Published: Friday, January 30, 2009
Phoenix comedy a great first show
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Melanie Calderwood, Rick Wright and Kitty Barkly appear as sisters Henrietta and Mable arguing over Henrietta's harried husband, Steve, in "Suppressed Desires."
Ah. Mmmmm. I love that new theater smell.
The dearly departed Edge of the World Theatre -- may it long be remembered fondly -- has been recast and reborn into the new Phoenix Theatre and the makeover definitely launches the lobby into the ranks of Home and Garden cover art.
The floors are shiny hardwood partially covered with an elegant rug. There are sconces and fancy hanging lights. The fireplace burns warmly. The whole place has been painted and the colors, which probably bear names like cranberry, melon, mushroom and eggplant, are sumptuous and subdued.
The lobby even smells delicious.
The classiness continues past the lobby into the theater proper where the shiny stage sparkled and the bathroom (the women's at least) was downright plush.
Actress and part-owner Melanie Calderwood along with business partner Debbie Palomera deserve a round of applause for the four-star transformation.
(The only thing I would change is to crank up the heat, but I run cold so maybe it was just me. I do realize it's also costly to heat a theater.)
And for their grand opening of the Phoenix, the two owners chose a comedic triple-threat of one acts. What a smart idea to start the new year and a new theater off with some side-splitting laughter.
The three comedies, presented under the heading "Madness and Mayhem," are "Suppressed Desires," "From Paris to Main Street" and "Fourteen."
Calderwood, a veteran of Edge productions, continues to be reason enough to keep going to the Phoenix. Her spot-on comic timing and chameleon-like way of becoming most any character carried "Suppressed Desires," about the practice of psychoanalysis gone awry, and "Fourteen," a dinner party gone terribly wrong, and then right again.
And thank goodness the spunky Kayti Barnett has returned. It's her combination of youthfulness and red hair that make her a pleasure to watch. Her role as the displaced Parisian wife forced to leave France and live in a place called Buttsville because she married Bennie simply charmed.
Veteran Edge actor Rick Wright also returned to the Phoenix and reliably delivered as the other half of Calderwood's comic duo.
The directing excelled as newcomer and New York transplant Christine Mosere showed that it doesn't hurt to bring a little bit of Broadway expertise to Edmonds.
Information about actor Aaron Heinzen was omitted from the program so it's tough to tell how much stage acting experience he's had. My guess is not much. My suggestion is don't be so stiff. You have the opportunity to perform in the newly renovated Phoenix Theater, so relax, enjoy it, and breath in the ambiance.
Reporter Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
"Madness and Mayhem"
"Suppressed Desires," "From Paris to Main Street" and "Fourteen": Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Phoenix Theatre, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds; $18 and $16; 206-533-2000, www.thephoenixtheatre.com, www.brownpapertickets.
The dearly departed Edge of the World Theatre -- may it long be remembered fondly -- has been recast and reborn into the new Phoenix Theatre and the makeover definitely launches the lobby into the ranks of Home and Garden cover art.
The floors are shiny hardwood partially covered with an elegant rug. There are sconces and fancy hanging lights. The fireplace burns warmly. The whole place has been painted and the colors, which probably bear names like cranberry, melon, mushroom and eggplant, are sumptuous and subdued.
The lobby even smells delicious.
The classiness continues past the lobby into the theater proper where the shiny stage sparkled and the bathroom (the women's at least) was downright plush.
Actress and part-owner Melanie Calderwood along with business partner Debbie Palomera deserve a round of applause for the four-star transformation.
(The only thing I would change is to crank up the heat, but I run cold so maybe it was just me. I do realize it's also costly to heat a theater.)
And for their grand opening of the Phoenix, the two owners chose a comedic triple-threat of one acts. What a smart idea to start the new year and a new theater off with some side-splitting laughter.
The three comedies, presented under the heading "Madness and Mayhem," are "Suppressed Desires," "From Paris to Main Street" and "Fourteen."
Calderwood, a veteran of Edge productions, continues to be reason enough to keep going to the Phoenix. Her spot-on comic timing and chameleon-like way of becoming most any character carried "Suppressed Desires," about the practice of psychoanalysis gone awry, and "Fourteen," a dinner party gone terribly wrong, and then right again.
And thank goodness the spunky Kayti Barnett has returned. It's her combination of youthfulness and red hair that make her a pleasure to watch. Her role as the displaced Parisian wife forced to leave France and live in a place called Buttsville because she married Bennie simply charmed.
Veteran Edge actor Rick Wright also returned to the Phoenix and reliably delivered as the other half of Calderwood's comic duo.
The directing excelled as newcomer and New York transplant Christine Mosere showed that it doesn't hurt to bring a little bit of Broadway expertise to Edmonds.
Information about actor Aaron Heinzen was omitted from the program so it's tough to tell how much stage acting experience he's had. My guess is not much. My suggestion is don't be so stiff. You have the opportunity to perform in the newly renovated Phoenix Theater, so relax, enjoy it, and breath in the ambiance.
Reporter Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
"Madness and Mayhem"
"Suppressed Desires," "From Paris to Main Street" and "Fourteen": Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Phoenix Theatre, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds; $18 and $16; 206-533-2000, www.thephoenixtheatre.com, www.brownpapertickets.
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