Cast of ‘Amadeus’ at the Gamm Theatre. Photos by Cat Laine
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
GAMM Theatre’s second show of their 40th season is “Amadeus” written by Peter Shaffer in 1979. It is loosely based on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, later adapted into a movie in 1984. “Amadeus” was inspired by “Mozart and Salieri,” a short play by Aleksandr Pushkin, which was later adapted into an opera by Rimsky-Korsakov under the same name. “Amadeus” tells the story of Salieri, an established yet second-rate composer in the eighteenth century who has given himself to God in hopes of achieving greatness. When musical genius Mozart arrives at the Austrian court with brilliance and bathroom humor, Salieri sets out to destroy the upstart who has fouled his dreams. Salieri rejects God and vows to do everything in his power to destroy Mozart. Director Tony Estrella casts this show splendidly, giving his cast keen insight into their characters, which the audience rewards with a spontaneous standing ovation.
“Nassim” — Written by Nassim Soleimanpour. Directed by Omar Elerian. A new guest performer for every show. Presented by The Huntington through October 27.
By Shelley A. Sackett
“White Rabbit, Red Rabbit,” Iranian Nassim Soleimanpour’s absurdist adventure, which sits on the boundary of comedy and drama and burst into London’s West End in 20212, changed my opinion about audience participation in theater. Not a big fan of the genre, I left the 2016 performance at New York City’s Westside Theatre a convert.
Cast of Lyric Stage’s ‘Urinetown. Photos by Nile Hawver
“Urinetown” – Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann. Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis. Directed by Courtney O’Connor. Presented by The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston, through October 20.
By Michele Markarian
If I were to be perfectly honest – and somewhat lazy – this review would consist of only three words: See this show. But that wouldn’t be fair to the truly talented director, cast, and crew, so bear with me while I tell you why. It’s a hilarious script with a catchy score and pointed undertones that’s performed flawlessly in moments both tongue-in-cheek and sincere.
Cast of Wheelock Family Theatre’s ‘The Spongebob Musical’. Photos by Nile Scott Studios.
‘The Spongebob Musical” – Book by Kyle Jarrow. Conceived by Tina Landau. Arranged by Tom Kitt. Directed by Nick Vargas. Music Directed by Jon Goldberg. Choreographed by Joy Clark. Presented by Wheelock Family Theatre at 180 Riverway, Boston, MA 02215 from October 5th to October 27th.
By Helen Ganley
An iconic yellow pineapple sits on the bottom of the ocean, the calm surface masking the hilarity below. Within a world comprised of kelp, sea anemone, and delicious hamburgers, Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of The SpongeBob Musical is a must-see bubbly adventure.
Cast of Ogunquit’s ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’. Photos by Nile Scott Studios
‘My Best Friend’s Wedding.’ – Based on the TriStar Pictures Film. Book by Ron Bass and Jonathan Harvey. Music & Lyrics by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Directed and Choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. Music Direction by Andrew David Sotomayor. Scenic & Costume Design by Colin Richmond. Lighting Design by Rich Latta. Sound Design by Kevin Heard. Wig/Hair & Makeup Design by Roxanne De Luna. At Ogunquit Playhouse, Ogunquit ME through October 27th.
By Linda Chin
Don’t know what to do with yourself on Wednesdays through Sundays in October? After you wake up, put on your makeup, and say a little prayer, grab a good friend, bestie, or if you have a gay best friend – and head up the great big freeway (I-95) to the Ogunquit Playhouse to see the world premiere of the new rom-com musical My Best Friend’s Wedding.
Matthew Zahnzinger and Julius P. Williams in Moonbox Production’s “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” Photos by Molly Shoemaker
by Michele Markarian
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek. Book by Jeffrey Lane. Directed by Allison Olivia Choat. Presented by Moonbox Productions, One Arrow Street, Cambridge, through Oct. 20.
There’s a lot to love – and a ton of talent – in Moonbox Productions’ “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” a musical tale of three con artists looking to grift off of the well-to-do in the fictional town of Beaumont sur Mer on the French Riviera. Based on the 1988 film with Steve Martin, Michael Caine and Glenne Hedley (actually a remake of a film from 1964 called “Bedtime Story”), “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” was made into a Broadway musical that opened in 2005 and starred John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott. Having enjoyed the 1988 film and the Broadway musical, I went to see the Moonbox production with high expectations. With strong direction, an excellent cast, and a wonderful ensemble of singers and dancers, it did not disappoint.
