THEATRE
Leave It To Beverly
Presented by
DA! Theatre Collective
at
The Off Center
November 5-November 21, 2009
Avg. Event Rating (4.4 Stars):
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Originally workshopped to great acclaim as a one-act in Vermont, and later at the Frontera Fest Short Fringe in 2003 (where it was recognized as a Best-of-Fest selection), Leave it to Beverly subverts the classic sit-com genre through three interconnected acts (Leave it to Beverly, Trixie Knows Best, and Make Room for Lorraine). Each fast-paced and bizarre episode features an archetypal TV female confronting her artificial universe in hilarious and unexpected ways.Guaranteed to leave you craving the good ol' days of Nick-at-Nite (but with a twist), Leave it to Beverly confronts consumerism, turns gender roles upside-down, and celebrates the elusive mysteries of Tupperware, Astroturf, and Mr. Clean.
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At-a-
Glance
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Venue Info
The Off Center
2211 Hidalgo Street
Austin, TX 78702
Full map and directions
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Admission Info
Tickets: TICKETS $15 - $25 (sliding scale), $12 Students/Seniors/ACOT Members, hottix $10
Info Phone: (512) 484-1242
Email
Buy Tickets
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Dates & Times
Dates:
November 5-November 21, 2009
Times:
8PM
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Accessibility Info
Currently, no accessibility information is available for this event.
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Video & Image Gallery
Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.
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Member Reviews
Add review/comment
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Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Do You Love Lucy?"
Review
posted by:
Em Bem
from Austin, TX,
Nov 13, 2009
Or Alice or Samantha? Leave It To Beverly gives us new leading ladies to love: Beverly, Trixie, and Lorraine, each the star of her own sitcom reality, along with wacky neighbors Minerva and Mrs....
Expand
Or Alice or Samantha? Leave It To Beverly gives us new leading ladies to love: Beverly, Trixie, and Lorraine, each the star of her own sitcom reality, along with wacky neighbors Minerva and Mrs. Krabbitch. And of course, alongside every great sitcom woman is a classic male counterpart. (And sometimes a mother-in-law, too...)
The characters who inhabit the show are as delightful as the originals they are modeled after. All of the performers shine, the writing is a riot, the direction spot on. Every performance is a valentine to someone or something we already know and love, yet what we're seeing on stage is as distinctive as each member of the company putting on the show.
We grow accustomed, in the theatre, to the reality that not every actor dances, not every dancer acts. Not every writer directs, not every director writes. Certainly, not every actor dancer writer director starts their own company! Somehow, the people of DA Theatre Collective do it all, and make it look great.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Fun and Imaginative"
Review
posted by:
austinlivetheatre.com
from austin,
Nov 11, 2009
DA’s Leave It To Beverly, A fun and imaginative leap into an addled world based on 1950s sitcoms, where everything seemed so simple. And maybe WAS so simple. Kirk German and DA! unsimplify and...
Expand
DA’s Leave It To Beverly, A fun and imaginative leap into an addled world based on 1950s sitcoms, where everything seemed so simple. And maybe WAS so simple. Kirk German and DA! unsimplify and get crazy. Terrific 50s-60s choreography!
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Raving about the world premiere!"
Review
posted by:
Austin On Stage
from austin,
Nov 11, 2009
Olin Meadows raves about the world premiere of Kirk German's new comedy that subverts the classic 1950s sitcom genre, now playing through November 21st at The Off Center, blessing it with "5 Out of 5...
Expand
Olin Meadows raves about the world premiere of Kirk German's new comedy that subverts the classic 1950s sitcom genre, now playing through November 21st at The Off Center, blessing it with "5 Out of 5 Stars" -
http://tinyurl.com/yzgmc78
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Leave it to Beverly"
Review
posted by:
Jen R-B
from Austin, TX,
Nov 09, 2009
Leave it to Beverly is a creative twist on the classic sitcoms of the 50’s and 60’s where everyone was happy (whether they liked it or not), life was simple, and everyone had a loveable and wacky...
Expand
Leave it to Beverly is a creative twist on the classic sitcoms of the 50’s and 60’s where everyone was happy (whether they liked it or not), life was simple, and everyone had a loveable and wacky neighbor to keep things interesting. The show is highly entertaining, and played out in three acts/sitcoms. The sets are bright and cheery, and complimented with timely Eisenhower-era props. The costumes are also perfectly spot-on and lovely. The cast is wonderful. Everyone seems to genuinely be having fun. Stephanie Denson is hilarious and inspiring as Minerva, Beverly’s wacky neighbor. But the best part is the positive message it sends to women of all ages. The show reminds us of how far women have come in such a short period of time. It’s a very girl-power show—but with just the right amount of girl-power. I’d recommend this show to all, but it’s especially inspiring for women. Beverly entertains for its full two-hours, and leaves you yearning to go home and watch some Nick-at-Nite. Bravo!
