Smart, Funny “Fabulation” Entertains at the Lyric

September 21, 2022September 21, 2022 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Fabulation’ at the Lyric Stage. Photos by Mark S. Howard

“Fabulation, or, the Re-Education of Undine” – Written by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Dawn M Simmons. Presented by The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston through October 9.

by Michele Markarian

There’s nothing yielding or hesitant about the seemingly unstoppable Undine (Lyndsay Allyn Cox), owner of a boutique public relations agency with high-profile clients in New York. She speaks to her assistant Stephie (Brittani Jenese McBride) brusquely, brushes off the warnings of her accountant (Barlow Adamson), and seems unconcerned about the flight of her suave and sexy husband, Herve (Jaime José Hernández). Undine’s self-centeredness gets kicked up a notch when she realizes that Herve has absconded with all of their money and she’s unexpectedly pregnant. With her office, apartment and bank accountant liquidated, Undine has nowhere left to go but home – to the family in Brooklyn that she claimed had died in a fire fourteen years ago. Undine’s real name is Sharona; she chose Undine when she renounced her family, in an admiring nod to the social climbing Undine Sprague in Edith Wharton’s novel Custom of the Country. Unlike Wharton’s ruthless Undine, Nottage’s Undine finally learns gratitude and humility, after an unfortunate series of events brought on by her own ambition.

MRT’s “The 39 Steps” Transforms Mystery Classic Into Laugh Fest

September 20, 2022September 20, 2022 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Cast of ‘The 39 Steps’ at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre

“The 39 Steps” By Patrick Barlow; From the novel by John Buchan and adapted from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Directed by Courtney Sale; Presented by The Merrimack Repertory Theatre at the Nancy L. Donahue Theatre, 50 East Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA. Performances through Oct. 2^nd.

by Tom Boudrot

Expectation is so much a part of the entertainment experience. Case in point: I’ve often looked back at movies whose release I’ve eagerly anticipated, only to be disappointed with for them not living up to the hype. Likewise, I have sat down to more than a few movies with zero expectations, and when they turned out to actually be good it amplified the enjoyment to the point where I have probably given the movie more accolades than it deserved.

Speakeasy’s Absorbing ‘Heroes’ is Guaranteed to Spark Discussion

September 14, 2022 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Elise Piliponis, Karen MacDonald, Jesse Hinson, Dayna Cousins, and Nathan Malin in *Heroes of the Fourth Turning*. Photos by Nile Scott Studios.

Heroes of the Fourth Turning – Written by Will Arbery; Directed by Marianna Bassham; Set Design by Baron E. Pugh; Costume Design by Rachel Padula Shufelt; Sound Design by Elizabeth Cahill; Lighting Design by Jeff Adelberg. Presented by Speakeasy Stage at the Roberts Studio Theatre, Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St. Boston through October 8

by Mike Hoban

There’s a lot to unpack in playwright Will Arbery’s Heroes of the Fourth Turning, the thought-provoking political drama now running at Speakeasy Stage. Brilliantly acted by a terrific ensemble, Heroes is billed as a look at “a country at war with itself,” but in truth delves more specifically into the internal divides within the Catholic wing of the Republican party brought on by the election of Donald Trump. Interestingly, the play is set in 2017, two days before the solar eclipse and just one week after the white nationalist riots in Charlottesville – which means that the play pre-dates the 2020 election and the ensuing insurrection at the Capital that led the Republican party to desert their conservative principles in deference to the Big Lie pushed by the former president.

