Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix “The Brothers Size” is ultimately the mesmerizing story of two very different brothers, each learning to make space for the other in a world that threatens to crowd in on their love, despite – or perhaps because of – their protective circle. Read more… F. Kathleen Foley – Stage … 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
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix While the production could have probably done without the garish WWI military Follies number “Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat,” especially given the current global conflicts, perhaps Fanny would agree that the show must go on, and Barbie might have enjoyed a mustachioed Fanny as the defeated Kaiser. After all, there may be some … Read more
Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review The OC premiere of ALMA at the Chance Theater delivers a profoundly authentic and nuanced depiction of a first-generation immigrant Mexican family. The narrative, woven through the intricate bond of a mother and daughter, serves as a poignant reflection of the real-life experiences of countless immigrant families, inviting … Read more
Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA Through the bleakness and hardship, there’s an omnipresent glimmer of hope the threads throughout Conor McPherson’s brilliant Girl from North Country as a stepped-upon group of tyrannized survivors of the Great Depression fight to discover what it is they want in their lives and how they can pull themselves up … Read more
Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA The underlying message of The Hope Theory comes through this worldclass conjuror and raconteur’s skills and, for a brief time, he makes the chaos we all share these days disappear with the ease of his sleight of hand, shuffling our communal cares and worries back into the deck. Read more… … Read more
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix With its combination of political pointedness, humanity and humor, it’s easy to see why “What the Constitution Means to Me” was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in drama. And the disarmingly expressive Dorney – who switches emotional gears on a dime and responds to audience reactions without … Read more
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix The play thus offers a compelling master class in Stalin himself, whom Volok embodies intensely and believably throughout. Music certainly figures as well, aided by pianist Nisha Sue Arunasalam offstage. And dialogue on whether music can be shaped by artists or only serve the public interest is intriguing — … Read more
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix Regardless, all of these performers’ sheer talent and enthusiasm make every song a joy to experience. Continuing through this weekend and next only, “Million Dollar Quartet” is a must-see musical with a “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and then some. Read more…
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix The writing throughout is also beautifully literary, especially moving toward the end when a character (portrayed by an emotive Lamer) writes in list form about losing his son to a drunk driver. Sugar answers in an equally compelling way, addressing each item on the list with passionate sagacity. Patrick … Read more