‘Henry & Tom’ tops 2003 list

Tom Titus

This is the second in a series of columns reviewing the year 2003 in

local theater.

Put Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and President Harding together out

in the middle of nowhere, and what have you got? Well, if you receive

home delivery of this newspaper, one thing you’ve got is the best

production from a local community theater in 2003.

The Newport Theater Arts Center mounted a stellar interpretation

of playwright Mark St. Germain’s fanciful dramatic comedy “Camping

With Henry and Tom” under the incisive direction of Phyllis Gitlin to

capture top honors among the area’s two ambitious community theater

groups.

Marty Eckmann’s realistic-looking forest setting and some terrific

performances by the actors portraying these historical figures, which

we’ll get to shortly, helped the success of the Newport show

immeasurably. Additionally, “Camping With Henry and Tom” was a

“sleeper” of sorts, arriving for its local premiere without much

advance notice.

As fine a production as it was, “Camping” was a narrow choice over

Terrence McNally’s “Lips Together, Teeth Apart,” presented by the

Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse under the superb direction of Kristina

Leach (winner of the “best actress” accolade in last year’s year-end

column). This discomfiting tale of two unhappy straight couples at a

beach house on New York’s predominantly gay Fire Island set off some

splendid sparks, both comic and dramatic.

Neil Simon’s Pulitzer Prize winner, “Lost in Yonkers,” occupied

the third rung of the ladder, presented at Newport under the

direction of Michael Ross. Costa Mesa’s rock musical “Godspell,”

staged by Kyle Myers and Megan Endicott, is firmly ensconced in

fourth place, followed by Newport’s attractive production of “The

Importance of Being Earnest.”

As for individual performances, Jack Messenger’s “powerfully

arresting performance” as Henry Ford in Newport’s “Camping With Henry

and Tom” is a clear standout for best actor. Aileen-Marie Scott’s

neurotic chatterbox in Costa Mesa’s “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” is

equally outstanding in the best actress category.

Other notable actors’ performances in 2003 included: John Gilbert

and Ed Dyer in “Twelve Angry Men” at Newport; Jack Millis in “Lips

Together, Teeth Apart” at Costa Mesa; Michael Ross and Patrick Strong

in Newport’s “Funny Money”; Tom Turnley in “Camping With Henry and

Tom” at Newport; Stan Morrow for “Godspell”; and Robin Field for “Ten

Little Indians,” both at Costa Mesa.

Among the year’s more impressive actresses, Joan Underwood and

Cheryl Pellerin particularly stood out for Newport’s “Lost in

Yonkers,” as did Teri Ciranna for “The Importance of Being Earnest,”

also in Newport. Erica Stewart-Givhan in “Once on This Island” in

Costa Mesa and Yvonne Robertson in Newport’s “Funny Money” also merit

individual mention.

Next week, the spotlight swings to the three collegiate drama

programs at UC Irvine, Orange Coast College and Vanguard University.

The week after that, the top honors of the Daily Pilot’s 30th annual

man and woman of the year in theater will be presented.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Fridays.