Sierra Madre News Net logo image and link to News Net home page

A Sierra Madre Community Information Website,

designed, developed, maintained and sponsored by The Coburn Group

More than 4,000 pages of Sierra Madre info, photos and video archives. 

The net might not catch everything, but the fishing's half the fun, right?

  

"I check two things every morning, your website and the

Wall Street Journal." --  V.E., Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre News Net is online only, we are not affiliated with the

Sierra Madre News print media, old or new

Now in our Thirteenth Year Covering Sierra Madre!!

This site is optimized for newer versions of Internet Explorer.  For best  results, use Internet Explorer.  There will be less scrolling if you set your display resolution at 1024 x 768

Multiple Award Winning Website

To get on the News Net e-mail list and receive notices of updates, click here, then click send.  We don't give away (or sell) your address, and notices are sent bcc: to protect your privacy

Home of

SierraMudre.Info

SierraMadreNewsNet.Blogspot.com

SierraMadreCalendar.Info

MtWilsonTrailRace.com

SierraMadre4thofJuly.us

SierraMadreRoseFloat.us

SMVolunteers.Info

SierraMadreWistariaFestival.com

Community Calendar SierraMadreCalendar.Info

Submit your event for the calendar here

SierraMadreNewsNet Blog - Care to share your thoughts?

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, just click on the link:   

Contact Us - Drop us a line and let us know what you think of the site

2010 Archives

2009 Archives

2008 Archives

2007 Archives

2006 Archives

2005 Archives 2004 Archives 2003 Archives 2002 Archives 2001 Archives 2000 Archives 1999 Archives 1998  Archives

Sierra Madre Local Business Web Pages

Sierra Madre Business Directory

Mountain Views News   Pasadena Star News Sierra Madre Patch Sierra Madre Weekly Sierra Madre Chamber Calendar

SierraMadreNews.Net on Facebook
Inside the News Net

Sierra Madre Business Web Pages  ($125/year, with dedicated domain name, add $50 - Sierra Madre businesses only)


Premium Advertiser Web Pages  ($250/year, with dedicated domain name, add $50 - non-Sierra Madre businesses allowed, includes premium link placement and logo)

**************

*************

 

Annual Sierra Madre Events

Arts in Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre Business

Community of Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre Real Estate

The Rest of the News Net


Local Business Web Pages

A Better Nanny

A+ Construction

Amperage Electric

Angels Everywear

Arnold's Frontier Hardware & Gifts

Bank of the West

Best Buy Drugs

Bill Traxler's Pool Service

Body Shop Private Fitness Studio

Cafe 322

Carmen Thibault, Sotheby's International Realty

Casa Del Rey Restaurant

Rambo, Century 21 Village Realty

E. Waldo Ward and Son

Epiphany California Realty

Four Seasons Tea Room

Gem Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning

Gwen Gordon, Fine Art/Graphic Design Solutions

Hands 2 Health Wellness Center, Dr. Teresa Smith, Chiropractor

Harlequin Art Gallery and Restoration

Highlander Jr. Market

Iris Intrigue

Janette Ledea, Tri-City ReMax

Joe Feeney Painting

Julia Rocks, Prof. Skin Care

Leonora Moss

The Louie Lucero Team

Lucky Baldwin's Delirium Pub

Mailbox & Postal

Moe's Automotive Service Center

Once Upon A Time

Real Estate Photography

Redstone Commercial Real Estate

Reni Rose, Prudential CA Realty

Rotary Club of Sierra Madre

Ruth Richardson, Fine/Portrait Artist

Savor the Flavor

Sierra Fitness

Sierra Madre Farmer's Market

Sierra Madre Grocery Company

Sierra Madre Homes For Sale

Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Self Storage

The Bottle Shop

The Coburn Group

The Destination Group

The Shabby Dog

Tres Immune, Inc.

Village Pizzeria

Webb-Martin Realtors

 

Fran Syverson's Theater Reviews

Back to Sierra Madre Playhouse main page 

Back to Scene Shots main page

 

Click to enlarge

Fran Syverson’s passion is being a columnist, a writing niche to which her four-decade path as reporter, newspaper editor, and partner in a public relations firm has led her. Another passion is attending theatrical productions, so it was natural for her to team up with the Sierra Madre Playhouse. Since 2000, Fran has been reviewing productions of her “favorite small theater” in the press, and has now joined us on our web.


Review of The Sensuous Senator, thru Feb. 27th, 2010

Review of "The Foreigner", thru Nov. 14, 2009

Review of "The Importance of Being Earnest, thru Sept. 26, 2009

Review of "You Can't Take it With You" at SM Playhouse, thru June 6, 2009

Review of "Murder on the Bounding Main" at SM Playhouse   1/16 - 2/27/09

Review of "A Christmas Carol Story" at SM Playhouse 11/28 - 12/23/08

Profile of Caroline Langford of "A Christmas Carol Story" at SM Playhouse 11/28 - 12/23/08

Review of "Rose's Dilemma" at SM Playhouse 8/29 - 9/27/08

 

Review of "Earth and Sky" at SM Playhouse 6/27 - 8/9/08 

“The Sensuous Senator” Brings Naughty Political Romp to Sierra Madre Playhouse

By Fran Syverson

Tired of political rhetoric and politicians scandalous shenanigans? How about seeing a play where it’s all in fun? Then you’ll want to see “The Sensuous Senator” currently at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.

It has all the trappings of a “naughty political romp,” as it’s billed. Red, white and blue bunting draped across the dais…the campaigners wearing glittery Old Glory flag pins in their lapels…all is ready. The moment is at hand to introduce the Senator and his wife, who is always at his side. And now: the speeches.

