Bradshaw never offers any type of resolution in this work. It seems that he only wants to stir up the gray areas between such reprehensible behavior. Racism and homophobia sure can upset an audience as evidence by several loud grunts and the sound of people storming out of the theatre. Mary offends Blacks, religion, gays, white Southerners, victims of prostate cancer as it demonstrates that education is no cure for bigotry.
Read MoreUnder the smart, fast-paced direction by Paul S. Holmquest, Kauzlaric’s adaptation captures the mysterious allure of the ancient myth and curse of the large diamond know as the “moonstone.” This gem has been guarded by Hindu holy men for centuries and it has been stolen by conquering armies. In the late 18th Century, a rogue British officer brought the gem to England despite the curses attached to the stone. A trio of Hindu Brahmins have dedicated their lives to recovering the moonstone and returning it to India.
Read MoreAt the heart of the play are four indelibly interesting characters: Dan (Ray Kasper) is an obituary columnist and an eventually failed writer who voraciously pursues truth; and yet he is the least true amongst the group. He is a polyandrous romantic who writes passionately but totally derivatively.
Read MoreWilliam Nicholson’s Shadowlands, is a powerful tear-jerker. It is a romantic love story that finds famous British author and scholar, C. S. Lewis, a committed bachelor, Christian, and Oxford professor, with outspoken American poet, Joy Gresham. In Shadowlands, their unlikely romance poses the basic questions about God and love, life and death, pain and suffering.
Read MoreI had mixed feelings about this drama. I found the fast pace that tried to give snippets of each generation too thin to be more than a glimpse into each. I was impressed at how much family life playwright LeFranc and director Dexter Bullard were able present. Too bad they couldn’t develop each more completely. The work begs a second act.
Read MoreTyler Ross is charming, lovable and heartfelt as the good kid bent on meeting his hero. He unexpectedly learns life lessons from Robinson (nice work by Kamal Angelo Bolden) and Branch Rickey (Charles Stransky) the brave Dodger general manager who had the chutzpah to sign Robinson to play in the Major Leagues.
Read MoreThis 55 minute play seemed like 5 hours as the plot-less show depicts three dysfunctional brothers who can only relate to one another through highly ritualized violent games. Much of this show is a series of violent acts that finds the brothers trying to trick each other as they whack each other with a tire iron. They slap punch, stomp, and kick each other by the convoluted rules that change at the whim of the moment
Read MorePlaywright Alice Childress’ 1957 Trouble In Mind bravely dealt with racism by utilizing a play-within-a-play device to dramatize racial attitudes in both African-Americans and whites. This was powerful and controversial theatre in the 1950’s especially with the stunning ending after a quite funny look at foibles of actors and directors as they struggle through rehearsals for a new radically “ground braking” play Chaos in Belleville.
Read MoreThis fun show is light weight yet sophisticated musical comedy. The humor is infectious; the singing is fine; and the staging is brisk and compelling. Jessie Mueller’s Adelaide, Rod Thomas’ Nathan Detroit and Brian Hissong’s Sky Masterson together with Abby Mueller’s Sarah led the way with complete performances. Bernie Yvon, George Andrew Wolff and George Keating nailed their zany characters most effectively.
Read MoreThe original songs, composed by Jesse Terrill, are excellent, fitting into the piece as a whole, bringing the absurdity of the play to the fore and enhancing the commentary and characterizations of those who sing them – with a particularly impressive rendition by Andy Hagar, the Bridegroom’s Friend. Another ensemble piece is petrifying, with all the actors in lock step, staring straight forward, playing instruments and singing.
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