“Day 2, Shows 2-4: TheatreEddys at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival”Atlantic:America & the Great WarRyan Bernsten & Desiree Staples (Writers); Christopher Anselmo (Composer)The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with the American Theatre Project, Northwestern UniversityAssemblyWith wave after wave of gloriously intertwined harmonies sweeping from the stage, the sixteen … [Read more...] about “Day 2, Shows 2-4: TheatreEddys Goes to the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival”
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“La Cage aux Folles”
La Cage aux FollesHarvey Fierstein (Book); Jerry Herman (Music & Lyrics)San Francisco PlayhouseThe tempo of the overture’s tunes — familiar in music and long-memorized in words for many in the audience — quickens in direct proportion to the packed theatre’s palpable rise in energy level and anticipation. In a tease to an audience who to a person already knows where … [Read more...] about “La Cage aux Folles”
“The Four Immigrants: An American Musical Manga”
The Four Immigrants: An American Musical MangaMin Kahng (Book, Music & Lyrics)Based on Manga Yonin Shosei by Henry Yoshitaka KiyamaTheatreWorks Silicon Valley The Cast of The Four ImmigrantsThe story of immigrants arriving on the shores of the Golden State is told with songs that often sound as all-American as “Yankee Doodle” – songs with notes of jazz, … [Read more...] about “The Four Immigrants: An American Musical Manga”
“Henry IV, Parts One and Two”: Day 8, Plays 9 & 10, OSF Ashland 2017
Henry IV: Parts One and TwoWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalOregon Shakespeare Festival this season offers the rare opportunity to see what one might call William Shakespeare’s ‘Falstaff Triad.’ Along with The Merry Wives of Windsor, the third in the so-called Falstaff sequence, Henry IV, Part One and Henry IV, Part Two document parallel journeys of the … [Read more...] about “Henry IV, Parts One and Two”: Day 8, Plays 9 & 10, OSF Ashland 2017
“The Drowsy Chaperone”: Day 7, Play 8, Theatre Eddys at OSF Ashland 2017
The Drowsy ChaperoneLisa Lambert & Greg Morrison (Music & Lyrics); Bob Martin & Don McKellar (Book)Oregon Cabaret TheatreFrom the still-dark stage, we hear a squeaky, dramatic, and overly protracted sigh, followed by “I hate theatre.” But when the lights finally come up on a rather mousy, nervous-looking man in bow tie and sweater, we soon learn this Man … [Read more...] about “The Drowsy Chaperone”: Day 7, Play 8, Theatre Eddys at OSF Ashland 2017
“Shakespeare in Love”: Day 6, Play 7, Theatre Eddys at OSF Ashland 2017
Shakespeare in LoveAdapted for the Stage by Lee Hall, Based on the Screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom StoppardOregon Shakespeare Festival“Shall I compare … compare … compare thee … to a mourner’s play?”As a cast of Elizabethan characters of all shapes, sizes, and classes hover over his every word (with many looks of disbelief and disapproval of the lines he is currently … [Read more...] about “Shakespeare in Love”: Day 6, Play 7, Theatre Eddys at OSF Ashland 2017
“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”
Disney’s Beauty and the BeastAlan Menken (Music); Howard Ashman & Tim Rice (Lyrics);Linda Woolverton (Book)Oregon Shakespeare FestivalThe first time I saw Disney’s Beauty and the Beast on the big screen as an animated film, I immediately pictured the opening number “Belle” as made for the big stage. As the song’s angelic-looking namesake roams aimlessly nose in a book … [Read more...] about “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”
“Julius Caesar”: Day 3, Play 4, TheatreEddys at OSF Ashland 2017
Julius CaesarWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalFor anyone wondering how an electorate can switch in such a short time from electing an Obama to choosing a Trump, a re-visit of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar may send chills up the spine, especially as now being brilliantly directed by Shana Cooper at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In the opening scene, a … [Read more...] about “Julius Caesar”: Day 3, Play 4, TheatreEddys at OSF Ashland 2017
“Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles”: Day 2, Play 2 TheatreEddys at OSF Ashland 2017
Mojada: A Medea in Los AngelesLuis AlfaroOregon Shakespeare FestivalAnyone even vaguely familiar with Euripides’ ancient, Greek play, Medea, walks into a play entitled Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles with some apprehension and an assumption that the ending is not going to be happy, that there will be blood shed. When the Spanish word “mojada” (Spanish for “wetback”) begins … [Read more...] about “Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles”: Day 2, Play 2 TheatreEddys at OSF Ashland 2017
“brownsville song (b-side for tray)”
brownsville song (b-side for tray)Kimber LeeShotgun PlayersCathleen Riddley & Davied MoralesWith sleepy eyes, we peruse the morning paper or slide through the IPhone news updates; and a too-familiar headline catches our eye. Another family mourns the shooting death of a teen or 20-something, a kid struck down by a random bullet or one meant for someone else. We … [Read more...] about “brownsville song (b-side for tray)”
“A Night with Janis Joplin”
A Night with Janis JoplinRandy Johnson (Creator & Writer)American Conservatory TheatreKacee ClantonIt’s 1969, homecoming, and the arena is packed. Up to the microphone steps a curly haired woman full of fringes, beads, and bracelets. She grins broadly, shouts out, “Hell-oooo, Knoxville,” and then grabs the now-standing audience in her outstretched hands and … [Read more...] about “A Night with Janis Joplin”
“Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller”
Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and StollerJerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (Music & Words)Broadway by the BayThe Cast of Smokey Joe's CafeNo reviewer’s words can do justice to an evening of electric entertainment like Broadway by the Bay’s Smokey Joe’s Café. This show grabs hold of its audience in the opening notes, shakes them up in number-after-number’s … [Read more...] about “Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller”
“The Roommate”
The RoommateJen SilvermanSan Francisco PlayhouseJulia Brothers & Susi DamilanoWho does not remember those terribly awkward, first few minutes (hours? days? years?) trying to size up a new roomie? Sharon is trying her best to welcome Robyn into her big, old home on the outskirts of Iowa City, so much so her smile has uncomfortably and completely commandeered her entire … [Read more...] about “The Roommate”
“Sordid Lives”
Sordid LivesDel ShoresNew Conservatory Theatre CenterLuke Brady, Marie O'Donnell, Cat Luedtke, Michaela Greeley & Scott CoxNow who’s to judge who’s a saint or a sinner,Lord, it’s tough enough to trudge from brunch to dinner....It’s a bitch sortin’ out our sorry little sordid lives.Mama’s dead: Tripped over GW’s wooden legs while screwing him in a cheap motel. GW’s … [Read more...] about “Sordid Lives”
“SMUT: An Unseemly Story (The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson)
SMUT: An Unseemly Story (The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson)Alan BennettZ Space Word for WordPhil Wong, Søren Oliver, Andre Amarotico, Rosie Hallet, Robert Parsons & Nancy Selby (on floor)Mrs. Donaldson, a recent widow left alone in her senior years, clearly is not stricken as much in grief as she is a bit worried about the financial situation that her deceased husband left … [Read more...] about “SMUT: An Unseemly Story (The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson)
