| What people are saying about Standing O |
Praise for The Retreat from Moscow
"Standing O Productions offers this well-acted, ingeniously staged drama.
[Mary] Watko is especially effective with Alice's theatrical flair as she
quotes from her favorite poems. As Edward, Mr. Reiter is most believable
as his character gains strength after leaving Alice. Mr. Carr's Jamie is
endearing as he finds himself in the unwanted position of friend and
messenger rather than son.
"Ron Giddings' staging and direction is clever and creative. No furniture is
moved. Instead, the lighting directs us to each scene and the actors move
in and out naturally. The set gives equal time to Edward and Alice's
interests by painting a map of the world on the floor and using the back
wall to quote from "Ozymandias," a famous Shelley sonnet about the
ruined statue of a mighty king.
"Standing O has provided another stimulating work which invites
discourse and discovery. After the performance I was eager to discuss it;
at home, I went straight to the Internet to research Mr. Nicholson's
references."
- The Capital Newspaper
"With this play, Standing O founder and artistic director Ron Giddings
continues the mission of Anne Arundel County's newest theater company
to offer little-known recent theater gems to local audiences.
"Giddings directs this production and reinforces his ability to recruit some
of the best actors in the area [and] to choose an ideal cast. Each actor is
dedicated to maintaining Standing O's professional reputation. Giddings
also serves as set designer, creating a wall embellished with fragments
of poems quoted throughout the play.
"Splendid acting performances are given by Jim Reiter...Mary Watko...and
Ben Carr. Act 1 leads up to the marriage breakup. Reiter initially creates
an Edward who is remote and reticent, painfully incapable of giving Alice
the "real marriage" she demands, slowly distancing himself until he
announces that he wants to leave. Here he creates a liberating moment
with the exhilaration of his newfound and overdue freedom as he breaks
free of his feelings of inadequacy. In later scenes, Reiter's Edward
gradually reveals an ordinary man with ability to feel admiration and
affection for new partner Isabel and for Alice.
"Watko, in a tour de force performance as Alice, goes from an aggressive
confrontational nag, determined to impose her religiosity on her husband,
and belittling him for his inadequacy, to a fearful desperate woman
clinging to her 33-year marriage. Watko inhabits Alice, annoying us when
she needles both her husband and son about their insufficient religious
convictions and aching at her raw anguish at being abandoned. Watko's
Alice compels us to rejoice for her when she volunteers counseling AIDS
victims, humorously revealing a generous, unsuspected dimension. She
can be mercurial, as she exasperates the audience while ordering her
recently acquired dog named "Edward" to stay and heel.
"Carr's role as Jamie might not be as flashy, but it is as demanding as he
is called upon to remain the stoical only child of parents he continues to
love as he absorbs their pain. Carr's Jamie reflects the troubling
characteristics of both parents, and he becomes so real to us that one is
caught up wondering along with his probing mother about his private life.
"Nicholson's play is filled with familiar life situations that make us think,
his characters as created by this gifted acting trio continue to intrigue us
long after we leave the theater."
- The Baltimore Sun
Praise for Standing O Productions' john & jen
"Ron Giddings...plays two different Johns, of two different generations. He
portrays his characters as youngsters superbly. Then you watch his
shoulders square and you would swear you hear his voice crack and
deepen...until suddenly his character is a teenager. And you believe.
"Sheri Kuznicki portrays Jen as she evolves through three stages: older
sister protective of her new little brother, escaping college-bound student,
mother of her own child. Her fierceness in attempting to protect John from
all the harms of the world is palpable. When she ultimately fails, as she
must, her anguish is wrenching.
"Guided by Debbie Barber-Eaton's sure directorial hand, no movement or
gesture is irrelevant or unintended. With a bare stage and only three
storage cubes from which bits of clothing and props are pulled to suggest
the ages of the characters or the location of the scene, Barber-Eaton
compels your mind's eye to fill in the blanks.
"As played by musical director Marsha Goldsmith, [the piano] provides the
heartbeat of this dramatic musical, but Buzz Stillinger's evocative cello is
the show's soul.
"Both Giddings and Kuznicki carry their vocals superbly, and they are well-
partnered, balancing each other.
"For a new company in its inaugural season to give the familiar theme [of
family relationships] a novel presentation is an auspicious and bold
beginning."
- Bay Weekly
"As Jen, skilled singer-actor Sheri Kuznicki is up to every vocal challenge
as she delivers a portrait of an adolescent girl's growth to womanhood.
Her portrayal is believable at every juncture, from lively teen to independent
college student to concerned mother, expressing her nurturing love for her
brother and son as well as her fierce protectiveness of both against her
abusive father.
"Ron Giddings - first as Jen's brother, John, and later as her son, must be
convincing as a 5-year-old, a frustrated adolescent, a rebellious teenager
and, finally, a young man. He succeeds brilliantly on each level,
summoning a believable little boy with legs kicking and arms twitching in
exuberance at Santa's impending visit, and later as a teasing brother and
son at ball games, then the indignant young military man.
"Giddings and Kuznicki are well-paired in their every transition and are
always in perfect vocal harmony.
