Seattle, WA

BWW Review: BRUCE at The Seattle Rep

Published

3 years ago

June 12, 2022

E. Faye Butler, Justin Keyes, Jay Donnell,
Jarrod Spector, Timothy McCuen Piggee,
and Eric Ankrim in Bruce at Seattle Rep.
Picture credit score: Lindsay Thomas

Pricey Readers, I must ask you a query. Have you ever seen the film “Jaws”? The unique and first huge summer season blockbuster from 1975. I can admit with a little bit embarrassment that till just lately I had by no means seen it. However seeing as this new present was about that movie that so many love, I did my homework. So again to my query, have you ever seen “Jaws”? If not, make some extent of it. It is merely a unbelievable movie. And if that’s the case, you may want a refresher. As a result of after you watch it, you must exit and get tickets for the brand new musical “Bruce” presently having its World Premiere on the Seattle Rep, as that is one to not miss. However some foreknowledge of the film is, if not required, tremendous useful.

I will begin off by saying this isn’t a parody of “Jaws”. I do know once I heard there was a brand new musical about “Jaws” the very first thing I assumed was, satire. However no, this can be a look again into the making of an iconic film. Positive, there are humorous moments as a result of some issues occurred that have been humorous, however authors Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker should not poking enjoyable at anybody concerned. They merely have taken screenwriter and “Jaws” actor Carl Gottlieb’s e-book, “The Jaws Log”, as a leaping off level and created a riveting take a look at the troubles and triumphs of film making. On this case, many troubles, typically coping with a temperamental mechanical shark named “Bruce”.

However past a enjoyable little bit of historical past, this musical manages to seize that tone and feeling of the depth of the film brilliantly with its largely sung by way of rating and a relentless tempo from director and choreographer Donna Feore. They’ve fantastically crafted the piece in order that there are few breaks to catch your breath, equally to how a superb horror/motion film like “Jaws” would do, because the stakes within the piece hold getting increased and better and the hazard getting nearer and nearer like a large shark barreling in direction of you. However right here our hero is just not Brody, Quint, or Hooper attempting to slay the beast however younger director Steven Spielberg (performed by Jarrod Specter) attempting to maintain this monster of a movie from destroying his profession in addition to the careers of others.

The music manages one thing astounding in that there is not one quantity that does not transfer the story alongside whereas nonetheless being enjoyable, partaking, and energetic inside the tone of the present. Taylor and Oberacker have created a fairly distinctive piece that works on so many ranges and it calls for to be seen. And when introduced dwelling with a unbelievable set from Jason Sherwood (that garnered applause on one transformation) in addition to Jeff Croiter’s gorgeous lighting, Brian Hsieh’s immersive sound, and Shawn Duan’s unimaginable projections, the present simply retains firing alongside on all cylinders creating an extremely distinctive and unbelievable work.

Nearly as good because the manufacturing is, this superb ensemble forged matches them in each second. For a present that professes the truth that it was this collective group of artists who actually pulled this film off, not simply Spielberg, it is sensible that the present itself also needs to have a decent ensemble to make the work on stage shine. Every one, brings in one thing particular to their, typically a number of, roles. To call however just a few excellent people, I must begin with Ramzi Khalaf as actor Ricky Dreyfuss who has the legendary actor’s mannerisms down chilly. Equally Hans Altwies taking part in actor Robert Shaw brings in a pitch good and sometimes hilarious character and his scene with Spector, Khalaf, and Geoff Packard as actor Roy Scheider as they watch Shaw pull that pivotal monologue out of skinny air is, alone, well worth the worth of admission.

Too, E. Faye Butler as movie editor Verna Fields and Beth DeVries as actress Lorraine Gary take their respective roles and make them bigger than life. DeVries’ tune with Spielberg as she provides some sage phrases of knowledge is yet one more winner. And each Butler’s duet with Spector in addition to her solo quantity not solely present the significance of Fields to the success of the movie but additionally permit Butler to point out off these unimaginable pipes.

Everybody on this present is displaying off their A sport and I might go on for days about all of them, however we have to discuss Spector because the wunderkind, Spielberg. With a job like this, you want a seasoned skilled who can deal with the herculean process of being the focus for the complete story, and that is Jarrod Spector. He is definitely bought the voice wanted to blow us all away, however he additionally manages the charisma and stage presence to interact at any time when he is on stage and to do what he must do which is carry this present. And he appears to do it with out a lot effort. He by no means tries to placed on an impression of Spielberg however to easily develop into him and showcase his expertise in addition to his vulnerabilities. He brings in an outstanding efficiency that he makes look straightforward.

Similar to this iconic movie that had all the fitting individuals, the fitting circumstances to beat, and the fitting message for the time, the present too brings collectively a unbelievable rating, e-book, manufacturing and ensemble to provide us an excellent little bit of theatrical alchemy. And so, with my three-letter score system, I give the Seattle Rep’s manufacturing of “Bruce” a humungous shark chunk of a WOW. Discover that larger boat, observe the “all clear” from the city’s Mayor and get your self again into these theatrical waters to catch this fabulous, fishy story earlier than it is gone.

“Bruce” performs on the Seattle Rep by way of July 3^rd. For tickets or data go to them on-line at www.seattlerep.org.

Source link

Seattle, WA

State ferries: A better idea from Nordic countries

Published

8 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

State ferries: A better idea from Nordic countries

Re: “Diesel or hybrid ferries? How about simply reliable” (Jan. 7, Opinion): Gov. Jay Inslee, Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson and The Seattle Times editorial board are asking the wrong question: diesel or hybrid ferries? Inslee and the majority of Democrats support…

Source link

Seattle, WA

Manhunt underway for Mason County shooting suspect

Published

17 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Manhunt underway for Mason County shooting suspect

Manuhunt underway for Mason County assault suspect

Mason County deputies are looking for a man wanted in a shooting in Belfair on Monday.

