Popnography
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
David Greenspan, who's worked with Merritt in the past, says, "Theater is an experience that demands listening. If you hear a play written by Shakespeare, you'll notice he's given the audience something to listen to." With similar idealism, it seems natural these two came together on this project. Greenspan adds, "We were determined to do something complex without a large budget. We wanted a direct experience for the audience, but kind of pared down."
And pared down it is -- but lacking nothing. Though it's a spare and economical set full of old doors and pianos and various decrepit boxes, it looks like some kind of magical junkyard from a childhood dream. It's navigated by the cast in such a way that leads the audience into believing exactly what they believe; that a piano can be a hilltop or a two story flat.
The cast of seven plays a cast of 20 or more, changing their bare bones costumes as often as their accents, often within the same scene. There's even some minor puppetry here and there. The role of Coraline is portrayed not by a young girl, but the much older Jayne Houdyshell. Houdyshell does a wonderful job of evoking the naivety of the young titular character. January LaVoy and Francis Jue, the duo that plays the kindly neighbors Miss Spink and Miss Forceable, among others, have a chemistry that's insanely infectious, and arguably have the best songs in the whole production. Their quick musical number as the vacationing mother and father is a serious comedic highlight.
As Coraline's counterpoint, Greenspan as the Other Mother, equally commands the stage. Her giant black eyes and black mop hair are fairly ominous, and her apron looks like something a cartoon surgeon might wear. With her brash tone and presumptuous manner, Greenspan plays her to such perfection that at times it's nearly terrifying.
On playing the Other Mother, Greenspan says, "She's like a chaotic child, very loquacious. She's humorous and horrific, and I liked that. It's a lot of fun to play someone like this, with an unending appetite, and malevolence." He laughs and then says, "After I became a part of this adaptation, I kind of wormed my way into the cast [when they couldn't find a proper fit for the Other Mother role]." He was born to play her, it seems.
Coraline opens June 1st -June 20th, 2009 at MCC Theater at The Lucille Lortel Theatre 121 Christopher St., New York, NY. For more info, head here.
And to read our interview with Stephin Merritt, head over to Out.com.
-- ROBBIE IMES
Previously > Oh, Sherie!
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
38 Male Celebs Who Did Full Frontal Scenes
November 17 2023 5:18 PM
These are all the celebrities Who came out as LGBTQ+ in 2023
December 31 2023 12:19 PM
These Pics Prove Maluma Has Always Been a Certified Daddy
October 20 2023 1:13 PM
32 LGBTQ+ Celebs You Can Follow on OnlyFans
October 25 2023 3:15 PM
26 actors who showed bare ass in movies & TV shows
February 28 2024 1:50 PM
16 Times Celebrity Men Had to Say They Weren't Gay
February 29 2024 1:19 PM
15 Unforgettable Gay Kissing Scenes From TV & Movies
February 14 2024 10:20 AM
13 Queens Who Quit or Retired From Drag After 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
November 24 2023 10:11 AM
40 steamy celebrity Calvin Klein ads we'll always be thirsty for
January 04 2024 10:54 AM
The 15 Best LGBTQ+ Movies of 2023
December 04 2023 10:32 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Meet the reality TV baddies competing on 'House of Villains' season 2
March 27 2024 3:48 PM
Meet Kristen Kish, the new out host of 'Top Chef'
March 27 2024 3:36 PM
24 albums that turn 10 years old in 2024
March 27 2024 2:43 PM
Breaking boundaries in gender-free fashion with Stuzo Clothing
March 27 2024 2:15 PM
Meet Phillip Davis, Johnny Sibilly's new BF who he just hard-launched
March 27 2024 12:49 PM
Meet Ricky & Cesar, 'Amazing Race 36's loveable gay underdog couple
March 27 2024 12:09 PM
March 27, 2024
March 27 2024 12:07 PM
Yvonne & Melissa weren't 'U-Haul lesbians' before 'Amazing Race 36'
March 27 2024 11:38 AM
Iconic comedy 'John Tucker Must Die' is getting a sequel, making Millennial gays very happy
March 27 2024 10:50 AM
'Barbie' star Hari Nef is starring in a biopic about this trans legend
March 26 2024 7:02 PM