Tom Williams Clifford Odets sprinkles Awake and Sing with his socialist/communist anti-capitalist rhetoric especially in Jacobs speeches. Odets’ faith in the determination of youth is embodied in Hennie as she is determined to have love in her life and in Ralph’s fiery determination to “fix it so life won’t be printed on dollar bills.”
Steppenwolf Theatre presents an ambitious and innovative trilogy, The Brother/Sister Plays under the unique direction/collaboration of Tina Landau and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney. These three distinct work are now playing in repertory
Aaron Carter is a playwright with skill for story, structure and character development. His latest world premiere now running at the Greenhouse Theatre produced by MPAACT, First Words, tells the story odd a family’s struggle to deal with their autistic 15 year old son, Aiden (effectively played byScott Baity Jr).
Donizetti’s bouncy melodic score features bel canto (beautiful singing) arias. Nicole Cabell, as the love maidenAdina, sings her desires deftly while Gabrielle Vivani, as the blusterous Sergent Belcore, demonstrates his vocal chops. Alessandro Corbelli is the delightful Dr. Dulcamara who convinces the clueless Nemorino that he indeed has the elixir of love.
He (Brian Dennehy) is a world class actor at the top of his art. He moves from the fast-talking gambler in Hughie to the old recluse fearful of the man he once was in Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape. These two pieces demonstrate Dennehy’s acting range.
The Castle demonstrates Oracle Theatre production and staging skills (fine direction by Ben Fuchens and Justin Warren) as well as their ability to stretch the envelop of theatrical boundaries. Kudos to them for their chutzpah in mounting Barker’s weird play. This is both a provocative work and a fun theatrical experience.
This wonderfully presented journey is a dissertation of how a strong–always in control woman–comes to terms with drastic changes that occurs with the death of a close loved one. Fisher skillfully presents Didion’s trek through the mind games and adjustments that happens when death interrupts the status quo.
Master Harold story of a white teenage boy and his only two friends, Sam and Willie, adult black employees of the family restaurant. “Master Harold” …and the boys was written in 1982 as both a coming-of-age drama and an attack on racism.
David H Bell’s energetic production is quickly paced, totally engaging and filled with fantastic physical humor and eloquent speech that exposes The Bard to the next generation. The players connect with the kids with asides, winks and gestures allowing their humor to win them over. The story is introduced with cute silly props that tell us the story line in an engaging manner.
Macbeth is a psychological study that finds Macbeth (Steve Hadnagy plays the general/king marvelously) suffering from delusional and paranoid behavior with loads of guilt as he gains the Scottish throne only to be obsessed with retaining his power