Senator Harry Douglas acknowledges his introductions, proclaims he will run for President, and then immodestly proceeds to list his many virtues, most notable of which are his commitment to family values, truth, fidelity, and on and on. Speeches! Applause! Probing questions from the press—most artfully dodged!

The accolades, the political platitudes in “The Sensuous Senator” are so stereotypical that we might think they were lifted from today’s headlines and that we’re at home watching TV!

But “doth the Senator protest too much”? We wonder—for soon the curtains open and we can peek into behind-the-scenes maneuvering that goes on in the Senator’s townhouse.

Over coffee, talk turns to concern about questions posed by Betty Morrison of that pesky news magazine, “The Intruder.” Senator Douglas confers with two close Congressmen, his nephew Jack Maguire (Brendan Shanahan) and Clyde Salt (Charles Howerton.) The former is a relative newcomer to Congress and an innocent, the latter an old hand, cynical and a bit bruised by realities.

Soon Lois, the Senator’s wife, must catch a flight to Chicago, so Salt and Maguire also leave.

And lo! The Senator’s sensuous side emerges! “Aha! I’m alone for the weekend!” And he dials Veronica, his secretary. He’s petulant when she tells her “honeybear” that she can’t be with him, but Douglas soon goes to Plan B—and phones an agency for an “escort.”

Then, for the next hour and a half, the audience is treated to a riotous mélange of mishaps, as one by one, the people in his life arrive at the Senator’s home, basically unannounced. Congressman Salt has locked himself out of his house. Maguire wants to strategize his uncle’s campaign further. Gorgeous and frisky blonde Fiona arrives from ‘the agency.’ Scott Vinci as the plodding policeman keeps turning up to “check things out,” always at inopportune moments—as if there are any other moments during this wild evening! And voluptuous Veronica changes her mind and comes to enjoy time with her boss, also changing her clothes into something for evocative for the occasion. With Tanya C. Edwards effective as Morrison, the persistent news-snoop, it’s more than a full house!

Of course it’s a silly plot! It is, after all, as a bedroom farce. So buy into it, ignore the improbabilities, and laugh your way through the risqué and somewhat bawdy story that hinges on skimpy premises and even skimpier apparel!

“The Sensuous Senator,” written by Michael Parker, abounds with pantomimed humor and double-entendres. Laughs become better and better as the jokes build on previous set-ups.

Maguire’s (Shanahan’s) height plays to advantage in a couple of rollicking skits, and his wide-eyed innocence make him a perfect foil for Fiona’s amorous advances, so well-depicted by Kerry Jade Aberman. Mark Tydell is a smooth operator, well up to the demands of playing the sensuous Senator with his befuddled quips and inventive alibis.

Activity in the bedroom gives new meaning to the phrase “undercover agency.” And Melanie Rashbaum spends a good deal of time under the bed as Veronica, impatiently awaiting her tryst.

The Senator’s wife brings perhaps the only moments of seeming sanity in a story deep with illogical, evasive explanations of the goings-on. Lois Douglas’s role is shared by Donna Cherry, who charmed us on opening night and will continue through the early portion of the run, and Jenifer Winkler, who will then portray Lois.

David Calhoun’s split-screen stage with its two stairways and several doors allows people to be in either the bedroom or living room without running into each other, important for the rampant confusion. Helping Calhoun with set construction were Patt Paezynski, Brendan Shanahan, Karen Young, and Mike Dessin. Dessin also is stage manager and plays Marty Richmond.

Lois Tedrow brings her usual deft touch to the costuming, all the way from bumbling Clyde Salt’s argyle sox and plaid bathrobe, to Veronica’s and Fiona’s clothes seemingly right out of Victoria’s Secret.

Ken Salzman returns to the Playhouse as director, with Thelma Diaz assisting. Ward Calaway is producer; Barry Schwam, sound designer; and Steve Shaw, sound operator.

Maureen Davis handles the lighting, critical as the scenes shift from room to room. Elaina Present, Sierra Senzaki, and Karen Young are the lighting crew. Anne Marie Atwan is again in charge of properties.

Credit John Johnson and Calaway with program design. Donald Songster did the production photography, and Kate VanDevender created the poster art.  Philip Sokoloff is publicist.

Childish squeals of laughter could be heard on opening night, for the fast-moving antics onstage were very funny. We might note, however, that even the title of “The Sensuous Senator” suggests it might not be considered exactly “family fare.” If they’re young enough, little ones won’t “get” some of the adult jokes; for adolescents, it’s another matter. Now you know.

But for adults, this “naughty political romp” as it’s called on the program cover, is hilariously entertaining. Enjoy it at the Sierra Madre Playhouse weekends through Feb. 27. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. for Sunday matinees. Admission is $20 general, $17 for seniors (65+) and students (13-17), and $12 for children 12 and under.

The Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. City lots offer free parking. Pre- or post-theater dining at local restaurants on Baldwin Avenue and Sierra Madre Boulevard can enhance your theater-going experience. For ticket reservations or more information, phone (626) 355-4318, or visit the website, www.sierramadreplayhouse.org, for online ticketing. For group reservations, call (626) 836-2125.

Copyright © 1998 - 2011 by The Coburn Group, Sierra Madre. All logos, trademarks or product names mentioned or displayed herein are the property of their respective owners. All photographs and videos on this site Copyright 1998 - 2011, by Bill Coburn, Sierra Madre, CA unless otherwise noted Any reference to the City of Sierra Madre or Sierra Madre applies to the community of Sierra Madre and not the city government. The City of Sierra Madre, California government is not affiliated with Sierra Madre News.Net at this time. Any city government information provided herein has been previously published for public dissemination and is shown here as a public service of Sierra Madre News.Net without explicit permission of the government of the City of Sierra Madre.