Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix The play has all the complexities of a short story, full of character and cultural details that make it as rich as Aditi’s embroidered sari. It’s also refreshing to see a play focused on people of Indian descent, a rarity here in Los Angeles, with the hints of African … Read more
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix The play is nonetheless extremely compelling due to the power of its story and the energy of the actors conveying it, fluidly directed by Michael A. Shepperd. Illuminating history in this visceral way brings it to life and makes it unforgettable, making “The Double V” must-see theatre. Read more… … Read more
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix Just as the crowd responds like sheep to Mark Antony’s rhetorically manipulative speech in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” (“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears”), we too are susceptible to what our politicians say and how they say it. “The Outsider” offers a hilarious (if a bit verbose) diversion reminding … Read more
Rob Stevens – Haines His Way For the final production of its 2023 season, Long Beach’s International City Theatre has mounted a lively and fun revival. Although the play is very popular, it has rarely been done in the Los Angeles area. Read more…
Don Shirley – Angeles Stage Graf masterfully weaves together this terrible-family-secrets narrative with, of course, a sideways glance at American gun culture. The result becomes absorbing and ultimately moving in caryn desai’s staging. Read more… Rob Stevens – Haines His Way The entertainment value is high in ICT’s production. The direction by caryn desai is … Read more
Don Shirley – Angeles Stage Before a jury held Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll and awarded her $5 million, Trump claimed in a deposition that male “stars” have grabbed and groped women for “millions of years” — “unfortunately or fortunately.” Leaving that unfortunate “fortunately” aside, the musicals that currently … Read more
Dana Martin – Stage Raw. Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical rock musical tick, tick…Boom! opens the 2023 season at Long Beach International City Theatre. The production is earnest but struggles to find synthesis… Ernesto Figueroa’s Jon is charming and gently guides the musical’s throughline, sometimes struggling to find the character’s emotional range. Samantha M. Lawrence is a versatile performer, … Read more
Dana Martin – Stage Raw International City Theatre’s latest production of South African playwright Athol Fugard’s Valley Song is a welcomed beacon of light. First produced in 1995, Valley Song is Fugard’s first work post-apartheid. He searches for hope through the messiness and confusion of a rapidly shifting world and finds it in a younger generation ready to step … Read more
Don Shirley – Angeles Stage ‘Macbeth’ in Griffith Park, ‘Comedy’ in Irvine. CTG’s month of emulating Netflix. ‘Beach People,’ ‘Lavender Men,’ ‘Valley Song.’ Jason Alexander charts his Abby road. Have you savored Shakespeare in the park this summer? This coming week might be the best possible moment for this annual ritual, as well as one … Read more
Rob Stevens – Haines His Way Can an Elvis Impersonator reinvent himself as a drag queen? More to the point–can an impoverished married straight man with a child on the way become a successful star drag act? This is the thin premise that playwright Matthew Lopez has used to create his hilariously outrageous ode to … Read more