Musicals take the stage in Boston this spring--and it's hit and miss. HIT: INTO THE WOODS, Stephen Sondheim's brilliant, bittersweet musical romp through the thicket of life, and Lyric Stage Company of Boston has mounted a marvelous production directed by Spiro Veloudos which has just been extended through June 29th! We're talking ingenious sets (including [...]
There are two intense productions onstage in Boston right now--the first is an eye-opening, "in your face" piece of theater by that frisky but serious COMPANY ONE, now doing its first show at Arts Emerson's Paramount Black Box. "WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT...." tells the story of the first genocide of the 20th century, the [...]
The first productions of the new year have hit the boards--some harder than others. But the New England premiere of IMAGINING MADOFF at New Rep Theatre in Watertown is right on the money. I've never personally encountered Mr. Madoff, but Jeremiah Kissel gives us a mighty, provocative, visceral, and wholly credible performance. Written by Deborah [...]
To see or not to see-- that is the question! Definitely see"MISS SAIGON" up at the North Shore Music Theatre! I just saw it and despite the fact that it took me 35 minutes to get out of the parking lot-- it was worth it. This Tony-Award winning musical based on Puccini's "Madama Butterfly," is [...]
It's a jungle out there! Two powerful productions take us for a walk on the wild side-- of politics, and a child's imagination! THE JUNGLE BOOK the Huntington Theatre Company's season opener is based on Rudyard Kipling's stories by way of Walt Disney's animated musical of a boy who can talk to the animals! Tony [...]
The FALL theater season is on-- with mostly winning productions! This is what I've seen so far--in order of "shelf-life."And so I begin with the first to expire: THE ELEPHANT MAN-- which is dead on arrival at New Rep Theatre in Watertown. It's a plodding play based on the true story of John Merrick born [...]
The Nora Theatre Company's terribly funny and nimbly-acted production of Alan Ayckbourn's bedroom farce: ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR has just been extended through August 25th-- and with good reason! Here, the holidays become an escalating disaster as we observe three socially climbing couples over the course of three successive and increasingly hysterical Christmas Eves. I normally hate [...]
