Tuesday, June 08, 2010

She’s the Man

If you are looking for something to get you in the mood for Richmond Shakepeare’s upcoming production of “Twelfth Night,” I would heartily (if perhaps unexpectedly) recommend a viewing of the movie, “She’s the Man” from 2006. The film stars an enchanting Amanda Bynes back before she was a Twitter queen and just a promising comic actress. It also features a very hunky Channing Tatum before he became so well-known for his hunkiness. The plot updates and corrupts the general outline of “Twelfth Night” but keeps the essential mistaken-identity relationship between Viola, Sebastian, Olivia and Orsino. There are some truly ridiculous moments (i.e., most of the last 15 minutes) but there are also some hilarious scenes and great interplay between Bynes and Tatum. The movie is a family favorite (particularly with three female soccer players in the family) and so I have heard or seen it about a dozen times. If you don’t have high expectations, I think you’ll find it a nice diversion.

Speaking of expectations, the production of “Rent” that’s being assembled for the Hollywood Bowl sounds pretty amazing, with Neil Patrick Harris directing and Nicole Schwerzingsomething from Pussycat Dolls/Dancing with the Stars recently added to the cast. Personally, I’m just as impressed with the cast for the production opening later this month at the Firehouse and it’s a whole lot more convenient, so I’ll have no problem settling for that.

Sometime recently, I said something about the few shows that are about sports in reference to “Take Me Out.” Shortly thereafter, I started hearing about this new show called “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” which is all about the “sport” of professional wrestling. It’s sounds like a hoot and like a show I’d love to see done here, though it may be a challenge to cast. Still, it’ll go on the “maybe” list for the next trip to NYC…

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