Reviews: JACOB MARLEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL at Gulfshore Playhouse (2)

Cody Nickell in "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol."

UPDATED WITH NANCY'S REVIEW.

It's magically delicious.

Cody Nickell turns in a tour de force performance as Jacob Marley (and 17 other characters) in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol."

Nickell, director Kristen Coury and a first-rate design team create a phantasmic theatrical experience equal to something Dickens himself would have been proud to attend.

Audiences hear the shrieking whistle of wind, the tinkling of chimes, see the twinkle of bright stars and all but feel the resounding thump and clang of Marley's chains. You live inside this tale - from Marley's first horrific awakening to the inevitable redemption.

Be warned. Playwright Tom Mula has a feel for Dickensian prose. Every second amazes, although I wish curtain time came closer to ten than to eleven.

Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol," an alternate take on the Dickens Classic, runs at 8 p.m. through Dec. 22 at the Norris Center in downtown Naples, with 3 p.m. matinées on Dec. 8, 15, 21 & 22. Tickets are at $33-$45. Call 866-811-4111 or gulfshoreplayhouse.org. (read the preview) | Read the complete review.

More coverage:

Nancy Stetson (Florida Weekly)
Review: Go to hell and love every second with Jacob Marley

Chris Silk (Naples Daily News)
Preview: Cody Nickell and Kristen Coury talk 'Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol'

Nancy Stetson (Florida Weekly)
Preview: To hell and back - One-man play tells the story of Jacob Marley’s journey

Bill O'Neill (Collier Citizen)
Curtain Up: Catch these seasonal treats at Sugden and Gulfshore theaters

Preview: Cody Nickell takes on Dickens in Gulfshore's "JACOB MARLEY"

Cody Nickell.

It's the day before Thanksgiving. I'm sitting on the patio at the Norris Center with Cody Nickell and Kristen Coury. He's starring as Jacob Marley in "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" and she's directing.

I wanted to do one of those Entertainment Weekly-style "Three Drinks with Cody & Kristen" interviews, but rehearsal schedules got in the way.  Kristen is having a grande extra-hot Americano, I'm having my usual salted caramel hot chocolate and Cody doesn't quaff coffee. Instead of three drinks, we're gonna do three questions.

Here's a teaser from the interview. You can subscribe and read the whole thing now, or wait for the dead trees later this week.

Read the preview: Cody Nickell and Kristen Coury talk 'Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol'

Cody Nickell.

1) Why Jacob Marley? What makes this version special? What is in it that
isn't in any other version of "A Christmas Carol?"


"We know Scrooge and we don't know Marley at all." This is from Kristen Coury. We compare notes. Cody and I like Scrooge McDuck; Kristen prefers 1992's "The Muppet Christmas Carol."

On a side note - and this didn't make it into the story - the Scrooge McDuck mention led down the road to "Duck Tales," and then more Disney cartoons. Anyone passing by the Norris Center that afternoon was treated to Cody and I duetting the theme to "Gummi Bears." Truth.

2) What is the most difficult part of telling such a well-known (and
beloved) story with just one actor?

"I'm standing on Scrooge right now!" Cody Nickell said.

3) What have you already discovered about "A Christmas Carol" that you
didn't know before? What do you think will surprise audience members?

Cody Nickell takes flight. But Kristen Coury refuses to reveal how or why.

Cody Nickell stars in the Gulfshore Playhouse production of "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol," an alternate take on the Dickens Classic. The show runs at 8 p.m. through Dec. 22 at the Norris Center in downtown Naples, with 3 p.m. matinées on Dec. 8, 15, 21 & 22. Tickets are $33-$45. Call 866-811-4111 or gulfshoreplayhouse.org. Buy tickets online here: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/920126.

Read the preview: Cody Nickell and Kristen Coury talk 'Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol'

Photos: Cody Nickell in "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" at Gulfshore Playhouse

Cody Nickell in "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol."

Here's the promo email for "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" at Gulfshore Playhouse.

http://www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org/13blast/112513.htm

I also have photos. Maura Lohan calls the series "The Many Faces of Cody Nickell."

"Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" runs Dec. 6-22. Tickets are $33-$45; student tickets $15. Call 866-811-4111 or gulfshoreplayhouse.org.

Cody Nickell in "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol."

Cody Nickell in "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol."

PHOTOS: First look at "Something Intangible" from Gulfshore Playhouse"

Ian Merrill Peakes and Shawn Fagan in Gulfshore Playhouse's
production of "Something Intangible" by Bruce Graham.

Here's the latest press release for the Gulfshore Playhouse production of "Something Intangible."

• Preview (Pay-what-you-can) Tuesday, Oct. 29 (ya'll should go to this!)
• Preview ($25) Wednesday, Oct. 30
• Opening Night: Friday, Nov. 1

Set among the glitz and glamour of 1940's Hollywood, the drama goes inside the movie studio and inside the lives of two brothers. One is the creative genius responsible for bringing the first animated feature film to the screen and the other is his loyal brother, who struggles to keep the money coming in to fund the next big dream which will ultimately change the film industry forever: a feature length animated film set to classical music.

Cast: Shawn Fagan, Ian Merrill Peakes, Charlotte Booker, Josh Tobin & Peter Reznikoff. Gulfshore's Artistic Associate Cody Nickell will direct.

"Something Intangible" runs Nov. 1-24. Single tickets start at $33. Half-price tickets are available for all matinee performances one-half hour before the show. Call 1-866-811-4111 or gulfshoreplayhouse.org.

Ian Merrill Peakes and Shawn Fagan in Gulfshore Playhouse's
production of "Something Intangible" by Bruce Graham.

