The story of a youthful con artist, staying one step ahead of the law, living by his wits, naïve and fearless, is a great story. In the hands of accomplished writers, it transfers to the musical theater genre surprisingly well.…
Category: Reviews
Elf at the Ordway
Need a little “Sparklejollytwinklejingley†this Christmas season? Looking for an overload like indulging in an entire plate of Christmas cookies? I’ve got just the thing: take someone who could use a little Christmas to the Broadway musical, “Elf,†showing through…
The Servant Of Two Masters at the Guthrie Theater
The Servant Of Two Masters (at the Guthrie, through January 20). First some mechanicals come out in semi-darkness, speaking pidgin Italian. They kill the lights and we have an exquisite firefly effect: twinkling lights, hundreds of them, seeming to float…
A Behanding In Spokane at the Gremlin Theatre
Playwright Martin McDonagh has a rep as a hard-drinking Irishman, an angry and dyspeptic glorifier of domineering mothers, gravediggers, cripples (okay, let’s say differently abled wheelchair-bound schemers) and, in the case of A Behanding In Spokane (now playing at the…
It Is She Who I See by Interference Arts at the Ritz Theater
This is not exactly a review, but then “It Is She Who I See†is not exactly a play. I would like, however, to try to describe it to you because if you’re the sort of person whose interest is…
“Old Times” by Nightpath Theatre at The Loring Alley Theater
One of the pleasures of reviewing theater in the Twin Cities is discovering another brave, small theater company tackling a challenging play and nailing it. The company is Nightpath Theatre, the play is “Old Times,†a modern classic by Nobel…
How the Grinch Stole Christmas at The Children’s Theatre
The holiday season approaches, so it must be time once again for that lovable grouch called “Grinch†to attempt to steal Christmas from us. He can’t succeed, as we know, but it’s oh, so much fun watching him try. The…
In the Next Room at the Jungle Theater
The Jungle Theater has just opened Sarah Ruhl’s Tony-nominated play, “In the Next Room, or the vibrator play.†It’s created quite a buzz, and with good reason. It’s a thoroughly satisfying experience, if I may say, and certainly put the…
Kill Me Don’t Go by the Workhaus Collective performing at the Playwrights Center
Looking for something congenial? Sweet-tempered and entertaining? A play to reinforce your values, to send you strolling into the chilly evening, smiling, “Why, yes, I know those people well. They’re just like me.” If this is what you require I…
Company by Theatre Latté Da performing in the Ordway McKnight Theatre
Last night your indomitable HowWasTheShow.com reviewers, Janet Preus and John Olive, attended the Theater Latté Da opening of the masterwork Company (at the Ordway McKnight Theatre, through Nov 18). After the show they repaired to the bar at Kincaid’s for…