Haunting, Harmonious and Hopeful, ‘Hadestown’ is Back in Boston

April 25, 2024April 11, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Matthew Patrick Quinn and Amaya Braganza in ‘Hadestown’ atthe Boch Wang Center.
Photo by T. Charles Erickson

‘Hadestown’ – Music, Lyrics & Book by Anaïs Mitchell. Developed with & Directed by Rachel Chavkin. Music Supervisor & Vocal Arrangements by Liam Robinson. Choreographed by David Neumann. At the Boch Wang Center through April 28

By Linda Chin

The intoxicating, eight-time Tony Award-winning Hadestown is back in Boston for a limited run, giving fans the opportunity to experience its otherworldly magic for the first, second, or eighth time. Haunting but harmonious and hopeful, Hadestown is a musical retelling of the distinct but interwoven love stories of two couples – Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone, rooted in Greek mythology. The overarching themes of climate change and capitalism, the ruthless dictator Hades, who sings about building walls, and the blend of musical traditions bring these centuries-old tales to contemporary times.

Goodspeed’s ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ a Very Novel Musical

April 24, 2024April 11, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Cast of Goodspeed’s ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’. Photos by Diane Sobolewski

Goodspeed Musicals presents THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. Book, music, lyrics, and orchestrations by Rupert Holmes. Directed by Rob Ruggiero. Choreographed by James Gray. Music Direction by Adam Souza. Scenic Design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume Design by Hunter Kaczorowski. Lighting Design by Rob Denton. Sound Design by Jay Hilton. Hair & Wig Design by Tommy Kurzman. At Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, CT, through June 2nd.

By Linda Chin

Having read Dickens’ final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, decades ago and having seen the musical at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in 1985 – but not the original Broadway show nor the 2012 revival (yes, I am still heartbroken that I missed Chita Rivera’s portrayal of Princess Puffer) – I was eager to see Drood again. Set in London in 1895, Drood is a musical about actors in an offbeat Victorian troupe called the Music Hall Royale who are putting on a musical. With Goodspeed Opera House’s soaring ceilings and ornate architectural details c. 1877 – and a little theater magic to the ornamentation on the balcony and the stage set by scenic designer Ann Beyersdorfer – there couldn’t be a more perfect setting for a whodunit murder mystery musical in Dickensian times.

Arts Emerson’s ‘Book of Mountains and Seas’ Brings Chinese Creation Myths to Life

April 21, 2024April 11, 2026 Shelley SackettLeave a comment

*“Book of Mountains and Seas”* at ArtsEmerson

“Book of Mountains and Seas” — Composer and Librettist –Ruo Huang. Director and Production Designer – Basil Twist. Presented by Arts Emerson at the Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Boston, through April 21.

By Shelley A. Sackett

“Book of Mountains and Seas” is an artistically adventurous new work by award-winning composer Ruo Huang and MacArthur Fellow puppeteer/artist Basil Twist. Their collaboration is an inventive twist on ancient Chinese myths about creation and destruction that, in this perilous era of climate change, are especially relevant 2,500 years later.

Praxis Stage’s Absurdist ‘Birthday Party’ is an Actor’s Showcase

April 16, 2024April 11, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Daniel Boudreau, Sharon Mason and Keving Paquette in Praxis Stage’s ‘Birthday Party’
Photos by Alex Aroyan

The Birthday Party – Written by Harold Pinter; Directed by James Wilkinson; Costumes by E. Rosser; Lighting by Michaela P. Purvis. Presented by Praxis Stage at the Chelsea Theatre Works, 189 Winnisimmet Street, Chelsea, through April 28^th

by Mike Hoban

As the lights dimmed for intermission at the opening of Praxis Stage’s superbly acted, well-directed The Birthday Party, the patron in front of me not-so-quietly whispered to his companion, “What the F*#k was that?”

It’s a question that won’t get answered by the end of the play, but for some, the joy may be in the journey. The Birthday Party was Harold Pinter’s first full length play. It opened in London in 1958 and closed after only eight performances due to disastrous reviews before being successfully revived in later years. The play is a prime example of the Theatre of the Absurd, a movement popularized from 1940 to 1960 by playwrights like Pinter, Samuel Beckett, and Ionesco which advanced the notion that life is illogical, without purpose and devoid of meaning.

A Pitch-Perfect ‘Porch on Windy Hill’ at Merrimack Rep

April 11, 2024April 11, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Cast of The Porch on Windy Hill at Merrimack Rep

Merrimack Repertory Theatre presents THE PORCH ON WINDY HILL. Written by Sherry Stregack Lutken, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Morgan Morse, and David M. Lutken. Conceived and directed by Sherry Stregack Lutken. Scenic Design by Mara Ishihara Zinky. Costume Design by Gregory Graham. Lighting Design by Dawn Chiang. Sound Design by Sun Hee Kil. Music Direction by David M. Lutke. At Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell, Massachusetts, through April 21, 2024.

By Linda Chin

Merrimack Rep’s production of The Porch on Windy Hill features a diverse and tremendously talented trio of professional actors who have appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional stages – David M. Lutken, Rob Morrison, and EJ Zimmerman. In this ‘new play with old music,’ the actors sing and actually play a diverse mix of instruments, including the banjo, dulcimer, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, violin, and erhu (Chinese fiddle), with a remarkably high level of proficiency. In their poignant performances, they demonstrate that music is indeed ‘the food of love’ – and has the power to heal hearts and nourish souls, connect cultures and cultivate relationships, and to even inspire families in longstanding feuds to communicate with each other and ‘play on.’