Reviews: VENUS IN FUR at Gulfshore Playhouse (3)

Updated with Nancy Stetson's review.

Updated with the Charles Runnells review.

Folks are going to be talking about "Venus in Fur" for a while. Get yourself down to Gulfshore Playhouse and see this one. Nancy Stetson was there on opening, so we'll see another review later this week. Nancy's review is now linked below too. Here's a roundup of coverage and the reviews.

"Venus in Fur" plays at 8 p.m. through Saturday, Oct. 19 with additional 3 p.m. matinées on Oct. 12, 13 & 20. Tickets are $29-$35 with discounted $15 admission for students. Call 866-811-4111 or gulfshoreplayhouse.org.

Gulfshore Playhouse presents signed performance of "Venus in Fur"

Kelley Curran in "Venus in Fur."

Gulfshore Playhouse will present a signed performance of "Venus in Fur" by David Ives in conjunction with Florida Gulf Coast University's Office of Adaptive Services at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9th, 2013.

A team of two American Sign Language interpreters will be on stage providing an interpreted performance to the Naples audience.

Read my review of "Venus in Fur" here: http://www.gonaples.com/news/2013/oct/05/review-gulfshore-playhouse-venus-in-fur-tickets/

"Venus in Fur" is the Tony-nominated play that the New York Times called "a suspense-filled sex comedy."  "Venus in Fur" upends the traditional power relationship between director and actress and man and woman in this scintillating, fascinating,  and thought-provoking "play within a play" that investigates the layers of love, lust, power and gender politics with humor, intensity and good kinky fun.

Tickets for this special performance are still available at www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org or by calling 866-811-4111

Previews: Gulfshore Playhouse opens season with "Venus in Fur"

Pedro Zepeda / Gulfshore Playhouse

Kelley Curran in the Gulfshore Playhouse
production of "Venus in Fur."

Gulfshore Playhouse launches its season with "sexy, kinky" play "Venus in Fur" tonight. The theatre kicks off its first-ever "pay-what-you-can" previews with a large group from The Contemporaries, followed Thursday night by a $20 preview and the official opening Friday.

Gulfshore also announced Monday morning that they would expand the "pay-what-you-can" previews to three additional titles in their season.

Pedro Zepeda / Gulfshore Playhouse

Kelley Curran in the Gulfshore Playhouse
production of "Venus in Fur."

Pedro Zepeda / Gulfshore Playhouse

Nick Duckart and Kelley Curran in the
Gulfshore Playhouse production of "Venus in Fur."

Here's my preview of the play, plus photos and a roundup of other coverage.

Preview: Gulfshore launches season with 'sexy, kinky' 'Venus in Fur'
Chris Silk / Naples Daily News

The play is called "Venus in Fur." The cover of at least one published edition of the work shows a woman wearing stockings and garters. Pictured from the rear, of course. Cutouts of two tiny hearts peek out from the exact spot where the gluteus maximus begins that mysterious journey into the thigh muscle, where the seams of stockings drift downward on long, lean, sensuous legs. This woman, named Vanda in the play, perches with confidence on towering heels. A whip curls in her hand, almost as if she's caressing the instrument. As the audience soon learns, Vanda knows how to use every weapon at her disposal, from whip to wit, in a battle of wills and power that may leave Neapolitan audiences breathless. Read the preview...

Pedro Zepeda / Gulfshore Playhouse

Nick Duckart and Kelley Curran in the
Gulfshore Playhouse production of "Venus in Fur."

Sexual Power Play: David Ives’ ‘Venus in Fur’ leaves most to the imagination in exploring a risqué relationship
Nancy Stetson / Florida Weekly

FORGET ABOUT “FIFTY SHADES OF Grey.” This is the real thing. The Tony-nominated play “Venus in Fur” is an intelligent look at sadomasochism, the dynamics of relationships and sexual power struggles. “There are so many layers upon layers upon layers (in this play): who’s in power, sexual politics, gender politics,” says Kristen Coury, director of the production of “Venus in Fur” that opens the new season for Gulfshore Playhouse on Friday, Oct. 4, at The Norris Center in Naples. ... “It’s the complete total opposite of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ which is all spelled out in lurid detail. In this play, it’s all evoked, it’s all innuendo … and it’s all steamy.” Read the preview...

Gulfshore Playhouse offering additional pay-what-you-can previews

"Venus in Fur" at Gulfshore Playhouse.

Gulfshore Playhouse Monday announced that the theatre would expand its "pay-what-you-can" preview program - two days before the season even starts!

“I believe that theatre is meant for the masses," Kristen Coury said in a prepared news release. "Enjoying art of any kind connects us once again with our humanity, our creativity and the divine inside all of us."

"Venus in Fur" kicks off the Gulfshore Playhouse season with a pay-what-you-can preview Wednesday and a $20 preview Thursday. The official opening is Friday.

Sexy play, cheap price for Gulfshore Playhouse's "Venus in Fur" preview

Kelley Curran and Nick Duckart in
Gulfshore Playhouse's "Venus in Fur."

Nick Duckart and Kelley Curran in
Gulfshore Playhouse's "Venus in Fur."

Kristen Coury cannot wait to find out what Neapolitans think about the Gulfshore Playhouse season opener "Venus in Fur."

"Venus in Fur?" Wasn't that a Lou Reed song? No.

Lou Reed wrote "Venus in Furs." The David Ives play "Venus in Fur" tells of  an actress who turns the tables on a playwright during an audition. Vanda conquers Thomas while wearing stilettos, leather shorts and wrestling on a chaise lounge. The whole time, they're acting out scenes from an 1870 piece of literature written by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. That's where we get "sadomasochism."