Hedda Gabler @ THE OLD GLOBE

Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania Is the Old Globe’s new production of Hedda Gabler intended as a comedy? This isn’t a glib question, but a legitimate concern after leaving Erin Cressida Wilson’s slimmed-down adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic, headed by movie star Katie Holmes. This very watchable production feels like a spoof of daytime soap operas. … Read more

Luca & Uri @ PLAYWRIGHT’S ARENA/VICTORY THEATRE CENTER

Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA The first scene in Nicholas Pilapil’s intriguing new two-hander is actually what normally would be the last, depicting the end of a beautiful decade-long relationship and leaving us an entire play to unravel what went wrong. Director Jon Lawrence Rivera stages the mercurial colliding events smoothly and often playfully, keeping … Read more

Uncle Vanya @ CITY GARAGE THEATRE

F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw Since it was first produced in 1899 at the Moscow Art Theatre, adaptations of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya have proliferated. It appears that adaptors can’t wait to get their ink-stained fingers on Chekhov’s classic tale about the conflicts raging on a struggling Russian estate where the arrival of an elderly … Read more

Here Lies Love @ MARK TAPER FORUM

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 … Read more

Richard III @ A NOISE WITHIN

Patrick Chavis  – LA Theatre Bites Podcast  9 out of 10! Exceptional Show! LA Theatre Bites Recommended! Listen more…  Deborah Klugman  – Stage Raw Some of the most impressive moments are the fight scenes, eliciting kudos for both fight coordinator Jonathan Rider and a disciplined ensemble. Equally, the final showdown between Richard and his nemesis, … Read more

The Typist @ HUDSON THEATRE

Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA Playwright Shem Bitterman has an uncanny knack for evoking a mood both untraditional and yet familiar—sometimes uncomfortably so. As with last year’s breakout hit “The Civil Twilight” from the same producing team, his newest two-hander, now debuting at the Hudson, again proves his provocative storytelling is a treasure. Read more… … Read more

The 39 Steps @ RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY

Philip Brandes –  Stage Raw In every good chase thriller, an unsuspecting bystander is suddenly called on to save the day by improvising, adapting, and ultimately prevailing against a ticking clock through sheer resourcefulness, the grace of unlikely allies, and coincidences that couldn’t possibly happen — but somehow do. Against all odds, Rubicon Theatre Company’s … Read more