CLOUD 9 at the Antaeus Theatre Company

Terry Morgan  –  Stage Raw The Antaeus Theatre Company once again demonstrates its immense value to the Los Angeles theatre community, this time with a superb revival of Caryl Churchill’s Cloud 9. It’s an ambitious and tricky work, but under Casey Stangl’s thoughtful direction, an inspired ensemble does the play proud. As usual, Antaeus “partner-casts” … Read more

THE MOUNTAINTOP at the Matrix Theatre

Terry Morgan  –  Stage Raw Although Katori Hall’s play The Mountaintop is indeed more about Martin the man than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the historical figure, it still ends up as a worshipful hagiography. This is somewhat unfortunate, because although there is no lack of respectful examinations of the Civil Rights Movement icon, there are few … Read more

1984 at the Broad Stage

Pauline Adamek  – ArtsBeatLA A chilling stage adaptation of Orwell’s novel 1984 is now playing at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica through February 6. This adaptation,  written and directed  by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, highlights today’s serious issues of state-sponsored surveillance, identity and intrusions into our privacy. Read more… Terry Morgan  –  Stage Raw Another day, … Read more

BOB’S HOLIDAY OFFICE PARTY at the Pico Playhouse Theatre

Terry Morgan – Stage Raw In a month where various iterations of A Christmas Carol proliferate like mistletoe, an antidote is required for those of us who prefer our holiday spirits bottled. Bob’s Holiday Office Party, written by Joe Keyes and Rob Elk, has been fulfilling this duty for two decades. Unfortunately, this twentieth anniversary production is … Read more

RIO HONDO at Theatre of NOTE

Deborah Klugman – LA Weekly If you’re in need of a diversion in these terrible, wearisome times — and surely we all are — might I suggest Theatre of Note’s uproarious staging of Bill Robens’ western parody Rio Hondo, under the imaginative direction of Jaime Robledo. Read more… Terry Morgan  –  Stage Raw Even a fan of … Read more

NEED TO KNOW at Rogue Machine Theatre

Terry Morgan  –  Stage Raw As Pete Townshend was once known to opine, “The world begins behind your neighbor’s walls.” It’s one of the core mysteries of modern life – what do people do or say when they think they’re unobserved or unheard? Read more… Deborah Klugman – LA Weekly The characters In Jonathan Caren’s contemporary … Read more

APPROPRIATE at the Mark Taper Forum

Les Spindle –  Edge on the Net In “Appropriate,” the initial conventionality in introducing the characters and basic storyline elicits raucous and sardonic laughs, as the depth of resentments among the siblings and their family members gradually come to light. Yet, there’s far more than garden-variety family baggage afoot here, Read more… Pauline Adamek  – ArtsBeatLA … Read more

THE FALSE SERVANT at the Odyssey Theatre

Terry Morgan  –  Stage Raw Every theater company has its ups and downs. It’s the nature of artistic endeavor. Evidence Room, celebrating its 20th anniversary as a company, has an admirable history of successful and award-winning plays, most recently with its producing partner, the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. Unfortunately, their new show, Martin Crimp’s adaptation of Pierre … Read more

ASTRO BOY AND THE GOD OF COMICS at Sacred Fools Theatre Company

Terry Morgan  –  Stage Raw One of the beauties of Natsu Onoda Power’s play is that it’s just as enjoyable for neophytes to “manga” (Japanese comics) as it would be for cognoscenti. The main reason to see this new show at Sacred Fools, however, is the spectacular production. Jaime Robledo’s direction is brilliantly creative, pushing … Read more