Smokefall
Directed by Anne Kauffman At the Goodman Theatre’s Owen Stage A drama of life and love ponders the question
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Tom Williams
Compulsion
Both playwright Rinne Groff and Meyer Levin each shared a strong connection to Anne Frank’s story. Groff took Levin’s passion for getting the Frank diary published in the USA and his determination to write the definitive stage adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank. The long battles inspired Groff to write Compulsion. Meyer Levin (1905-1981) was the model for Sid Silver (Mick Webber).
Read MoreMaster Class
But, Master Class is essentially Maria Callas’ biography as well as her thoughts about the essence of performing art. Kelli Harrington commands the stage as the fickle diva whose mere presence strikes terror into her students. She delivers Callas biting sarcasm, her vivid facial expressions as well as her glowing love of the beauty in bell canto singing when her students do it correctly – with feeling and respect for the music. Harrington’s performance justifies seeing Master Class- she , indeed, gives her own ‘master class’ on acting.
Read MoreOnce
The haunting tunes together with several rousing show stoppers, makes Once a contemporary folk musical celebration of life and love. Once is original, innovative in its simplicity, yet it is a sophisticated and understated work filled with daring honesty. Anyone who has ever felt the pain of heartbreak will relate and empathize with Once’s tone. This beautiful musical is well staged, well sung and well acted
Read MoreNorthanger Abbey
Directed swiftly by Joannie Schultz, Northanger Abbey is a witty, charming and amusing comedy of manners adaptation. It is the first major role for Sarah Price as the precocious 17-year old voracious reader with a vivid imagination. Her performance as Catherine Morland anchors a cast of terrific actors.
Read MoreThe Goddess
We feel Rita’s pain and misery. We see that stardom, riches, and glory are nothing if we suffer from feeling unloved. The Goddes is a beautiful play that demonstrates how an epic film can, and does, work better live onstage especially in an intimate storefront venue.
Read MoreGershwin’s Greatest Hits
Gershwin’s Greatest Hits is a slick well-sung two hour tribute to the genius of Gershwin. This revue is a fine introduction Gershwin to all who are interested in modern music. Light Opera Works has established a fine niche here and using Nichols Concert Hall is a plus. This revue is a “must see.”
Read MoreMotortown
Motortown is a 90 minute journey into the abbess of a psychopathic soldier who returns from the Iraq war isolated, desperate and hopeless. Danny is also a self-proclaimed squaddie (A member of the armed forces who thinks he’s the “Gods gift to women”). Danny is determined to win back his old girlfriend Marley (Julie Siple) but she is fearful of Danny since he sent her weird letters from Iraq. her rejection send him on a downward spiral of violence and despair.
Read MoreOld Jews Telling Jokes
This well paced show has several vaudevillian songs that in themselves were witty and humorous. The jokes reminded me of grooming up watching the Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday evenings where the likes of Alan King grabbed our laugh bones. Many of the jokes depend on razor-sharp timing and this cast delivered them with deft aplomb. For those of us who admire and are familiar with this unique style of humor, there is much to admire and laugh at here.
Read MoreVeronica’s Room
We meet a young female student (Sarah Wellington) and her lawyer boyfriend (Chris Ballou) as they seem to be touring an old house in New England. The older Irish couple, Amanda Jane Long and Sean Thomas are the caretakers of the house. They convince the girl to role play as Veronica for the sake of an elderly sister who is dying but she believes that her sister Veronica is alive and living in the room they all now find themselves in. The girl agrees to do that and she changes into one of Veronica’s dresses.
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