Sirens - Omaha Playhouse

Sirens were those bewitching voices from early Greek mythology who lured ships into hazardous waters and ultimately destroyed. The legendary Odysseus stuffed wax in his crew's ears and had himself tied to the mast to prevent their destruction. Whatever happened to these creatures?
They're back, at least one Siren, is at the Omaha Community Playhouse until September 15th in Sirens.
Having a midlife crisis is not unusual for men of a certain age. Sam Abrams wrote a successful song years ago when he first met the love of his life, Rose Adelle. She was his muse. After twenty-five years of marriage though, Sam has never again found the magic formula for another hit song. Is Rose Adelle no longer his muse?
Rose Adelle works every day in her store while Sam spends hours supposedly looking for inspiration. In actuality, he is on the computer with his Scrabble and Facebook friends, even meeting a few of them. (Apparently, he becomes friends first before he actually meets them.) Their life has become ordinary after raising a son, Barry and one day is much like the next.
To celebrate twenty-five years of marriage Sam and Rose Adelle take a cruise. While on the deck overlooking the ocean, Sam hears the song of the Sirens and is lured in jumping overboard. He awakens on an island with one other inhabitant, a Siren who is addicted to playing Solitaire on a washed-up cellphone. With no fresh water available, Sam is conflicted with his impending death. Should he touch the Siren and die quickly in ecstasy or die slowly in agony? Ecstasy or Agony?
As Rose Adelle Abrams, Judy Radcliff was the perfect frustrated wife with a husband, Sam Abrams portrayed by Ablan Robin, who complains about her no longer being his muse.
"Barry was my muse," Rose states and that line perfectly explains how a marriage evolves with children. Inside Rose though is still her longing,"I want to be adored like my song." She is always questioning why he is blaming her for his lack of inspiration and passion. Ablan Roblin delights the audience with his antics as the bored husband always looking to his wife, or computer, to fill his needs. Regina Palmer was a gorgeous Siren bewitching Sam when not playing Solitaire and Noah Diaz was charming as the crippled old-time love of Rose. The cast and crew excelled in this light-hearted comedy.
Sirens continues at the Omaha Community Playhouse at 6915 Cass St. in Omaha on Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and 2 pm on Sundays. Ticket costs are $ 35 for adults and $ 21 for students. Special rates for groups are available. Either call the Playhouse box office at (402) 553-0800 or online at OmahaPlayhouse.org or TicketOmaha.com.

Saving Faith

Saving Faith
Patrick M. Garry
Kenric Books
Eagan, MN
ISBN: 978-0-9833703-1-4
2013
$ 17.95
304 pages

"You know what I wish?" she sobbed. "I wish you could repossess my past."

Wouldn't that be a great thing? To allow the guilt of your past to be taken away?

Jack grew up in an orphanage. No one had ever adopted him since much of his childhood was in a hospital bed equipped with an oxygen tent. The sisters at the school had arranged for him to find work. His job as a repossessor, one who takes back the possession of used cars from those you cannot pay, was not glamorous, but he actually enjoyed it and had pride in doing his job well.

One mistake changes Jack's life. He repossesses the wrong car. When he realizes his problem, Jack searches out the owner of the green Saturn to explain the situation and to offer his assistance in making this right.

Ev Sorin, the car owner, doesn't get mad but just accepts his situation while Jack works to return his vehicle. Ev has problems of his own from losing his reputation as a top journalist, now finding meaningful employment as a reporter seems impossible. He just doesn't care about anything.

While at the courthouse officially to release the impounded car, Jack and Ev wander into a courtroom and both are fascinated about what they are hearing. An unusual case is before the judge where a nurse and a young woman want to be responsible for a comatose patient, Faith. The hospital is closing and Faith is on life support. To move her to another facility means that she must be off life support likely causing her death. Why are these women fighting for Faith? Simply, because no one else will.

When this woman was discovered near death years ago, she had no identification on her. There were no inquiries into a missing woman that matched her description. After a time, both women became involved with caring for her and named her Faith Powers. With this facility closing, what choices do they have? Should they just quietly sit by and watch as life support is removed? What is the right thing to do?

