Lawton Shines in Lyric’s Gender Bending ‘Orlando’

March 6, 2018March 6, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

From the novel by Virginia Woolf; Adapted by Sarah Ruhl; Directed by A.Nora Long; Scenic Design by Richard Wadsworth Chambers; Lighting Design by Steven McIntosh; Costume Design by Steven McIntosh. Presented by the Lyric Stage Company of Boston at 140 Clarendon St., Boston through March 25

At a time when the lines of gender identity are becoming increasingly blurred (in some corners anyway), the production of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando certainly seems like a natural choice for the Lyric Stage’s opener for the second half of the 2017-2018 season. Adapted by Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl, who also wrote last season’s gut-busting Stage Kiss (also at the Lyric) – arguably the best comedy of last season on any Greater Boston stage – Orlando makes for an entertaining evening, thanks in part to the charms of its enchanting lead, Caroline Lawton.

The Underlings Theatre Co Sends Shakespeare Back to High School

March 2, 2018March 2, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by James Wilkinson

‘Romeo and Juliet’ Written by William Shakespeare. Directed by Lelaina Vogel. Voice and Text Coaching: Daniel Thomas Blackwell. Scenic Design: Christine Williamson. Costume Design: Rachael Linker. Lighting Design: Evyn Newton. Sound Design: Joshua Garcia. Presented by Underlings Theatre Co. at Chelsea Theatre Works Black Box Theater through March 3.

Do I even need to provide a summary of the plot to Romeo and Juliet? The details of Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers has seemingly seeped down into the marrow of western civilization. Try as you might, you can’t escape it. Even if you managed to somehow get through high school without reading the original text, you would be forgiven for thinking you knew the story by seeing any of the hundreds of adaptations and riffs on the story in movies, books, operas, television, ballets, musicals, and just about every other form of media out there. The ubiquity of the story in popular culture creates an interesting problem for any theatre company that might decide to take a stab at staging the play. How do you present a play when everyone in attendance thinks that they already know everything? It’s a challenge that the recently formed Underlings Theatre Co has taken up with their new production of the classic play, now running at Chelsea Theatre Works.

ART’s ‘The White Card’ is Very White, Indeed

March 2, 2018March 2, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Michele Markarian

The White Card. Written by Claudia Rankine. Directed by Diane Paulus. The World Premiere of American Repertory Theater’s production, presented by ArtsEmerson , 559 Washington Street, Boston, MA through April 1.

Wealthy New Yorkers and avid art collectors Virginia and Charles (Patricia Kalember and Daniel Gerroll) have, through their colleague Eric (Jim Poulos), invited artist Charlotte (Karen Pittman), to dinner, in the hopes of purchasing some of her work for their illustrious collection. Charlotte, who is the only black person at the dinner, is making a name for herself creating photographic re-enactments of racist crimes. Charles and Virginia, well-intentioned white people, collect art on this very subject, thinking it the essence of the black experience.

In Apollinaire’s Winter Solstice, the Chill Runs Deep

March 1, 2018March 1, 2018 Theater Mirror3 Comments

by Mike Hoban

Winter Solstice – Written by Roland Schimmelpfennig; Translated by David Tushingham; Directed by Brooks Reeves; Sound Design by David Reiffel; Costumes by Elizabeth Rocha; Set and Lighting Design by Danielle Fauteux Jacques. Presented by the Apollinaire Theatre Company, Chelsea Theatre Works, 189 Winnisimmet St., Chelsea through Mar. 11

When I was younger, many of my left-leaning friends and acquaintances would casually throw out the word ‘fascist’ to describe an authority figure or institution whose opinions or policies differed from what we thought was right. Later, during the Obama years, those on the far right would casually refer to the president as a Nazi – usually for something like wanting to pass Obamacare and theoretically take away people’s right to choose their own doctors. The inappropriate application of such extreme terms in both cases has served to greatly diminish the former effectiveness of these terms when it comes to calling out what is now going on politically in the U.S. and globally – the rise in increasingly aggressive neo-fascist activism and its subsequent effect on governing bodies. This has not happened overnight, but instead has been a creeping contagion that is slowly being normalized in all forms of media – whether intentionally or unintentionally – and the idea that “It Can’t Happen Here,” is being debunked on an almost daily basis.

New Rep’s “Ripe Frenzy” a Startling, Provocative Drama

February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Samantha Richert (left) and Stacy Fischer (right). Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

By Michele Markarian

Ripe Frenzy – Written by Jennifer Barclay. Directed by Bridget Kathleen O’Leary. Co-Produced by Boston Center for American Performance and New Repertory Theatre, Boston University College of Fine Arts, Studio ONE, 855 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA through March 11.

