Rapture, Blister, Burn is a masterful exploration of feminism in practice, and Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) gives it a sharp, engaging production sure to stoke important conversations over coffee after the show.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). MET brings the funny (review)
It’s never more apparent how salacious the bard is then when watching The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), a ridiculously wonderful semi-improvised comedy that parodies, reduces, and, yes, even celebrates the greatest playwright in history. If you’ve not see it, it’s high time you do. If you have, see it again. Maryland Ensemble Theatre […]
Peter and the Starcatcher well worth catching at MET (review)
Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, den mothers, scoutmasters, youth leaders – okay, anyone who oversees children, please follow directions: Go to the website Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) and order tickets for all the children in your life so they can catch the magical and imaginative Peter and the Starcatcher. But better be quick. The show closes May […]
Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls at Maryland Ensemble Theatre (review)
Half of MET’s production of Top Girls is a nightmare staged like a dream; the other is a dream staged, if not so badly as a nightmare, then at least as a bit of a mess. The famous first portion, a dinner party involving historical and fictional women interacting with modern power-executive Marlene, ends up […]
Bad Jews at MET (review)
Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s production of Bad Jews is drop-your-eyes, shake-your-head, rub-your-forehead funny. Because your family, though maybe not Jewish, is most probably just as messy.
Oedipus Rox! at Maryland Ensemble Theatre (review)
Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s original Oedipus Rox!—based on Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex—is filled with cosmic design and some rockin’ operatic heights, but it’s a tragicomedy that has difficulty finding the right balance of laughter and tears or capturing in its pacing the wonderful mania its set, costume, and song lyrics project.
Jeff Walker’s Top 10 shows of 2015
Call me an old softy, but I get pretty sentimental during the holidays. As I look back on theatre for the year 2015, my cup runneth over with blessings – performers and productions that touched my heart, delved into my soul or sparked my imagination in a memorable and lasting way.
The Gifts of the Magi, a Christmas musical at MET
What makes a Christmas gift special? If you think it is how much you paid for it, then you have missed the point of almost every Christmas song, play, musical, and story ever written. But if not price, then what is it? The Gifts of the Magi written by Mark St. Germain and Randy Courts, […]
Musical of O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi makes its area debut at MET
Glancing though director Suzanne Beal’s notes of the Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s script of The Gifts of the Magi, you’ll see entries about her memories dating back to when she was a youngster of the classic O. Henry story, which was first released in 1905.
MET’s One Man, Two Guvnors, wall-to-wall laughter
Just give in already. With a charming hero, lechery and vice on parade, a cross-dressing femme fatale, and comic timing to beat the precision of any Swiss watch, One Man, Two Guvnors at Maryland Ensemble Theatre is the Queen’s beans.
Earth girl loves alien in Don Thompson’s comedy, now at Maryland Ensemble Theatre
Here in the DC area this July, there is what can only be described as an abundance of plays on stage, both from our year-round theatre companies, and the mega-Capital Fringe opening tonight. But in Frederick, MD, the big news is the METLab Plays festival at Maryland Ensemble Theatre. Don Thompson’s The God of this […]
MET gives Good People an outstanding production (review)
How does the old song go? “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.” That sums up Margaret Walsh, whose hand to mouth existence is as normal for her as breathing. Margie (that’s a hard “g”) is from Southie, or South Boston, where the working class residents scrape by and make […]