October is the perfect time of year to perform “Little Shop of Horrors,” one of the darkest yet hilariously entertaining and toe-tapping musicals out there. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman wrote a fabulous score for a rather terrible story and thanks to a dynamite cast at O’Connell & Company, it makes for an unforgettably fun … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ at O’Connell & Company
Mary Best Reviews
Theatre Review: ‘The Orchard (After Chekhov)’ at The Shaw Festival
The Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre is my favorite theater at the Shaw Festival. Its intimacy and ability to draw in an audience in so many different configurations is so interesting and oftentimes perfect for the shows selected to perform there. Sarena Parmar’s exceptional “The Orchard (After Chekhov)” is playing there this year, and it is … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘The Orchard (After Chekhov)’ at The Shaw Festival
Theatre Review: ‘The Music Man’ at The Stratford Festival
Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” is just one of those classic musicals. There’s comedy, romance, dance breaks, a traditional soprano leading lady and a score full of catchy songs performed by a large orchestra. Thanks to electrifying choreography and phenomenal performances, the Stratford Festival breathes new life into “The Music Man” with its unforgettable production. … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘The Music Man’ at The Stratford Festival
Theatre Review: ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ at Lockport Palace Theatre
“Singin’ in the Rain” is my all-time favorite musical and my favorite film. There’s a memorable script, catchy songs and so many classic dance numbers. So, perhaps more than most, I walked into the Lockport Palace Theater for their production with lofty expectations. Fortunately, I was very pleased with the production. ...a memorable production of … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ at Lockport Palace Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘Murder for Two’ at MusicalFare Theatre
Summer theater faces a unique challenge, in my opinion. Our summers are so short that if the show isn’t outside, regardless of its subject, there’s not a lot of motivation to skip out on a summer afternoon or evening to sit in a dark theater. However, if my budget was limitless, I’d spend every night … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Murder for Two’ at MusicalFare Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘Annie’ at Lancaster Opera House
I’ll be honest - I’ve seen ‘Annie’ more times than I care to admit. Annie is cute, the dog is cute…. it’s all cute. However, I was drawn to the Opera House production based on their renaissance over the past few years. David Bondrow’s development of the resident company has been exciting to watch and … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Annie’ at Lancaster Opera House
Theatre Review: ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’ at The Center For the Arts
I’m not going to lie, I was surprised to hear that anyone locally was producing “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” David Yazbeck’s busy, flavorful musical based on the 1988 film of the same name by Pedro Almodovar. Despite three Tony Award nominations and raves from Patrick Hinds, host of the Theater People … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’ at The Center For the Arts
Theatre Review: ‘Chicago’ at Niagara University Theatre
There are few musical movie adaptations that are better than “Chicago.” Despite being an incredibly high quality film with both critical and commercial success, it has made many people tougher critics of the stage show because it’s less glamorous. Fortunately, Niagara University Theatre’s sold-out production offers a worthy display of one of John Kander and … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Chicago’ at Niagara University Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘Charlotte’s Web’ by Rocking Horse Productions at Lancaster Opera House
Theater that is geared toward children isn’t always enjoyable for adults. Some of the performances, especially when the actors are playing animals, can feel too silly and over-exaggerated. Thankfully, Rocking Horse Productions’ inventive telling of “Charlotte’s Web,” directed by Leigha Eichhorn, defies that stereotype, offering an innocently fun evening at the theater for all ages. … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Charlotte’s Web’ by Rocking Horse Productions at Lancaster Opera House
Theatre Review: ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at ACTS Alden
Back when I was in third grade, my younger sibling and I watched a recorded VHS of Donny Osmond in a movie version of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” every night for nearly a month. The songs are catchy, the mood is fun and there’s a happy ending – what’s not to love? After … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at ACTS Alden
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