COMMENTS

We have received many wonderful comments from our patrons about our productions. We would love to hear what you think. Send A Comment

Hi:I think your Theater gets better all the time. I thought I had seen the greatest when I saw I Love The Piano, but "Walking Across Egypt" was as good or better, I know we laughed more. It was GREATTTTT!

Thanks again, and keep them coming.

Tonight four of us visited the Artisan Theater and watched the presentation of ‘My Fair Lady.’ Looking around, one noticed that the seats are filled and the floors, walls, curtains and stage props were well designed and manipulated making each scene unique without much effort. As soon as the production started the skilled actors easily captured the hearts of the audience.

The attendees familiar with the original screen play anxiously anticipated the stage presentation of My Fair Lady. Each group quietly whispered to their neighbor while waiting for show time. When the lights dimmed the entire room silenced their conversations, eyes glued to the black center of the stage.

The captivating set designs added credibility to the story line. The introductory scene, located on the streets of London, introduces both Eliza Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins. As the story continues Eliza and Henry are spotted in the Professor’s home, on the street outside his house, at the race track, and at a ball. While each scene contained the same painted walls, the placement of curtains over tavern signs quickly and believably changed the surroundings from outside to in. One interesting technique used in the presentation required the stage props of Professor Higgins’s study to be rotated clockwise as each scene changed. This resulted in each section of the audience getting a different view of the stage and characters every few minutes, accentuating a sense of passing time.

The directors, John Wilkerson and Margaret Shafer, excellently cast Christine Atwell as Eliza and Stan Garner as Henry Higgins, their skill and experience drawing in the hearts of the audience before the first scene ended. In addition to her acting and dancing abilities, Mrs. Atwell has an awesome voice. The quality of the entire cast’s abilities doesn’t stop there. Colonel Pickering’s sense of propriety, played by Tyler Cox, perfectly countered Higgins’s lack of social etiquette. Eliza’s father, Alfred P. Doolittle, played by Brian Hales, charmed the viewers even though he characterized a drunk who wouldn’t marry Eliza’s mother. Even the minor characters enhanced the program through their animated smiles and lively dance routines. It would be easy to believe these actors showed up everyday ready to play instead of work.

After three hours, the play ended with a standing ovation, a simple testimony to the quality of the performance. Sadly, this was the last weekend for the performance and the remaining performances were sold out. If you have not seen it you will have to wait until next season and hope for a repeat performance. Of course, there is always the next theatrical presentation, ‘Walking Across Egypt,’ playing from April 17th to May 9th, 2009. Make your reservations now……

We attended a Thursday production and we were so impressed. We were pleased that you opened up Wednesday. This meant we could take our out-of-town guests from Wisconsin and Florida to see the show. We did not realize that one guest from Florida was a "die hard" fan of MY FAIR LADY and has seen it many times at various venues over the years. We wondered what his response would be to the Artisan's presentation. He thought it was wonderful and I overheard him telling his son back in Florida that it was fantastic. So thank you! We are so proud to have some place like the Artisan to take guests to. We are constantly amazed at the professionalism and quality of the talent - you do such a great on the props and backdrops also - makes for a "Broadway Experience" in a community theater setting. Again, thanks - your hard work is appreciated.

P.S. Your box office is always so cooperative when we have had to change our reservations or add to them. Don't want to overlook them.

My daughter and I went to the show because we like to support our friends who are actors, and because Marianne is a theatre student, but I had never liked the Mary Martin TV version and have always been bored by all the Indian and pirate stuff, etc. HOWEVER, we both LOVED this show! It’s not just for kids. There are no boring parts and it’s so fun to be in a small theatre where the actors are literally in your face. We were afraid we were going to be injured during the wild sword fight (actually a fencing match) between Peter and Capt. Hook.

Wonderful experience, but be warned the theatre lobby is hot and tickets are selling fast.

- Liz

Thank you for a most enjoyable evening last night. I don't know when I've laughed so hard . Keep up the good work. I'll certainly tell my friends.

- Julia

- Alden

John and I decided to go see THE FOREIGNER last night (Review night). I just had to stop and write to you to say it was a wonderful experience!! The show acting was so good that I told the cast as I passed through them "better than any Broadway shows I've seen". I was so taken by the performance that I got absorbed completely.

The story was great - touching, thought provoking. The acting was beyond good.

Your theatre is looking better and better, and I was so excited to see that you anticipate building a new one! I hear good things about Artisan and I would have to say you're heading in the right direction. I know you've worked very hard, and continually, towards completing your dream for Artisan. I think Artisan will be hard to beat and other community theatres will sit up and take note!

Good luck and best wishes in all your endeavors for the future!

- Ginny

Well, the news media is missing something - as usual! Good entertainment at a reasonable price and a chance for the young and old to release their inhibitions through acting! As the wife of a retired Army Colonel I missed the ironed pleats in the back of the shirts I had to iron for my husband in the costumes. As a past Little Theater participant in El Dorado, Arkansas, I can appreciate the difficulty in establishing your sets within such limited space. The music was timely and perfect. Having seen the movie, you didn't let me down with the salute of the "toilet brigade". There were times when I felt like the actors forgot their lines, but they recovered beautifully. My husband, son, and three friends thoroughly enjoyed your production of "No Time For Sergeants" tonight!

- Rosemary

I attended last night's performance of Beauty and the Beast and was/remain in awe. It was just so special. The cast was outstanding.

I also enjoyed the MIRACLE WORKER last month and hope to see many, many more shows!

Thanks so much for the entertainment you provide our community!

- Lori

I just HAD to write you to tell you that I saw the performance last evening of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and I am still absolutely FLOATING this morning! It was AMAZING! The costumes, the singing, the acting/personalities...oh my gosh! I just don't know where to stop! I have seen quite a few plays in your theater (and other local theaters) and I have NEVER seen anything to compare to this one! I brought my 7 year old granddaughter for her first play and she was VERY excited as well. She has only seen movies up to this point in her life and she was so mesmerized that she wants to get involved in acting now.

I know you have received many, many letters of praise on this production and I feel like I am rambling but I just can't help it! This was the absolute best! My granddaughter and I will most certainly be season ticket holders for the upcoming season.

Thank you for all your work and great shows!

- Vicki

My husband and I recently attended THE MIRACLE WORKER with the Irving Senior Arts Group. I cannot begin to express how moving that experience was for us. An understatement would be to say that the acting was incredible. We see a lot of local theatre and have had season tickets to another theater for the past five or six years. Nothing to date compares to your performance! The young girl who played Helen was just outstanding, as was the rest of the cast.

This is the first time I have EVER written a "fan" letter but I felt compelled to let you all know how touching the performance was. Annie Sullivan, Helen's parents, stepbrother, the entire cast couldn't have been better.

At our church today I "spread the word." Two couples are planning on getting tickets to your Saturday matinee performances. Thank you for a memorable evening!

- Rita

I saw GODSPELL and absolutely fell in love with the theatre, cast, and show!

- Anna