Here it is!
The list of the best performances one crusty curmudgeon saw in 120-plus nights in
the theaters and concert halls in Central Missouri between Labor Day and May 15.
As always, the long winter season was filled with great — some truly great —
performances. Some were individual; others were team efforts. Some of the greatest
moments came in productions that had no business being produced; others came in
the old standards.
You’ll find nothing on these lists involving over-amplified music. Ol’ Clark does not
tolerate such noise and always gives away his tickets to those who do enjoy being
assaulted by throbbing decibels.
Let’s start with the six best performances in nonprofessional theater.
● Richard Hinschberger as Albin in “La Cage aux Folles” at Columbia
Entertainment Company.
● Clyde Ruffin in “Song of the Middle River” at Boonville’s Thespian Hall and for his
direction of “Flying West” at MU’s Rhynsberger Theatre.
● Brandon Bise and Ken Thompson in “Tuna Christmas” with the Capital
City Players Theatre in Jefferson City.
● Mallory Raven-Ellen Buckstrom for her roles as a condemned slave girl in “Middle
River” and as Claire Arden in “Verge” at Rhynsberger.
● Michael Richardson for his diversity in four main stage shows at Stephens
College — “Blackout Comedy,” “Little Women,” “Anastasia” and “Do Black patent
Leather Shoes Reflect Up?” He also plays a mean piano and has another year at
Stephens College.
● Nora Dietzel in the CEC production of “Don’t Dress for Dinner.” She’s been
around for years, but this was her best of all. Great timing!
● n addition to the above, extra applause goes to “The Good Doctor” at Hickman
High School, to Haley Anderson for her stage presence in “Stage Door,” to Shelly
Ringdahl as Millie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” and to the perfectly balanced cast
in “Guys and Dolls” at Rock Bridge High School.
There was Kathy Posster as Madame DeBonnet in “The Boy Friend” at William
Woods University, Cortney Jo Washington as old Miss Leah in “Flying West,” Rob
Crouse in “The Producers” with the Capital City Players, Sam Cordes and his
puppet in “Freddy Mears” at Stephens, Billy Borgmeyer as Will parker in the
Kewpies’ “Oklahoma” — plus the on-stage work of the Stephens professionals:
Lamby Hedge, Beth Leonard, Rob Doyen and Dan Schultz, which brings out the
best in kids on their way up.
The list of the best performances one crusty curmudgeon saw in 120-plus nights in
the theaters and concert halls in Central Missouri between Labor Day and May 15.
As always, the long winter season was filled with great — some truly great —
performances. Some were individual; others were team efforts. Some of the greatest
moments came in productions that had no business being produced; others came in
the old standards.
You’ll find nothing on these lists involving over-amplified music. Ol’ Clark does not
tolerate such noise and always gives away his tickets to those who do enjoy being
assaulted by throbbing decibels.
Let’s start with the six best performances in nonprofessional theater.
● Richard Hinschberger as Albin in “La Cage aux Folles” at Columbia
Entertainment Company.
● Clyde Ruffin in “Song of the Middle River” at Boonville’s Thespian Hall and for his
direction of “Flying West” at MU’s Rhynsberger Theatre.
● Brandon Bise and Ken Thompson in “Tuna Christmas” with the Capital
City Players Theatre in Jefferson City.
● Mallory Raven-Ellen Buckstrom for her roles as a condemned slave girl in “Middle
River” and as Claire Arden in “Verge” at Rhynsberger.
● Michael Richardson for his diversity in four main stage shows at Stephens
College — “Blackout Comedy,” “Little Women,” “Anastasia” and “Do Black patent
Leather Shoes Reflect Up?” He also plays a mean piano and has another year at
Stephens College.
● Nora Dietzel in the CEC production of “Don’t Dress for Dinner.” She’s been
around for years, but this was her best of all. Great timing!
● n addition to the above, extra applause goes to “The Good Doctor” at Hickman
High School, to Haley Anderson for her stage presence in “Stage Door,” to Shelly
Ringdahl as Millie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” and to the perfectly balanced cast
in “Guys and Dolls” at Rock Bridge High School.
There was Kathy Posster as Madame DeBonnet in “The Boy Friend” at William
Woods University, Cortney Jo Washington as old Miss Leah in “Flying West,” Rob
Crouse in “The Producers” with the Capital City Players, Sam Cordes and his
puppet in “Freddy Mears” at Stephens, Billy Borgmeyer as Will parker in the
Kewpies’ “Oklahoma” — plus the on-stage work of the Stephens professionals:
Lamby Hedge, Beth Leonard, Rob Doyen and Dan Schultz, which brings out the
best in kids on their way up.
Jefferson City, Missouri
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| Columbia Tribune May 29, 2009 |
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| Tribune Column Performances easy on the ears, eyes By Bill Clark Friday, May 29, 2009 Advertisement |