HENRY V at A Noise Within

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Ellen Dostal – BroadwayWorld By the time Shakespeare gets to the last of his history plays concerning the Wars of the Roses*, HENRY V, the party boy who would be king has become a man. Gone are the indiscretions of youth seen in the earlier HENRY IV plays, which follow young Prince Hal on his … Read more

A WALK IN THE WOODS at Actors Co-op

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Deborah Klugman – Stage Raw According to Lee Blessing’s 1987 A Walk in the Woods, the world’s problems might be resolved if only individuals were able to ignore their myopic and belligerent governments and approach each other with humor, patience and respect.Read more… Rob Stevens – Haines His Way When Lee Blessing’s A Walk in … Read more

EDWARD ALBEE’S OCCUPANT at the Garry Marshall Theatre

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Harker Jones – Edge on the Net By all accounts, sculptor Louise Nevelson was a real character with a larger-than-life persona and an existence to match. She was ahead of her time in terms of feminism, sexual liberation and her take on art. Unfortunately, Edward Albee’s play chronicling her trajectory arrives in its West Coast … Read more

WATER BY THE SPOONFUL at the Mark Taper Forum

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Katie Buenneke – Stage Raw Though Quiara Alegría Hudes’ trio of plays is called the “Elliot trilogy,” Water by the Spoonful, isn’t really about Elliot. The middle work in the triad, it’s a stark change from its predecessor, Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, currently playing at the Kirk Douglas in Culver City. Here, Elliot (Sean Caravajal) is no … Read more

RAGTIME at the Candlelight Pavillion

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Frances Baum Nicholson – The Daily Breeze By design or by accident, several local theater companies have offered seasons that include classic shows which address very, very current issues. One such venue is the Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theater where, and not for the first time in this last calendar year, they are producing something powerfully … Read more

IRONBOUND at the Geffen Playhouse

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Erin Conley – On Stage & Screen At what point in life must you be willing to sacrifice happiness for survival? Ironbound, a play by Martyna Majok currently in its west coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, tells the story of Darja (Marin Ireland), a Polish immigrant struggling to build a life … Read more

SWEET VALLEY GROUNDLINGS at the Groundlings Theatre

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Jenny Lower – Stage Raw This latest outing from The Groundlings’ main company earns a respectable B. Directed by Kevin Kirkpatrick, the show at its best moments delivers the comedic goods, with writing that’s fresh, taut and clever, and performances of disciplined zaniness. In its weaker moments, ill-conceived sketches peter out or linger too long, … Read more

DESSA ROSE – The Chromolume Theatre at the Attic

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Neal Weaver  – Stage Raw This 2005 musical, here receiving its Los Angeles premiere, was written by Lynn Ahrens (book and lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music), based on the novel by Sherley Anne Williams. It’s set in the American South in 1847 and deals with two strong-minded, volatile women.Read more… Rob Stevens – Haines His … Read more