Toronto Review: "Sweat" at the Berkeley Street Theatre
Reminiscent of ‘The Iceman Cometh’, Lynn Nottage’s bar teems with the lot of human frailty. This cast’s strength is in stomping on the accelerator and not letting go, reminding us of Stan’s unfettered philosophy – “shit follows you everywhere.”
Dallas Review: Garland Civic Theatre Presents “The Rat Pack Lounge”
Garland Civic Theatre’s intimate and engaging performance of “The Rat Pack Lounge” paid homage to the revered trio of Sammy, Dean and Frank to craft a fun-filled evening of sing-along classics celebrating their legacy.
Montreal Review: "Paradise Lost" at The Centaur Theatre
Thankfully, Lucy Peacock reprises her Stratford role as the deliciously and dastardly Satan. Qasim Khan and Amelia Sargisson also return as Adam and Eve. Eight other fine cast members were selected for the Montreal run.
Off-Broadway Preview: “The Bedwetter” at Atlantic Theater Company’s Linda Gross Theater
Meet Sarah. She's funny. She's dirty. She's 10. And she's got a secret that you'll never guess (unless you read the title).
ROCK OF AGES IS ROCKIN' FUN
Matthew Weaver created a multi-genre entertaining musical Rock of Ages that debuted in Los Angeles at the King King club on Hollywood Blvd. With its success, it was made into a motion picture, and also opened on Broadway. After performing over 2,350 shows, Rock of Ages earned 5 Tony nominations, and branched out to 20 productions worldwide. It appeals to all ages over 12 years old appreciating 30 hit songs from the 80s. It’s now back in Hollywood.
Toronto Review: 'Julius Caesar' at Crow's Theatre is bloody brilliant
Director Chris Abraham made an extremely brave choice not to downplay the horrific violence that can, does and will probably ensue from the conflicting tension of ‘reason, and our belief that we can use it as an all-powerful tool to govern our own actions, and the actions of others.’
NY Review: Review: Kaneza Schaal & Christopher Myers’ “CARTOGRAPHY” Presented by New 42nd Street at The New Victory Theater
“CARTOGRAPHY is an invitation to stand at the epicenter of your own map and chart your own journey.”
Dallas Review: Rover Dramawerks Presents “Sherlock Holmes and the Portal of Time”
Rover Dramawerks’ 20th Anniversary season kicked off with an action-packed romp through time and space in “Sherlock Holmes and the Portal of Time.” Chock full of wormholes, time travel, and spies, (oh my!) it is a fun, high-tempo show, sure to quicken the pulse of both sci-fi fanatics and mystery lovers alike.
Review: “Or, An Astronaut Play” at the Tank
“Or, An Astronaut Play” had a very interesting premise, with great actors, a great set, and a beginning and end that were quite entertaining. However, it suffered from a middle that could have used more momentum.”
Toronto Review: "Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes" at Tarragon Theatre
Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch viscerally overturned the #metoo movement on its head with a sizable goose egg bump at the premiere of her ‘Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes’ at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre on the Mainstage.
And it’s one helluva of a terrific play that demands to be seen…
Off-Broadway Review: “Greater Clements” at Lincoln Center Theater’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater
“Greater Clements” is a testament to what happens when societal structures and safeguards disintegrate, when mental illness challenges societal and familial norms, and what happens when the ability to cope erodes with out a safety net in place.
Off-Broadway Review: “Sing Street” at New York Theatre Workshop
The music and lyrics by Mr. Carney and Gary Clark are the spine of this production providing characters with internal structure that is strong and sound always supporting the action. It is a feel-good musical that is neither mawkish nor incredible and strips away extravagance to embellish the fortitude of ordinary people.
Off-Broadway Review: “Pumpgirl” at Irish Rep’s W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre
The strength of Abbie Spallen’s “Pumpgirl,” currently running at Irish Rep’s W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre, lies in the playwright’s authentic characters and their believable conflicts that connect to the timeless vicissitudes of the human condition.
Off-Broadway Review: “Harry Townsend’s Last Stand” at New York City Center Stage II
There
is nothing new to be learned from this particular production about providing comfort for aging parents, but it may be worth a trip to the theatre just to see these two veteran actors together in nothing more than a sweet dramedy.
The Top 15 Most Entertaining Shows on the West Coast in 2019
As the Chief Los Angeles Theatre Critic, I watched over 40 theatrical productions in the greater Los Angeles area and in Las Vegas. Here is my list of the most entertaining shows in 2019.
Review: Idina Menzel's "Christmas: A Season of Love"
“Christmas: A Season of Love just feels necessary. Stuffed to the brim with lovely recordings of songs everyone knows, with new and fresh new life breathed into them. It’s fun. There’s nothing deductive, tired or cliché, no over-saturated saccharine sentimental nonsense.”
Off-Broadway Review: “Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven” at Atlantic Theatre Company’s Linda Gross Theatre
The epic new work penned by Stephen Adly Guirgis entitled “Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven” refers to the vast array of residents in a transitional shelter for women on the upper Westside of Manhattan.
Off-Broadway Review: WP Theater/Second Stage Theater’s “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord” at the McGinn/Cazale Theater
Alexis Sheer’s “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord,” in its final days at the McGinn/Cazale Theater, is deeply disturbing and profoundly important. Co-produced by WP Theater and Second Stage Theater, the play explores the shadowy underbelly of the teenage angst of four private secondary school young women with extraordinary perception and frightening accuracy.
Dallas Review: “Scrooge the Musical” by North Texas Performing Arts Repertory Theatre
North Texas Performing Arts Repertory Theatre (NTPA) brought a celebrated tradition to life with a lively performance of “Scrooge the Musical.”
New York Review: “In a Dark, Dark House” at A.R.T/New York Theatres
‘“In a Dark, Dark House” was unsettling, compelling, and incredibly well-acted. The relationship between Terry and Drew was more believable as the play went on and by the explosive end, I didn’t know what to think. It was a play that rubbed me raw and kept me thinking. And for a play like this, that’s one of the best things you can do.”