‘Sweeney Todd’: Murder, mayhem and theater magic
BOSTON — In 1980, I was sitting on the porch of the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge after a performance of “Anyone Can Whistle” at the Berkshire Theatre Festival when an actor named… Continue reading
Category Archive: Reviews
Second star to the right, and on to Broadway
CAMBRIDGE — Move over, Cathy Rigby, Peter Pan is again flying on a Boston-area stage, even if “Finding Neverland” is really about the author of “Peter Pan,” J.M. Barrie, and his relationship… Continue reading
‘Grease’: The 50s make a rockin’ return at NSMT
BEVERLY — Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs are the theatrical equivalents of “one-hit wonders.” They had an idea for a musical with music from the late 50s and characters from the golden days… Continue reading
Joyous ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ caps Reagle season
WALTHAM — When live theater is at its best, the energy flows back and forth between the audience and the performers, and they feed off each other. That was the case at… Continue reading
Carroll carries Herzog‘s ‘4000 Miles’ at GSC
GLOUCESTER — In baseball, when a pitch is in a batter’s “wheelhouse,” you expect him to hit it out. In acting, when a play is in the actor’s wheelhouse, you expect he… Continue reading
CSC’s ‘Twelfth Night’: The Bard’s situation comedy
BOSTON — Directors have told me that when you’re performing theater outdoors — and presumably, as always, playing to the last person in the last row — that actors’ gestures and expressions… Continue reading
Company’s ‘Les Miz’ is a creditable production
NORWELL — When the regional theater rights for the smash-hit musical “Les Miserables” were released, the Company Theatre was one of those bidding to put on the record-breaking show, based on the… Continue reading
Local flavor abounds in GSC’s ‘Auld Lang Syne’
GLOUCESTER — Hey, Honeydew Donuts, move over. I got your local flavor right here. There will be no faking or fudging of Boston accents — as is often the case when it… Continue reading
Company One’s ‘Astro Boy’ a multimedia marvel
BOSTON — It its 15 years of existence, the work of the Boston-based theater company Company One has been described in many ways : fresh, original, diverse, provocative. One adjective I’ve never… Continue reading
‘Her Aching Heart’ is just right for summer viewing
CAMBRIDGE — Fairly or not, romance novels have been seen through the years as something that might be read by those whose own romantic lives at the time might not have been… Continue reading