The title alone – The Underground Railroad Game – gives you hint of the slippery slide towards impropriety and breach of all kinds of correctness about to happen. And that’s not even the half of it.
Alabama Story, why a bunny book was banned from Alabama’s libraries (review)
The facts behind the real life incidents captured in Kenneth Jones’s Alabama Story – the controversy over banning a children’s book – stands as a cautionary tale, one that has been brought to life and beautifully rendered by Washington Stage Guild.
Review: Nat Turner in Jerusalem at Forum Theatre
Nat Turner in Jerusalem is a journey into the fervent religious belief behind the leader of a slave rebellion in Southampton County, VA, armed with a sword and spirit. You may have seen Theater Alliance’s The Raid, based on John Brown and the rebellion at Harper’s Ferry, which just closed in Anacostia. Nat Turner in Jerusalem […]
Review: The Texas Homecoming Revolution of 1995. Big laughs at Best Medicine Rep
The Texas Homecoming Revolution of 1995 has got to be one of the strangest titles that I’ve ever seen but the production is incredibly entertaining. The fast-moving script by Jennifer Faletto hits all the right notes with this gaggle of seniors soon to be graduating from a well-to-do Houston suburb. They’ve made their marks, planned […]
Becoming Dr. Ruth at Theater J (review)
Dr. Ruth. Nearly everybody knows her iconic look, sound and effervescent spirit. Little did we know, however, about the marriages that didn’t work, early professional hardships, experience working in a kibbutz in Jerusalem, and unspeakable loss. Some of us at a certain age can’t help but grin at the memories of our first encounters with […]
The Veils from Nu Sass (review)
In The Veils by Hope Villanueva, Melody, a female Marine translator in Afghanistan, has completed her tour of duty and returned stateside trying desperate to pick up the pieces of her life. That includes planning her wedding. Her mother and sister try to support her, but the memories, sights and sounds of the war are only […]
Booker T. Washington’s messages in Character Building resound today (review)
Most of us have heard of Booker T. Washington as the counterpoint to W.E.B. DuBois, one espousing the “safe’ position of newly freed blacks to better themselves through industry and service while the other struck a more aggressive tone demanding higher education opportunities and social equality.
Jefferson’s Garden at Ford’s Theatre (review)
Set in the time of the American Revolution, Jefferson’s Garden is the sweeping story of the immense struggle of our country’s founders, and the personal story of two people desperately seeking freedom. Christian, the Quaker son of a German immigrant, promises his family that, despite joining up to fight for his new country’s liberty, he […]
Pointless Theatre’s Imogen, a romance with puppet (review)
It’s always a treat to see what Pointless Theatre does with a story, and they rise to new levels with their take on one of Shakespeare’s rambling masterworks. The program notes that Shakespeare’s Cymbeline mentions Imogen throughout the script but the character’s storyline is mostly offset as secondary. Wonderfully adapted by director Charlie Marie McGrath, […]
Rabbit Summer from Ally Theatre Company (review)
In the poster for Rabbit Summer, a woman wearing a glamorous dressing gown stands provocatively, hands seemingly on her hips. A closer look through the shadows reveals she’s actually holding a double-barrel shotgun behind her back.
Foolish Fairytales from Faction of Fools, abundant silliness (review)
Faction of Fools’ usual abundance of silliness reaches new heights in Paul Reisman’s Foolish Fairytales. The puns, the double entendres, mixed messages and general tomfoolery are so effective because of the special touch of this company.
Signature brightens the season with Holiday Follies (review)
Young new performers who you may not have heard about are finally getting their time in the ARK spotlight at Signature Theatre. Katie Mariko Mariko Murray, Ines Nassara and David Rowen have paid their dues along the fringes and toiled in ensembles throughout the metro area. Now it’s their time to shine in the cabaret […]