Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive Pinter’s slyly subversive 30-ish minute piece does to those veddy British drawing room plays what The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface does to human beings. Although I hasten to add that this is not to say that Party Time is a horror production per se, but rather that it Pinteresquely piquantly … Read more
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
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
F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Lanie Robertson’s play about the legendary jazz songstress Billie Holiday, has become a popular offering in theaters both large and small since its 1986 debut, with Audra McDonald winning a Tony for Best Actress during its 2014 Broadway run. Read more… Travis … Read more
F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw In her program notes, Sorgen urges empathy for those gaslit by a narcissistic abuser. It’s a worthy goal. However, Punish Me does not so much shed light on narcissistic pathology as exploit it. Read more…
F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw At a time when families hide in their homes for fear of being deported—or worse — the parallels to Franciosa’s timely play are obvious. Read more…
Patrick Chavis – LA Theatre Bites Podcast 9.1 out of 10! Exceptional Show! Listen here… Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA This is a brave and decidedly rule-breaking work that, thanks to the stark vision of director Daniel Aukin, often reminded me of being smackdab in the middle of a living Ingrid Bergman movie. His purposefully … Read more
F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw The oddly abbreviated musical numbers are drowned out by a blaring sound mix — otherwise, Takeshita’s staging is brisk and an ebullient cast, which includes Donnie Riddle and Kolt Atchley, commits fully to the material, however flawed. Read more…
F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw And granted, Rishawn has impressively perfect abs, but why, in one scene, is he wearing an open shirt with his six-pack visibly oiled? It’s a meretricious visual that comes at the expense of the character and indicates deeper problems with the staging, which too often panders for laughs. Read … Read more
F. Kathleen Foley – Stage Raw Playwright Clara Rodriguez certainly doesn’t hold back in Pointy Scissors, now having its world premiere at Theatre West. Rapid-fire in pace and convoluted, the play is a farce in the truest sense of the word. Read more…