Curtain Call

“Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play” Ably Celebrates Remembrance of Things Loved

As a dedicated fan of The Simpsons (Seasons 1–6, anyway — the only ones that count), I’ve long been intrigued…

2 years ago

Secrets of Shady – A Chitlin Revival

Ms. Barnes held the stage— now in shimmering lilac, her technical singing espousing virginal virtue against stirring themes of assault…

2 years ago

Maybe It’s Just Me, but Steve Martin’s “Meteor Sky” Is Unfunny as Can Be

In a landmark psychology experiment known as the Asch Line Study, a test subject sits in a room with 11…

2 years ago

Garage Theatre Cast Brings Plenty of Energy to Meaningless Melodrama

The Garage Theatre always closes the calendar year with family-friendly liteness. More often than not during the company’s 25-year history…

2 years ago

“Emma” Adaptation Lacks Coherence and Spark

Although Jane Austen is not one of my favorite novelists, she’s far and away #1 on my list when it…

2 years ago

Musical Theatre West Knows How to Serve Up “The Sound of Music”

Musical Theatre West ❤ The Sound of Music so much they’d marry it if they could — but staging it…

2 years ago

“For the Love Of (or The Roller Derby Play)” Has Cal Rep Setting the Bar Too Low

The California Repertory Company is the performance arm of the CSULB Theatre Arts graduate program. The vast majority of Cal…

2 years ago

Cornerstone Theater Produces “Pedro Play”

Cornerstone is undertaking an exploration of how societal change across the country and the globe is impacting local communities and,…

2 years ago

“Frankenstein 1930” Is More Melodrama Than Mary Shelley

Don’t ask me to explain the title of Frankenstein 1930. Yes, it’s based on the 1931 film. But 1930? There’s…

2 years ago

“Seminar” Marries Nice Writing to Excellent Acting

Nominally, Theresa Rebeck’s Seminar is about writing, with four young New Yorkers paying $5,000 apiece for a 10-week seminar with…

2 years ago