The arrival of Jennifer Barclay’s exceptional play Ripe Frenzy in Boston could not be timelier. For anyone affected by America’s spate of school shootings, particularly in the wake of the recent one in Florida, Barclay intelligently and thoughtfully puzzles her way through some of our deepest thoughts and fears without being didactic. It’s a heartbreaking piece, alternately tense and tender, that offers no answers, which is oddly and honestly comforting.

Sleeping Weazel Provides an Intimate Winter Escape

February 21, 2018February 21, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Review by James Wilkinson

A Winter Gathering – Production Designer: Mirta Tocci. Lighting Designer: Colin McNamee. Sound Designer: Oliver Seagle. Presented by Sleeping Weazel at the BCA Black Box, 527 Tremont St. Boston, through February 24^th.

When I walked into Sleeping Weazel’s production of A Winter Gathering, I had been awake for thirteen hours and had probably spent about a good third of that time staring at my phone. Not for any sort of emergency purpose, just the regular checking of email, Facebook, text messages and blogs that has slowly grown to be the new normal of daily activity. I went into the theater space with the sort of addled static brain feeling that comes from spending so much time with your eyeballs glued to the glowing screen of a handheld device.

Trinity’s Modern Day ‘OTHELLO’ Brings Energy and Vitality to Classic

February 21, 2018February 21, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Trinity Repertory Company’s newest production of their 54th season is “Othello” by William Shakespeare. This show is about friendship and betrayal, love and jealousy. Once Othello’s most trusted confidante, Iago’s envy-fueled passions unleash a betrayal with catastrophic results for Othello and his beloved bride, Desdemona. Shakespeare’s profound tragedy is an enduring story of race, love, envy, gender inequality and repentance. This stripped-down retelling is the portrait of an unraveling mind amid a society engulfing and destroying its very best.

Praxis Breathes New Life into a Timeless Gem with ‘for colored girls’

February 20, 2018February 20, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

(Left to Right):Tonasia Jones, Kerline Desir, Dayenne C. Byron Walters, Ciera-Sadé Wade, Thomika Birdwell, Karimah Williams, Verna Hampton. Photo Credit: Roberto Mighty

by Mike Hoban

‘for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf’ – Written by Ntozake Shange; Directed by Dayenne CB Walters; Music Composition by Patrick Casky; Choreography by W. Lola Remy; Costume Design by Cassandra Cacoq; Lighting Design by Ashley Yung. Presented by Praxis Stage at Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley St. in Roxbury through February 25^th.

Given the current state of political affairs, there may not be a better time to revive for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, now being presented by Praxis Stage with an extraordinary production at Hibernian Hall through next weekend. Praxis was formed on November 9^th, 2016, “as a response to the disaster of Trump’s election” according to their mission statement, and there are few theatrical works that better portray the ability of African-American women to persevere and be a force than “for colored girls” – as we saw in December when they were the primary driver behind the defeat of Trump-backed Roy Moore in the special Senate election.

OTP’s ‘An Education in Prudence’ Hits Timely Note

February 19, 2018February 19, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian

An Education in Prudence – Written by Stefan Lanfer. Directed by Pascale Florestal. Presented by Open Theatre Project, St. John’s Church, 1 Roanoke Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA, through February 24.

Although “An Education in Prudence” takes place in 1833, and the educational issues it deals with have been resolved, the undertones and attitudes around the issues resonate sharply with today’s divisive America. In witnessing the drama, one can’t help but be reminded of what ensues when closed minds refuse to unfold, not just with racism, but with sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and fear of the other.

Animated Pre-Teen Trans Experience ‘Torrey Pines’ at ArtsEmerson Has Universal Appeal

February 16, 2018February 19, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

‘Torrey Pines’ – Director: Clyde Petersen; Animators: Clyde Petersen & Chris Looney; Production Team: Aidan Baxter-Ferguson, Jack Carroll, Dena Zilber, Terrance Robinson, Merce Lemon, Zach Burba & Leah Gold. Original music recorded in collaboration with Kimya Dawson and Chris Walla. Presented by ArtsEmerson at the Emerson Paramount Center Jackie Liebergott Black Box through February 17.

Admittedly, Torrey Pines, the moving and often hilarious stop-motion animated feature film now making its Boston premiere at the Emerson Paramount Center Jackie Liebergott Black Box, is not your everyday coming of age story. In the director’s notes, Clyde Petersen says his film – which is also accompanied by his live band, Your Heart Breaks, – “is for queer punks, trans youth and people who struggle with mental health issues in their lives”, but it’s also for anyone who enjoys imaginative animation, quirky (and painful) storytelling, and great live music.