"It's a rare treat to discover a show with so much to offer that is brilliantly
performed. This is a gift from Standing O that should be enjoyed by
capacity audiences."
- The Baltimore Sun
Praise for Standing O Productions' Inaugural Production,
On the Twentieth Century
"Lending substance to his directorial efforts is Giddings' ability to draw out
actors' unsuspected strengths. Subsequently the audience gets the
bonus of discovering a favorite actor's comic talents or unsuspected
dancing and singing ability.
"[Christina] Enoch handles the role [of Lily] as if she were born to play it.
Enoch has a gift for comedy and possesses an impressive singing voice.
Enoch's Lily combines vocal artistry and comic flair in her renditions of
"Veronique," "Never" and "Babette."
"[Tom] Newbrough's Oscar Jaffe is alternatively sweet and scheming and
always funny.
"Local favorite Sue Centurelli seems destined to play wacky Letitia
Primrose. She delivers Letitia's hilarious number, "Repent," while
performing nifty footwork and stealing every scene.
"A surprise for me was usual leading man Judson Davis taking a turn at
comedy playing vain dim-witted Bruce Granit - Lily's sometime boyfriend
and movie co-star. Posing in front of the mirror in his glistening bronze
pajamas, Davis becomes a comedian - and he also takes a few turns on
the dance floor, exhibiting smooth moves...
"As O'Malley and Webb, Ronnie Schronce and John Halmi deliver 100
percent in their polished song and dance routines and comedy
performances.
"All ensemble work, whether in singing or dancing, is polished. Deserving
mention is the harmonizing quartet of Greg Bosworth, [Ron] Giddings,
John Halmi and David Thompson, who deliver a humorous "Life is Like a
Train" [opening]."
- The Baltimore Sun
"The stars collide in a supernova of emotion. In a dream cast where even
the chorus members are virtuosos, [Tom] Newbrough is a comic genius,
[Christina] Enoch exudes diva quality and [Judson] Davis’ voice and
physical conceit conjure Kline at his best. A Will Ferrell double — [John]
Halmi — plays a fitting sidekick to [Ronnie] Schronce’s darker accomplice,
both excellent singers with presence. [Greg] Bosworth is so good he
seems neglected, and Alicia Sweeney manages to sing badly beautifully
as the hilarious past-her-prime prima donna, Imelda Thornton. Other
musical highlights include...a barbershop quartet of conductors (Giddings,
Halmi, Bosworth and David Thompson) singing the opening
announcements, which were composed by Musical Director Marsha
Goldsmith."
- Bay Weekly
"Standing O Productions offers this well-acted, ingeniously staged drama.
[Mary] Watko is especially effective with Alice's theatrical flair as she
quotes from her favorite poems. As Edward, Mr. Reiter is most believable
as his character gains strength after leaving Alice. Mr. Carr's Jamie is
endearing as he finds himself in the unwanted position of friend and
messenger rather than son.
"Ron Giddings' staging and direction is clever and creative. No furniture is
moved. Instead, the lighting directs us to each scene and the actors move
in and out naturally. The set gives equal time to Edward and Alice's
interests by painting a map of the world on the floor and using the back
wall to quote from "Ozymandias," a famous Shelley sonnet about the
ruined statue of a mighty king.
"Standing O has provided another stimulating work which invites
discourse and discovery. After the performance I was eager to discuss it;
at home, I went straight to the Internet to research Mr. Nicholson's
references."
- The Capital Newspaper
"With this play, Standing O founder and artistic director Ron Giddings
continues the mission of Anne Arundel County's newest theater company
to offer little-known recent theater gems to local audiences.
"Giddings directs this production and reinforces his ability to recruit some
of the best actors in the area [and] to choose an ideal cast. Each actor is
dedicated to maintaining Standing O's professional reputation. Giddings
also serves as set designer, creating a wall embellished with fragments
of poems quoted throughout the play.
"Splendid acting performances are given by Jim Reiter...Mary Watko...and
Ben Carr. Act 1 leads up to the marriage breakup. Reiter initially creates
an Edward who is remote and reticent, painfully incapable of giving Alice
the "real marriage" she demands, slowly distancing himself until he
announces that he wants to leave. Here he creates a liberating moment
with the exhilaration of his newfound and overdue freedom as he breaks
free of his feelings of inadequacy. In later scenes, Reiter's Edward
gradually reveals an ordinary man with ability to feel admiration and
affection for new partner Isabel and for Alice.
"Watko, in a tour de force performance as Alice, goes from an aggressive
confrontational nag, determined to impose her religiosity on her husband,
and belittling him for his inadequacy, to a fearful desperate woman
clinging to her 33-year marriage. Watko inhabits Alice, annoying us when
she needles both her husband and son about their insufficient religious
convictions and aching at her raw anguish at being abandoned. Watko's
Alice compels us to rejoice for her when she volunteers counseling AIDS
victims, humorously revealing a generous, unsuspected dimension. She
can be mercurial, as she exasperates the audience while ordering her
recently acquired dog named "Edward" to stay and heel.
