EXECUTION OF JUSTICE

by Ed Bruce edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

a play by Emily Mann

Thats what the program said.... and that was very correct, altho this was more than a play....this was the total picture.

The last few events I have reviewed managed to piss me off before kickoff. This is especially true in my case..... I am prejudging prior to the event.....here....... my tickets were available immediately, no pre game rap music and they started right on time to the second (possible a few seconds EARLY)..... lets "get er done". Great attitude leading me into the show !

The play is the story of Dan White's shooting of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and councilman Harvey Milk (first openly gay official elected in the United States)...this in the fall of 1978. TRUE STORY. At the time I was a television reporter and followed the news closely but I learned more last night than I ever did on TV or in the papers.

The Las Vegas Academy Theatre gave me this sensational production, downtown Las Vegas. The mission HERE is to teach.....WOW.... what a novel idea....the night before I was priviledge to hear a couple hundred of their violin players....WOW....we are on the right track here.....my impression is that these two groups (in school) are very likely to be young people with productive successful talented careers and lives, unlike so many of the dropouts, drug issued teens with no goals. There is great hope here and they are providing first class entertainment as well.

Back to Execution of Justice, the total picture ! Started on time, great checkboard square set with a terrific courtroom set played to the audience as a jury ! The young actors knew their lines and were completely believable despite most playing a generation older charactors. Sound was excellent with pretty good projection, 37 actors, some playing duel roles with a like number of backup and technical staff. I notice flaws, screwups.....somebody not doing their job, mistakes and anything that does not read right....did not see any of this on April 24.

Telling the story is my issue, The Las Vegas Academy Theatre got the job done perfectly here telling lots I did not know (or in my case remember), I was able to tell the good guys from the bad guys, follow thru completely to the stunning conclusion. Director Robert Connor very successfully tied the story ends together, a mammoth undertaking with endless details. Three overhead video screens were used to project real live video highlights from real time televsion and newspaper accounts which only added to the LVA telling of the story. Costumes great, blocking and continuity perfect. I went to learn, enjoy and experiece the theatre, I did.

I work on impressions with my long history, I have seen everything in Las Vegas, Utah Shakespear Theatre, Broadway and damn near everything else so like my umpire career I have at least experienced all the goods and bads. This was one of the very goods ! Impressions..... the two advisorial trial attorneys put into my mind Spencer Tracy and Fredrick March in Inheirit the Wind, not in acting ability, age or experience but in preparation, seriousness and focus to the task at hand....this is a fine compliment.

Negatives, I just discovered another one in rereading the program ....I could not find the actors names ....which ones played the attorneys....they were probably listed in order of appearance...... a misspelling "socitey" (people really read this stuff) and the lighting. (lots of comings and goings with some spotlight overheads not perfectly time). This is live theatre and different things happen, this is how the lighting happened to me ! Program could have been more detailed with bios and current and future and current show run info. I noticed that the swearing in of witnesses was done rather quickly (not enough time to read the entire , DO YOU SWEAR stichtck....maybe just for speed....maybe not.....it viewed to me as too fast.....thats all the bad news !

I have attended LVA before and will again, this group works with 3 theatres, the Lowden I attended last night for the first time. This is like the Venetian's home for the Phantom, side boxes, great sight lines, perfect acoustics and marvolous seating. The entire support staff made me welcome and then they gave me a great play. This group had just finished a wonderful version of "Cats", thusly they are eager to take on great challenges and succeed ! Thanks for a great evening !

315 S 7th Street..Las Vegas Nevada 89101 Call em 702 799 7800....no web site in the program.


98 A+