“Oklahoma!,” written in the early 1940's, portrays a small farming town in the Indian Territory before Oklahoma received statehood in 1906. It highlights old fashioned ideals such as men are brave, women have their place, and this social contract is the underpinning of a successful and strong country. As the territory marches toward the formal … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Oklahoma!’ at JCC CenterStage
Theatre Review: ‘The Threepenny Opera’ at the Center For The Arts
There’s a fascination with Bertolt Brecht, especially in times of political…shall we say…absurdity. His theater of alienation is rooted in lack of formula; he desired to pull the audience into the story and then yank them out of it. It’s almost like Brecht’s work aimed to point out the absurdity of theater. Pair that with … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘The Threepenny Opera’ at the Center For The Arts
Theatre Review: ‘The Book of Mormon’ at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
Four times. I have seen “The Book Of Mormon” four times, and let me tell you, the level of quality only gets better. A show that is going on 5 years of entertaining audiences is anything but old and stale, quite honestly, this production is like a fine wine, better with age, not that I … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘The Book of Mormon’ at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘Hamlet’ at Irish Classical Theatre
As the audience around me affirmed, William Shakespeare’s Hamlet overflows with quotes we use every day. Maybe that’s why Irish Classical has picked this piece to foray into Shakespeare, and it certainly seems like they should stick to it. Kate LoConti Alcocer, recently named the successor to ICTC Founding Member and current Artistic Director Vincent … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Hamlet’ at Irish Classical Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘Equivocation’ at Kavinoky Theatre
Those 17th Century British Catholics: in an attempt to overthrow the (Protestant) government and monarch, they thought if they could just pack the Parliament with gunpowder and blow the dickens out of the place, the faith could rule. King James I was not amused. He also knew he wanted to control the spin. Since social … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Equivocation’ at Kavinoky Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘The Undeniable Sound Of Right Now’ at Road Less Traveled Theatre
Those of us of a certain age still sigh when we remember going to the Belle Star out in Colden. Or Central Park Grill. Or the original Tralf on Main Street. These were places where live music was king, but it was the atmosphere, the company, the whole gestalt of it all that made it … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘The Undeniable Sound Of Right Now’ at Road Less Traveled Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘1776’ at O’Connell & Company
“Hamilton” may be the buzzy American origin story that everyone has been talking about since its premiere in 2015, but did you know that a different—albeit much less flashy—musical forged that path almost 50 years earlier? While “political procedural with the occasional chorus line” might be a more accurate description than “musical” for “1776,” it … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘1776’ at O’Connell & Company
Theatre Review: ‘Late In The Evening: The World According To Paul Simon’ at MusicalFare Theatre
You might have large expectations for "Late in the Evening," a MusicalFare production based on the works of Paul Simon, if you are a fan of Simon the musician and songwriter. And MusicalFare, with its cozy close proximity seating to the stage is a venue that holds even more promise. . . .an absolute banquet … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Late In The Evening: The World According To Paul Simon’ at MusicalFare Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!’ at The Taylor Theatre
The lovely Taylor Theater at the Kenan Center in Lockport has reopened and is now the home of the Carriage House Players. This weekend David Lundy is performing at the Taylor Theatre as Harry Truman in a one-man show by Samuel Gallu, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” . . .skillful and entertaining. . . The title … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!’ at The Taylor Theatre
Theatre Review: ‘Hamilton’ at RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre
When John Szablewski previously reviewed “Hamilton” at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre for the Buffalo Theatre Guide, he purposely went into it with limited prior knowledge of the show and without having listened to the soundtrack. Contrary to Szablewski’s fresh take, I would consider myself a “Hamilton” fanatic. In fact I was among those considering selling a … Continue reading Theatre Review: ‘Hamilton’ at RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre
