Critics

Registered Critic: Patrick Chavis

(68) reviews

Patrick Chavis is the creator, designer, podcast/writer and head editor at LA Theatre Bites and The Orange Curtain Review. Starting in 2014 and only covering the Orange County, CA area in 2016 he expanded his reviews to the Los Angeles area with LA Theatre Bites. Because of the massive size of the Los Angeles area and it’s large theatre presence. Patrick decided to create short review podcasts instead of the traditional written review he was writing in the OC.

Mar

Maple and Vine

Sarah Ripper’s direction of this production is even and very efficient. The actors cover a lot of ground with a minimal amount of movement.

Suprema

Suprema is a quick, fun, straight forward comedy with plenty of jokes, some history and powerful women. What else could you want?

Canyon

The show is a ballet of different perspectives and thoughts, but it doesn’t feel thrown in there–it works in the template created by this play.

1=0

The characters, plot-lines and direction, veer way to safe instead of embracing the weird artistic style in my view. The atmosphere stayed stagnant and the acting was too sedated.

LACKAWANNA BLUES

When the narrative is centered around Nanny and her strong personality many of the stories are interesting and downright captivating.

Hype Man

In Idris Goodwin’s Hype Man playing at the Fountain Theatre, the hype man, the MC and even the DJ, receive equal recognition. In this well directed play about hip-hop, identity and standing up for what you believe in.

Othello

A Noise Within’s Production of Othello is great Shakespeare, but I’m not convinced it’s necessarily a great adaptation.

THE CEMETERY CLUB

I cried, I laughed. This may be ordinary material, whatever ordinary means. But this is not an ordinary cast, and this is not in any way an ordinary production.

The Glass Menagerie

A Noise Within’s production of this classic Tennessee Williams play utilizes the memory play concept in some very creative and experimental ways.

Life Could Be A Dream

Life Could Be A Dream at the International City Theatre is a throwback for those people who like throwbacks with good classic music.

Light’s Out: Nat “King” Cole

Anchored by the incredible talent of Dule Hill this is the true definition of a must-see show! An Exceptional Show!

RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL

It’s a master work, showing struggle, inequality and racial injustice that highlights humanity at our darkest, but also tries its best to project an idealistic vision of how life could be.

America Adjacent

American Adjacent at the Skylight Theatre is an eye opener and a tiny peak into the Filipino immigrant experience and psyche.

ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina at the Actors Coop takes on difficult material and succeeds in showing us a beautiful interpretation of the literature.

Witness Uganda

Witness Uganda playing now at the Wallis is a unique musical with a style and sound – all its own. It’s made even more interesting because of the catchy songs, choreography and phenomenal singers in this production.

SWEENEY TODD – THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET

There is nothing particularly new here that raises this production above the multitudes that came before, but any version of Sweeney Todd that is pulled off capably, as this one is, is worth your time.

MAN OF GOD

East West Players’ production Man of God is a powerful and effective reminder of the physical and psychological tolls that women in society experience.