"Pious, pompous, puffed up twits" beware: the Huntington Theatre Company's TARTUFFE is a screamingly funny, jubilant debunking of fakery in all its forms! Moliere's 17th century satire anticipated "the Enlightenment" as reason trumps religious pretense in this tale of a hypocritical holy man Tartuffe (actor/comedian Brett Gelman "Stranger Things") who hoodwinks a gentleman and head of [...]
There's almost NOTHING to see at the movies these days except techno-driven retreads of assorted superheroes, smurfs, or humans acting like imbeciles. Unless you've put your brain on ice this summer, your resources are BEST spent on live theater. Here's my take on three onstage right now beginning with THE EFFECT a New England Premiere [...]
Marie Mullen as Mag Folan & Aisling O’Sullivan as Maureen Folan Here's an Irish double feature beginning with THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE now on the ArtsEmerson Paramount Mainstage. I had never before seen this Tony Award-winning dark Irish tragi-comedy, the first of a trilogy by Martin McDonough. First performed by Ireland's Druid Theatre Company in Galway in 1996, it [...]
To paraphrase the bard, there's nothing rotten with the state of entertainment in Boston this week! A hit Broadway musical has just launched its national tour right here at the Boston Opera House: SOMETHING ROTTEN! It is, however, overripe--with big production numbers, superb voices, witty songs, exuberant choreography, and copious laughs. In other words, it's a feast for anyone who likes their musicals riotously scrambled or [...]
Still catching my breath and catching up with three more on the boards to check out: REGULAR SINGING at NEW REP THEATRE takes the final bite out of the four-part “The Apple Family: Scenes from Life in the Country ” cycle of plays by Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Nelson. We now know this family intimately as [...]
The new theater season is upon us! So much theater, so little time. I've seen 9 plays in the last 9 days! (Already reviewed CHEERS LIVE ON STAGE). Here are two more: Greg Maraio, Kris Sidberry, Sarah Elizabeth Bedard, Jordan Clark. Photo by Justin Saglio SIGNIFICANT OTHER--Rush down to SpeakEasy Stage Company and SEE THIS before it goes to BROADWAY. I [...]
Tony Award-winning playwright, performer, and activist Eve Ensler's body is her "pre-occupation and her occupation," the focus of her body of work beginning with THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES and most recently her 2013 memoir turned stage adaptation now having its world premiere at the American Repertory Theater. IN THE BODY OF THE WORLD is not for the faint of [...]
It has been an intense week for theater-- all of it worthy and wildly different! Check out THE LAUNCH PRIZE a terrifically engaging new play presented by MJ Halberstadt and produced by Bridge Rep. The situation is as timely as it is provocative. Four arts students are vying for the big, year-end academic prize which will launch their [...]
Absolutely dash up to the Apollinaire Theatre Co. in Chelsea and catch the last weekend of "A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes." It's a wild and horribly funny take on family dynamics as blood sport! A superb and physically fit ensemble of actors literally throw themselves into the action as 4 generations of the Wembly [...]
TWO MUSICALS now onstage in the area will leave you thoroughly entertained and kicking up your heels: CINDERELLA downtown at the Boston Opera House, and BILLY ELLIOT up at North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly. Grab the kids and go and you'll ALL have a good time! These are excellent productions, wonderfully staged with live orchestras and a [...]
