Playhouse Square’s Touring ‘The Outsiders’ defines the word ‘intense’
It is 1967 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and trouble is brewing. Just like the Montagues and Capulets of R & J fame and the Jets and Sharks from West Side Story, tensions have reached a boiling point. The Greasers from the poorer section east across the railroad tracks and the Socs (Socialites) who inhabit the affluent west side of the city have been battling it out for years. The Socs as a group have been repeatedly attacking lone members of the Greasers beating them senseless. Thus th
Ohio Shakespeare Festival’s ‘Into The Breeches’ brings history to life
On the surface, “Into The Breeches” is a comedy but in the hands of Ohio Shakespeare Festival it is much more than that. It is a time capsule of what it was like living in “the home front” where no one was positive that a total victory could be had against a seemingly unstoppable enemy. Along the way the play covers the subjects of gender profiling, racial prejudice and gay bias that was wrongfully prevalent during those times. It is 1942 and America is deep into World War II
Dobama’s ‘Sanctuary City’ is a hodge podge of words with purpose
The first part of the play’s action takes place on a bare raised platform stage that reflects the bleakness of the subject matter. B (Lloyd Wayne Taylor) lives with his mother in Newark, New Jersey. She has overstayed her visa for years. She has grown increasingly weary of the constant threat from immigration officials whose job is to ferret out illegals. B’s mom is making plans to return back to her own country. G (Diwi Augustin-Glave) is B’s best friend at school. They have
GLT’s ‘Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson’ is more whydunit than whodunit
I have a great deal of respect for Great Lakes Theater. Over the years I have witnessed truly inspiring works of Shakespeare as well as non-Shakespearean works. Every so often (not very often mind you) there appears on the Hanna Theatre stage productions that I question. Such a work is the current staging of Kate Hamill’s “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson”. Billed as “Cheerfully Desecrating The Stories Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle” it does manage to do that but not in a good way. The m
Playhouse Square’s touring production of ‘The Sound of Music’ will be your favorite thing
Who does not love the Rodgers and Hammerstein movie “The Sound of Music”? It is the movie that most of us grew up with. It’s an engaging true story that has romance, singing, comedy and danger with songs that everyone has memorized completely. As for stage productions they seem to meet with various success. In order to pull off a successful production you need an exceptional cast (including seven cute kids), a wonderful orchestra, dazzling costumes and phenomenal stage sets.
Cleveland Play House’s ‘Tartuffe’ is sheer poetry
Be sure to arrive early at the Outcalt Theatre at Playhouse Square for the Cleveland Play House production of Moliére’s “Tartuffe”. The reason? You will want to be treated to an abundance of recording snippets right out of the 80s. Everything from radio and TV ads, news reports and television shows from the era are all on auditory display (Clap On...Clap off). This will help greatly in putting you in the correct mind set for the ninety minute (no intermission) fast moving com
CVLT’s “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” is some kind of wonderful
The Brill Building located at 1650 Broadway Avenue in New York City, New York was the epicenter of the 50s and 60s music revolution. This unassuming structure built in 1931 housed the top music publishers, recording studios and composers of the early rock and roll era. Among the writers were the teams of Carole King/Gerry Goffin and Cynthia Weil/Barry Mann who crafted songs that are remembered to this day: “It Might As Well Rain Until September”, “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, “Some Kind O
Cleveland Public Theatre’s ‘Into The Heart Of One Star” trips the light fantastic
I began writing theater reviews some sixteen odd years ago (and believe me they have sometimes been odd). Once, I took my oldest son, Stephan, to see a show titled “Tender Napalm” at CPT. From what I remember, the stage set was a rather detailed kitchen area with a chrome and linoleum table with padded chrome chairs. There was also a large counter top with sink. Pretty much what you would find in an efficiency apartment from the 50s. There may have been a sofa. At least this
Con-Con’s ‘I Wanna F*** Like Romeo and Juliet’ is almost good
Convergence-Continuum prides itself in being “Cleveland’s up-close and OUT there Theatre” (proof of this can be found in past productions such as the delightfully nutty “The Squirrels”). Their latest romp is titled “I Wanna F*** Like Romeo and Juliet”. It is a gay play that delves into relationship dynamics, Greek mythical creatures, a Catholic Saint and existentialist crisis. Pretty much standard fare for Con-Con. Cupid (Rajah Morales) is a Latino deity who has had it with h
Dobama Theatre’s ‘The Comeuppance’ stays true to its definition
An enigma wrapped up in a conundrum or currently the Dobama Theatre production of “The Comeuppance”. It is the day of the 20 th reunion of St. Anthony’s Class of 2002 in suburban Washington D.C. Five friends have gathered for a drink and “a smoke” before heading to the school for the “official proceedings”. The five who have gathered are remnants of a clique who had called themselves M.E.R.G.E. or Multi-Ethnic Reject Group Experience. These were “the bright kids” who took th
