Death of a Salesgirl by Patricia Scanlon. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.com First to strike the attentive audience member upon entering the theater here is John Zalewski’s sound design. It seems to consist of effervescent electronic dots and anchoring bass-note dashes. A haunting, initially disquieting, ultimately soothing presence, his sound will continue to envelop the production. Meanwhile, next of note … Read more
Orestes 3.0: Inferno by Charles Mee. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.com Apollo, god of healing and truth, pops onstage for a chat with the audience. He is clad in Bermuda shorts and sunglasses, a party boy. Does his makeover shake our core beliefs? If our gods aren’t who we think they are, how can we put one foot … Read more
Build by Michael Golamco. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.com Technology and human relationships combine to warmhearted effect in Michael Golamco’s world premiere. Even his not terribly likeable two characters turn universal, sympathetic, and somewhat heroic by play’s end. Read more… Mayank Keshaviah – LA Weekly For those more familiar with ‘World of Warcraft’ than Waiting for Godot, Michael Golamco’s newest play may appeal as … Read more
You Can’t Take It With You by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.comThe family at the heart of this George S. Kaufman–Moss Hart play is so cheerful, non-critical, and forgiving, it’s obviously sheer fantasy. It’s certainly unusual on stages so often filled with alcoholism, abuse, manipulation, and self-loathing. The Vanderhofs and Sycamores and their hangers-on live for … Read more
The Turn of the Screw by Jeffrey Hatcher. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.com To attend this production, one should be able to see in the dark. To best enjoy this production, one should probably be at least a little afraid of the dark. Read more…
Creation by Kathryn Walat. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.comThe premise is promising, but the sum of this Kathryn Walatscript feels unoriginal and uninspiring. However, it gets much tender care from director Michael Michetti and his design team, and the quartet of actors steps up in all seriousness to deliver lines that might flop from the mouths of lesser performers. Read more…
November by David Mamet. Pauline Adamek – ArtsBeatLA David Mamet’s grubby and farcical political play November, now playing at the Mark Taper Forum Downtown, is a riot of foul language and racial epithets, all tumbling from the mouth of the President of the United States, as daffily portrayed by Ed Begley Jr. Read more… David C. Nichols – Backstage It’s a week before Election … Read more
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Dany Margolies – ArtsInLA.com Apparently this Shakespeareplay doesn’t need to be performed on the steps of a real-life city hall to impress. Here, a chamber version captures the story’s expanse while feeling immediate, near, and unfortunately modern. Add in the casting of women in traditionally male roles, modern-day business attire, and non-declamatory performances, … Read more
Cymbeline by William Shakespeare. Terry Morgan – LAist.com There are two primary reasons Shakespeare lovers should go see the new production of Cymbeline at A Noise Within. The first is that the play is rarely produced, and here’s an opportunity to experience it as done by one of the best classics-based theatre companies in town. The second reason is that one will … Read more
Justin Love — Book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer, Story byDavid Elzer and Bret Calder, Music by Lori Scarlett and David Manning, Lyrics by Lori Scarlett. Sharon Perlmutter – TalkinBroadway.com Justin Love gives an old plot a modern twist, shines it up with with a bright and upbeat score, adds genuinely clever dialogue and lyrics, and wraps it all up in a Hollywood that only exists in fairy … Read more