,
Shawn Martin creates a winsome, Chaplinesque Lucky: his gracefully
athletic delivery of the ill-named slave's monologue is acting verging
on euphoria. --Lawrence Bommer
Note: The multiracial, non-Equity professional chamber theatre The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago is pleased, proud and honored to share and present this archival article in acknowlegement of 2019: The Year of Chicago Theatre! This theatre article is also presented in appreciation of the fine and committed work of all of Excaliber Productions, Ltd. Company Members of St. Louis, Missouri and as part of The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project.
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MULTIRACIAL, NON-EQUITY PROFESSIONAL CHAMBER THEATRE'S FOUNDER!: Los
Angeles-based Theatre Artist and Excaliber Shakespeare Company of
Chicago Founder, Artistic Director, Producer and Joseph Jefferson
Citation Award-winning Principal Actor DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON has
been involved in over 250 live stage and literary arts presentations
around the country during his 45-year-long stage career. 2018 Photo of
Mr. Robinson at Los Angeles' historic UNION STATION by DANNY BELROSE.
THE
EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO'S FINAL SHOW PROGRAM!:
Showcard and Program Page Cover of The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of
Chicago revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT" at
The Harrison Street Studio Theatre of Oak Park, IL. in 2001.
A PROPER POZZO: Talented young actor JOHN MARTIN KEENAN earned critical
praise for his performance as POZZO in Director DARRYL MAXIMILIAN
ROBINSON'S 2001 Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago multiracial
cast revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT" at The
Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre in Oak Park, Il.
NOV. 21, 2001 PIONEER PRESS OAK LEAVES Theatre Review of DIRECTOR
DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON'S EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO
2001 Revival Production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S acclaimed comic-tragic masterpiece "WAITING FOR GODOT" by MYRNA PETLICKI.
NOV. 21, 2001 WEDNESDAY JOURNAL OF OAK PARK Theatre Review of DIRECTOR
DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON'S EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO
2001 Revival Production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S acclaimed comic-tragic
dramatic masterpiece "WAITING FOR GODOT" by DOUG DEUCHLER.
Script cover for SAMUEL BECKETT'S acclaimed play "WAITING FOR GODOT."
1997 EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO "WAITING FOR GODOT" Program Cover Designed by KIM CRAWFORD.
Excaliber
Shakespeare Company of Chicago Founder DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON won a
1998 CHICAGO WKKC RADIO CRITIC'S CORNER FINE ARTS AWARD for Outstanding
Director Of The Play for his staging of the ESC's 1997 multiracial cast
revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT",
successfully-mounted at the intimate and wonderful HEARTLAND CAFE STUDIO
THEATRE in The Windy City.
A
VERY LUCKY WINDY CITY STAGE DEBUT: A Co-Founder of LA's
critically-praised FURIOUS THEATRE CO., skilled and highly-talented Los
Angeles stage actor SHAWN LEE garnered his first critical praise and an
acting award ( A 1998 CHICAGO WKKC RADIO CRITIC'S CORNER FINE ARTS AWARD
for Outstanding Debut Performance By An Actor In A Play ) for his
portrayal of LUCKY in Director DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON's staging of
the 1997 EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO multiracial cast
revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT" at The
Heartland Café Studio Theatre in The Windy City.
June
19, 1997 CHICAGO SKYLINE Theatre Review of The Excaliber Shakespeare
Company of Chicago revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR
GODOT" by BEVERLY FRIEND.
THE 1997 ESC "GOGO"!: A
highly-respected theatre performer and stage company manager (
particularly as Managing Director and Company Member of The Windy City
ensemble HOLY CITY SHAKESPEARE ), the skilled and talented MARK POREMBA
appeared as ESTRAGON in the 1997 EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF
CHICAGO multiracial revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR
GODOT" at The Heartland Café Studio Theatre in The Windy City.
NEW
KID ONSTAGE IN BECKETT: Gifted young actor SHAWN LEE ( newly arrived
from college graduation with a degree in Theatre ) made his Chicago
professional stage acting debut in the 1997 EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE
COMPANY OF CHICAGO multiracial cast revival production of SAMUEL
BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT" at THE HEARTLAND CAFE STUDIO THEATRE in
The Windy City winning wonderful reviews for his performance as LUCKY
and THE BOY. SHAWN LEE would go on to win A 1998 CHICAGO WKKC RADIO
CRITIC'S CORNER FINE ARTS AWARD for Outstanding Debut Performance By An
Actor for his work in "GODOT."
THE EXCALIBER PRODUCTIONS, LTD. ST. LOUIS "POZZO"!: Noted
stage actor, vocalist and animated television and film voice-over
performer CAREY S. MEANS appeared as POZZO in the 1992 EXCALIBER
PRODUCTIONS, LTD. multiracial cast revival production of SAMUEL
BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT" at THE HISTORIC SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
in The Central West End in St. Louis, MO.
