This review aired on KBAQ October 25, 2010

ARIZONA OPERA’S “PIRATES” TOO OPERATIC

“THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE”
Arizona Opera, Symphony Hall
Phoenix, AZ

When Gilbert and Sullivan operettas premiered in the late 19th century, they were theatrical revolutions. For the first time, contemporary theater included pointed political slams. Today, these now creaky shows don’t have the sting they once had and the sing songy music isn’t as pleasing. The silly stories now plod, and, while a few political jabs are still potent, they represent a distant historical time without much relevance today.

For a Gilbert and Sullivan piece like Arizona Opera’s weekend staging of “The Pirates … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 21, 2010

LONDON THEATER REVIEW – THE DUDS

“SISTER ACT”
London Palladium
London, England

“LOVE NEVER DIES”
Adelphi Theatre
London, England

“THE SECRET OF SHERLOCK HOLMES”
Duchess Theatre
London, England

While most London theater is top notch, when shows fail, they are often real duds. On Monday, I discussed three London hits. Today I’ll look at three shows that don’t deliver.

Two are musicals scheduled for Broadway, “Sister Act,” based on the popular comedy film and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s dreadful “Phantom of the Opera” sequel, “Love Never Dies.” The play “The Secret of Sherlock Holmes” also fails to develop a promising premise. Of these shows two, … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 18, 2010

LONDON THEATER REVIEW – THE HITS

“PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT”
Palace Theatre
London, England

“WAR HORSE”
New London Theatre
London, England

“DEATHTRAP”
Noel Coward Theatre
London, England

There’s always rivalry between New York and London over which city dominates English speaking theater. A recent London trip afforded the chance to see six of the latest West End shows and helped structure a reasoned answer to the dispute.

Broadway leads the musical theater world but London takes the honors for plays. While some Broadway musicals debuted in the West End, hit London musicals are usually recent Broadway successes. Most London musicals that haven’t hit … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 14, 2010

SNAPPY “SUGAR” BRASSY FUN BUT NOT “SOME LIKE IT HOT”

“SUGAR”
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
Mesa, AZ

In 1972, when “Sugar” debuted on Broadway, it had triumph marked all over it. It was the musical version of the hit 1959 Billy Wilder comedy film classic, “Some Like It Hot.” But it was an old fashioned show in an era of changing musical theater tastes and the stage version lacked the movie’s stellar comedic zing that came from the stellar cast – Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon.

“Sugar’s” been forgotten because it didn’t duplicate the film’s success. … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 11, 2010

“BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS” ABOUT GINGER ROGERS DOESN’T WORK

“BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS – THE GINGER MUSICAL”
Arizona Theatre Company, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

Ginger Rogers’ life establishing her movie career wasn’t that fascinating. So the new stage musical biography, “Backwards in High Heels,” presented by Arizona Theatre Company, doesn’t work. Couple Rogers’ uninteresting story with a lackluster production and you never get a hint of why her famous routines with Fred Astaire became Hollywood legends.

The biggest drawback is Lynnette Barkley and Christopher McGovern’s miserable script. It begins when the 16-year-old Texas tap dancer breaks into … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 7, 2010

RICHARDSON DELIVERS A GLISTENING PERFORMANCE IN FINE “FENCES”

“FENCES”
Black Theatre Troupe, Playhouse on the Park
Phoenix. AZ

As you enter the Playhouse on the Park for Black Theatre Troupe’s fine production of August Wilson’s Pulitzer-Prize winning play “Fences,” you see Lillie Richardson sitting on the porch of the Maxon’s family home working on dinner vegetables. In a few minutes of watching this superb actor, you learn a lot about her Rose, Troy’s wife of 18 years.

She’s quiet, she’s devoted, she’s detail oriented, she cares about her family’s well being, and she’s a hard worker. For much … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 4, 2010

3 REDNECK TENORS RETURN WITH A NEW AND BETTER SHOW

“3 REDNECK TENORS: BROADWAY BOUND”
Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

The 3 Redneck Tenors are a musically gifted trio who add down-home and corny humor to their performances. They’ve been at Phoenix Theatre before and are back with a new and better show, “Broadway Bound.” For their return, PT’s producing artistic director, Michael Barnard helped them create, stage, and polish this latest production pays tribute to Broadway show tune hits.

Around their rich musical interpretations of these classic songs, the trio spins out lots of crazy and usually predictable … Continue Reading