Terry Morgan – ArtsBeatLA Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd is my favorite musical. Its combination of a beautiful score, clever lyrics and unusually gruesome subject matter is sui generis. When it’s firing on all cylinders, there’s little in the annals of musical theatre to top its sheer power. And yet it’s a difficult … Read more
Terry Morgan – ArtsBeatLA But the thing I will remember most from this show is Ann Noble’s fierce, breathtaking performance as Hermione’s friend/champion Paulina. I’ve admired Noble’s work for many years, as both a superb actress and playwright, but her portrayal here is outstanding; one of those blessed confluences of actor and role that produces … Read more
Terry Morgan – Stage Raw One of the main pleasures of history-based plays is reexamining subjects from a new perspective. The life of Mozart was forever altered in people’s perceptions after Amadeus opened. The term “witch hunt” to describe something other than the Salem trials likely was influenced by The Crucible. John Ross Bowie’s sharply … Read more
Terry Morgan – Stage Raw Playwright Steve Yockey has one of the most original and distinctive voices in modern theater. His work is often suffused with dark humor and weird or supernatural elements, but he’s equally adept with serious issues and relationship drama. He’s quite prolific (Reykjavik, Very Still and Hard to See, and The … Read more
Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania Pasadena Playhouse’s production of Inherit the Wind, unfortunately, disappoints despite the electric chemistry of its two stars, Alfred Molina and John Douglas Thompson. Director Michael Michetti has chosen to give the play a contemporary feel — with a cast that looks and sounds like modern-day Americans — but in so doing, … Read more
Terry Morgan – Stage Raw Although there are problems with this play, it must also be said that it’s intelligent and attempts to deal with many issues — such as theology and literary criticism — that most modern works don’t ever touch upon. Fans of Shakespeare may well enjoy the erudite wordplay, and a scene … Read more
Terry Morgan – ArtsBeatLA Sometimes great actors can save a bad play. The sheer strength of their talent or the brilliance of their star power dazzles us into not noticing or caring that the vehicle they’re in is lacking an engine or wheels. (Al Pacino comes to mind. Hoo-ah!) More often than not, however, a … Read more
Tracey Paleo – Gia On The Move “How to Ruin a Relationship in One Easy Step,” is a definitive alternate title for, THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY, a smart, little 80-minute, light drama written by Samuel Balm, directed by Darko Tresnjak, currently at the Geffen Playhouse, Gil Cates Theater. And I say “light” because it’s not a … Read more
Terry Morgan – ArtsBeatLA The first time I encountered Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, I identified strongly with the title character, both with his frustrations and what he thought of as the tragedy of his life. As I got older, however, and saw many more productions of the play, I began to recognize that many of Vanya’s … Read more
Rob Stevens – Haines His Way Cameron Watson has directed with pinpoint clarity and permits his actors to live and breathe their dialogue. Brenneman commands the stage from the opening moments to the closing. Her Bella is an enigma that will never really be solved. Keith matches her scene by scene. They truly form a … Read more