"Carr's role as Jamie might not be as flashy, but it is as demanding as he
is called upon to remain the stoical only child of parents he continues to
love as he absorbs their pain. Carr's Jamie reflects the troubling
characteristics of both parents, and he becomes so real to us that one is
caught up wondering along with his probing mother about his private life.
"Nicholson's play is filled with familiar life situations that make us think,
his characters as created by this gifted acting trio continue to intrigue us
long after we leave the theater."
- The Baltimore Sun
Praise for Standing O Productions' john & jen
"Ron Giddings...plays two different Johns, of two different generations. He
portrays his characters as youngsters superbly. Then you watch his
shoulders square and you would swear you hear his voice crack and
deepen...until suddenly his character is a teenager. And you believe.
"Sheri Kuznicki portrays Jen as she evolves through three stages: older
sister protective of her new little brother, escaping college-bound student,
mother of her own child. Her fierceness in attempting to protect John from
all the harms of the world is palpable. When she ultimately fails, as she
must, her anguish is wrenching.
"Guided by Debbie Barber-Eaton's sure directorial hand, no movement or
gesture is irrelevant or unintended. With a bare stage and only three
storage cubes from which bits of clothing and props are pulled to suggest
the ages of the characters or the location of the scene, Barber-Eaton
compels your mind's eye to fill in the blanks.
"As played by musical director Marsha Goldsmith, [the piano] provides the
heartbeat of this dramatic musical, but Buzz Stillinger's evocative cello is
the show's soul.
"Both Giddings and Kuznicki carry their vocals superbly, and they are well-
partnered, balancing each other.
"For a new company in its inaugural season to give the familiar theme [of
family relationships] a novel presentation is an auspicious and bold
beginning."
- Bay Weekly
"As Jen, skilled singer-actor Sheri Kuznicki is up to every vocal challenge
as she delivers a portrait of an adolescent girl's growth to womanhood.
Her portrayal is believable at every juncture, from lively teen to independent
college student to concerned mother, expressing her nurturing love for her
brother and son as well as her fierce protectiveness of both against her
abusive father.
"Ron Giddings - first as Jen's brother, John, and later as her son, must be
convincing as a 5-year-old, a frustrated adolescent, a rebellious teenager
and, finally, a young man. He succeeds brilliantly on each level,
summoning a believable little boy with legs kicking and arms twitching in
exuberance at Santa's impending visit, and later as a teasing brother and
son at ball games, then the indignant young military man.
"Giddings and Kuznicki are well-paired in their every transition and are
always in perfect vocal harmony.
"It's a rare treat to discover a show with so much to offer that is brilliantly
performed. This is a gift from Standing O that should be enjoyed by
capacity audiences."
- The Baltimore Sun
Praise for Standing O Productions' Inaugural Production,
On the Twentieth Century
"Lending substance to his directorial efforts is Giddings' ability to draw out
actors' unsuspected strengths. Subsequently the audience gets the
bonus of discovering a favorite actor's comic talents or unsuspected
dancing and singing ability.
"[Christina] Enoch handles the role [of Lily] as if she were born to play it.
Enoch has a gift for comedy and possesses an impressive singing voice.
Enoch's Lily combines vocal artistry and comic flair in her renditions of
"Veronique," "Never" and "Babette."
"[Tom] Newbrough's Oscar Jaffe is alternatively sweet and scheming and
always funny.
"Local favorite Sue Centurelli seems destined to play wacky Letitia
Primrose. She delivers Letitia's hilarious number, "Repent," while
performing nifty footwork and stealing every scene.
"A surprise for me was usual leading man Judson Davis taking a turn at
comedy playing vain dim-witted Bruce Granit - Lily's sometime boyfriend
and movie co-star. Posing in front of the mirror in his glistening bronze
pajamas, Davis becomes a comedian - and he also takes a few turns on
the dance floor, exhibiting smooth moves...
"As O'Malley and Webb, Ronnie Schronce and John Halmi deliver 100
percent in their polished song and dance routines and comedy
performances.
"All ensemble work, whether in singing or dancing, is polished. Deserving
mention is the harmonizing quartet of Greg Bosworth, [Ron] Giddings,
John Halmi and David Thompson, who deliver a humorous "Life is Like a
Train" [opening]."
- The Baltimore Sun
"The stars collide in a supernova of emotion. In a dream cast where even
the chorus members are virtuosos, [Tom] Newbrough is a comic genius,
[Christina] Enoch exudes diva quality and [Judson] Davis’ voice and
physical conceit conjure Kline at his best. A Will Ferrell double — [John]
Halmi — plays a fitting sidekick to [Ronnie] Schronce’s darker accomplice,
both excellent singers with presence. [Greg] Bosworth is so good he
seems neglected, and Alicia Sweeney manages to sing badly beautifully
as the hilarious past-her-prime prima donna, Imelda Thornton. Other
musical highlights include...a barbershop quartet of conductors (Giddings,
Halmi, Bosworth and David Thompson) singing the opening
announcements, which were composed by Musical Director Marsha
Goldsmith."
- Bay Weekly
Reviews
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