Hi Diana,

A GOOD book, as usual!

I've been saying this for years and will say it again -- you could
easily write reviews for a living.

I don't know HOW you can remember such minute and numerous details
such as the character's backgrounds, their motivations, the
atmosphere, the ambience etc., etc..

Maybe you carry a digital recorder or filmed the entire show on your
cell phone? Or...more likely, you have a photographic memory.

Plus (as Brenda suggested) you have an uncanny way of describing not
only what is happening plot-wise and performance-wise, but doing so in
away that transports the reader to the theater...as if we were there,
sitting next to you.

Anyway, thanks for such a fantastic review as always. I'm so sorry to
hear of your breakup, but glad to know that perhaps the play helped in
some small way to help heal the pain and heartbreak you've been
dealing with.

Take care,

Dan




--- In epaolo@yahoogroups.com, "sheiswater" <sheiswater@...> wrote:
>
> I apologize for taking so long to post this. I've been trying to
> write a bubbly, enthusiastic review of Paolo's play to match the
> witty and spunky performance I witnessed last Sunday…I keep falling
> short. As I do not want anyone to think that my lack of "bubble and
> enthusiasm" has anything to do with the performance itself I have
> finally come to the conclusion that I have to start this review with
> a disclosure… I have recently experienced a broken engagement. Not
> exactly the best qualifications for an "impartial" reviewer of a play
> that makes light of the trials and tribulations we all have faced in
> our search for love….but then again…
>
> The opening scene takes a direct approach at introducing characters
> and storyline. Through the use of an upbeat, vibrant song the main
> characters are brought out on stage. Each character, along with the
> song, is abruptly frozen to allow a very sassy narrator to fill you
> in on who they are and what their particular situation in life
> happens to be. We meet Faith, portrayed by Heather Parcells, as she
> obtains a partnership in acquisitions and mergers within business and
> realizes it is time to focus on the "acquisition" of a personal
> relationship. Paolo portrays the character of Casey, who is separated
> from his wife but yearning for a reconciliation, his wife dashes his
> hopes by presenting him with divorce papers. The cast is rounded out
> by Hollis Scarborough who portrays Aura, the sassy friend and
> neighbor of Faith, and Michael Minarik who portrays Landon, an actor
> that is enlisted by Faith and Aura to assist in their "acquisition"
> of Mr. Right. These two performers also did an amazing job at filling
> support roles (Faith's boss, a bartender, a French restaurant maitre
> d', Casey's ex-wife, etc.) with a clear distinction from their other
> roles.
>
> As the story progresses both Faith and Casey enter the dating scene
> complete with some of the worst examples from both sides of
> the "dates from hell" pages. This particular vignette of scenes had
> me rolling with laughter. As Faith and Aura discuss the miserable
> results of Faith's foray into the dating scene, a plan develops.
> Faith's strengths are in business acquisitions, why not use those
> strengths to acquire the perfect relationship? The game begins.
> Faith sets her aim on the popular TV economist…Casey Cassum. With
> Aura's help they enlist the assistance of an out of work actor,
> Landon, to befriend said "target" and obtain "product information".
> Faith visits a local establishment and connects with Casey's ex-wife.
> As the play progresses the plan seems to be working quite
> effectively. The friendship builds between Casey and Landon, and they
> go out on a double-date with Faith as Landon's date. The aim, to
> catch Casey's interest by being unavailable. It works. A few "chance"
> encounters later and Casey is doing his best Humphrey Bogart
> impression and singing "We'll Always Have Paris" in a quaint little
> French Bistro!!!! (I find myself grinning from ear to ear as I recall
> Paolo singing with a French accent). The play is chock full of witty
> and hilarious exchanges but I was particularly pleased when the
> characters started having twinges of moral consciousness. Casey
> addresses the fact he is dating his "friend's" girlfriend behind his
> back…and comes clean. Landon chooses to be a TRUE friend and spills
> the beans about the "plan". And Faith… she decides she really wants
> to be more like the person that she has been representing herself as
> to Casey and decides that the dishonest, manipulative way she had
> been behaving is not how she wants to be. She arranges for Casey and
> his ex-wife to arrive at the French Bistro at the same time, has the
> Matre D' deliver a note, and bows out gracefully.
>
> Of course, you can't have an unhappy ending in a comedy now can you?
> Seems Aura and Landon have someone else interested in this unique
> approach to dating, as long as everything is upfront from the
> beginning. Casey approaches Faith with the data provided to him by
> Love, Inc. regarding their original "client", Faith herself. Seems
> their may be hope after all.
>
> With only four cast members the success of this play hinges squarely
> on all four performers creating believable characters that the
> audience can identify with. Heather Parcells (Faith) had a very
> challenging task as she had to portray a manipulative character who
> totally disregards the feelings of others while still making her
> likeable. She did a wonderful job of doing just that. By providing us
> with a Faith that was neither mean nor cold, just totally clueless as
> to the ramifications of her actions, Heather gave us the opportunity
> to feel for the character while still disapproving with her
> manipulative and inconsiderate actions. Hollis Scarborough's Aura was
> the sassy, confident, friend so eager to give advise… just the wrong
> advise. But we couldn't fault her for trying to support a friend and
> give her some of her bravado. Hollis brought an energy to this role
> that had sassiness filling the theatre…did the lights really kick up
> a notch when she came on stage or was that just her extra sparkle?
> Now what can I say about Michael Minarik who portrayed the actor who
> agreed to join this plot because a beautiful girl tweeked a finger
> and then another footed a bill. The same character who wheedled
> information out of the unsuspecting Casey by pretending to be a
> friend. What can I say about a performer who had me so engrossed in
> his character that I had forgotten, just as the character had, that
> his friendship was just a hoax and that he was a only in it for the
> money? BRAVO!
>
> And I have to give Michael and Paolo special kudos for the sport
> spectator scene. I don't know how many times during rehearsals the
> chairs went flying but I was extremely impressed that these grown men
> were able to sit on the backs of, jump up and down on, and repeatedly
> do "the wave" with chairs that looked like they could be folded up to
> be stored back stage!!!
>
> I've left Paolo's performance to last as it was his performance that
> impacted me most. From the moment he came on stage and expressed his
> characters pain, I felt caught. Paolo had an extra challenge with me
> for I didn't want to feel his character. I was looking for signs that
> would make it unreal to me so I could keep an emotional distance.
> That proved impossible…I hate to admit it but there were specific
> scenes where I found it difficult to even look at Paolo for I
> identified so closely with the pain of his character. I know that
> seems silly but I just felt so exposed at that point. Then he had his
> cameo. His character was battling with a painful divorce and this
> scene had him sitting at a bar singing the song "Coasting" which
> refers to the task of getting through each day. Paolo sang the song
> with the emotional commitment he has always provided to his singing…
> his character removed a ring from his finger…and I cried.
>
> What I have to say now may seem surprising…THANK YOU, to the cast of
> Love, Inc. Thank you from the bottom of a raw, but healing heart. You
> see, I had a three and a half hour drive home and I wasn't depressed.
> I found myself grinning as I recalled the Santa-suited, bell-
> ringing, "Merry Christmas" greeting representative of good cheer that
> was being circled by the rest of the cast members who were singing a
> very annoyed and disgruntled Christmas carol that represented the
> forced cheer that I myself endured not so long ago. I came to a
> realization during my drive home…I'm fine. I am not bitter, I'm not
> angry, and I'm not scared about tomorrow even if it does mean "dates
> from hell". ;^0
>
> So…THANK YOU, Love, Inc. for helping me to see that perhaps I'm
> ready to stop "coasting".
> Diana
>