SAVING FAITH is about doing the right thing while questioning our choices. There are not always easy and obvious answers. The perspective of success and life is strictly up to the individual.

With Jack's childhood in the orphanage, he witnessed many children ecstatic when adopted but also their immense disappointment when they were often returned, rejected back to the orphanage. Jack figured that he was fortunate since no one wanted a sickly child who needed an oxygen tent for survival, so that he had no expectations of happily ever after and didn't suffer the rejections of life.

SAVING FAITH is a well-planned story with the mystery of Faith's identity as well as a drive-by shooting situation while all the characters seem to be in need of someone saving each of them. Dealing with people and relationships is difficult and doesn't always follow the path we want. Faith, even though comatose, is the one thing that these characters have in common. They each independently make their own choices while each attempting to save her. In doing this, each of them learns a little more about themselves, their friends and families, and life.

Author, Patrick Garry has won numerous awards for his previous novels which all effectively demonstrate the conflicts with ethics and morals in daily life. He currently teaches at the University of South Dakota.

SAVING FAITH has already won the best novel in both the Mystery and the General Fiction categories for the Global Book Contest. SAVING FAITH will leave you questioning your own choices, hopefully, from a different and enlightened perspective.

Always...Patsy Cline

"That's how I always wanted to sing."
Those words are from Louise Seger who back in 1957 first noticed an unusual voice singing on the radio that she could identify as unique and definitely special. Quickly, Louise became an extremely loyal fan of Patsy Cline, even nagging her local radio station by requesting Patsy's music daily. This fan devotion continued to grow until she finally met Patsy. Their relationship grew into an unusual friendship which is the basis for this musical, "Always...Patsy Cline" which opened last weekend at The Waiting Room in Omaha.
As Patsy Cline, Erika Hall is perfect. For singing almost thirty songs, it is truly amazing how she really sounds like the legendary artist who was the first female singer whose recordings were in two categories, country and pop. Erika Hall's energy transformed her into Patsy, as she became a star and evolving from country outfits made by her mother into the classy Jackie Kennedy style of the time.
Louise Seger portrayed by Sue Booton tells the progression of Patsy's fame and her special friendship. The relationship of these two actresses and their parts is what makes this play truly magical. Louise is the comedy and the continuity to Patsy's singing. These two are definitely a winning combination reminding me of the 1950s Lucy and Ethel bond.
The band, led by Mark Kurtz, perfectly matched their music and humor of the twosome on and off stage, as well as the men's quartet back-up singers. Their harmonies, arrangements, instrumentation always added to the overall musical experience which was wonderful.
The Waiting Room is the perfect venue for this play. This intimate setting added warmth and delight from the audience while still Sue Booton room for her character, Louise. The production crew and the staff are both outstanding. (Yes, even the drinks are reasonably priced.)
"Always...Patsy Cline" is a production of PART, Performing Artists Repertory Theatre which is a non-profit group. The first and second acts each last about an hour with an intermission. This show will run August 17, 18, and 24th with Saturday shows at 1 pm and Sunday shows at 1 and 5 pm. Tickets costs are $35 with special group rates for those over 10 and can be purchased by calling (402) 706-0778.
Unquestionably, this is one of the best shows and I expect that many of the performers will be nominated for special area theatrical awards. Both Erika Hall and Sue Booton unquestionably deserve awards for their performances.
For those who remember the days of Patsy and those who want to know more about this legendary musician, "Always...Patsy Cline" definitely is a memorable and outstanding show.

