In 2029 in America, women aren’t allowed to go to college. Grace is said before lunch in public schools. Anyone ‘different’ is removed from this post-January 6 insurrection society. Welcome to the frightening world of The Last Yiddish Speaker by playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer, presented by the Jewish Repertory Theatre. This is moving and powerful … Continue reading The Last Yiddish Speaker is Riveting at JRT
Cherie Messore Reviews
Show on Fire – Hell’s Kitchen at Shea’s
He Said - By Stephen Dubois It would be an injustice to simply label Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen a “jukebox musical,” even if that is technically accurate. Drawing on nearly 20 songs from Keys' repertoire, two previously unreleased tracks, and one song written specifically for this semi-autobiographical work, the musical transcends the label. Much of … Continue reading Show on Fire – Hell’s Kitchen at Shea’s
1776 Stands the Test of Time at Lancaster Opera House
Those “Cool, Cool Considerate Men” are on stage at the Lancaster Opera House, in 1176 The Musical, and while this show doesn’t make the rounds as often as it should, it’s a fine way to remember what our Founding Fathers faced 250 years ago, this time with a great score penned by a former high … Continue reading 1776 Stands the Test of Time at Lancaster Opera House
Perfect Pairings is a Great Addition to Shaw Festival
Perfect Pairings is a new cabaret production at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and it’s an ingenious opportunity to celebrate the collaborations that knit together the theatre community. The production itself is simple: it’s a 12-song cycle that features a contemporary pair of composers-lyricists. And no matter which 45-minute performance you see, you can’t go … Continue reading Perfect Pairings is a Great Addition to Shaw Festival
The Last Five Years at the Hollywood Theatre
Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years is a favorite production in community and professional theatres. It’s a music-driven story of Cathy and Jamie and as the title states, it chronicles five years of their courtship, marriage, and break up while his career is on the fast-track and hers is chugging behind. The latest iteration … Continue reading The Last Five Years at the Hollywood Theatre
The Book of Mormon Returns to Shea’s
What's not to love about a performance full of irreverent humor, hummable tunes, and some discreet yet powerful messages about the power of the underdog to lead? That's The Book of Mormon in a nutshell, onstage at Shea's Buffalo Theatre for a short run to June 21. This "extra" closes the current season. The production … Continue reading The Book of Mormon Returns to Shea’s
Sherlock and Watson 2.0 at Alleyway Theatre
It's elementary, my dear Watson, that Sherlock Holmes is a icon of detection and puzzle solving. From 1886 to 1927, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories grew into novels and were reborn as movies, plays, and television shows as time and technology progressed. More recently, other permutations such as Enola Holmes (his little sister) and Miss … Continue reading Sherlock and Watson 2.0 at Alleyway Theatre
“Wrong is For Other People,” she says, and Funny Girl Gets it All Right at Shaw Festival
Funny Girl is a Broadway classic since its debut in 1964 with Barbra Streisand as the title character. She also played the part in the 1968 film version. The Isobel Lennart’s book is based on real-life star Fanny Brice and her tempestuous marriage to suave gambler Nicky Arnstein. It’s also one of the three musicals … Continue reading “Wrong is For Other People,” she says, and Funny Girl Gets it All Right at Shaw Festival
Radium Girls Light Up Taylor Theatre
Stories like these are a bittersweet experience: they represent an important albeit heartbreaking time in American labor history, and while there is a pyrrhic victory in the resolution, there's that glimmer of hope that change happens when people strongly self-advocate and refuse to back down when challenged. Radium Girls (script by D.W. Gregory, adapted from … Continue reading Radium Girls Light Up Taylor Theatre
Just For Us Makes Everyone Laugh
Just For Us by comedian-playwright Alex Edelman has a robust following on streaming platforms for the past several years, and now Jewish Repertory Theatre is bringing the live experience to us until June 7. It’s a monologue, skillfully delivered by Jordan Levin and he is amazing – onstage for 90 minutes – bringing Edelman’s stand … Continue reading Just For Us Makes Everyone Laugh
