 Shameless self-promotion!
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Sep. 12th, 2007 @ 07:32 pm 
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Oh my gosh! I can't help it. The Mammologues was reviewed by someone from Lowcountry Stages and what a nice person he is.
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Reviews - Village Playhouse Reviews
Friday, 24 August 2007
The Village Playhouse
730 Coleman Blvd
Mt Pleasant SC 29464
843-856-1579
A professional theater
Intimate performances with caberet seating
Producing Director Keely Enright
Entering its seventh season
Price range $20 - $22
Seat comfort B
Visibility A
Sound B
Parking A
Handicap Access W
August 24 - 26, 2007
Mammalogues
Reviewed by William Bryan Rating: (4/5) Running time 85 - one intermission
A very funny and very personal tale of fighting for your life
It would be easy to write off this show as one woman's way of saying "Thank You!" to her friends. Judging from the composition of the audience on opening night, where this reviewer was probably the only one in the room who did not know Gene Glave, that might be a fair assumption. It would not however be an accurate one. This is a solid one-woman show full of the things we have come to expect from the genre. There is a touching story. There are moments of laughter, moments of tears, and moments of anger. There is a moment of climax and finally a satisfying resolution. Based on her very popular blog, found here, the show is a mixture of her entries and the stories behind them. Gene's motivations for producing the show are what one would expect, paying it forward, saying thank you to friends, letting others know that it's not a death sentence, yet under the expert guidance of director Keely Enright, the series of rambling journal entries have been transformed into a show that is all of those things, and damn good entertainment as well.
Storyline: One woman's funny, sad, and triumphant tale of her journey through the world of breast cancer. Along the way, she learns things about herself, her friends, the medical community, and how very precious life should be.
Gene Glave is a fixture, and a good one, around the Charleston area acting scene, so she is no stranger to the stage. Beginning in the nineties with the Pluff Mud Players (now defunct), she has played a variety of roles, including coincidentally, a woman with cancer. She won an award for Best Spirit for her community theater work from the Charleston City Paper and judging from the outpouring of love on opening night, the award is well deserved. However, it takes more than experience on stage to pull off a one-person show. There is no one to bounce off; no one to pick you up if you falter, and fortunately, Gene needed no such help. With a good sense of timing and a story she knows by heart, she manages to present the trials and tribulations of cancer without needing to linger on the horror or the devastation the disease brings. Instead she locates the moments. both good and bad, that she had to experience order to become the woman she is today
While much of the credit for the show must go to the leading lady, it is obvious, from both Gene's online blog and the performance itself, that director and co-creator Keely Enright had a lot to do with its success. Reading a blog entry, while often a personal and moving experience, would not necessarily translate well onto stage, evidenced by many of the failed one man shows in recent years and of course by the failure of books to translate into movies very well. Keely's firm guidance can be seen in the way Gene uses the set as an extension of her story. Each prop coming into its own for its moment in the spotlight, and then fading back once done. The timing of course is critical for a comedic show, even on one with such a serious undertone, and this two women team have discovered an excellent sense of the humor that comes from hardship.
This is a mature show, but anyone teenage and up should feel comfortable attending. There are a few cuss words, a few squirmy moments, but mostly it is an affirmation of life and the right that we all have to fight for our pursuit of happiness. Gene says that she is a better woman for having had cancer. We can all say that we are better people for having had Gene share her story with us in such a personal and entertaining way. There are moments here or there that might need to be tweaked before the show goes national, but barring that happening, we will just have to wait till Piccolo Spoleto to roll around for our next chance to see this feel good performance on stage once more. If you missed the performance due to its sold out three day run, be sure to grab tickets when it returns in the summer for another fantastic night of heartwarming humor.
Original Concept by Gene Glave and Keely Enright. Directed by Keely Enright. Design: Keely Enright (set and lights). Cast: Gene Glave.
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I didn't know the show was going 'national' as the reviewer mentions. I think he was having delusions of grandeur! |
| From: | (Anonymous) |
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| Date: |
September 13th, 2007 01:18 pm (UTC) |
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My hero!!
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Auntie Gene,
YOU ARE MY HERO!!! Way to GO!!! I always knew you'd get that Oscar (or in this case Tony) someday. Keep smilin girl. See you an Broadway-
Love and prayers to you my dear,
Olivia
![[User Picture Icon]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/19950206/3063841) |
| From: | ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=91.6) geneglave |
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September 13th, 2007 05:12 pm (UTC) |
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Re: My hero!!
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Yeah, but do you pinkie-swear??? I love you and need an Olivia fix!
I was wondering what he meant when he said the show would go national... are you at least doing Piccolo or was that an exaggeration too?
No, the Piccolo part is true. I don't know the exact dates, though. I ran into Dottie and Franklin at church and they showed me pictures of you when they visited. Miss you much!
| From: | (Anonymous) |
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September 19th, 2007 01:10 pm (UTC) |
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show
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gene- mamologues was and is a tribute to anyone , cancer or not, who has had a life altering illness. I laughed , I cried, I relived my own sad moments, I ached for you and your wonderful family and loved you as a friend. Thank you for sharing . Thank you for your warmth and friendship.
Samille
| From: | (Anonymous) |
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October 1st, 2007 11:19 am (UTC) |
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Gene,
I meant to say "Were the show going national...." I really think you could tour with it with just a few tweaks here and there. Great show.
Will,
Lowcountry Stages
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