This is the worst time of year for new movies, but theater is alive and kicking on stages around Boston. ONCE is worth seeing again and again, but BIRDY never takes flight. Mackenzie Lesser-Roy & Nile Scott HawverPhoto: Maggie Hall Photography As soon as I knew ONCE was in town, that signature melody [...]
There are two new comedies onstage in Boston right now, both entertaining, and well-executed by superb casts, but it was the scripts that gave me pause. The New England premiere of SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company was a hit off-broadway and absolutely made me laugh-- and that's about it. What we have [...]
Speakeasy Stage Company is in top form as it kicks off its season with a superb production of the New England premiere of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning play BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY. Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and billed as a "dark urban comedy," the play plunges us into the murky water where most human beings [...]
Now that OSCAR has "officially" put last year's movie season to bed, here's what's kept me woke lately on stage: ORLANDO: This attractive, jam-packed production bursts from the compact LYRIC STAGE. Sets and costumes are stripped down, beautiful, and efficient-- allowing for the fleet passage of time! Sara Ruhl's play is adapted from Virginia Woolf's satiric, [...]
Love is adding up on stages around town-- here are my calculations: BAD DATES: The Huntington Theatre Company has revived one of its most popular shows ever, which had its premiere there 15 years ago: Theresa Rebeck's one-woman show about a woman cataloguing her harrowing and hilarious romantic excursions! BAD DATES was a great date [...]
Wondering what TO SEE and NOT TO SEE onstage? Here's my take on what I've seen lately: (L to R): Victor Shopov, Aina Adler, Robert Orzalli, Ashley Risteen (Photo by Richard Hall/Silverline Images) FACELESS: SEE it! This New England premiere by young playwright Selina Fillinger and season opener at Zeitgeist Stage Company is [...]
Two more to see beginning with the stunning Huntington Theatre production of a play that gets to the heart of racism in these United States: Suzan-Lori Parks's revelatory Pulitzer Prize-winning "TOPDOG/UNDERDOG." Directed by Tony, Grammy, and Drama Desk Award-winner Billy Porter (KINKY BOOTS, THE COLORED MUSEUM) will leave you in shock as it builds to its inevitable explosive conclusion. We are left sorting through [...]
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 [...]
I had a catch in my throat from the first song. DOGFIGHT was instantly, emotionally stirring, from its poignant opening ballad, wise book, smart, rousing choreography, perfect cast and chemistry-- to its tender, heartbreaking conclusion. The Award-winning Off-Broadway musical having its Boston professional premiere at SpeakEasy Stage is a deeply moving coming of age tale with two young lovers at the heart of a world [...]
Drama Critic Elliot Norton It's "NORTIE" time! The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) of which I am president is pleased to announce its nominations for the 34th Annual Elliot Norton Awards! For one night--Monday May 23, 2016, on one stage--Boston's Citi Shubert Theatre, the greater Boston theater community will celebrate in the name of the late great [...]
