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i'm pretty happy with how my performances tend to be received. below are some of the clips and quotes i've managed to collect, including some links to images or archives of the original articles.
dirty rotten scoundrels
heading out to denver, our first major stop on the dirty rotten tour, got me a nice mention in the boulder daily camera.
The best parts ... are French. Namely, Jeff Essex's wry turn as Frenchman Andre Thibault and the French maid's costumes worn by dancers in a couple of scenes.
— Mark Collins, Boulder Daily Camera
i got a nice mention from spokane public radio in a really good review of scoundrels.
Jeff Essex is completely charming as Andre.
— Janean Jorgensen, KPBX Wednesday Matinee (Spokane Public Radio)
and spokane's spokesman review was pretty happy with the show, too.
A strong supporting cast helps as well, led by Jeff Essex as an Inspector Clouseau-like police chief and Suzanne Sole as the Omaha society gal, Muriel Eubanks. These two are given a substantial sub-plot.
— Jim Kershner, Spokesman Review
edgar loessin, at large in norfolk, virginia, thought i was pretty keen:
Most successful in attaining the farcical style in this edition is Jeff Essex as Andre Thibault. He reminds one of Peter Sellers, who was a master of the genre.
— Edgar Loessin, WHRO Loessin at Large (Hampton Roads Public Radio)
the grand rapids press also offered a fun review in grand rapids, michigan, and made special mention of me.
Jeff Essex is great fun as [Lawrence's] sidekick, an Inspector Clouseau-like crooked police chief.
— Sue Merrell, The Grand Rapids Press
and the folks in indianapolis had a pretty good show, despite inching their way to the theatre through frozen snow and bitter cold. from the times of frankfort, indiana:
The Clowes cast is highly endowed with talent.... The supporting players too - Jeff Essex as wise André, Suzanne Sole as hip Muriel and Jen Jenkins as brassy Jolene - are equally laudable.
All of them are topnotch...
— Janis Thornton, The Times
and from indy's alternative voice, nuvo:
...Jeff Essex as sideman Andre and Jen Jenkins as Jolene Oakes in their supporting roles often out-stage the leads.
— Lisa Gauthier, NUVO
down in ft. lauderdale, cold was the last thing we had to worry about. the miami herald liked me:
...the current touring company pulls off one electric pairing: Suzanne Sole as Muriel Eubanks, one of Jameson's victims, and Jeff Essex as Andre Thibault, the local lawman who aids Jameson's cons. When the two allow a spark of attraction to play out as a full-on sexual conflagration, the afterglow scene becomes a comic gem.
— Christine Dolen, The Miami Herald
minnie's boys
one of my favorite roles ever, my stint as harpo marx was a big hit.
Jeff Essex — mentioned above — is Harpo.
Though he has few lines, he speaks volumes with his body. He is a natural born comedian, with whom the audience clearly falls in love. With an exceptionally mobile face, he seems the very reincarnation of Harpo Marx. Moreover, (unless our eyes deceive us) he has also been taught how to play the harp. His was a masterful and outstanding performance, which drew the heavy applause it deserved.
— Dr. Peter Percy Blakeney, The Rockland Times
the reviewer liked the play so much that the editor-in-chief (who may have been the same person) came back to do an entire article on the cast, crew, and production. he went on at some length about me...if you cower from random psychoanalysis in theatrical interviews, you may want to just skim.
[Director Alan] Demovsky saw Jeff Essex — who plays Harpo — at a party.
"The minute I saw Jeff, I knew he was perfect for the part."
Demovsky asked Essex whether he was available to play the part, and the young man said yes.
...
Everyone who attended the Elmwood production had their favorite Marx brother. For some people, their favorite was everyone, for others, it was Harpo Marx, irrepressibly played by Jeff Essex.
