How, one wondered, would British playwright Richard Bean, whose hilarious farce One Man, Two Guvnors made a star out of James Corden, create something as funny for Americans out of the British game of snooker? He hasn’t, as it turns out. No, “The Nap,” Bean’s sophomore effort on Broadway, is not as soporific as its […]
Archives for September 2018
Review: Bernhardt/Hamlet. Janet McTeer as Sarah Bernhardt as Hamlet
At the very end of Bernhardt/Hamlet, a new play on Broadway by Theresa Rebeck, we see an actual 1899 film clip of the renowned 19th century actress Sarah Bernhardt on stage, in the role of Hamlet, dueling. Perhaps the clip is meant to drive home that the play we’ve just seen, about Sarah Bernhardt deciding […]
Another white man? Shakespeare Theatre’s staff speaks honestly about new artistic leader, Simon Godwin
Recently, Shakespeare Theatre Company announced the results of their exhaustive search for for an artistic director to replace Michael Kahn: the young British director Simon Godwin. Naturally, the theatre community burst into conversation. One of the things that struck me was the sheer number of artists and theatre professionals who were rolling their eyes and […]
DC Area hosts most popular new plays in America
In its annual October Season Preview issue, American Theatre magazine has released its lists of the Top 10 Most-Produced Plays (11 this year due to a tie) . Ten of those plays have either already been performed in the DC area or are scheduled for production in the 2018-2019 season. Among those plays is local playwright […]
Review: Lincolnesque at Keegan Theatre
We often imagine Lincoln to have been an amiable, principled man, worn down by war and illness. Perhaps his own and, certainly, that of his sons and wife. Which is why Brandon McCoy’s Francis makes such a great facsimile of our American Hero. He is congenial. Concerned with the well-being of others. A great speaker […]
José Andrés’ Beefsteak donating to DCTS on World Veggies Day
Breaking news – On October 1, (World Vegetarian Day) José Andrés’ Beefsteak at Dupont Circle will donate 10% of its proceeds for food served between 2pm and 6pm to DC Theatre Scene. All you need do is mention our name to your server. Maybe you are one of those already planning to celebrate the power […]
Review: Blueberries for Sal, a new kids musical at Adventure Theatre
After napping on a long drive to Glen Echo Park on a rainy day, it was time to wake up the Shark. The Shark is my 20 month old daughter who, like her namesake, seems to need constant movement in order to survive. I was apprehensive about waking her up too much, because our destination […]
Review: How to Win a Race War, a 3 hour white supremacy lit class
Before you read this review, I’d like to ask a favor of you: open a new browser tab and navigate to your favorite news/politics site and spend five minutes browsing the stories there. Seriously, I’ll wait…
Review: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Director Judith Ivey puts her stamp on Williams’ steamy drama
Hold onto summer heat and humid emotions just a little while longer with Baltimore Center Stage’s juicy production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Review: The Last American Hammer from UrbanArias
What an opening for an opera! After a low tremolo on the bass and some nice string section writing as violins, viola, and cello join in, suddenly on stage appears a bearded, para-military dude, as unlikely an operatic “hero” as one could imagine. You could picture him rolling into DC like thunder astride a thousand […]
Lincolnesque at Keegan Theatre. What if a speech writer had the gifts of Lincoln?
“I like to write about the things that matter, whether they matter emotionally, or whether they matter dramatically, or whether they matter politically. If you can get all those in one, that’s great….Politics happens to be, for better or worse, a major concern of our time and place,” John Strand tells me. We were discussing the […]
Review: Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Toby’s Dinner Theatre is THE place and its joint is jumping thanks to the infectious melodies of the late, great Mr. Thomas Waller, a.k.a Fats Waller. The show is Ain’t Misbehavin’, one of the most successful musical revues of the last century, and Fats would surely tip his derby to the performers now wailing and […]