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Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast August: Osage County
The production was staged in St. Petersburg at the Palladium Theater, a few blocks from their regular home at The Raymond James Theater because of the physical demands of the set and the large cast required. At the Palladium the company was able to accommodate their subscription audience in nine performances instead of the usual 4-week run. The show, seen at the last performance, was a sweeping success for this company. The sheer size of the play required work on a different level than that usually seen at this small regional theater, and the company was able to assemble a cast of actors, many who have toiled at this company regularly over the years and some regional favorites. The entire cast performed superbly in the highly charged work. The scenes between Lisa McMillan as Violet and Julie Rowe as eldest daughter Barbara simply crackled with intensity, and Katherine Michelle Tanner as middle daughter Ivy also added greatly to the ensemble effort. The direction by Artistic Director Todd Olson was excellent, and the scenes of physical chaos were wonderfully staged; the act two melee, after dinner, was so real it was frightening. Sets designed by Scott Cooper, costumes by Mike and Kathy Buck Designs, and Lighting Design by Joseph P. Oshry all contributed greatly to the complete success of this production. Upcoming productions in the 2011-2012 season of American Stage Theater Company include Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband, August Wilson's Seven Guitars , The Rocky Horror Show, to be produced at Demens Landing as the American Stage at the Park Production, and a brand new musical Vanishing Point by Rob Hartmann, Liv Cummins and Scott Keyes. August: Osage County by Tracy Letts was presented by American Stage Theater Company at the Palladium Theater, 253 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg Florida from 10/22/11 through 10/30/11. For more information, visit americanstage.org.
Michael Edwards as Beverly Weston
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