Essex is about as difficult to interview as Harpo was in the flesh. His manner is reminiscent of Palisades resident and comedian Bill Murray. When Murray was a guest of former Orangetown Supervisor Roger Pellegrini at a fundraising event, a beautiful young woman went up to Murray and asked for his autograph. He took the proffered card, bit it, and gave it back to the woman.
"That's better than my autograph," he said — "those are my teeth marks."
In the same manner, Essex didn't spend a minute of his interview being serious about himself, where he came from, or how he got involved in "Minnie's Boys."
A true comedian, he seemed to have the comedian's innate fear of letting anything about himself be known, as if this in some way would kill his comic gift. [actually, i was just having some fun, but thanks anyway, doc. — j.]
It was truly of Essex that musical director [John] Dunkerley spoke when he said that some members of the cast had brilliant careers in comedy or drama ahead of them.
Essex's face is exceptionally mobile, his wit as dry as a good vodka martini, and his ability to do slapstick flawless.
His voice sounds like that of Robin Williams, his face looks like that of Pee Wee Herman; in short, he seems to be the perfect combination of every successful comedian of the 20th century.
After making jokes about where he was raised and how he got involved in comedy, Essex allowed that he came from somewhere in New Jersey and that he was invited to do the Harpo role at a party.
He also said that Demovsky's direction had made Harpo come into sharp relief for him, a relief made the sharper still by his reading of Harpo's autobiography.
Beyond that, it was impossible to tell whether Essex was serious or kidding about his background.
— Peter W. Sluys, editor-in-chief, The Rockland Times
ice in april
the oobr reviewer who tackled frank avellino's ice in april fell in love with the show — and, in particular, with an actor who reminded her of cary grant. no, that one wasn't me; but i did get some good feedback, along with a nomination for best supporting actor (the show itself was one of oobr's "best play" winners that year — along with a little off-off-broadway production called urinetown).
Under [writer/director Frank Avellino's] direction, his talented cast all turned in compelling performances that will be remembered for a long time to come.
...
Jeff Essex offered a sensitive portrait of Fifth Officer Hetchinson, who steered the lifeboat to safety.
— Julie Halpern, Off-Off-Broadway Review
macbeth
while the reviewer's piece mostly took the time to suggest how she might have directed the play if it had been hers, she did seem to think i did a good job.
Jeff Essex made bold choices as Macbeth, handling the magnitude of the role with fervor and intensity...
— Jessica Daniels, Cadenza
the dybbuk
the west end-clayton word did a lovely review of the dybbuk, an s. ansky play about...well, think a cross between fiddler on the roof, poltergeist, and ghost. no, really. i played a mystical rabbi more than a century old. again: no, really.
The trial scene was extremely strong thanks to the performances of Lagos, Smilack, O'Hare and Jeff Essex. As the Rabbi Azrielke, Essex believably portrayed an elderly rabbi, almost ready to pass into the next phase of his life, at times asking for removal from the present. Upon the realization that his knowledge and authority are all that can save a young woman from a horrible condition, Essex's Rabbi Azrielke rose to the occasion with a maturation and reverence that is hard to achieve on the stage.
— Susan W. Fox, West End-Clayton Word
i also received a really nice letter from the director of the st. louis hillel, complimenting my performance as the rabbi. reviews are one thing, but a personal letter is really rather keen.
Dear Jeff,
On behalf of Hillel -- its student and community leaders, members of our 50th Anniversary committee, and staff -- I want to congratulate you for your performance in The Dybbuk.
Your portrayal of Rabbi Azrielke was incredible! You infused the venerable teacher with credibility, warmth, and conviction. You carried the second act on your shoulders and brought us to the edges of our seats.
— Robert M. Goldberg, Executive Director of the St. Louis Hillel Center
blue moon rising
st. louis radio station kdhx devoted a segment to a very positive review of jim nicholson's blue moon rising, in which i played the role of a gregarious and frequently naked high school football captain at his prom (and elsewhen). from the transcript:
Jeff Essex is raucous and good-natured as Augie — a fine performance!
— Steve Callahan on KDHX in St. Louis
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