BDSM RTV MEDIA NEWS!!!!


03 june 2009


'Coraline' is children's theater for adults


Source: www.nydailynews.com New York Daily News - New York,NY,USA


Children's theater for adults, anyone?
In "Coraline," a new musical based on the book that spawned the recent animated film, the tween heroine stumbles through a door into a seemingly perfect parallel universe.


But when things get scary there, she steadies herself with this mantra: Be wise. Be brave. Be tricky. Those traits describe what's best about this offbeat and partially intriguing production by David Greenspan (book) and Stephin Merritt (songs).

Jayne Houdyshell, who's in her mid-50s, plays Coraline, a clue that the creators and director Leigh Silverman aren't going for something traditional.

They do make room for gender-bending casting and low-tech but imaginative stagecraft. Greenspan's story faithfully follows Neil Gaiman 's best-selling novel and has written himself the juiciest role as the sinister Other Mother who terrorizes Coraline.

Her/his defeat is a hoot, if not a yodel. Merritt, of the Magnetic Fields, is known for his quirky style and has come up with clever lyrics and an interesting plinkety-plinking piano score (including a toy spinet) that fits the kooky, spooky story.

Houdyshell, who worked with Silverman on Broadway in "Well," is plucky and cool but not girlish, nicely anchoring the seven-actor ensemble. For all its virtues, the MCC presentation has issues.

It's naggingly repetitive and, at 90 minutes, long outstays its welcome. This "Coraline" is wise, brave and tricky, yes. By the end, though, it's become trying. On another downtown stage, Leslie Ayvazian's S&M-themed play "Make Me" aspires to be trying.

As it is, it's torture - and not in a good way. Director Christian Parker and the cast should remember never to add it to their credits. Jessica Hecht, in typical ditz mode, plays Connie, a bored suburban wife who tries to whip up some fun with her husband, Eddie (Anthony Arkin), via daily domination breaks.

Sissy and Hank (Ellen Parker and J.R. Horne) are retirees next-door turned on by the handcuff-happy couple. Candy Buckley is Miss Lorraine, a dominatrix with scary stilettos, snug corset and a bossy Martha Stewart demeanor, who puts her client Phil (Richard Masur) through his paces while giving Connie whip tips.

The play presumably seeks to comment on relationships, sexuality and control, but just skims the surface and wastes time for 80 minutes.

A "safe word" in S&M lingo is what someone on the receiving end of a whip uses to make the lashing stop.

Forget the Playbill.

"Make Me" should come with a safe word that ends it all the sooner.