Hub Theatre Company Revives Lanford Wilson’s ‘Burn This’

April 7, 2024April 11, 2026 Shelley SackettLeave a comment

Kiki Samko, Victor Shopov in Hub Theater’s ‘Burn This’

“Burn This” — Written by Lanford Wilson. Directed by Daniel Bourque. Presented by Hub Theatre Company of Boston at the BCA Plaza Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont St., through April 21.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Since Burn This arrived on Broadway in 1987, critics have lamented the same thing – at its core, the play itself is not great. Despite luminary-filled casts (including John Malkovich, Adam Driver, and Edward Norton), the play never garnered the kind of accolades awarded to Wilson’s other works, such as Talley’s Folly (Pulitzer Prize), Hot L Baltimore (Obie), and Fifth of July.

Rapturous Applause for Anthony Rapp’s ‘Without You’

April 7, 2024April 11, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Anthony Rapp in “Without You”. Photos by Russ Rowland

‘Without You,’ – Written and performed by Anthony Rapp. Songs by Jonathan Larson, Anthony Rapp, David Matos, and Joe Pisapia. Directed by Steven Maler. Scenic design and lighting design by Eric Southern. Costume design by Angela Vesco. Sound design by Brian Ronan. Projection design by David Bengali. Musical Director & Orchestrations: Daniel A. Weiss. Presented by Ambassador Theater Group at the BCA’s Wimberly Theater, Tremont Street, Boston, through April 14.

By Linda Chin

Since childhood, Anthony Rapp has loved singing, playing the lead in musicals such as Oliver, and delighting audiences in his hometown of Joliet, Illinois – especially his biggest fan, his mother, Mary Lee. After moving to NYC, Rapp appeared in a host of roles his mother wished were more “normal.” While working at Starbucks to, uh, pay the rent, Rapp got his big break at age 22 when he landed the principal role of Mark Cohen (the filmmaker and narrator) in the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Jonathan Larson’s ground-breaking musical RENT.

Jay Eddy Brings Healing (and a Brilliant Score) to Boston Playwrights’ Theatre with ‘Driving in Circles’

March 28, 2024April 11, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Jordan Palmer, Jay Eddy and Zach Fontanez in Boston Playwrights’ Theatre’s ‘Driving in Circles’

Written & performed by Jay Eddy; Directed by Sam Plattus; Scenic Designer: Danielle DelaFuente; Lighting Designer: Kevin Fulton; Sound Designer: Gage Baker; Costume Designer: Eric Tran; Projection Designer: Maria Servellon. Presented at Boston Playwrights’ Theater through April 6, 2024

By Mike Hoban

In the pulsating opening number of the enthralling semi-solo autobiographical musical Driving in Circles, writer and performer Jay Eddy describes “what to do in an earthquake,” singing, “Stay down, stay down, stay down (because) it’s the aftershock that kills you.” It’s a brilliant metaphor for what survivors of sexual abuse experience long after the physical abuse has ceased, as Eddy details in their powerful but surprisingly funny and touching work. Part monologue, part performance art, part standup comedy, and powered by an astonishingly cool “folktronica” score that likely rivals any album you’ll hear from the current crop of indie artists, it’s a unique theatrical experience.

‘Message In A Bottle’ is a Sublime Synchronicity of Song, Dance and Story

March 27, 2024April 11, 2026 Shelley SackettLeave a comment

‘Message In A Bottle’ at Emerson Colonial Theatre

‘Message In A Bottle’ — Music and Lyrics by Sting. Directed and Choreographed by Kate Prince. Music Supervisor and New Arrangements by Alex Lacamoire; Set Design by Ben Stones; Video Design by Andrej Goulding; Costume Design by Anna Fleischle; Lighting Design by Natasha Chivers; Sound Design by David McEwan. Presented by Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK Production with ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company at Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St., Boston, through March 30.

By Shelley A. Sackett

The only negative comment that anyone could possibly utter about the earth-shattering Message In A Bottle is that it is an unforgivable shame that its Boston run is a mere five days (seven performances). My suggestion is to interrupt reading this review, trust the reviewer, and jump on your computer to secure tickets while there might still be some left.

Yes, it really is that good.

‘Beyond Words’ at Central Square Theater Opens Our Ears and Hearts

March 25, 2024April 11, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Stephanie Clayman, Jon Vellante in ‘Beyond Words’ at Central Square Theater.
Photos by Maggie Hall

‘Beyond Words’ – Written by Laura Maria Censabella; Directed by Cassie Chapados; Scenic Design by Qingan Zhang; Costume Design by Sandra Zhihan Jia; Lighting Design by Amanda Fallon; Sound Design by Anna Drummond. Presented by Catalyst Collaborative@MIT Productions at Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, through April 14, 2024

By Helen Ganley

In the eye of a tornado of falling feathers, a scientist lies in a heap. Surrounded by a fluorescent-lit lab cheekily bedecked with “Birds at Work” signage and decals of African Grey parrots, the tornado emanates from Dr. Irene Pepperberg as she sweeps us back to the beginning of her story. Central Square Theater’s production of Beyond Words invokes a central question of humanity: How intelligent is the rest of the animal kingdom?