Huntington’s Happy-Sad Sing Street Will Lift You Up

September 11, 2022October 19, 2022 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Cast members of Sing Street at the Huntington. Photos: Evan Zimmerman/MurphyMade

Sing Street – Book by Enda Walsh, Music and Lyrics by Gary Clark and John Carney. Directed by Rebecca Taichman; Choreography by Sonya Tayeh; Set Design by Bob Crowley; Costume Design by Bob Crowley and Lisa Zinni; Lighting Design by Natasha Katz, Sound Design by Peter Hylenski, Video Design by Luke Halls and Brad Peterson, Hair, Wig and Makeup Design by Tommy Kurzman, Music Supervision by Peter Gordeno and Kris Kukul, Music Direction by Fred Lassen. At the Calderwood Pavilion, BCA, 527 Tremont St., Boston through October 9^th.

by Linda Chin

With Sing Street, the writers of the Tony Award-winning Once have once again created a lyrical love story set in Dublin that inspires us to go for our dreams and to express (and save) ourselves through music making and art. Set in the 80s, the new wave score by John Carney and Gary Clark may not be everyone’s cup of tea – and it’s not particularly memorable – but the emotional journey the outstanding ensemble of actor-musicians takes us on leaves a strong impression.

Dorset Theatre Festival Closes The 2022 Season in Triumph with Its Remarkable World Première of “Thirst”

September 7, 2022 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

David Mason and Kathy McCafferty in THIRST at the Dorset Theatre Festival. Photos by Joey Moro

‘Thirst’ — Written by Ronán Noone. Directed by Theresa Rebeck; Scenic Design by Christopher and Justin Swader; Sound Design by Fitz Patton; Lighting Design by Mary Ellen Stebbins, Costume Design by Fabian Fidel Aguilar. Presented by Dorset Theatre Festival, Dorset, Vermont. The run has ended.

by Shelley A. Sackett

Arriving early for “Thirst,” playwright Ronán Noone’s dazzling new play, is a stroke of good ole Irish luck. A crisp sound system pumps toe-tapping traditional pub music, setting a jig-worthy mood. Functional period lamps bathe the livable kitchen set in warmth, creating a cozy tone for arguably the best theatrical experience of the 2022 summer season.

By the time the Irish lilted announcements herald the play’s start, the audience has been transported to another time and another place.

And what a time and place it is.

Anna Deavere Smith Revisits Powerful ‘Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992’ Through New Lens at the A.R.T.

September 5, 2022September 22, 2022 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Wesley T. Jones and Elena Hurst in A.R.T.s production of *Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992*. Photo Credits: Lauren Miller

Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 – Conceived, Written, and Revised by Anna Deavere Smith; Directed by Taibi Magar; Scenic Design by Riccardo Hernandez; Costume Design by Linda Cho; Lighting Design by Alan C. Edwards; Sound Design by Darron L West. Projection Design by David Bengali. Presented by American Repertory Theater in association with Signature Theatre at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge through Sept. 24.

by Mike Hoban

In 1992, at the height of the riots following the “not guilty” verdict of the four white L.A. police officers who had been caught on videotape delivering a brutal beating to Black motorist Rodney King, I was having a conversation with a Black male coworker, to get some perspective on why the city was on fire. “Listen,” he told me in an even but pointed tone. “If you’re a Black man in this country, there’s almost zero chance that you haven’t been stopped by a cop at least once – for no reason – by the time you reach 21.” And as Congresswoman Maxine Waters (who is quoted in the play) directly put it, “(The) riot is the voice of the unheard.”

‘The Inheritance Part 1’ Shines at Trinity

September 1, 2022September 13, 2022 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Cast of ‘The Inheritance Part 1’at Trinity Rep

