![\"Adam](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/org_img_1486675075_L-6-946_Pictured_AdamSopp_KatyOwen_Credit_SteveTanner.jpg\")
<\/a>Adam Sopp and Katy Owen. Photo by Steve Tanner.<\/p><\/div>\n
946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips<\/em> is quite the crazy melange; so much goes on in it that sometimes it was hard for me to keep up. It\u2019s like five different shows in one; there\u2019s the basic comedy, (around the difficult subject of war,) with plenty of romance, it\u2019s also a musical (even though the company thinks it isn\u2019t<\/em>; but I don\u2019t see how, since music runs throughout, including before the show even starts and during intermission, and there\u2019s tons of singing and dancing!,) it\u2019s a puppet show, (which is my favorite part,) and\u2014the hallmark of British humor\u2014a drag show, too! And it\u2019s all done with heart. At intermission, my friend, Carolyn, turned to me, and said simply, \u201cIt\u2019s charming.\u201d<\/p>\n In all honesty, it is a bit too frenetic, (and, as Carolyn pointed-out, disjointed,) for my<\/em> taste; my mind is scattered enough to begin with. But the opening night audience went nuts over it. And, even though I have a hard time with the subject of death, I did<\/em> get choked-up by the end.<\/p>\n This photo, of Ncuti Gatwa and Nandi Bhebhe, is the one used for most of the show’s publicity, but is sort-of misleading. A scene like this is just a small part of the show. Photo by Steve Tanner.<\/p><\/div>\n The second act is way better than the first, so, if like me, you\u2019re a bit confused in the first half, (and the title does not help, at all<\/em>!,) do not leave at intermission<\/em>\u2014Act II is so worth it! There are so many surprises.<\/p>\n I think that most of you know by now that I like to go into a show or movie with no pre-conceived notions, so, unless it\u2019s something famous, that everyone knows already, (like The King<\/em> and I<\/em>,) I\u2019m rarely aware of a plot going in. That usually works in my favor, but, in this case, I think it would have been an enormous help to have researched the story beforehand. I had no idea what was going on in the first act at all.<\/p>\n I also think it might have helped if the genders were played by the proper sexes. One of the male soldiers is played by a female, and I kept forgetting that she was supposed to be a guy, so that added to my confusion. And a duo of male actors play females. There are only a couple of instances in life where I enjoy seeing a woman being portrayed by a man. The first is Dame Edna. (But that gent is all woman to me! She\u2019s my all-time favorite performer!!!) The other is in British pantos, which parts of this reminded me of. But I usually just find it confusing\u2014I think every<\/em> role in every<\/em> show or movie (except for pantos, which I write about every Christmas,) should be portrayed by someone whose gender, race, age, whatever matches the character. But that could be just me. (Good thing I wasn\u2019t around in Shakespearean days, right?)<\/p>\n Katy Owen with the puppet of “Tips.” Photo by Steve Tanner.<\/p><\/div>\n The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips<\/em> is actually a decade-old award-winning children\u2019s<\/em> book. I, a former elementary school teacher, still don\u2019t see how a story based on a true, secret horror from World War II, (known as \u201cOperation Tiger,\u201d) is appropriate for kids, but oh well. (The \u201c946\u201d that this company added to the show<\/em> title refers to the number of servicemen who were killed in that failed mission. I\u2019m sorry, but I really don\u2019t think that young children should be exposed to concepts like these. I\u2019ve always been thankful that I missed Bambi<\/em> when I was young! I can barely handle the mother\u2019s death now<\/em>!)<\/p>\n All that being said, this cast from Kneehigh, the British theatre company who bring us this show, is extremely talented. They all act, sing, dance, play instruments, and do puppets!!! OMG! Very impressive. Those people have a lot of energy. I was exhausted just watching them run around, climb ladders, ride bikes; you name it, they did it! My favorite was Craig Johnson, who portrays many characters (as they all do,) including one female. (Yes, I know. But he was so funny that I was compelled to give him a pass.) I felt myself perking-up whenever he showed-up onstage.<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the big one at the top of the page.<\/p><\/div>\n And I absolute adored Lez Brotherston\u2019s colorful, creative, open set!\u00a0\u00a0It made me think of nothing but sunshine on an otherwise rainy night in LA.<\/p>\n There\u2019s an ever-present jazz band, fronted by Akpore Uzoh, (who later on becomes an important character in the show, so don\u2019t just take his presence up there for granted,) on the top level of the stage. If the show had been just them playing for the two and a half hours, I would have been good with that. Even though the music has a familiar, comfortable feel to it, it\u2019s all new, composed by Stu Barker.<\/p>\n (L to R) Paul Crewes, Emma Rice, Mike Sheperd. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n A couple of days before the opening, the Wallis threw a little media luncheon to introduce us to the personnel from Kneehigh. What a lovely idea. The intimate group, which I appreciated being a part of, was treated to insights by the company\u2019s Artistic Director, Mike Shepherd, (whose credits include a lot of charity work, so we know he\u2019s kind as well as talented,) and Emma Rice, who directed this show, along with Paul Crewes, another Brit who is the former Executive Producer of the Kneehigh company, and is now the Artistic Director right here at the Wallis. They let us in on the way in which they put their shows together, and so much more. I wish every theatre<\/em> in town did this! It was very insightful.<\/p>\n The Bram Goldsmith Theater at The Wallis. (Showing a previous production.)<\/p><\/div>\n And speaking of this theatre, Carolyn, (the aforementioned pal who accompanied me,) who was a Wallis virgin at this show, could not get over the place. She deemed it \u201cmagnificent!\u201d So, if you get the chance to see anything<\/em> there, I suggest you take it. The sightlines are perfect! And the seats are comfortable. And all the times I\u2019ve been there, I\u2019ve felt like the stage is right in front of my eyes, rather than being a distant entity. I actually forgot to bring my binoculars that night, (which I use even from house seats at all other theatres,) and I realized afterwards that I never even needed them!<\/p>\n When it leaves here, 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips<\/em> is moving on to Brooklyn, my home town, so I\u2019m jealous of them. But now that I know the story, which means I can just sit back and enjoy the performances, I just may join them there!<\/p>\n 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips<\/em> running through March 5, 2017<\/strong> 946: THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS I adore Brits! And judging by the long standing ovation on the opening night of 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips at the Wallis in Beverly Hills, so did that audience. All the zaniness in this show reminded me a bit of good old Benny Hill\u2019s television<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Wallis Annenberg Theater For The Performing Arts<\/strong>
\n 9390 N. Santa Monica Boulevard Beverly Hills<\/strong>
\n www.thewallis.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"