The orchestra, under Ryan Brewster’s direction was excellent and not too loud. They made Menken’s score soar. Jonathan Hymen played the nerdy Seymour with gusto. Ashley Bush, as Audrey and Peter Verdico, as Mr. Mushnick offered sincere performances. The chorus of Irene Parino, Jill Valentine and Erin Elle East sang their hearts out.
Read MoreThere is much more in this fun filled two hours; hand balancing, cube aerialists, Ring rolling foot manipulators ( the amazing Laurinos from Argentina), strap flying, Perch balancing, wire walking and while all these events are taking place other cast members are creating the city scene as objects and people.
Read MoreRon Conner, Bakestra King, Ericka Ratcliff, Alexis J. Rogers and Samuel G. Roberson, Jr. pour energy, comic shops, and over-the-top acting to garner enough belly laughs to satisfy…
George C. Wolfe’s wild comedy pulls no punches as it satirizes, with exaggerated images of black life, by accentuating the extreme stereotypes of blacks in 11 sketches…
The Lester clan is a morally corrupt group of poverty stricken sharecroppers that find themselves without money, food or hope. The Lester’s give new depth to dysfunctional and desperate families. They are faced with starvation and eviction from the land they have farmed for generations.
Read MoreI was never able to get over the above flaws. Added Phyllis’ insecurity or jealousy when Joyce tells her that she wants to pose nude for Frank. Phyllis threatens to leave Joyce if that happens. Phyllis, despite Cheryl Graef’s attempts to make her likable, comes of as a nasty, narrow-minded control freak feminist.
Read MoreFuerza Bruta means Break Free, and this is what we the audience get to do as we watch the performers tell their stories. Reality, the world we just came from no longer exists ( at least for the next 65 minutes) as we get caught up in the action and music of this spectacular presentation. The visual effects that we see are indeed mind-blowing and the performers are in great shape
Read MoreTaking a Czech novel from the 1930’s translating it and adapting it to the stage is a difficult task but Jason Loewith and Justin D. M. Palmer has succeeded in creating a fascinating world where man’s self destructive nature finds its match.
Read MoreThe early monologues featuring rapid speech and pointless ramblings about apartments came across as whining. I found all four of the characters as insecure losers devoid of ambition and self-confidence. Why Ruth has to move so often is never adequately explained and Astor’s unwillingness to work makes couch surfing an urban survival skill for him.
Read MoreOh, Boy! is a light-weight romantic farce containing lovable characters exhibiting comically innocent yet questionable behavior especially for engaged or married couples….Kudos to director Terry McCabe and music arranger/director Kingsley Day for remounting this 1917 musical in the exact style of the original.
Read MoreSherman’s latest comedy is a clever tribute to Yiddish Theatre as well as to vain glorious stage actors. Set in Chicago at Ruskin Theatre, we meet Jack Shermerinsky (Craig Spidle) a middle aged failed stage actor famous for doing TV commercials out of LA. Jack has agreed to do a staged reading in Chicago with his wife Lisa (Janet Ulrich Brooks) to appease Jack’s mother Ester (Roslyn Alexander).
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