THE ESC'S HEARTLAND CAFE STUDIO THEATRE "GODOT" CO-DESIGNER AND ASSOCIATE PRODUCER!:Excaliber
Shakespeare Company of Chicago Associate Producer and Dramaturg JEFF
HELGESON provided extensive co-design and technical support for the
two-time 1998 Chicago WKKC Radio Critic's Corner Fine Arts
Award-winning, multiracial cast revival production of Director DARRYL
MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON'S staging of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT"
presented at The Heartland Café Studio Theatre in The Windy City in
1997.
THE BOY IN THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ST. LOUIS "GODOT"!: Talented
actor PHILIP WATT ( while still a teenager ) appeared as THE BOY in the 1992 EXCALIBER
PRODUCTIONS, LTD. multiracial cast revival production of SAMUEL
BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT" at The Historic Second Presbyterian Church
in The Central West of St. Louis, MO.
The acclaimed and great Irish playwright SAMUEL BECKETT, author of "WAITING FOR GODOT."
THE EXCALIBER PRODUCTIONS, LTD. IN ST. LOUIS "GODOT" MAN-BEHIND-THE-SCENES!: Talented
visual artist J. L. WATT served as Production Stage Manager of Director
DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON'S first staging of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING
FOR GODOT" with the 1992 multiracial cast revival of the work by
EXCALIBER PRODUCTIONS, LTD. at The Historic Second Presbyterian Church
in The Central West End of St. Louis.
Logo
of the multiracial, non-Equity professional chamber theatre, THE
EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO designed by TONY HRUBES.
A Showcard Logo Design for Playwright SAMUEL BECKETT'S most acclaimed stage work "WAITING FOR GODOT."
AN AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR OF "GODOT"!: Excaliber
Shakespeare Company of Chicago Founder and Los Angeles-based Theatre
Artist DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON has faced the great priviledge and
challenge of directing and playing the role of VLADIMIR in SAMUEL
BECKETT'S comic-dramatic masterpiece "WAITING FOR GODOT" on no less than
three occasions in his 46-year-long stage career. In a multiracial
revival staging by Excaliber Productions, Ltd. at The Historic Second
Prsbyterian Church of St. Louis in 1992; in a two-time Chicago WKKC
Radio Critic's Corner Fine Arts Award-winning production by The
Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago at The Heartland Café Studio
Theatre in The Windy City in 1997; and a well-received third mounting of
Beckett's play by The ESC at The Harrison Street Studio Theatre of Oak
Park, Il. in 2001.
June
4, 1997 CHICAGO NIGHTLIGHTS Theatre Review of The Excaliber Shakespeare
Company of Chicago revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR
GODOT" at The Heartland Café Studio Theatre in The Windy City by MIKE
SPITZ.
A
NICE HOUSE TO PLAY BECKETT IN: It was in the notable and HISTORIC
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in The Central West End of St. Louis, Mo.
where Director DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON'S 1992 EXCALIBER PRODUCTIONS,
LTD. multiracial cast revival of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT"
was presented.
The
talented actor BRUNO BAFIA played the roles of LUCKY and THE BOY in
Director DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON'S 2001 Excaliber Shakespeare Company
of Chicago production of SAMUEL BECKETT"S "WAITING FOR GODOT" at The
Harrison Street Studio Theatre in Oak Park, Il.
Nov.
21, 2001 PIONEER PRESS OAK LEAVES News-photo of Director DARRYL
MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON as VLADIMIR and BRUNO BAFIO as LUCKY in THE
EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO revival production of SAMUEL
BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT" at The Harrison Street Studio Theatre of
Oak Park, IL. by TOM CARLSON.
Dec.
13, 2001 AUSTIN WEEKLY NEWS Theatre Review of THE EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE
COMPANY OF CHICAGO revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR
GODOT" by D. KEVIN MCNEIR.
Program
Cast / Crew List Page of the 2001 EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF
CHICAGO revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT" at
The Harrison Street Studio Theatre of Oak Park, IL. courtesy of The ESC.
Talented
actor TOM CARLSON appeared as ESTRAGON in the 2001 Excaliber
Shakespeare Company of Chicago revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S
"WAITING FOR GODOT" at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of
Oak Park, Il.
During
the years of 1997 and 1999, the multiracial, non-Equity professional
chamber theatre, THE EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO mounted
multiple critically-praised, award-nominated and award-winning,
intimate, live theatre productions at THE HEARTLAND CAFE STUDIO THEATRE
in The Windy City.