MASON COUNTY, Wash. – The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for a convicted felon wanted in a recent shooting.

The sheriff’s office says Michael Allen Beyer is wanted for first-degree assault and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Deputies believe Beyer was involved in a shooting that happened in Belfair on January 6.

Beyer is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach him and call 911 immediately.

Anyone with information regarding Beyer’s whereabouts is asked to call Detective Helser at 360-427-9670 x657, or Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

BEST OF FOX 13 SEATTLE

New 2025 laws that are now in effect in WA

Orca Tahlequah seen pushing second dead calf in WA waters

WA skiers demand action as ‘rampant’ thefts plague Stevens Pass

Here’s when you’ll need REAL ID to go through US airport security

New restaurants coming to Seattle in 2025

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.

Crime and Public SafetyMason CountyNewsBelfair

Source link

Seattle, WA

Two more Seattle restaurants close due to minimum wage hike

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Two more Seattle restaurants close due to minimum wage hike

Two more Seattle restaurants are calling it quits thanks to the untenable minimum wage hike.

At the same time that the Seattle minimum wage rose from $19.97 an hour to $20.76 an hour, the city ended the tip credit of $2.72. Under the previous rules, restaurants were able to pay $17.25 hourly wage if their staff earned at least $2.72 in tips per hour. But as cost of business continues to skyrocket in Seattle, a minimum wage hike without a tip credit is simply untenable for many small businesses.

Jackson’s Catfish Corner in Seattle’s Central District closed its doors in this new year. In an interview with Converge Media, owner Terrell Jackson argued Seattle is too expensive to operate in.

“I know that the minimum wages went up to 20 bucks an hour … I know that’s hard for my business as a small Black business,” Jackson said. “I’m not Amazon or Walgreens or Walmart who can pay their employees that much.”

Jackson isn’t alone in his complaints.

More from Jason Rantz: Panic as Seattle restaurants may not survive massive minimum wage shift

A second West Seattle eatery closes, citing the minimum wage hike

Bel Gatto, a bakery and café, became the second West Seattle eatery to close its doors over the Seattle minimum wage hike. The owner posted a sign to the front door to thank supporters but said she can’t afford to stay open anymore.

“Our revenues, unfortunately, are not able to cover the close to 20% increase in mandated wages, salaries and payroll taxes put into effect by the Seattle City Council effective 1/1/25. This ruling has made the continuation of our bakery operations untenable,” the sign read.

The owner, Peter Levy, explained to the West Seattle Blog that, “we were approaching close to a break even status in the last quarter of 2024, but the requirement to absorb another $4,000 per month in payroll expenses with the new mandate by the city put a break even further from our grasp which is what led to the closure.”

Last week, a video by Corina Luckenbach, owner of Bebop Waffle Shop in West Seattle, went viral as she said the minimum wage hike was forcing her to close after 11 years. She said she didn’t have an extra $32,000 a year to pay her staff what the city mandates.

More from Jason Rantz: Democrats blame Los Angeles fires on climate change to deflect from their own complicity

Will more restaurants close?

Ahead of the minimum wage hike, restauranteurs offered many warnings over what’s to come.

Ethan Stowell operates a number of Seattle’s top restaurants, including How to Cook a Wolf, Staple and Fancy, and Tavolata. He warned this change would be exceptionally costly for businesses in an industry notorious for razor-thin margins. And restaurants can’t merely raise menu prices again.

“I know everybody wants to say, ‘Just raise things (on the menu) a dollar or two,’ and that’s what it’ll be. That’s very simplified math. I wish it was that easy, but it’s not. This is a large increase that’s probably large enough to be equal to or close to what most restaurants in Seattle profit,” Stowell told “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH.

Portage Bay Cafe co-owner Amy Fair Gunnar noted the minimum wage change will cost her about $45,000 more a month. She said restaurants will have to “seriously change what they’re doing or they’re going to close their doors.”

More from Jason Rantz: Here’s why Seattle residents vow to stop tipping in new year

Ignoring the warnings, mocking the business people

The warnings from restaurant owners were mostly ignored or mocked.

Efforts by the Seattle City Council to address the forthcoming crisis fell apart after activists said they didn’t want restaurants to get an exception. Council president Sara Nelson told “The Jason Rantz Show” they will take up the issue again this year but there’s no specific idea yet to forward for legislation. The Mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell, has been almost completely absent from the issue.

Left-wing voices, meanwhile, claim to not care. That if businesses “can’t afford to pay a living wage,” then they shouldn’t be in business.

One reporter with The Stranger mocked one of the closures, quipping on X, “Has anyone ever eaten at bebop waffle lol.” Left-wing Seattleites condemned the business for “creating a right wing media darling to complain about paying people a living wage.”

KING 5 reporter Maddie White helped elevate this talking point by citing the National Low Income Housing Coalition, claiming “the average renter needs to make upwards of $40 an hour to afford rent.” But she’s quoting a stat for two-bedrooms. Minimum wage jobs aren’t meant to cover the cost of a single person renting a two-bedroom home or apartment.

Ironically, as activists dismiss the concerns of small business owners, they fail to acknowledge the inevitable consequence: when those businesses shut down, people lose jobs. A $20.76 hourly minimum wage — even with a $2.72 tip credit — means nothing if you’re unemployed.

Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow Jason Rantz on X, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.

Follow @https://twitter.com/jasonrantz

Source link