Broadway Review: "Moulin Rouge"
Call this opulent, over the top, musical extravaganza anything you like but be aware it will never diminish the incredible work of a first-rate creative team or depreciate the entertainment value that it delivers.
Review: LadyFest 2019- “Tornkid” presented by The Tank and the Baltimore Asian Pasifika Arts Collective
“Tornkid”’s innovation and creativity spinning the familiar with the unfamiliar through multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural storytelling will only continue to resonate with audiences.
Review: "Million Dollar Quartet" at Port Hope Festival Theatre
I couldn’t help but remember the adage “Good things come to those who wait” after seeing the opening night performance of ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ (from the book by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott) now onstage at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre.
Review: “Cabaret” at the Ivoryton Playhouse
This is a “Cabaret” that has spent too much time showering, shaving and shampooing; a production whose edges have been eroded under the faucet. It’s more a missed opportunity than a total misfire.
Review: "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at Shakespeare and Company
Unlike many of William Shakespeare's plays, the audience didn't need to know much about "The Merry Wives of Windsor" or read the script prior to attending in order to fully enjoy the performance. The cast, directed by Kevin G. Coleman, had the audience chuckling within minutes of starting the show making it clear that the next two hours of this outlandish farce would be nothing short of entertaining.
Review: "Carmel" Presented by 4th Line Theatre
Pay a visit to the Winslow Farm and to 4th Line Theatre to feel the heartbeat of a rural community and a troupe of solid actors who tell a good story.
Review: "Fully Committed" at TheatreWorks
It’s one of those near inevitable stops on the way to success for an actor to work at a restaurant, dealing with temperamental patrons, apathetic co-workers, and a pretentious supervisor or chef who feels that their work is the greatest gift ever given to man. Such is the case for Sam in Becky Mode’s “Fully Committed,” produced by TheaterWorks Hartford.
Review: "Venus in Fur" at Theatre on the Ridge
Theatre on the Ridge should be congratulated for a fine summer festival encompassing drama, comedy, classics and Canadiana. It has been a pool of diversity as wide as the Toronto Raptors’ fan base. Their final production of David Ives’ ‘Venus in Fur’ deepens the pool even further with a witty production of a complex take on the battle of the sexes.
Review: "At Black Lake" at the Tank
Haunting questions about their childrens’ deaths. Nights of nostalgia melt into scalding accusations. Tension, both sexual and platonic, is rampant.
These are the circumstances for At Black Lake at The Tank – while not every question was answered, the production led the audience through an eerie and sensory experience to great success.
Review: "The Dixie Swim Club" at The Little Theatre of Manchester
Armed with the knowledge that they have the ability to assemble a solid troupe of female actors, Little Theatre of Manchester has brought a light comedy about southern female camaraderie and the bonds of life long friendship in “The Dixie Swim Club” by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten.
Review: A Delightfully Captivating “The Sabbath Girl” at The Penguin Rep
Living In these disturbing times, in a country filled with division, it is heartwarming to let go and enjoy this delightful romantic comedy. Happily, there is renewed hope that love can truly bring together the most unlikely of people. The world premiere of Cary Gitter’s play, The Sabbath Girl, Is now on stage at Penguin Rep Theatre. Described as “a contemporary romantic comedy with heart about the loneliness of big-city life and the possibility of finding love at work or even next door.”
Review: “Do Me, Date Me, Dump Me” at the Broadway Comedy Club
“Do Me, Date Me, Dump Me” was a really fun show, that lets you laugh, not only at the woes of these characters, but at yourself as well. So,if you’re looking for a fun night out with friends, go to the Broadway Comedy Club, check out this show, and have a laugh.
Review: “The Office! A Musical Parody” by Right Angle Entertainment at the Jerry Orcbach Theater
“The Office! A Musical Parody” connects the heart of the beloved source material to the much-needed laughter of a 2019 audience stuck all too often in an often-times dark world.
Review: "The Valley" at Theatre on the Ridge
Like many other Canadian playwrights, Joan McLeod enjoys writing about Canada. But what sets her apart is her desire to peel back the peaceful veneer of Canadian society and reveal the stark reality of conflict and unease that often goes unacknowledged. This is true of her 2013 play, The Valley, which takes an unflinching look at mental health and, more specifically, the interaction of on-duty police officers with citizens suffering with mental illness.
Review: "The Importance of Being Earnest" at Theatre on the Ridge
Theatre on the Ridge has recognized the depths of Wilde’s most popular work with its recent preview performance in Port Perry, Ontario. The writing speaks for itself, but it is the acting that elevates this production.
Review: “The Robert E. Lee Statue” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
“The Robert E. Lee Statue” was an interesting idea that I look forward to seeing expanded on and how these characters evolve.
Review: “The Sun Hangs There Between the Buildings and the Trees” at UNDER St. Marks Theater
In the newest play by Jake Shore, “The Sun Hangs There Between the Buildings and the Trees” tackles ideas of the morality of murder and when it is acceptable to take matters into your own hands.
Review: “Hypatia and the Heathens: A New Musical in Concert” at the Caveat
While it is easy to draw comparison to today’s political climate, it must be pointed out that the show itself is by no means a political bloodbath against Christianity or religion, but rather it is expertly grounded in strong characters and writing to explore a not-oft discussed time in history that can inform our present on multiple hot button issues from religion in politics to women’s rights.
Review: "Nathan The Wise" at Stratford Festival
Nathan the Wise’ is a play that requires at least two or more viewings for its rich subtext of the exploration of three faiths. If anything, for a twenty first century audience, the play allows us hopefully to open that discussion of trying to find a common humanity and element that exists between all of us.
Review: ‘The Office! A Musical Parody’
Let’s be honest – I had fun at ‘The Office A Musical Parody’. Yes, I smiled and laughed at some of the double entendres and innuendos that do take place in an office and/or school setting so thanks to the McSmiths for the laughs.