By now we hope all fans of the work of Kenneth Tynan have made plans to catch Philip Goodwin’s solo performance in Tynan, about to close this weekend at Studio Theatre. While most of the critics revealed themselves to be longtime admirers of Kenneth Tynan’s theatre criticism – hard not to be – and found […]
Archives for February 2011
On the Razzle
Before Tom Stoppard got all metaphysical and mathematical on us, he wrote fluff. The Stoppardian word gymnastics and clever silliness are very much evident in On the Razzle, but it has about as much substance as a Justin Bieber song. And like the Beatles-coiffed tween idol, you can simply enjoy Razzle for what it is—a passing […]
Charming Billy
This is a meditation on the romance of the tragic drunk; the Yeats-quoting dipsomaniac who so feels the world’s pain that it is necessary for him to polish off three-quarters of a bottle of Jameson each night. You may have one of them in your family, or know someone who does, particularly if you’re Irish. […]
Landless Mash Up Fest, Part 1
I’ve got a confession to make. I’m a virgin. When it comes to going to going to Landless Theatre Company, I’ve never done it. I don’t know what I was waiting for.
Landless Mash Up Fest, Part 2
If you’ve been to a Cherry Red or Hope Operas production, you know that Chris Griffin’s work can be a little ‘off the wall’, so he is in company with his hysterical and swingingly good Tarxxxanadu, which closed the evening of two shows with four mash ups from Landless Theatre Company. I was there on […]
Perseus Bayou
Perseus Bayou is making a welcome return to the DC area after an eight year absence. Now an entirely new generation of children can enjoy the charms of this creative family musical playing at Imagination Stage.
Black Tie
A.R. Gurney has written over 40 plays and I’ll wager he’s had more use of perhaps 6 characters than any playwright in history. This prolific playwright is in the Alan Ayckbourn/Neil Simon class of writers who continue to find gold as they probe the same mines, those that exist in their own private worlds. Mr.Ayckbourn […]
Owl Moon
Most artistic directors aren’t running around onstage with an owl puppet minutes after giving the opening curtain speech. But that’s Marcus Kyd for you, an actor-manager whose efforts with the Taffety Punk crowd over on Capitol Hill are increasingly paying dividends — and who, incidentally, makes a really good owl.
Goya … A Life in Song
Of all the rare recordings that the wonderful people at Masterworks Broadway have recently made available, none has drawn me back to listen to again as many times as this concept album of a musical that Maury Yeston wrote for Plácido Domingo.
An Almost Holy Picture
An Almost Holy Picture by Heather McDonald is a spiritual quest by a man seeking solace and meaning when he’s beset with tragedy and misfortune. The Rep Stage production is a quiet, reflective story featuring Michael Stebbins in a touching solo performance, who does what he can with what he’s got, but in the end, […]
I Left My Heart – a Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett
“I don’t follow the latest fashion,” Tony Bennett said of his artistic instincts in a 2010 interview with the Winston-Salem Journal. “I never sing a song that’s badly written. Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer and others just created the best songs that had ever been written. These are classics, and finally they’re not being treated as […]
Playhouse Puppetry Slam
In its fourth event of a series aimed at mature audiences, the ever-popular Playhouse Puppetry Slam, returns for a one-night only showcase of vignettes that will leave you stunned, maybe even titillated and wanting more. Since previous years performances have sold out, two shows are scheduled: 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.