Category: Reviews

Freud’s Last Session produced by the Guthrie Theater at the Dowling Studio

The Guthrie has borrowed from the current Off-Broadway theater for its new play, Freud’s Last Session by Mark St. Germain. It’s cropping up from one coast to the other. Apparently there’s a hunger for a straightforward, intellectual, “talky” play –…

Walking Shadow Theatre Company presents Schiller’s Mary Stuart at Red Eye Theater

Walking Shadow Theatre Company takes on a centuries-old mystery in a modernized version of Schiller’s Mary Stuart. On an art deco-suggestive unit set, courtiers in dark suits stride in and out with their urgent pleadings before the Queen. Elizabeth, played…

Ash Land by Transatlantic Love Affair, performing at Illusion Theater

Here’s the ensemble-created plot of the affecting Ash Land (Transatlantic Love Affair, performing at Illusion Theater as part of their Lights Up! series, through Feb 22): John and Mary Stone’s farm is suffering the triple whammy of Drought, Dust and Depression.…

The Very Hungry Caterpillar produced by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia at Children’s Theatre Company

Children’s Theatre Company is ready to brighten up a cold, dark winter evening – with black light. And what a dandy way it is to bring the stories of children’s book illustrator and writer, Eric Carle, to life on stage.…

NIWA GEKIDAN PENINO–“Out There” at The Walker

I think I’m going to stick with the theme of upended expectations while reviewing this year’s “Out There” Series at The Walker.  Last night’s production, Kuro Tanino’s “Nikwa Gekidan Penino” (The Room Nobody Knows) was the poster boys (boys?) for that…

The School For Lies at Park Square Theatre

A play has two primary sources of appeal.  First, there is the moment-by-moment texture.  Is it fun to act?  Fun to watch?  Does the language enthrall, are there compelling nooks and crannies in the characters?  Does the design provide good…

Xtreme Theatre Smackdown, produced by Theatre Unbound

It’s called the Xtreme Theatre Smackdown: Six playwrighting teams, a collection of actors and directors, and all y’all out there who provided input on the producing company’s (Theatre Unbound) website. Judging by the size of the audience, that was a…

WONDERBAUM & LAPD at The Walker’s Out There 2014

Almost a decade ago, I learned my lesson about walking into a theatre space and rolling my eyes at the set.  I was at the Walker Art Center’s annual “Out There” series.  Back then I was going through my first…