A.R.T’s “The Black Clown” a Searing New Work

September 7, 2018September 8, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

The Black Clown – Adapted from Langston Hughes poem by Davóne Tines and Michael Schachter; Music by Michael Schachter; Music Direction by Jaret Landon; Choreography by Chanel DaSilva; Directed by Zack Winokur; Scenic & Costume Design by Carlos Soto; Lighting Design by John Torres; Sound Design by Kai Harada. Presented by the American Repertory Theater at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge through September 23

Reading Langston Hughes’ poem The Black Clown after experiencing the world premiere of this stunning new work of the same title, it’s pretty amazing to see how literal the interpretation of the poem is – especially considering the complexity of the music, dance and movement in the piece. The original poem is broken into two sections, “The Mood”, which essentially reads like bare-boned stage directions, and “The Poem”, which provides all of the lyrics for the entire production – despite being just 17 stanzas long. The Black Clown, said Hughes, is “a dramatic monologue to be spoken by a pure-blooded Negro in the white suit and hat of a clown, to the music of a piano or an orchestra.”

Lyric Casts a Seductive Spell with “Kiss of the Spider Woman”

September 4, 2018September 4, 2018 Theater Mirror1 Comment

By Michele Markarian

‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ – Book by Terrence McNally. Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb. Based on the novel by Manuel Puig. Directed and Choreographed by Rachel Bertone. Musical Director, Dan Rodriguez. Scenic Design by Janie E. Howland. Costume Design by Marian Bertone. Lighting Design by Frank Meissner Jr. Sound Design by Andrew Duncan Will. Presented by Lyric Stage Company of Boston, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA, through October 7.

I have to admit, I had little curiosity about this musical. The score is not something you hear a lot, with the exception of “Kiss of the Spider Woman”, and I’d never seen the film – too many of my gay friends had complained about William Hurt’s performance not being authentic enough. The Lyric Stage’s production is a marvelous revelation, with wonderful acting and a sophisticated score that will leave you wondering why this musical isn’t performed more often.

Lyric’s KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN a Gritty, Liberating Love Story

September 4, 2018 Theater Mirror2 Comments

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Lyric Stage of Boston’s first show of their season is “Kiss of the Spider Woman”, the winner of the 1993 Tony Award. “Kiss of the Spider Woman” recounts a harrowing tale of persecution into a dazzling spectacle that juxtaposes gritty realities with liberating fantasies about two very different cell mates. The cell mates are in a Latin American prison, Valentin is a tough revolutionary journalist undergoing torture and Molina is an “unabashed homosexual” serving eight years for deviant behavior.

Gloucester Stage Delivers a Tragicomic Gem with ‘True West’

August 31, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

‘True West’ – Written by Sam Shepard; Directed by Joe Short; Scenic Design by Jon Savage; Lighting Design by Marcella Barbeau; Costume Design, Miranda Kau Giurleo; Sound Design, David Reiffel. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company at 267 E. Main St., Gloucester through September 8

Some brothers work out their conflicts in therapy, others in a court of law, and still others bring their unresolved issues to the grave – sometimes courtesy of the hand of the other brother. Austin and Lee, the protagonists of Sam Shepard’s classic “True West”, have their own messy way of working things out, and Gloucester Stage provides us with a front row seat to the process, staging a superb version of the 1980 classic that is alternately comically charged and deeply unsettling.

Off The Grid’s “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord” – Takes Teen Angst to New Levels

August 22, 2018September 15, 2019 Theater Mirror1 Comment

by Mike Hoban

Our Dear Dead Drug Lord – Written by Alexis Scheer. Directed by Rebecca Bradshaw. Scenic Design: Kristin Loeffler; Lighting Design: Aja M. Jackson; Costume Design: Rachel Padula; Sound Design: Julian Crocamo. Presented by Off the Grid Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts’ Calderwood Pavilion, Roberts Studio Theatre, 527 Tremont St. Boston, through September 1

It’s 2008, right before the historic presidential election, and four teen girls are convening in the childhood treehouse belonging to Pipe, the apparent ringleader of the group. But they’re not there to play music, smoke cigarettes (or weed) and talk about boys/girls. They’ve clearly got something more important on their minds. So as one of the girls unfurls a poster to hang on the wall – not one of the Jonas Brothers, mind you, but a mugshot of deceased drug kingpin Pablo Escobar – and another exclaims, “Oh my God, I want to turn this poster into a blanket and lose my virginity on it,” you suspect it’s about to get a whole lot weirder than an “Afterschool Special”. And when the girls anoint themselves with the blood of a small, freshly killed creature as part of a ritual to commune with the spirit of Escobar – those suspicions are pretty much confirmed.