by Tony Annicone

Trinity Repertory Company’s opening show of their season is the 2020 Tony Award and 2019 Olivier Award winning play “The Inheritance” by Matthew Lopez. This two part play is about the aftermath of the AIDS crises, and takes place from the summer of 2015 to spring of 2018 and encompasses the gay identity of the 21st Century. Lopez uses EM Forster’s 1910 novel as the framework for his new tale and sets it in current day New York. The two Schlegel sisters from the original novel are transformed into two gay men in this new show. The 30 year old couple are Eric Glass, a political activist and Toby Darling, a writer, who have been partners for seven years. Shortly before they become engaged, they meet two strangers, an older man who lived through the AIDS crisis and a younger man yearning for a brighter future. These three generations deal with many situations and meetings that occur in the course of this three hour show. Toby must deal with success of a play he’s written as well as some self-doubt. This leads him into precarious situations, including a drug induced party and an unfortunate encounter with an escort. On the other hand, Eric seems to be on the right track. This upsets their planned future leaving it in disarray. Joe Wilson Jr. brings out the pathos and the comic moments excellently in this superbly written show. He elicits marvelous performances from his talented cast as they run the gamut of emotions. This splendid masterpiece is given a resounding and very well-deserved standing ovation at the close of the show.

The Inheritance Part 2’ Shines at Trinity

September 1, 2022September 30, 2022 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Cast of ‘The Inheritance Part 2’at Trinity Rep

by Tony Annicone

Trinity Repertory Company’s second show of their season is the continuation of their opening show, “The Inheritance” Part 2. When originally presented, the show was performed in seven hours, intended to be seen on the same day. After Part 1, the audience wonders if Eric will ever learn about his inheritance from his friend and benefactor. In Part 2 we continue to learn what someone receives personally from their own family including how they were brought up is also an inheritance. It also discusses what you do with what you have been given and what it can do for you. Can it help you or hinder you? Hopefully, you can fix the problem or let it ruin your life. The first play dealt with what one gets from their ancestors and paying homage to those who came before you. How their struggles in the past influence you now and in the future. Even though part 1 conclusion created a sense of peace and importance, part 2 starts off in a more flippant manner with Henry going back to being more stoic. Part 2 still has its heartbreaking moments and rivets you to your seat in anticipation of what will happen to Eric and to Toby.

GAMM’s “Describe the Night” a Tale of Russian Disinformation

September 1, 2022September 20, 2022 Theater Mirror1 Comment

Donnla Hughes as Yevgenia, Michael Liebhauser as Isaac; foreground: Sean McConaghy as Nikolai in Gamm Theatre’s production of “Describe the Night”. Photos by Cat Laine

by Tony Annicone

GAMM Theatre’s opening show of their 38th season is “Describe the Night” by Rajiv Joseph, the Obie Award winner for Best American Play. The show spans 90 years and is set in Russia, eastern Germany, and Poland. We meet real life author, Isaac Babel, a wire-journalist, and writer of fantastic tales as he wanders the countryside in 1920. He soon develops a friendship with Nikolai Yezkov, a Red Cavalry Captain who insists on fact-based unimaginative stories. Babel’s diary about Soviet history is woven through the show wonderfully.

Gloucester’s ‘Paradise Blue’ Personalizes the Myth of Urban Renewal

August 31, 2022 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

The cast of ‘Paradise Blue’ at Gloucester Stage. (L to R Alexandria Danielle King, Durrell Lyons, Darian Michael Garey, Dereks Thomas)

Paradise Blue – Elyse Joyner and Logan Pitts, Co-directors; Janie Howland, Scenic Designer; Nia Safarr Banks, Costume Designer; Aubrey Dube, Sound Designer; Toni Sterling, Lighting Designer. Presented by the Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester through September 18

by Mike Hoban

There’s no shortage of compelling human drama in Paradise Blue, the ambitious 2018 play by Obie Award-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau, now playing at Gloucester Stage. The noir-tinged play explores the lives of the denizens of Paradise Blue, a jazz club nestled in the entertainment district of Paradise Valley in Black Bottom, a predominantly black neighborhood in Detroit in the late 1940’s. But the drama inside the club pales next to the looming threat that lies outside the club’s door – the impending gentrification that will destroy the neighborhood in the years to come under the guise of “urban renewal”.

“See if this plan to clean up the city don’t mean to clean us out,” says one prescient character to his bandmate. “Get rid of all the n***ers. Just like the Mayor say in his campaign – we the blight he talkin’ ‘bout.”