AN AWARD-WINNING ACTOR OF EXCALIBER'S "GODOT"!:Joined
by Excaliber Shakespeare of Chicago Associate Producer and Dramaturg
JEFF HELGESON ( left ) and Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago
Founder, Artistic Director and Producer DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON (
right ), newly-arrived Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago Acting
Company Member SHAWN LEE ( center ) accepts his 1998 Chicago WKKC Radio
Critic's Corner Fine Arts Award for Oustanding Debut Performance By An
Actor In A Play for his wonderful portrayals of LUCKY and THE BOY in the
ESC's 1997 revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S "WAITING FOR GODOT"
at The Heartland Café Studio Theatre in The Windy City.
AN HONOR FOR A DIRECTOR OF THE ESC'S CHICAGO HEARTLAND CAFE STUDIO THEATRE "GODOT"!: Excaliber
Shakespeare Company of Chicago Founder and Los Angeles-based Theatre
Artist DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON won a 1998 Chicago WKKC Radio Critic's
Corner Fine Arts Award as Outstanding Director Of The Play "WAITING FOR
GODOT" for his staging of The ESC's 1997 revival production of SAMUEL
BECKETT'S comic-dramatic masterpiece at The Heartland Café Studio
Theatre in The Windy City.
A
PAIR OF EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY "GODOT" ACTORS REUNITE: Excaliber
Shakespeare Company of Chicago Founder, Artistic Director and veteran
Windy City stage actor DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON ( Right ) and
Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago former member and fellow Windy
City stage actor KIM CRAWFORD pose for a Sunday March 18, 2018 reunion
photo before an elevator at the historic LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO. In
1997, Mr. Robinson produced, directed and appeared as VLADIMIR opposite
the talented Mr. Crawford as POZZO in the ESC's critically-praised,
award-winning, multiracial revival production of SAMUEL BECKETT'S
"WAITING FOR GODOT" at THE HEARTLAND CAFE STUDIO THEATRE in the Rogers
Park neighborhood of Chicago. Mr. Robinson won a 1998 WKKC RADIO CHICAGO
CRITIC'S CORNER FINE ARTS AWARD for Outstanding Director Of A Play for
his work in the ESC revival which also featured skilled actors MARK
POREMBA as POZZO and SHAWN LEE as LUCKY and THE BOY ( for which the fine
young performer earned a 1998 WKKC RADIO CHICAGO CRITIC'S CORNER FINE
ARTS AWARD for Outstanding Debut Performance By An Actor In A Play ).
This photo of Mr. Robinson and Mr. Crawford is the first taken of the
pair of veteran Chicago stage performers together in 21 years.
Theatre Review: 'THE FRONT PAGE Is A Fun Romp Through An Old-Timey Newsroom' by Therese Dersch Note: "The Front Page" was presented by The Culver City Public Theatre July 13th through August 4th of 2024 at The Carlson Memorial Park in Culver City, California. The Production recently closed. This is a post-production notice by an audience member. "The Front Page," the play the film "His Girl Friday" is based on, was first produced in 1928. Written by two former Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, one wonders what craziness was going on in the newsrooms of the time that inspired it. The Culver City Public Theatre production is charming, silly in the best Monty Pythonish way, and laugh out loud funny. The story centers around reporters working the police beat in Chicago. One of them, Hildy, plans to leave the newspaper business for what she feels is a more respectable life as a wife to an insurance salesman. Life, as oft...
ON THE WEST COAST, theatregoers have seen veteran and award-winning Chicago-born and stage-trained actor Darryl Maximilian Robinson appear in numerous roles onstage during his 14 years as a City of Angels thespian. He has garnered critical praise for his performances as Major-General Stanley in "The Pirates of Penzance," District Attorney Flint in "Night of January 16th," Booker T. Washington in "Ragtime," Butler John Lawless in "The Happiest Millionaire" and Henry Albertson in "The Fantasticks." But usually he has performed his work in small and intimate venues. However, this past summer, he shared his talents in a somewhat larger forum. Darryl Maximilian Robinson, who received both a 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award for Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play and a 1997 Chicago Black Theatre Alliance / Ira Aldridge Award nomination for Best Leading Actor In A Play for his critically-praised performance as Sam ...
Remembering The Great And Highly Regarded Mr. William Daniels in '1776'! Theatre Lovers And Supporters, The History of our nation is very Important, including American Theatre History. In 1969, the versatile and skilled actor William Daniels became the first thespian on Broadway to decline a Tony Award nomination. William Daniels had given a performance which was considered by many critics as one of the best of the season when he created the leading role of "the obnoxious and disliked" yet highly determined John Adams in the rousing and patriotic musical "1776," a Broadway hit with book by Peter Stone and music and lyrics by passionate American History Buff Sherman Edwards which would capture 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical of the Year ( defeating the popular tribal rock musical "Hair" ). William Daniels had received a 1969 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured ( or Supporting ) Actor In A Musical for his acclaimed portrayal of...
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