The Hitman's Guide to Housebleaning

The Hitman's Guide to Housecleaning
Hallgrimur Helgason
Amazon Crossing
Las Vegas, Nevada
ISBN: 9781611091397
2012
249 pages
$ 14.95
Tomislav Boksic, better known as Toxic, is one of the best at what he does. As a hit man for the Croatian mafia in New York, his reputation and performance has been perfect. He kills quickly and efficiently with the minimal amount of attention during the actual "hit".
Unfortunately when you're at the top of your career, there is only one way to go and Toxic spirals down as his latest victim in actuality was an F.B.I. agent. He did exactly what he was assigned to do, so why was he blamed for this. Who messed up? Was this intentional within his organization? Why would someone set him up?
With all law enforcement and mafia associates searching for him, Toxic darts to the airport and looks for someone who resembles him, someone who he can kill and take his identity. He discovers a member of the clergy who he quickly kills while in the restroom, shaves his own head to steal the victim's identity, and departs to whatever destination is on his ticket. So, what does a middle-aged, overweight, Croatian hitman to do while pretending to be a television evangelist in Iceland?
THE HITMAN'S GUIDE TO HOUSECLEANING appealed to me as this self-publication through Amazon has quickly turned into a best seller, thanks to Amazon marketing. Why this book as opposed to the many other possible selections? Very simply, is that this book is definitely different.
This novel paints a vivid picture of Iceland with the descriptions of the environment, people, life style, laws, along with the background of the Croatian hitman, making this book humorous and light-hearted while having a slew of eccentric residents with lengthy names filled with consonants. With vivid descriptions, the reader sees Toxic as more than a killer, a real person who definitely knows the difference between a killing and murder while learning of life in this isolated country.
The author, Hallgrimur Helgason is an artist who resides in Iceland and has shown his art in galleries in New York and Paris.   Internationally, he is also a well-respected author whose books have also resulted in films.  
THE HITMAN'S GUIDE TO HOUSECLEANING is his only novel currently published in English. With a hit man as the unlikely likable protagonist, this picture of everyday life in Iceland allows the reader to feel like they are sharing the body with Toxic.   Viewing the world through this character, justifies some of his immoral and unethical behavior since you actually see that he has few choices while avoiding all law enforcement that is globally searching for him.  
THE HITMAN'S GUIDE TO HOUSECLEANING is definitely a different novel which you cannot predict but will remember.

The Demon's Parchment

The Demon's Parchment
A Medieval Noir
Jeri Westerson
Minotaur Books
St. Martin's Publishing Company
New York, New York
ISBN: 978-0-312-60926-9
Trade Paperback
October 2011
$ 14.99
327 pages
Oh, reading a well-written, well-researched, well-organized novel where the crime is horrendous, but the writing is so outstanding that you feel as if you are the investigator is a privilege and luxury. That is reading THE DEMON'S PARCHMENT.
THE DEMON'S PARCHMENT is one of a series in an unusual medieval series which is considered a noir by its darkness and style. This particular novel in Westerson's Crispin Guest series is the third, following VEIL OF LIES, and SERPENT OF THE THORNS. Previously, I have reviewed the fourth book, Troubled Bones, and enjoyed it so much that I was asked to look at the previous ones. These books can be read as standalone novels, but are definitely better when you know the characters and some of their history.
Crispin Guest is a former knight who lost everything when he was accused of treason and lost his favor with the king. Essentially living minimally in a bare existence now, with his young apprentice, Jack, he works as a Tracker, one who logically tracks from the victim back to the criminals.
Crispin has agreed to find the lost parchments stolen from a Jewish physician residing at the King's court. This is definitely unconventional since Jews are not allowed to be living in England at this time and were previously expelled. It was generally believed that those of this religion practiced human sacrifice.
Also, Crispin has agreed to help the new sheriff in stopping who is killing young boys in a distinctive gruesome manner. These unfortunate victims though have not been reported as missing. Why would someone give their son to another?
THE DEMON'S PARCHMENT is enthralling.   The characters are believable and likable with the murderer always being in disguise.   With shared responsibilities, the relationship between Crispin and Jack is strong while neither is without fault.   The supporting characters are outstanding with vivid descriptions and definitely showing the "shady" side of London while still demonstrating how nobility was frequently above the law.   With actual historical events being intertwined into this story, the reader truly feels like this mystery transports them to another time and place. THE DEMON'S PARCHMENT is not for the feint-of-heart.   The descriptions are graphic and gory.   However, this novel excels in all categories and proves that Jeri Westerson is a true story teller.