Dunaway Does Hepburn in Bio Piece ‘Tea at Five’

July 1, 2019July 1, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Faye Dunaway in ‘Tea at Five’ playing now at the Huntington Theatre

by Mike Hoban

‘Tea at Five’ – Written by Matthew Lombardo; Directed by John Tillinger; Set Design by Scott Pask; Lighting Design by Kevin Adams; Costume Design by Jane Greenwood; Sound Design by John Gromada; Projection Design by Aaron Rhyne; Wig Design by Tom Watson. Presented at the Huntington Avenue Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston through July 14

It’s 1983 and legendary silver screen star Katharine Hepburn is sitting on her couch at the family home in Fenwick, Connecticut, recovering from an ankle injury incurred when she crashed her car into a telephone pole. After popping a couple of Percocet and pouring herself a Dewar’s, Hepburn launches into her life story, which forms the basis for Tea at Five, a dramatic monologue infused with humorous asides by playwright Matthew Lombardo.

Huntington’s ‘Sherlock’s Last Case’ a Wildly Comic Caper

October 15, 2018October 15, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

‘Sherlock’s Last Case’ – Written by Charles Marowitz, Directed by Maria Aitken; Scenic Design, Hugh Landwehr; Costume Design, Fabio Toblini; Lighting Design, Philip S. Rosenberg; Sound Design, Mic Pool. Presented by Huntington Theatre Company at 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston through October 28

There’s nothing elementary about the Huntington’s production of Sherlock’s Last Case, director Maria Aitken’s revival of Charles Marowitz’ 1987 fan fiction piece. This very clever and often laugh-out-loud take on the world’s most famous fictional figure comes up with a surprising premise that is actually quite logical – given the nature of resentments – to anyone even remotely familiar with Sherlock Holmes (Rufus Collins) and his unassuming sidekick, Dr. Watson (Mark Zeisler). As someone who is more familiar with the parodies and reinterpretations of the Sherlock Holmes tales than the original works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I may not be the best judge of how well Sherlock’s Last Case measures up to the best of the stories of the “World’s Greatest Detective”, but there are certainly enough plot developments to keep you guessing throughout.

Huntington’s Hilarious ‘Tartuffe’ Keeps Classic Relevant

November 21, 2017November 21, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Mike Hoban

‘Tartuffe’ – Written by Molière, Translated by Ranjit Bolt, Directed by Peter DuBois; Scenic Design, Alexander Dodge; Costume Design, Anita Yavich; Lighting Design, Christopher Akerlind; Sound Design, Ben Emerson; Choreographer, Daniel Pelzig; Original Music, Peter Golub. Presented by the Huntington Theatre Company at the Avenue of the Arts/Huntington Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston, through December 10

As someone who did not grow up reading the classics, and came into the theater later in life, I must admit that I don’t usually share the same sense of glee as some of my counterparts when it comes to reviewing plays written before the 19th century. The archaic language and rhythmic structure often make it difficult for the untrained ear to follow, and by the time I catch on, the first act is usually half over. Such is not the case with Tartuffe, the wickedly funny 1664 comedy by Molière now being staged at the Huntington. Powered by a wonderfully oily performance by Brett Gelman in the title role, Tartuffe is as accessible as any 20th century work, and a howl to boot.

Huntington’s ‘Ripcord’ Delivers Laughs Alongside Odd Couple’s Darker Side

June 7, 2017June 7, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

‘Ripcord’ – Written by David Lindsay-Abaire. Directed by Jessica Stone. Scenic Design by Tobin Ost; Costume Design by Gabriel Berry; Lighting Design by David J. Weiner; Sound Design and Composition by Mark Bennett; Projection Design by Lucy Mackinnon. Presented by the Huntington Theatre Company at the Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St. Boston through July 2

There probably aren’t many plays – even comedies – that could include a scene as implausible as having a septuagenarian drugged, kidnapped, and tricked into jumping out of an airplane without straining its credibility to the point of snapping, but David Lindsay-Abaire manages to not only pull it off but make it convincing in his very funny and ultimately touching Ripcord, now running at the Huntington Theatre through July 2. That scene is just one of the many horrors that two female roommates inflict upon one another to great comic effect as they each try to win the bet to settle a turf battle set in an assisted living facility.

Huntington’s Dark Comedy “Topdog/Underdog” Examines Life as Rigged Game

March 20, 2017March 27, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

‘Topdog/Underdog’ – Written by Suzan-Lori Parks; Directed by Billy Porter; Scenic and Costume Design by Clint Ramos; Lighting Design by Driscoll Otto; Sound Design by Leon Rothenberg. Presented by The Huntington Theatre Company, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston through April 9.

In “Topdog/Underdog” the Pulitzer Prize-winning tragicomic drama now being staged by the Huntington Theatre, playwright Suzan-Lori Parks gives us a front row seat into the lives of two damaged brothers alternately chasing/escaping a warped version of the American dream – one that is exclusively reserved for those on the lower rungs of society’s ladder. The vehicle for that dream happens to be “Three-card Monte”, a sucker’s game played by street hustlers in large American cities, but the allure of the fast-money-for-little-work scheme could be applied to any number of similar cons (drug-dealing, prostitution) embraced by those growing up in economically-distressed urban environments. And while the play focuses solely on the interplay between the troubled pair in this intense two-hander, the parents who abandoned them, as well as the love interest of one of the men, loom as large players in this raw and explosive work.