Theatre Reviews

Karen Hartman is foremost political playwright with the skills to take a human crisis and make that into a powerful drama as she blends the struggle of two people to keep folks alive during a crisis from a new medical problem. Hartman weaves a most personal view from a father who struggles to keep his twin hemophiliac boys alive and their dedicated doctor who prescribes a new miracle drug to solve the ‘clotting factor’ that is needed to stop bleeding. Effectively using a documentary style to explain about hemophiliac and how medical science advances treatment as pharma companies create a product to eliminate the need for blood transfusions

Crazy for You is a modern take on the classical Broadway format that weaves many of the greatest songs of the 2oth Century by the Gershwin’s with outrageous humor, excellent singing and spectacular tap dancing. Crowle’s ensemble worked hard in respecting the material. Crazy for You is a ‘must see’ musical. The sheer joy of this family friendly entertainment will have you saying: “Who could ask for anything more?” This production of Crazy for You reminds me why I love musicals. Crazy For You demonstrates the magic of Gershwin tunes as well the joys of old fashion musical comedy. It is extremely family entertainment for the holidays.

End of the Rainbow is painful to watch as one of my all-time favorites is presented in a most self-destructive yet honest portrayal. I can’t remember seeing a more complete wide-ranging performance than Angela Ingersoll’s Judy Garland. We both feel sad at what happened to her yet we enjoy her magical stage presence and her amazing contralto voice. This bittersweet show is a must see on several levels. As we see the demise of a star, we see the emergence of another star. Angela Ingersoll performance in this tough role will launch a new phase in her career.

We meet Therese Marie in the ICU suffering from amnesia, chronic pain as see doesn’t know her name; the morphine drip is her salvation. Dotted over her are a flamboyant nurse, a charismatic orderly and a colorless doctor. All give this “little flower” effective care and needed attention.

But sparks fly when the author, hard drinking and druggy son, Danny (the fabulous John Henry Roberts in a role played on Broadway by Michael Shannon) visits his mother in the hospital. The attempts of reconciliation and redemption dredge up family past problems from both mother’s and son’s life. We experience the vulnerable of Theresa Marie, we learn about her bringing up and all the trauma she has endured. We also see the source of her battles with Danny and the attempts by sister Justina (Jess Maynard) to move mother into a nursing home believing that Danny is incapable of giving Theresa Marie the care she needs.