Most Memorable Theatre I Chanced to See in 2003 -- A SemiHierarchical List
By Barry Pineo, Fri., Jan. 2, 2004
2) An Ideal Husband (Different Stages) Some people complained that I was surprised this worked so well. I was surprised -- in the best way possible. Acting, direction, sets, costumes -- the whole thing, top to bottom, just plain worked.
3) Karen Jambon's Lady Markby in An Ideal Husband (Different Stages) Jambon looked like she stepped right out of 19th-century England into the Auditorium on Waller Creek.
4) Rachel Adams' Mrs. Johnson in A Raisin in the Sun (Mary Moody Northen Theatre) While onstage only for a short time, she was note-perfect as the local gossip.
5) Judy Arnold's singing in Rockin' Christmas Party (Zachary Scott Theatre Center) There's no one in town quite like her. Every moment I listen, I believe she loves to sing, and can she ever sing.
6) Monika Bustamante in 16 Spells to Charm the Beast (Salvage Vanguard Theater) While she played only one character, it seemed like she played more. A tremendously controlled performance of tremendously difficult material.
7) Dan Dietz's script for tempOdyssey (Salvage Vanguard Theater) Both Dietz and his script are American originals, and both changed the way I look at theatre.
8) Kristine Olson's opera diva in Celebrity Crush '03 (Refraction Arts Project) I didn't even want to imagine speaking to her after the show; I was that frightened.
9) Douglas Taylor's deep-fried, Southern chicken-farmer father in tempOdyssey (Salvage Vanguard Theater) The most effective thing I've seen Taylor do (and I've seen him do a lot).
10) Russell L. Wiseman's designs for The Importance of Being Earnest (Oracle Theater Company) That's right, designs -- sets, costumes, lights, sound, props. Every single thing, and it all was totally appropriate and totally gorgeous.
