Bulrusher is a coming-of-age story about a pure innocent as she struggles to find both her personal identity, her racial identity, and her sexual identity. Finding out who and what you are is a daunting journey but Bulrusher’s strength and her rare powers serves her well. Once she comes to terms and meets her mother, she emerges as s woman ready to face the changing world of the 1950’s
Red Theater’s initial production was mature, funny and quite respectful to Bertolt Brecht’s comedy. The show is fun and reminiscent of other productions of Brecht’s work such as Mother Courage and her Children. That’s good company. Lovers of Brecht’s work will enjoy this show.
Tom Mullen has moved Irvine Welsh’s Transpotting to Kansas city from Edinburgh, Scotland. That didn’t help much since the group of hopeless are so lacking in empathy that their adventures become a tedious series of vignettes.
Funeral Wedding (The Alvin Play) is a Victorian Gothic style dark comedy set in pre-World War I America about an oddly dysfunctional family
But it is Rob Riley’s impeccable portrayal of the eccentric scientist that carries the 100 minute bio-drama. Riley swiftly moves from one interrupted story to another effortlessly yet still maintaining a cohesive narrative. We see both the scientist – the inquisitive problem solver, and the human, loveable and humorous side of Richard Feynman
The Opponent. It is a riveting multilevel drama that utilizes the action of boxing to expound on such themes as mentor-pupil , father-son relationships plus the nature of preparing, living and remembering our dreams and the effects and consequences of our life choices. Loyalty is tested, even with explosive reactions.
Lanford Wilson’s confounding 1986 drama, Burn This, is a dated presentation about the effects of the death of a young gay dancer upon four violently opposing characters scrambling to to regain control over their lives
“I am haunted by humans” – Death from The Book Thief
In their Steppenwolf for Young Adults series, Heidi Stillman’s adaptation of the 2006 novel by Markys Zusak captures the essence of life during the World War II Era in Germany. The production, directed by Halle Gordon, misses several opportunities to impact audiences stronger that it actually does
Who would think that a female actor/director could write a play about Vietnam? But Susan Felder sure did and its a terrific gritty war drama. With a swiftly paced intensity and loads of suspense, Wasteland unfolds as a riveting two-hander upon an awesome set (by Kevin Depinet) that depicts an American solder, circa 1972 captured by the VC and isolated in an underground cave
Kinky Boots comes off as a cliche-ridden story that reminds one of La Cage Aux Folles and Hairspray with hints of British sociopolitical elements, like Billy Elliot. The story revolves around Charlie Price ( the golden boy empathetic Stark Sands) who is forced to save his family’s shoe manufacturing business in Northern England following the death of his father