COLEMAN ’72 at South Coast Repertory

Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review. The experience of going out and exploring America on a road trip has been a staple in stories, plays, and movies.  Some are serious stories like On the Road by Jack Kerouac, and others are comedies like the early 80s film Vacation with Chevy Chase. In Coleman ’72, now playing at South Coast … Read more

THE REALISTIC JONESES at Rubicon Theatre Company and Laguna Playhouse

Terry Morgan – ArtsBeat LA, reviewed at Rubicon Theatre, January 2023. The first time I saw a play by Will Eno was about 15 years ago, by Circle X Theatre Company of The Flu Season. It was an excellent production in many ways, but there was one scene in which a character died, and instead of having … Read more

IN THE GREEN at The Wayward Artist

Patrick Chavis – The Orange County Review. In the arts, there’s always a battle between what sells and what moves us. Sometimes, they are the same thing. One of the things I appreciate about theater is I still see a hunger to experiment and fail on a grand scale. There’s something brave, honest, and necessary … Read more

COLONIALISM IN TERRIBLE, BUT PHO IS DELICIOUS at Chance Theater

Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review. Pho is a delicious Vietnamese noodle dish I have often heard put in competition with Japanese ramen, probably because they’re both noodle dishes in a rich broth. But there’s no reason to put these dishes in competition. They are both so different and have a depth of flavor … Read more

THE LITTLE FOXES at South Coast Repertory

Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review. Little Foxes is an older play from the 1930s written by Lillian Hellman, a famous Broadway playwright. It’s wonderful we still have new productions of these old classics. Are some of the ideas dated — most definitely. But they provide us access to the time and the mindset of … Read more

APPROPRIATE at South Coast Repertory

Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review. So many powerful stories have been and will continue to be told around the subject of family. What family means in different cultures differs to various degrees, but family is also a universal concept that ties humanity together. It’s in our books. It’s on our TVs. In that … Read more

RIDE THE CYCLONE at Chance Theater

Patrick Chavis – Orange Curtain Review. Ironically, this might be the happiest story about death I have ever seen. The Chance Theater has transformed its stage area to look like some haunted carnival that time has forgotten in the middle of the county. To further the illusion, the show tickets look like tickets you would … Read more

MISERY at Maverick Theatre Company

Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review. Stephen King is one of today’s most prolific and successful horror writers. His influence on pop culture, film, television, and even theatre, is undeniable regardless of whether you enjoy his work. Despite a vast catalog of work, Misery stands out as a high watermark in suspense and drama. Misery is not a … Read more

SUSTAINED RELEASE at The Larking House

Patrick Chavis – The Orange Curtain Review I watched the World premiere of Sustained Release yesterday, written by local Orange County Playwright Matthew M. Hayashi, in a 3-car garage. Don’t be fooled by this humble location. The Larking house isn’t fixing cars in here. They’ve created art.Read more… Through December 17