Dobama Theatre’s ‘Daphne’s Dive’ is a rich slice of life
Back in Roman times they were known as Thermopoliums. During the Middle Ages the term Tavern was used. Sixteenth century Britain saw the rise of the Pub. In the Old West of 1900s America it would be known as a Saloon. Nightclubs brought a notable degree of sophistication and as the dark cloud of Prohibition swept over the country Speakeasy's came in existence. The Germans had their Bier Halls and Bier Gardens and in Japan you would seek out an Izakaya. Current modern watering
Beck Center’s ‘World Class Care’ is a health(y) warning
Eric Coble is a master of satire and an adopted son of Northeast Ohio. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland he was raised on a Navajo and Ute Reservation in New Mexico and Colorado. From an early age he spent his spare time (when not wandering the desert) creating comics and rigging up poorly built stage shows. By high school he had moved off the rez and began acting in high school plays. He majored in English at Fort Lewis College in Colorado earning a BA and earned his MFA in Acting
Ensemble Theatre’s ‘The Ferryman’ rings true
My wife (who is Irish) and I have traveled to Ireland twice. Both times we participated in lengthily bus tours that emphasized the positive aspects of being Irish (mainly the story telling and music). While traveling there I have noticed a sort of bi-polar disorder that exists among the general population. On the surface the Irish are a wonderfully sharing, happy and talented folk but scratch the surface (usually with a notable amount of whiskey in a one on one setting) and w
Weathervane Playhouse’s ‘Deathtrap’ is engaging but slightly flawed
“Deathtrap” is a 48 year old chestnut written in 1978 by Ira Levin that is written in two acts with one stage set and five characters. Surprisingly it holds the record for longest running comedy-thriller on Broadway and was actually nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Play. It is a perennial favorite of community theaters across America. In the early days of his career, Sidney Bruhl (Alex Nine) was a successful playwright with a series of crime thrillers successes o
CVLT’s production of ‘Lend Me A Tenor’ exceeds in all aspects
There are certain requirements needed in order to pull off a Ken Ludwig madcap comedy. First off you need a sturdy stage set with a number of doors that can withstand the constant slamming throughout the show. The rooms need to be decorated to reflect a 1934 hotel suite in Cleveland, Ohio with touches of art deco sprinkled throughout. Costuming needs to also reflect the era as the country began to climb out of the effects of the Great Depression and patrons could once again t
Great Lakes Theater’s production of “The Winter’s Tale” has it all
William Shakespeare began his theatrical writing career in his late 20s. For two decades he delivered 38 masterpieces that encompassed life in England in the 1700s. His works included rollicking comedies, insightful history plays and deep feeling tragedies that continue to resonate over four centuries after they were penned. As he approached his late 40s his works became more introspective. While he was still portraying the king in his plays as guano loco there was an element
Clague Playhouse’s “Angel Street” lights up the stage
The dark thriller “Gas Light” is a 1938 dramatic play set in 1880’s Victorian England. Written by British novelist and playwright Patrick Hamilton. It is an intense who dunnit that is based on deceit and evasiveness concerning a nefarious husband with a secret past attempting to drive his wife insane in order to steal her fortune. It premiered at the Richmond Theatre in London on December 5, 1938 before transferring to the Apollo Theatre in the West End on January 1, 1939 whe
The KeyBank Broadway Series production of ‘Death Becomes Her’ simply amazes
From the first bombastic number by Viola (Nasia Thomas) and The Immortals to the Finale appropriately titled “The End” by Madeline (Kate Baily), Helen (Kristen Beth Williams) and Ensemble “Death Becomes Her” is chock full of surprises. From split second on stage costume changes, superb choreography, tons of catty one liners and a load of special effects including an amazing death scene this is one of the most exciting shows to hit the KeyBank State Theatre stage ever. The mus
Cain Park’s ‘The Addams Family Musical’ is scary good
Photo By Steve Wagner “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky...well...you know the rest. One of the most complex musicals has landed of all places at Cain Park. The show features music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and based on The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams. The show opened on Broadway in April 2010 closing on December 31, 2011 and was followed by a national tour. Last night’s opening was de
Weathervane Playhouse’s ‘The Secret Garden’ pulls out all the stops to a happy ending
I simply do not get it. For the life of me I cannot fathom why Marsha Norman’s (Book and Lyrics) and Lucy Simon’s (Music) “The Secret Garden” is such a popular production. The music is extremely complex having an almost operatic quality to it all in a minor key adding to the gloomy atmosphere. The costuming is extremely elaborate (spoiler alert: everyone dress in white is a ghost and there are a lot of ghosts). The lighting is somber right up to the last musical number. Being
