I recently had coffee with someone I’ve known for a decade but someone I don’t really know. We had a wonderful chit-chat about his life and his writings. I talked a little about myself but my primary reason for the appointment was to learn about him. I constantly thought of things I could inject into ...
And the Oscar goes to….
I saw “Modern Family” this week. In one story segment, the writers went fairly serious. The brainy Alex had a meltdown. At her therapy session, she explored the internal forces that drive her to excel more so than external forces. I get that. Although I’m not sports-minded, I do have a competitive nature. I like to ...
“Mr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood” (MadKap Productions): Stage Meets Film
Once upon a time, celebrated Playwright George Bernard Shaw visited Hollywood. GBS and his wife Charlotte wanted to see how movies were made. They toured and lunched at MGM studios. Amidst the glamour of the world of moviestars, they saw the tarnished side of filmmaking. The Shaws saw actors canoodling and boozing. They experienced studio heads and ...
Review “The Mother” (Oracle Theatre): Truax Heart-Pounding Triumph
I never published my top ten theatre picks for 2013. If I had, "The Mother" would have been #1. It was an innovative, impressive, intimate theatrical experience. And guess what? It's back! The entire ensemble (sans the wonderful Sarah Pretz) returns for an encore production. In a week of 24 show openings, I chose to ...
Review “Rasheeda Speaking” (Rivendell Theatre): Powerful
Rivendell Theatre presents the World Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking. Playwright Joel Drake Johnson’s story prompts a “No, she didn’t” response followed closely by a hand over the mouth. His conversations provoke a definite uncomfortable reaction. Stereotypes are teased out. Some of the dialogue is candy-coated politically correct. And other times, the offensive barb is just hurled. Johnson provides ...
R.I.P. Hobogirl
I tore my skirt yesterday. I was just walking up the stairs and I stepped on the hem and RIP! It’s unrepairable. The tear wasn’t on a seam. It was the splitting of worn fabric. It was such a colorful skirt that it wasn’t really noticeable (I like to think) that I had a hole ...
Stinkin’ Thinkin’
Al Franken created the Stuart Smalley character for an ongoing Saturday Night Live skit. Before Franken became a U.S. Senator, he entertained as a self-proclaimed guru. He was a man ‘in recovery’ from a lot of self-help groups. He promoted a positive attitude with his daily affirmations. Stuart’s catch-phrase was “I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And ...
EXTENDED Thru 4/6 “Hedda Gabler” (Writer’s Theatre): Fry-ed to Perfection
On Thursday, I saw Hedda Gabler for the last time – Kate Fry’s (Hedda) sublime performance has ruined me for any future Hedda Gabler productions. Playwright Henrik Ibsen, translated by Nicholas Rudall, penned a tale of a complex woman. The classic centers around the newly-married Hedda. Living in the late 1800s, Hedda is discontent with the social mores of the era. The convention ...
Review “Luck of the Irish” (Next Theatre): Well-built, Heart-felt Homestead
Next Theatre Company presents the Midwest Premiere of LUCK OF THE IRISH. Obie Award-winning Playwright Kirsten Greenidge tackles entitlement in a multi-layered, multi-generational tale about a house. At the heart of Greenidge’s story is a 1950s arrangement between a black couple and a white couple. Dr. and Mrs. Taylor want a better life for their daughters. They ...
Review “Through The Leaves” (Side Project Theatre): Heartbreaking yet Hopeful
Reviewed by Sara Eisenbaum and Katrina L. Wyss Side Project Theatre presents Through the Leaves. “Through the Leaves” is a play that represents well what happens when stream of consciousness takes center stage. The play centers around a middle aged woman in Germany who is a butcher. While she does not outwardly struggle with the fact that she ...