Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania
A new staging of the Broadway cause célèbre Here Lies Love has arrived at the Mark Taper Forum. But without the benefit of seeing the original Alex Timbers production in New York, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why, in this reimagined version helmed by Center Theatre Group artistic director Snehal Desai, the elements that reportedly once dazzled now fall flat. What may have resonated in earlier iterations struggles to find its footing here. Read more…
F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw
Desai struggles to rise above these negative connotations in a well-paced and glitzy staging, but he is further lumbered by undistinguished musical numbers and an overly chronological plot reminiscent of Cliff Notes. Read more…
Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color
A fantastic all-Filipino cast cannot hide the simple fact that Here Lies Love, now having its West Coast premiere at Center Theatre Group, is a shallow, poorly written musical with relentless static disco tunes. In addition, it is absolutely confused in whether they want to glorify their subject Imelda Marcos or warn about the dangers of fascism. Read more…