The cast of “Titanic The Musical” at North Shore Music Theatre. Photos: David Costa Photography
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The sixth show of North Shore Music Theatre’s 69th Season is “Titanic, the Musical” with a book and story by Peter Stone, who also wrote “1776” and music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, who also did the same for “Nine” and “Grand Hotel”. This is an epic musical about the 1912 sinking of the legendary ocean liner in the world, Titanic, when it ran into an iceberg. The show is a stirring and emotion-packed production based on the real people aboard this ship. It focuses on the passengers’ hopes, dreams, and aspirations for their future, who each boarded with solid and personal ambitions of their own. All of them were unaware of the terrible fate that awaited them. These passengers were the Third-Class immigrants who dreamed of a better life in America and were not treated very well by the snobbish upper classes; the Second Class imagined that they too could join the lifestyles of the rich and famous with varying success, while the millionaire men of the First Class anticipated their legacies lasting forever. It can also be seen as a cautionary tale of human greed that still exists today. The politics between Captain Edward Smith, the shipbuilder Thomas Andrews, and the overbearing chairman of the White Star Line Board, J. Bruce Ismay, who pressured Captain Smith to accelerate the speed of the maiden voyage to impress news headlines to help him out financially with his business. Ismay did not give a hoot about the passengers’ safety. He was a scummy businessman. In Act 1, we meet the multitude of characters on the ship with many joyous and hopeful moments, while in Act 2, the passengers who escape face their shattered dreams while going to the lifeboats while the doomed ones must make peace with their farewells to each other. The most heartbreaking farewell occurs between Isidor and Ida Straus who owned Macy’s Department Store. The love and devotion between these two people who have been married for 40 years is displayed in their beautiful and poignant duet “Still” which rips your heart out before this magnificent, breathtaking musical comes to a close. The audience leaped to their feet in a spontaneous standing ovation with cheers and tears streaming down their face as it was a well-deserved reward.
Renata Eastlick and Madeline Maby in ‘Ms Holmes and Ms Watson-Apt-2B’ at Trinity Rep. Photo by Mark Turek
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Trinity Rep’s second show of their 61st season is the Rhode Island premiere of “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson-Apt-2B” by Kate Hamill. She lampoons the famed fictional character of Detective Sherlock Holmes, and his befuddled sidekick Doctor Watson and cheerfully desecrates Arthur Conan Doyle’s original characters and time frame with gender and time setting adjustments.
This show is set during the post-pandemic in the spring of 2021 with Ms. Watson, a wayward American traveling around Europe, arriving in England. She rents a room from the kindly Mrs. Hudson and ends up with a bitter roommate, Ms. Sherlock Holmes. Holmes is a police consultant whose deductions make up for a frenetic personality. She decides her new roommate has run away from her past as a doctor, so Holmes turns Watson into the role of her sidekick, who accompanies her to solve multiple violent crimes that all seem to lead to a notorious villain. Along the way they develop a close friendship as they humorously solve many cases along the way. Hamill combines many of Conan Doyle’s storylines into her script, creating wild and crazy hijinks, adventures, and mysterious events.
Two other performers play multiple roles in the show, one as the kindly landlady, Mrs. Hudson, and the seductive Irene Adler, the other as the sweet Inspector Lestrade, and a Texas billionaire, Mr. Monk, with a shady past. The revolving situations thrown their way keep the audience entertained and laughing merrily all night long. Director Laura Kepley chose four strong performers for these roles and elicited comic moments of hilarity from each of them and a poignant revelation in Act 2. She supplies them with clever shtick with an undercover of mysterious elements thrown into the mix. The enthusiastic audience revels in the engaging mystery-solving with humor thrown into the mix. This splendid cast receives a spontaneous standing ovation at the close of this wonderfully directed show.
Keply is aided in her task by scenic designer Collette Pollard, costume designer Shahrzad Mazaheri, Dawn Chiang lighting designer and Sartje Pickett sound designer who all do their jobs marvelously. The stage manager’s and her crew’s expertise in changing the set pieces from many locations is excellently rendered.
