Non-Registered Critics: Bob Rich
DEAR YOKO
Anzu Lawson concludes her excellent one-woman show, Dear Yoko, by performing the classic Beatles song “All You Need is Love.” By the time we reach the end of her production, she has reminded us of the importance of loving ourselves and everyone else, including those who unfairly judged us, and those who withheld their love from us...
I recommend this witty, redemptive production.
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Good Fishermen Know A Lot About Sex
Anyone touched by addiction is sure to find comfort and understanding in this fine play. Highly recommended.
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The Outsider
The whole cast is enthusiastic. The characters are all vivid and memorable, especially the effervescent office assistant Louise (portrayed with wit and great energy by Lisa Ann Cicchetti) who becomes a surprise hit with the public.
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American Standard
Bright is a born storyteller, vibrant and passionate. Despite her serious struggles, the tone is often comical. The staging is sparse, but sound effects are clever and evocative. - Highly recommended.
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The Spanish Prayer Book
The cast is totally committed, making all the relationships believable. The direction is focused, bringing clarity to every emotion. The set is dazzling, with three large panels displaying different imagery during every scene, from sunlit trees, to magnificent paintings.
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Boeing Boeing
The cheerful, polished acting and directing make the play effervescent. The bright lighting and realistic props for Bernard’s residence make for an engaging, believable set.
The cast and crew said they wanted to leave the audience feeling great joy. Thanks to a show that combines the physicality of Charlie Chaplin with the madcap energy of the Marx Brothers, they certainly have succeeded.
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Nancy F***ing Reagan
The performances are energetic, as they navigate serious conversations with a light touch...
...Laughter helps us find release and get perspective, during a serious story. What terrific insight she has about this thought-provoking production.
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Nancy F***ing Reagan
In this skillfully produced new play, Nancy F***ing Reagan, David (Kiff Scholl) turns 50, so he joins his friend Maggie (Debi Tinsley) and a few companions for a Palm Springs vacation. They banter about the Reagan administration from the ‘80s, especially the social challenges then. Eventually, David and a friend declare their views on live television.
The performances are energetic, as they navigate serious conversations with a light touch. The set feels just like a Palm Springs getaway, with festive artwork and a table topped by wine bottles.
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(IM)PERFEKT
Her performance is alive with conviction, but delivered with a light touch. Her many creative props make the show engaging. The most compelling aspect is Olin’s confidence that freedom is possible if we can embrace the value and appeal each one of us have. Cheers to that.
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Chrissy Meth ~ A Dance with the Devil and a Journey Back to Self
Her performance is vibrant, as she portrays a medley of people from her life story...
This show is recommended for its message that it is never too late to re-discover your self-worth.
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The Masher
The play is highly compelling. We believe that sorrowful, concerning events are unfolding in front of us, thanks to the impassioned cast. Thanks to the atmospheric lighting, and a convincing set that feels like an otherworldly factory, the setting is effectively mysterious.
I recommend this production for its sobering message, which is delivered with humor and truly visceral, impactful emotion. The play is a cautionary tale, yet the humanity in the writing provides a ray of hope.
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The Long Gravel Road
Hats off to this writer/performer for evoking plenty of dreamlike imagery and stirring, heartfelt visions.
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Duet for One
Christou and Leder-Morrow are very convincing as the musician and therapist. We feel we are watching real people having intense conversations about critical issues. - Recommended
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The Taming of the Shrew
The acting and directing are vibrant. The story unfolds with the energy of a vaudeville play or a carnival: characters get spun upon the ground, dance together, and collapse in their chairs. Lauren Jean Lee and Sean Faye are impassioned and high-spirited, as Petruchio and Katherina...
For good-natured fun, this lively production delivers. What's more, the focus on gender equality inspires us to reflect on how peace and understanding can be a part of modern love.
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JOAN and WHAT DID THEY SAY - An Evening of One Acts
Two short plays offer thought-provoking perspectives. The first one-act play, Joan, by Bernadette Armstrong, provides a fascinating portrayal of famed actress Joan Crawford, reflecting back on her life. The second one-act, What Did They Say, by Wendy Winter, is an intimate window into a family trying to grapple with one another's differences. Both plays warmly suggest how to deal with challenging aspects of life.
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Hamlet
Leavitt and co-producer Liza Seneca understand how this character strikes a universal chord, expressing a spectacular emotional range as Hamlet wrestles with life's deepest questions. Five actors of different races, genders and ages, all play Hamlet for one act each in this groundbreaking production...
This production is a wonderful, cathartic joy.
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KEEPING UP WITH THE PROZOROVS
It's an entertaining show that includes mild sexual content and references to recreational drug use. The acting is enthusiastic and spirited.
Katie Lindsay's direction makes the play feel like a comedy sketch on Saturday Night Live.
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The Color Collective
Focused on the comedic talents of the cast, this minimal props show is interspersed with singing and dancing performances. The whole cast is committed and enthusiastic, giving it their all. Recommended
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PLAY ON! A One-Woman Musical Romp with Shakespeare's Women
Ms. Trexler plays the piano passionately, while singing from the perspectives of iconic female characters from Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth and eight more of the Bard's plays. She takes us through a spectrum of emotions, with occasional dramatic pauses to provide pacing. Her lyrics are full of yearning and vibrant poetry, with descriptions of eyes “such a beautiful blue,” and hopeful refrains that “in our love we can be free.” She is a natural performer, imbuing every chord, melody and sung-out phrase with vibrant emotion.
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The Women of Lockerbie
The performances are utterly convincing. We believe we are watching distraught parents. The three local women help us to process the parents' complex emotions.
At the far end of the stage, we see the backdrop of a nighttime sky filled with stars. Toward the front of the stage, we see stark leaf-less trees and rocks. The atmosphere is bleak yet lyrical.
The show's producer, Leah Verrill, explained that the play is about the importance of allowing yourself to grieve. Astute and touching.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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