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ICT Mainstage revival of Nine outshines some larger productions by Lawson Taitte 7/28/2008 ©2008 Dallas Morning News Technically, ICT Mainstage's revival of Nine is community theater. You'd never know it, since most of the central performances are more committed and more secure than many we get from bigger organizations…Michael Serrecchia has stayed close to original director Tommy Tune's concepts for this Irving revival. As Guido, Donald Fowler turns in his finest performance in years. Ashley LeGrow is appropriately sexy as the mistress Carla, and Andi Allen is a hoot as the French producer. Guido's muse, Claudia, has the score's best song, "Unusual Way," and Connie Kegg does it justice. Chance Jonas-O'Toole sings up a storm, too, portraying Guido as a child. The showstopper comes from Sara Shelby-Martin as Sarraghina, the kindly prostitute who interests the boy Guido and his friends in sex. Nine also scores a perfect 10 by Elaine Liner, The Dallas Observer 7/30/2008 ©2008 Directed by Michael Serrecchia, the musical fills the stage with 17 beautiful women and one impossibly good-looking man, Donald Fowler as main character Guido Contini. The ladies in Guido's life take turns tormenting him in song…Lover Carla (Ashley LeGrow) dirty-talks in the ironically named 'A Call from the Vatican.' Producer Liliane LaFleur (Andi Allen) vamps Guido, begging him to do films as sexy as the Folies Bergere. All the voices are bellissima. It's all a luscious, lovely romp. Nine gets a 10. Nine The Musical ICT Mainstage GRADE A by John Garcia, The Column 8/4/08 ©2008 Andi Allen portrays "Liliane LaFleur", Guido's producer. In the Broadway revival, the role was performed by my idol, the magnificent Chita Rivera. So I know I'm biased in saying no one can top her performance. Having said that, Ms. Allen does do a fantastic job as the French producer who has a major set of cajones. Ms. Allen leads one of the best musical numbers of the evening with "Folies Bergeres". Using the original as a guide, Ms. Allen had the neverending feather boa for that added touch of glamour. Ms. Allen was grand! Nine by Christopher Soden, EDGE Dallas ©July 30, 2008 …Nine works best when we cooperate with its spirit of whimsy and fantasy. Donald Fowler was poignant and adroit in the lead role of Guido Contini. Andi Allen as Liliane La Fleur, Contini's overbearing, coquettish producer, had panache to spare, sending up the timeworn image of the French temptress. Sara Shelby-Martin, as Saraghina, the Bride of Christ with a past, was rollicking and earthy. Mimmie Combs-Coleman is nurturing and pragmatic as Guido's mother. Chance Jonas-O'Toole as Young Guido comes through at the 11th hour when he sings the oddly moving "Getting Tall." Pop Culture District: Random North Texas Theater Reviews by Mark Lowry, The Star-Telegram 8/8/08 ©2008 Directed by Michael Serrecchia, this vision of an Italian movie director Guido (beautifully sung by Donald Fowler) and the women in his life is lovely to look at, with the women all sitting on stone benches in a spa throughout most of the first act. Standout acting turns came from Patty Breckenridge as Guido's wife Luisa and Andi Allen as the producer Liliane. |