An interview with Vanda Eggington creator of Boomers, American Rhythm, and Love Makes the World Go ’Round. We will be talking about her latest project present by The American Coast Theatre Company: The Beat Goes On a Rock and Roll road trip through the last half of the 20th Century with stops in small town malt shops, sunny California beaches, mirror ball disco halls, and MTV studio extravaganzas.
Hamlet Goes Gangster : American Coast Theater Company Presents Hamlet @ Vanguard University in Costa Mesa – Review
(photo courtesy : Susie Sprinkel Hudson)
Written by Alina Mae Wilson
Many if not most leading characters in successful fiction today have qualities that endear them to the viewer, making them desirable as friends, lovers, or both. But before there was all that nonsense about actually liking the star, there was someone else–there was Hamlet. An angst filled Danish prince forever brooding about his castle, Hamlet is often described with words like “depressed” “whiny” and “cowardly”. As a result he has many times been the target of viewers’/readers’ scorn, derision, and annoyance. In contrast with this is the portrayal from American Coast Theater Company’s Hamlet. The young prince here is heavily sarcastic, bitter, and volatile. Not really likable or sympathetic, but he has an energy that is strange enough to keep you hooked. Continue Reading
American Coast Theatre Company: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead @ Vanguard University in Costa Mesa – Review
Written by Erin Tobin
The play’s the thing at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. Well actually no, it’s two plays that are the thing. From June 3– July 3, the American Coast Theater Company will be performing William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy about a conflicted Danish prince and his struggle to avenge his father’s death. In conjunction with Hamlet, the company will also be presenting Tom Stoppard’s less well-known tale about Hamlet’s old college chums, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
OCR TALK #5 James McHale & Lola Kelly on Hamlet/Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Interview with James McHale (associate artistic director) who plays Hamlet and Lola Kelly (Miss Julie at SCR, and The Grinder on FOX ) who’s playing Ophelia. In the upcoming play of Hamlet going side by side with a showing of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. If you like this show please let us know in the comments. Continue Reading
Four Weddings and Alot of Sarcasm – Always A Bridesmaid presented by American Coast Theatre Company @ Vanguard University in Costa Mesa
Photo courtesy : Susie Sprinkel Hudson
Written by Daniella Litvak
It’s not summer until you’ve eaten barbecue, gone to the beach, or attended a wedding. Luckily, “Always A Bridesmaid” put on by American Coast Theatre company invites you to four weddings. During their high school prom we meet Libby Ruth (Susan K. Berkompas), Deedra (Maria Cominis), Charlie (Vanda Eggington), and Monette (Deborah Marley) who are four best friends making a pact to be bridesmaids at each other’s weddings. Time passes, and now they have to make good on their promise –over and over again.
Honestly, the plot is really just an excuse to get four friends together in a room and let them engage in snark-to-snark combat while wearing ridiculous bridesmaid dresses before the impending nuptials occur. The downside of this repetitiveness is that the few times “Always A Bridesmaid” tries to discuss something seriously, it feels shoehorned in. The instance that really sticks out is Libby Ruth’s fear that her daughter won’t find love. While the first scene is necessary to establish characters, tone, and a normal atmosphere to heighten the contrast with later wackiness, the scene could be trimmed down a fair bit to make the story tighter. The upside is the show stuffs itself with great one-liners and banter, which makes for a fun viewing experience. Continue Reading
American Coast Theatre Company presents : Comedy of Error @ Vanguard University in Costa Mesa – Review
Photo Credit Susie Sprinkel Hudson
Written by Scotty Keister
(Spoiler alert : This review is full of Spoiler, you have been warned)
If online dating really went like this it might put the whole internet out of business. Comedy of <<ERROR>>, now in its world premiere at Vanguard University’s lovely Lyceum Theater, and produced by American Coast Theater Company, is a wild and wooly look at dishonesty and deception as played out on a particular dating site, Date Jane Eyre.com.
The idea is to put bookish folks together for romance. The site’s creator, Charles, is both the culprit behind a good deal of the malfeasance here and the romantic lead of the story. Charles is desperately trying to hook up his apparently one and only paying customer, Bill, before he quits and demands his money back, a sum of $800 which Charles happens to need desperately as a down payment for a honeymoon with his girlfriend Chloe, to whom he has not yet even proposed. Being that the engagement ring has been inadvertently locked in a kitchen safe by Chloe’s wacky brother Donald and cannot be extracted for a week, Charles has some nifty romance-spinning to do in order to keep alive his hopes of a successful proposal. Yeah, it all seems pretty convoluted and far-fetched. The basic idea that a dating site can exist with only one paying customer is crazy enough, but what follows is even crazier.
