Paul Melendy Soars in GBSC’s Fabulous ‘Featherbaby’

September 18, 2025April 8, 2026 Shelley SackettLeave a comment

Gabriel Graetz, Paul Melendy and Liv Dumaine in GBSC’s ‘Featherbaby’

‘Featherbaby’ — Written by David Templeton. Directed by Weylin Symes. Scenic Design by Katy Monthei; Lighting Design by Matt Cost; Costume Design by Deirdre Gerrard; Sound Design by Mackenzie Adamick. 1 hour 45 minutes, one intermission. Presented by Greater Boston Stage Company at 395 Main St, Stoneham, MA, through September 28.

By Shelley A. Sackett

There are not enough words of praise to describe Paul Melendy’s sublime performance as the insightful, unfiltered and outrageously funny trash-talking parrot, Featherbaby, in the eponymous play now running in its co-world premiere through September 28 at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham. If you only see one production this entire season, this is the one that should be at the top of your list.

GSC’s ‘Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson’ Delights

September 16, 2025April 8, 2026 CJ WilliamsLeave a comment

Breezy Leigh, Stephen Shore, Erin O’Sullivan in Gloucester Stage’s ‘Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson’
Photos by Shawn G. Henry

By C.J. Williams

Gleeful send-up and homage, this gender-swapped Holmesian adventure set in 2021 London, featuring a New Yorker Watson and a cast that clearly delights in the havoc of playing multiple roles at speed (one-man Lestrade-Moriarty-Sleazy Politician, anyone?) Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson by Kate Hamill is a quirky, funny-bone-prodding sprint for its full two-hour runtime.

‘My First Ex-Husband’ Spotlights Joy Behar And Divorce’s Light and Dark Sides

September 16, 2025April 8, 2026 Shelley SackettLeave a comment

THE VIEW – The View’s Season 28 Co-host photo shoot – Joy Behar. “The View” airs Monday-Friday, 11am-12noon, ET on ABC. (ABC/JEFF LIPSKY) JOY BEHAR

‘My First Ex-Husband’ — Play by Joyce Behar. Directed by Randal Myler. Presented by The Huntington Selects. Produced by Caiola Productions and Cyrena Esposito. At The Huntington Calderwood, 537 Tremont St., Boston, through September 28.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Joy Behar is familiar to fans of television’s ABC daytime talk show, “The View,” as the co-host with the comedic, acerbic wit. She won an Emmy Award in 2009 and is also known as a sharp-tongued, incisive stand-up comic.

With My First Ex-Husband, her fourth play that ran successfully off-Broadway and is now in production at The Huntington Calderwood through September 28, she will be known to Boston audiences as a playwright as well.

Broadway in Boston’s ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ Is A Raucous Good Time

September 14, 2025April 8, 2026 Shelley SackettLeave a comment

Cast of Broadway in Boston’s Mrs. Doubtfire’ Photos: Joan Marcus

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ Music and Lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick. Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. Based on the Twentieth Century Studios Motion Picture. Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp. Tour Direction by Steve Edlund. Tour Choreography by Michaeljon Slinger; Original Choreography by Lorin Latarro; Original Direction by Jerry Zaks. Scenic Design by David Korins; Costume Design by Catherine Zuber; Lighting Design by Philip S. Rosenberg; Sound Design by Keith Caggiano. Presented by Broadway in Boston and Work Lights Productions at the Emerson Colonial Theatre through Sept. 21.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Every family has that iconic favorite movie or television show that follows its members throughout childhood, adulthood and parent/grandparent-hood. For mine, it was (and is) “Mrs. Doubtfire,” the 1993 movie that has been with us from Blockbuster rental to VHS to DVD to stream-on-demand. So any live version of this holy grail was going to have a very high bar.

Thankfully, Broadway in Boston and Work Light Production’s musical version of the Broadway hit at the Emerson Colonial Theatre manages to hurdle over that bar more often than knock it over.

Eryn O’Sullivan Lifts Gloucester Stage’s ‘Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson’

September 10, 2025April 8, 2026 Shelley Sackett1 Comment

Breezy Leigh, Stephen Shore, Erin O’Sullivan in Gloucester Stage’s ‘Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson’

‘Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2b.’ Written by Kate Hamill. Directed by Rebecca Bradshaw. Set Design by Kristin Loeffler; Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl; Lighting Design by Deb Sullivan; Sound Design by Julian Crocamo. Presented by Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main St., Gloucester, through September 27.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Playwright and actor Kate Hamill, known for putting a feminist spin on adaptations of classic literature, turns her droll pen on the iconic partnership of Detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in the hit-and-miss Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2b, in production at Gloucester Stage through September 27. While set design (Kristin Loeffler), crisp direction (Rebecca Bradshaw), and a captivating Eryn O’Sullivan as Holmes dull the play’s dull edges, its 2-hour, 45-minute (one intermission) length at last Sunday’s matinee was as unwarranted as it was irritating.

A.R.T.’s Ephemeral ‘Passengers’ Awes with Acrobatics, Music and Dance

September 8, 2025April 8, 2026 Shelley SackettLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Passengers’ by The 7 Fingers (Les 7 Doigts) at A.R.T.