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Leave it to Beverly: A Trip Back In Time"
Review
posted by:
Jonathan Hoyle
from Austin, TX, USA,
Nov 09, 2009
Leave it to Beverly is a brilliantly composed play in 3
acts. This play integrates dance, comedy, drama &
"special effects" into a time machine that takes us
back to our childhood, sitting in front...
Expand
Leave it to Beverly is a brilliantly composed play in 3
acts. This play integrates dance, comedy, drama &
"special effects" into a time machine that takes us
back to our childhood, sitting in front of the TV
drinking Nestle's Quick or Kool-Aid. Kirk German
has directed/produced a top-notch cast who act,
dance & engage in classic 50's style antics. The
timing of dance and comedic interludes was
flawless, adding to the boob-tube mystic of the
era. Set design, light & sound are all meticulously
integrated to give us the TV experience. But,
German is able to take things to a more pensive,
deeper level as well giving us the darker side of
what might be occurring during each commercial
break.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Hilarious!"
Review
posted by:
Carl Mamula
from Austin, TX, USA,
Nov 08, 2009
The Da! Theatre Collective are a talented bunch, and their latest offering is a riot. Leave It To Beverly brilliantly satirizes not only the conventions of television sitcoms from the '50s and '60s,...
Expand
The Da! Theatre Collective are a talented bunch, and their latest offering is a riot. Leave It To Beverly brilliantly satirizes not only the conventions of television sitcoms from the '50s and '60s, but also the entire cultural milieu of the era. For instance, the makeshift laugh tracks that complement the dialogue near the beginning of the show seem to become gradually more mechanical and abrupt, bespeaking an oddly dystopian world where suburban middle-class repression, forced happiness, and canned laughter are the norm. Far from canned, however, is the laughter that will be had by all audiences with a keen sense of humor and an appreciation for classic sitcoms -- be it out of nostalgia for the "good ol' days" or out of relief that society has changed. I have seen a great many theatrical productions, and I was not bored or dissatisfied with any aspect of this show. Indeed, the show is amusing and full of surprises, and it must be seen to be believed. One might call it "swell."
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"A Fun Sitcom"
Review
posted by:
Timothy Thomas
from Austin, TX,
Nov 08, 2009
Leave it to Beverly is a gentle skewering/homage to the golden age of TV sitcoms. It's broken up into 3 different shows that are essentially all spin-offs of each other.
The acting is very well done....
Expand
Leave it to Beverly is a gentle skewering/homage to the golden age of TV sitcoms. It's broken up into 3 different shows that are essentially all spin-offs of each other.
The acting is very well done. Especially Jude Hickey in a role that seems like stunt casting, but that becomes one of the best acted characters in the show.
The main flaw with the show is that it has trouble wrapping up. There's some "Beach Blanket Bingo"-esque antics at the end that seem like a fairly good place to end, but then there's some moralizing after and every single character is completely wrapped up. Which for a light comedy is overkill. The show clocks in at 2 hours with intermission, and should have probably been 1:15 without.
That said, the beautiful choreography, great acting, and sharp jokes make this a fun night of theatre. And it is by-and-large as family friendly as the shows it emulates.
Collapse
-
Media
Gallery
-
Member
Reviews
-
Member Reviews
Add review/comment
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Do You Love Lucy?"
Review
posted by:
Em Bem
from Austin, TX,
Nov 13, 2009
Or Alice or Samantha? Leave It To Beverly gives us new leading ladies to love: Beverly, Trixie, and Lorraine, each the star of her own sitcom reality, along with wacky neighbors Minerva and Mrs....
Expand
Or Alice or Samantha? Leave It To Beverly gives us new leading ladies to love: Beverly, Trixie, and Lorraine, each the star of her own sitcom reality, along with wacky neighbors Minerva and Mrs. Krabbitch. And of course, alongside every great sitcom woman is a classic male counterpart. (And sometimes a mother-in-law, too...)
The characters who inhabit the show are as delightful as the originals they are modeled after. All of the performers shine, the writing is a riot, the direction spot on. Every performance is a valentine to someone or something we already know and love, yet what we're seeing on stage is as distinctive as each member of the company putting on the show.
We grow accustomed, in the theatre, to the reality that not every actor dances, not every dancer acts. Not every writer directs, not every director writes. Certainly, not every actor dancer writer director starts their own company! Somehow, the people of DA Theatre Collective do it all, and make it look great.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Fun and Imaginative"
Review
posted by:
austinlivetheatre.com
from austin,
Nov 11, 2009
DA’s Leave It To Beverly, A fun and imaginative leap into an addled world based on 1950s sitcoms, where everything seemed so simple. And maybe WAS so simple. Kirk German and DA! unsimplify and...
Expand
DA’s Leave It To Beverly, A fun and imaginative leap into an addled world based on 1950s sitcoms, where everything seemed so simple. And maybe WAS so simple. Kirk German and DA! unsimplify and get crazy. Terrific 50s-60s choreography!
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Raving about the world premiere!"
