Native Son

It’s a sad commentary that some of the same basic societal ills depicted in this 1941 stage adaptation of Richard Wright’s “Native  Son” are as relevant today as they were then, which makes this eagerly awaited production more important than ever.  Read more

An American Century Christmas

An American Century Christmas
Conceived and compiled by Jack Marshall, Thomas D. Fuller and Kathryn Fuller
Directed by Jack Marshall
Produced by American Century Theater
Reviewed by Ted Ying

There was a time when the televised Christmas specials were amongst the most anticipated parts of the season. Anyone over the age of 10 probably remembers the Perry Como, Bing Crosby or Bob Hope Christmas shows.  Today, most people don’t watch the classic Christmas musical variety shows, but American Century has re-created one, and it’s worth a trip to see it and bring the family. Read more

Life with Father

Life with Father
Written by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse
Directed by Rip Claassen
Produced by American Century Theater
Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

Think nostalgic, archetypical family structure with father firmly ensconced as lord of the manor, early American style, exquisite furnishings, resplendent couture, a phalanx of maids each duty-bound and hell-bent on pleasing the master, and a fawning wife catering to his every whim.  Then add the truly uniquely American twist of almost imperceptible power shift, where the fawning wife is the actual power broker with Dad oblivious to the actual running of things, so that everybody gets the joke but him, and you’ve got the set-up for family comedies from the early drawing rooms and parlors to the stage, to 21^st century jet-setting sitcoms. Read more

A Passion for Justice

A Passion for Justice:  The Clarence Darrow Story
by Jack Marshall and Paul Morella
directed by Jack Marshall 
produced by The American Century Theater & Clarence Darrow Productions
reviewed by Steven McKnight

There’s an old saying that the secret to success for a trial lawyer is sincerity - if you can fake that, the rest is easy.  A close second is passion and the aptly named A Passion for Justice: The Clarence Darrow Story has an abundance of both Read more

Dr. Cook’s Garden

Dr. Cook’s Garden 
written by Ira Levin
directed by Ellen Dempsey
produced by The American Century Theater
reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

Dr. Cook’s Garden is a wickedly good time.  In a quaint little homespun Vermont town, a treasured family doctor reveals just how much he loves his perfect little town and how far he will go to keep it perfect.  Read more

The Titans

• The Titans
• by Robert McElwaine                       
• Directed by Jack Marshall
• Produced by The American Century Theater
• Reviewed by Rosalind Lacy

Realizing we are eavesdropping on authentic conversations from the Oval Office and the Kremlin in The Titans keeps you on the brink of your seat. Read more

The Eccentricities of a Nightingale

• The Eccentricities of a Nightingale
• by Tennessee Williams
• Directed by Stephen Scott Mazzola
• Produced by American Century Theater
• Reviewed by guest reviewer Gary Maker 

It is 1915, and there’s a nightingale in Glorious Hill, Mississippi whose wings aren’t working right, and her name is Alma Winemiller (Vanessa Bradchulis). Alma is a woman of a certain age - fans of Tennessee Williams will know exactly what I mean by this - whose dreams are slowly becoming deflated.

Part of it is that her voice, lovely instrument though it is, is simply insufficient to support a career and she must make her way as a vocal teacher. More importantly, though, her eccentricities - she sings and talks to the birds she feeds in the town square - isolate her from her narrow-minded neighbors, Read more

Happy Birthday Wanda June

• Happy Birthday Wanda June           
• Written by Kurt Vonnegut
• Directed by Ellen Dempsey
• Produced by American Century Theater
• Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson
  

Who knew that Kurt Vonnegut had enough drama up the same sleeve that created such a seminal work as Slaughterhouse Five, to create a funny and poignant play?  Or that the issues raised in his inaugural attempt at playwriting would still be relevant and piercingly accurate almost forty years after its opening?  American Century Theater’s enjoyable rendition of Happy Birthday, Wanda June does an excellent job exploring Vonnegut’s ideas about integrity, social justice, duty and the American way.  The superb cast effectively conveys the playwright’s sarcasm and provocative wit. Read more

Cops

• Cops
• By Terry Curtis Fox
• Directed by Stephen Jarrett
• Presented by American Century Theater
• Reviewed by Steven McKnight

News flash!  Police officers can be complicated, flawed, and even corrupt human beings at times.  While that revelation may not strike you as particularly compelling or controversial, it had more force in 1976 when Cops, the new production at American Century Theater, was first staged.  Absent that impact, the audience is left with an earnest and professional production of a flawed play that, while containing moments of humor and tension, ultimately amounts to a misfire. Read more

Ah Wilderness

• Ah, Wilderness!
• By Eugene O’Neill
• Produced by American Century Theatre
• Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness! shows a light, playful side of the playwright that we probably otherwise wouldn’t know was there.  Yes, there are undertones and hints of the themes that possess his dark and long days’ journeys — references to virtue, manifestation of one’s character, social commentary. And there are the “must haves” in an O’Neill play: a strong take charge even if ineffective mother, and the raving drunk lost in an alcoholic stupor. Actually this piece has not one but two inebriated characters.  It’s an interesting exercise, connecting the dots to sleuth the “O’Neill touch” in this uncharacteristic writing.  Ah, Wilderness! could have plateaued as a simple excursion of art appreciation were in not for several stand-out cast members who breathe life into this rather drawn out, nostalgic tale.  Read more

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