The 7 Fingers ‘Passengers.’ Written and Directed by Shana Carroll. Composition and Musical Direction by Colin Gagné; Lyrics by Colin Gagné and Shana Carrol; Scenic Design by Ana Cappelluto; Costume Design by Camille Thibault-Bédard; Lighting Design by Éric Champoux; Projection Design by Johnny Ranger; Sound Design by Colin Gagné and Jérôme Guilleaume. Presented by American Repertory Theater at Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, through Sept. 26.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Train travel has always evoked a magical aura of nostalgia and romanticism, an opportunity to slow down, observe and contemplate while suspended between past and future, between here and there. American Repertory Theater’s production of Passengers, a contemporary circus performance that combines acrobatics, dance, music and a gossamer thread of dramatic narrative, makes a case that train travel (as a metaphor for life) is all about the journey, not the destination.

‘Grease’ Is The Word at NSMT’s Knock-Out Production

August 21, 2025April 8, 2026 Shelley SackettLeave a comment

‘Grease – Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.Kevin P. Hill (Director & Choreographer), Milton Granger (Music Director), Jack Mehler (Scenic & Lighting Design), Alex Berg (Sound Design), Rachel Padula-Shuflet (Wig & Hair Design), Rebecca Glick (Costume Coordinator), Alaina Mills (Associate Director & Choreographer). Presented by North Shore Music Theatre at 54 Dunham Rd., Beverly, MA, through August 24, 2025

By Shelley A. Sackett

If you think you’ve seen enough disappointing summer theater productions of the iconic film starring the incomparable John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in their impossible-to-replicate roles (as I frankly did), think again and high-tail it to North Shore Musical Theatre’s rip-roaring, talent-laden, thoroughly enjoyable rendition of this phoenix of a musical.

Strong Performances Lift NSMT’s ‘Grease’

August 19, 2025April 8, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Cast of “Grease” at North Shore Music Theatre. Photos by Paul Lyden.

‘Grease – Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Kevin P. Hill (Director & Choreographer), Milton Granger (Music Director), Jack Mehler (Scenic & Lighting Design), Alex Berg (Sound Design), Rachel Padula-Shuflet (Wig & Hair Design), Rebecca Glick (Costume Coordinator), Alaina Mills (Associate Director & Choreographer). Presented by North Shore Music Theatre at 54 Dunham Rd., Beverly, MA, through August 24, 2025

By Mike Hoban

Those expecting an onstage re-creation of the 1978 movie musical Grease may be in for a bit of a surprise with North Shore Music Theatre’s entertaining production of the same name, running now through August 24^th. Unlike the 70s sitcom treatment of troubled high school teens in the movie version, we get a cast of characters that owes more to West Side Story than Happy Days – and the added grittiness elevates the story above the usual pablum that passes for a book in most movies adapted for the stage. That’s because this production combines the best elements of the original 1971 Off-Broadway (via Chicago) musical theater production and the movie (including some of its strongest musical numbers). It’s also much more of an ensemble piece, focusing on multiple stories rather than just the leads (played in the film by 1970s pop culture icons John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John), and it’s one of the strengths of the show, allowing multiple members of the talented cast to shine.

GSC’s Timely ‘No Child…’ Lauds Teachers And Showcases An A+ Solo Performance

August 18, 2025April 8, 2026 Shelley Sackett3 Comments

Valyn Lyric Turner in “No Child …” at Gloucester Stage Company. Photos by Jason Grow Photography

‘No Child…’ — Written by Nilaja Sun. Directed by Pascale Florestal. Scenic Design by Cristina Todesco; Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl; Lighting Design by Amanda Fallon; Sound Design by Jacques Matellus. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main St., Gloucester through August 23.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Playwright Nilaja Sun’s conventional tribute to the trials and tribulations of our unsung heroes who day after day teach the toughest kids at their toughest ages (high school) in the toughest neighborhoods is must-see theater for one reason— the luminous performance by its solo star, Valyn Lyric Turner.

Playing no fewer than a dozen roles, Turner is a whirling dervish of talent, her physicality and vitality hoisting the play from a ho-hum trope to a true tour de force.

At The Cape Playhouse, A Warm & Welcoming ‘Come From Away’

August 10, 2025April 8, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Come From Away’ at the Cape Playhouse

The Cape Playhouse presents Come From Away. Book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Directed and Choreographed by Kelly Devine. Music Direction by Lena Gabrielle. Set Design by Alexander Woodward. Lighting Design by Kirk Bookman. Costume Design by Gail Baldoni. Sound Design by Walter Trarbach. Wig Design by Bobbie Zlotnik. At the Cape Playhouse, 820 Main Street, Route 6A, Dennis MA, through August 30, 2025.

By Linda Chin

When skies over the United States shut down after the September 11th attacks, 38 international flights were diverted to a once-bustling airport on the island of Newfoundland, on the northeast tip of North America, next to which was the tiny town of Gander. The influx of 7000 stranded passengers and crew who needed meals, clothing, accommodations, showers, and access to phones swelled Gander’s population to twice its usual size, practically overnight.