Adapted by Paata Tsikurishvili and Nathan Weinberger from the novel by George Orwell Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili Produced by Synetic Theater Reviewed by Tim Treanor Synetic, a theater company which has won mighty accolades for the flowing theatricality of its movement-based productions, and which once won a Helen Hayes Award for its absolutely wordless performance […]
Archives for April 2007
Saving Aimee
Book and Lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford Music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman Directed by Eric Schaeffer Reviewed by Gary McMillan In pre-TV America, Aimee Elizabeth Kennedy Semple McPherson Hutton was one of the most renowned (and “notorious”) women of the first half of the 20th Century. She was a world-famous evangelist, a trail-blazing […]
In On It
By Daniel MacIvor Produced by Theater Alliance Reviewed by Tim Treanor Ray King (Jason Stiles or, occasionally, Jason Lott) is trying to die. But the damn playwright (Jason Lott), in the throes of a dysfunctional relationship with a lover who specializes in telling inconvenient truths (Jason Stiles), won’t let him. Ray wants to confront his terminal […]
New Baltimore Reviews
Gary Maker recommends a trip to Baltimore this weekend to catch the closing weekend of And a Nightingale Sang. Gary takes a look at both Ah, Wilderness! and And a Nightingale Sang in our Baltimore section.
Opus
By Michael Hollinger Produced by Washington Stage Guild Reviewed by Rosalind Lacy Early on in Michael Hollinger’s Opus, string quartet music is compared to love making and “a discourse among four reasonable people.” Beautifully acted and staged at the Washington Stage Guild, director Steven Carpenter establishes the right tone for the interlock of a witty […]
The Director: The Third Act of Elia Kazan
By Leslie Kobylinski Produced by Round House Theatre Reviewed by Janice Cane The Director: The Third Act of Elia Kazan, now making its world premiere at Round House Theatre Silver Spring, sheds new light on its subject. Playwright/director Leslie Kobylinski’s script delves into Kazan’s childhood, particularly his relationships with his Greek parents. In fact, […]
Spring Awakening
Joel’s marathon theatre weekend concluded with the one show almost guaranteed to get mixed reactions – Spring Awakening. Gary acknowledges that the audience went wild after every scene, but it just wasn’t for him. Debbie, who enjoyed the work of choreographer Bill T. Jones, found the stoic 19th century story juxtaposed with in-your-face rock music challenging. […]
Company
Gary McMillan has just seen his pick for the best of Broadway this year! It’s the simple but brilliantly conceived and staged Company, Barbara Walsh stopped the show with ‘Here’s to the Ladies Who Lunch.’ The usually unflappable Gary declared Raul Esparza’s performance "Astounding", He and Joel agree Raul deserves to win the Tony.
I Am My Own Wife
By Doug Wright Produced by Olney Theatre Center Reviewed by Tim Treanor I Am My Own Wife is a sort of theatrical magic act, calling on a virtuoso performer to take up nearly three dozen different roles in the course of a single two-hour evening. It did not occur to Doug Wright or his first […]
In the Heights
It’s Sunday, Day 3, and Joel and Debbie have just seen the hit Off-Broadway show In the Heights. Listen in on their cab ride back to Broadway while they discuss the experience. "Vibrant!." "It’s about getting away … and coming back to the block." "Stunning choreography. Plenty of salsa. Arriba!
Hard Times
Adapted by Toby Atkinson from the novel by Charles Dickens Produced by Meat and Potato Theatre Reviewed by Ronnie Ruff Sometimes small theatres take a mammoth step forward producing a show that goes beyond what anyone expects from a young company feeling its way through the DC theatre maze. It is a shame when […]
Legally Blonde
The New York Sunday morning roundtable continued as our reviewers Gary McMillan, Debbie Minter Jackson and Joel Markowitz talk about the evening performance from Day 2. Legally Blonde.