Theatre by the Sea Delivers Rollicking ‘CHICAGO’

August 18, 2018August 20, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome to the 1920’s with the final musical at Theatre by the Sea’s 85th season. Director Bob Richard and his wife, Diane Laurenson, the choreographer transports the audience to the prison atmosphere needed for this musical “Chicago.” Kander and Ebb’s 1975 vaudeville type show is based on the 1926 play by Maurine Watkins. The 1997 musical version won six Tony Awards and the 2003 movie version won the Academy Award. In roaring twenties Chicago, married chorine Roxie Hart murders her faithless lover, Fred Casely, and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap for her. That is until he finds out he has been duped and turns on her. She and fellow murderess, Velma Kelly, both on death row, vie for the headlines and spotlight, hoping the publicity will launch them to fame, freedom and successful stage careers with the help of slick lawyer, Billy Flynn. The story is a satire on the corruption of criminal justice system and logic of “celebrity criminal” and works perfectly in the current day situation of this country of fake news and reality TV shows. Keep them off balance and they won’t realize what is really going on. It also worked much better in the late 1990’s after the OJ trial travesty which was a lot like the circus like atmosphere of Chicago in the 1920’s. Bob blocks the show beautifully and Diane creates wonderful choreography. Both of them bring out the best in their talented cast members.

Moulin Rouge! a Gritty, Glamorous Spectacle

August 17, 2018September 10, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” – Book by John Logan, based on the 2001 movie written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce. Directed by Alex Timbers. Set Design by Derek McLane. Choreography by Sonya Tayeh. Costumes by Catherine Zuber. Lighting by Justin Townsend. Sound Design by Peter Hylenski. Produced by Global Creatures and presented by the Ambassador Theatre Group at the 106 Boylston St., Boston through Aug. 19.

by Susan Daniels

Glamorous and gritty, “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” put the spectacular in this spectacle of a show that wows the very audible fans throughout this sensory adventure. At a reported $30 million budget, the Ambassador Theatre Group hit a cornucopia of visual, visceral, and aural stripes with their pre-Broadway production that also debuted in a gorgeously gilded, renovated, and re-opened Emerson Colonial Theatre . . . perhaps the principal star of the evening.

NSMT Delivers Fun-Filled Summer Show with “MAMMA MIA!”

August 9, 2018August 9, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

North Shore Music Theatre’s summer show is the blockbuster hit “Mamma Mia” and it’s the third show of their 63rd Season. Owner and producer Bill Hanney spares no expense with costumes and sets in bringing this musical to the historic theatre for his 9th season here.The much loved 1999 jukebox ABBA musical focuses on finding emotional moments of female bonding in this fun filled musical set in Greece. “Mamma Mia” is based on the songs of ABBA, a Swedish pop/dance group active from 1972 to 1982. The show opens with daughter, Sophie singing “I Have a Dream” which lets the audience know what she’s wishing for that she wants her father to walk her down the aisle but she doesn’t know who he is.

Emerson Colonial Roars Back to Life with High-Spirited “Moulin Rouge!”

August 8, 2018December 27, 2018 Theater Mirror1 Comment

by Mike Hoban

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” – Book by John Logan, based on the 2001 movie written by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce. Directed by Alex Timbers. Set Design by Derek McLane. Choreography by Sonya Tayeh. Costumes by Catherine Zuber. Lighting by Justin Townsend. Sound Design by Peter Hylenski. Produced by Global Creatures and presented by the Ambassador Theatre Group at the Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St., Boston through Aug. 19.

The Emerson Colonial Theatre officially re-opened its doors in explosive fashion this past weekend with the pre-Broadway run of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, an experience that could best be likened to a heart attack patient being jolted back to life with defibrillator paddles. The Colonial’s new operator, Ambassador Theatre Group, has spared no expense in bringing this 2001 movie favorite to the stage, and the results are spectacular. Simply put, Moulin Rouge is an absolute blast. Featuring a set that would make Cecil B. DeMille blush, an extraordinary cast led by Tony Award-winner Karen Olivo, and an ingeniously clever score that mashes up everything from “L’amour Est Oiseau” (from Bizet’s 1875 opera Carmen) to Madonna’s “Material Girl”, Moulin Rouge is a visual and aural feast – particularly for fans of pop music.

Reagle Delivers Exuberant “MUSIC MAN”

August 4, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Anthony Annicone

Reagle Music Theatre’s third show of their 50th season is “The Music Man” by Meredith Willson. This musical first opened on Broadway on December 19, 1957 and ran for 1375 performances. Robert Preston played the leading role of Harold Hill both onstage and in the 1962 film version. The show is set in Iowa in 1912 and is the story of the fast talking Harold Hill who cons the good citizens of River City into buying musical instruments and band uniforms by promising to create a boy’s band in the town. Not knowing a trumpet from a trombone, Hill expects to skip town with cash in hand, only to be caught up in the arms of the beautiful Marian Paroo, the librarian who transforms him into a reformed rogue and a respectable citizen by show’s end. Director/choreographer Susan Chebookjian returns in triumph to choreograph this show once again at Reagle Music Theatre. She last choreographed it in 2010 with actor Scott Wahle as Harold Hill and Sarah Pfisterer as Marian. She recreates Onna White’s original choreography from the Broadway and movie versions. Susan and musical director Dan Rodriguez obtain stellar performances from the 57 multitalented cast members. They capture your hearts with their high spirited, energetic and exuberant version which wins them a standing ovation at the close of this heartwarming family friendly musical masterpiece.