Review
posted by:
Austin On Stage
from austin,
Nov 11, 2009
Olin Meadows raves about the world premiere of Kirk German's new comedy that subverts the classic 1950s sitcom genre, now playing through November 21st at The Off Center, blessing it with "5 Out of 5...
Expand
Olin Meadows raves about the world premiere of Kirk German's new comedy that subverts the classic 1950s sitcom genre, now playing through November 21st at The Off Center, blessing it with "5 Out of 5 Stars" -
http://tinyurl.com/yzgmc78
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Leave it to Beverly"
Review
posted by:
Jen R-B
from Austin, TX,
Nov 09, 2009
Leave it to Beverly is a creative twist on the classic sitcoms of the 50’s and 60’s where everyone was happy (whether they liked it or not), life was simple, and everyone had a loveable and wacky...
Expand
Leave it to Beverly is a creative twist on the classic sitcoms of the 50’s and 60’s where everyone was happy (whether they liked it or not), life was simple, and everyone had a loveable and wacky neighbor to keep things interesting. The show is highly entertaining, and played out in three acts/sitcoms. The sets are bright and cheery, and complimented with timely Eisenhower-era props. The costumes are also perfectly spot-on and lovely. The cast is wonderful. Everyone seems to genuinely be having fun. Stephanie Denson is hilarious and inspiring as Minerva, Beverly’s wacky neighbor. But the best part is the positive message it sends to women of all ages. The show reminds us of how far women have come in such a short period of time. It’s a very girl-power show—but with just the right amount of girl-power. I’d recommend this show to all, but it’s especially inspiring for women. Beverly entertains for its full two-hours, and leaves you yearning to go home and watch some Nick-at-Nite. Bravo!
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Leave it to Beverly: A Trip Back In Time"
Review
posted by:
Jonathan Hoyle
from Austin, TX, USA,
Nov 09, 2009
Leave it to Beverly is a brilliantly composed play in 3
acts. This play integrates dance, comedy, drama &
"special effects" into a time machine that takes us
back to our childhood, sitting in front...
Expand
Leave it to Beverly is a brilliantly composed play in 3
acts. This play integrates dance, comedy, drama &
"special effects" into a time machine that takes us
back to our childhood, sitting in front of the TV
drinking Nestle's Quick or Kool-Aid. Kirk German
has directed/produced a top-notch cast who act,
dance & engage in classic 50's style antics. The
timing of dance and comedic interludes was
flawless, adding to the boob-tube mystic of the
era. Set design, light & sound are all meticulously
integrated to give us the TV experience. But,
German is able to take things to a more pensive,
deeper level as well giving us the darker side of
what might be occurring during each commercial
break.
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"Hilarious!"
Review
posted by:
Carl Mamula
from Austin, TX, USA,
Nov 08, 2009
The Da! Theatre Collective are a talented bunch, and their latest offering is a riot. Leave It To Beverly brilliantly satirizes not only the conventions of television sitcoms from the '50s and '60s,...
Expand
The Da! Theatre Collective are a talented bunch, and their latest offering is a riot. Leave It To Beverly brilliantly satirizes not only the conventions of television sitcoms from the '50s and '60s, but also the entire cultural milieu of the era. For instance, the makeshift laugh tracks that complement the dialogue near the beginning of the show seem to become gradually more mechanical and abrupt, bespeaking an oddly dystopian world where suburban middle-class repression, forced happiness, and canned laughter are the norm. Far from canned, however, is the laughter that will be had by all audiences with a keen sense of humor and an appreciation for classic sitcoms -- be it out of nostalgia for the "good ol' days" or out of relief that society has changed. I have seen a great many theatrical productions, and I was not bored or dissatisfied with any aspect of this show. Indeed, the show is amusing and full of surprises, and it must be seen to be believed. One might call it "swell."
Collapse
-
Event Name: Leave It To Beverly
"A Fun Sitcom"
Review
posted by:
Timothy Thomas
from Austin, TX,
Nov 08, 2009
Leave it to Beverly is a gentle skewering/homage to the golden age of TV sitcoms. It's broken up into 3 different shows that are essentially all spin-offs of each other.
The acting is very well done....
Expand
Leave it to Beverly is a gentle skewering/homage to the golden age of TV sitcoms. It's broken up into 3 different shows that are essentially all spin-offs of each other.
The acting is very well done. Especially Jude Hickey in a role that seems like stunt casting, but that becomes one of the best acted characters in the show.
The main flaw with the show is that it has trouble wrapping up. There's some "Beach Blanket Bingo"-esque antics at the end that seem like a fairly good place to end, but then there's some moralizing after and every single character is completely wrapped up. Which for a light comedy is overkill. The show clocks in at 2 hours with intermission, and should have probably been 1:15 without.
That said, the beautiful choreography, great acting, and sharp jokes make this a fun night of theatre. And it is by-and-large as family friendly as the shows it emulates.
Collapse
-
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