Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive A Noise Within’s production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is ANW’s seventh mounting since 2019 of August Wilson’s 10 “American Century Cycle” plays, directed by Gregg T. Daniel, and in my humble opinion, it is the best one I’ve seen so far. Wilson’s wide ranging decalogue of dramas about … Read more
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive In playwright Joe DiPietro’s Conscience the hero – or rather, heroine – is a real-life historical figure who truly did do something rather heroic: Senator Margaret Chase Smith (Sharon Gardner). Maine and senators have been much in the news lately, but in 1950 Smith was the only woman serving … Read more
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive …in his unyielding crusade to warn his neighbors about the dangers of the “healing” H2O, Tom reveals himself to be quirky and self-righteous. In doing so, he undermines his cause, taking the spotlight off the urgent issue on hand, and putting the focus on his own erratic self instead. … Read more
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive Multi-talented playwright Bernardo Cubria’s topical The People of Pompeii is among the best original plays I’ve soon in quite a while. The action takes place in 2025 after the Palisades Fire almost wiped-out Topanga Canyon, just like Mount Vesuvius did to the eponymous, ancient Roman city of Pompeii, when that … Read more
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive Like in many Greek dramas, this play’s deus ex machina literally drops from above – but no, it is not a chariot as in Euripides’ “Medea,” but rather it comes in the form of a completed screenplay. The two friends take time out from their palling around and woeful attempt … Read more
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive I enjoyed most of the music, as well as the dancing (choreo by Becca Sweitzer) and acting. Best of all was the show biz setting of the story because, don’tchaknow, there’s no business like show business like no business that I know. It was good fun going back to … Read more
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive In his 1960 play “Waiting in the Wings,” Coward bravely took aim at the one foe no human can overcome: Death. In addition, the bold British bard dared tackle another thing avoided like the plague by our youth obsessed culture but which anyone who lives out his/her natural life … Read more
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic pirate novel Treasure Island is absolutely good fun. Audiences today are used to watching action stories on screens, but beholding the WGTB troupers leap off of the page onto the stage to enact duels, chases, pistol, musket and cannon … Read more
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive “The Revolutionists” ponders the issue of political violence – which of course is very timely – and revolutionary violence in particular. In addition, the play deals with race, gender, class and the role of the arts in social movements. And this play is told from women’s point of view, … Read more
Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive According to playwright Jami Brandli’s playbill note, O: A Rhapsody in Divorce is “a comedic reimagining of The Odyssey,” featuring a crucial plot twist in Homer’s saga wherein, as Brandli observes, “the male hero go[es] on this life-changing journey while the woman stays home waiting for their man to return.” … Read more