Leading the cast in these two iconic roles now played by women in this show are Renata Eastlick as Sherlock Holmes and Madeline Maby as Joan Watson. As Holmes, Eastlick runs the gamut of emotions from sulky brooder to inquisitive roommate to excellent crime solver. The rapid delivery of her lines, listening to classical music, and mystery-solving are astounding. Holmes is also a sloppy housekeeper and lives by the motto not to use outside help of the internet, but seemingly doesn’t have empathy until Watson shows her the way. Renata gives a tour de force performance in this role as the by-the-book detective finally learns how to become a friend to someone at long last. The outstanding sword-fighting choreography by Mark Rose is marvelous to behold.
Maby also delivers a terrific portrayal of the world-weary doctor Watson, who has been overwhelmed by the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Trying as hard as she can to escape her past as a doctor, Holmes keeps demanding her help at every turn to try to bring her back to life by solving all these crimes and curing her of her worries and fears. Madeleine shines in this role with her frightened expressions, and funny exclamation of “What the frig” when Holmes surprises her constantly, but she also delivers the goods in a heartfelt explanation of what upset her and upended her life in America. That was how upset she was with the burnout and trauma that Watson felt in the medical field. They have great chemistry together as the leads in this show.
Angela Brazil delivers an amazing performance as she transforms into all these diverse characters, ranging from a kindly older Scottish woman delivering funny one-liners all night long to a Cockney supposedly grieving widow with a secret to hide to a sexy vamp, femme fatale that will stop at nothing to achieve her goals and entrances everyone she comes into contact with. Jeff Church is another marvelous performer who plays multiple roles. His characters include Inspector Lestrade, who is warm and understanding and then turns on a dime as the overbearing billionaire hiding many sexual secrets from his senate career in Texas. His entrance in this role will leave you rolling the aisles with laughter. Jeff also plays a role that will leave you stunned. He also narrates some of the show. Some of these portrayals need to be seen to be believed. Needless to say, the audience enjoys the madcap adventures all night long from the extremely well-written, acted, and directed script. So, if you need to escape from the trials and tribulations of the outside world, be sure to catch “Ms Holmes and Ms Watson-Apt-2B” and it will certainly brighten up your night. For tickets, go to trinityrep.com or call the box office before this run is completely sold out.
MS HOLMES AND MS WATSON-APT-2B (3 October to 17 November)
Trinity Repertory Company, 201 Washington Street, Providence, RI
Shira Cahn Lipman, Matt Finn, Shai Wolf, Todd Sandstrom, Travis Karas, Em Sheeran, Todd Yard in Treehouse Collective’s ‘February House’
‘February House’ – Music and Lyrics by Gabriel Kahan. Story by Seth Bockley. Directed by Katie Swimm. Music directed by Jeff Kimball. Produced by AJ Lyman. Presented by The Treehouse Collective at 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02131 from September 27th to October 13th.
by Helen Ganley
7 Middagh Street consists of plain wooden chairs sitting atop a worn red Turkish carpet, nestled between a golden bar cart and a brown settee, all tied together by a pinstriped chair in the corner. This homey, if dilapidated, artist’s enclave comes to life in The Treehouse Collective’s production of February House.
Sarah Morin, Jenny S. Lee and Aimee Doherty in CST‘s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’
Central Square Theater presents THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. Adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic tale. Written by Steven Canny and John Nicholson. Directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner. Scenic & Properties Design by Julia Wonkka. Costume Design by Leslie Held. Lighting Design by John R. Malinowski. Sound Design by David Bryan Jackson. At Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, through October 6, 2024.
Starting and ending at Baker Street, London, and largely set in Devonshire, England circa 1889, this spoof of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles tells the following tale: Super-sleuth Sherlock Holmes and trusty sidekick Dr. James Watson are summoned to investigate the unusual and unnatural death of Sir Charles Baskerville, whose corpse was discovered on the ground surrounded by giant paw prints. The actors and audience members journey together to the mansion and moors to answer the following three questions and unlock the mystery: What frightened Sir Charles Baskerville to death? Is the family the target of a robbery or an ancient curse? Is Charles’ young heir Henry being stalked by a human murderer or a supernatural hound?
