This review aired on KBAQ October 31, 2011

POWERFUL “NEXT FALL” BEST ACTORS THEATRE PRODUCTION EVER

“NEXT FALL”
Actors Theatre, Stage West, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

Although Actors Theatre is embroiled in a severe financial crisis that may close the company, their latest production, “Next Fall,” is a powerful dramatic work, stunningly staged, and brilliantly acted.  It’s the best Actors Theatre production ever and that’s from a company that consistently does remarkable work.

Everything about “Next Fall” works.  Geoffrey Nauffts elegantly written dramaedy tackles critical contemporary issues with amazing insights but the serious issues are balanced with raucous humor.  Nauffts’ ideas are topical and contemporary … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 24, 2011

CREAKY STAGE “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE” WON’T MAKE YOU FORGET THE SUPERIOR FILM

“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”
Hale Centre Theatre
Gilbert, AZ

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is a great movie even though the story stoops to old fashioned sentimentality and blatant emotionalism to make its point about how important George Bailey’s life is even though he has lost faith in his purpose.

Frank Capra’s superlative direction coupled with the perfect cast has kept the film vibrant and moving even in today’s harsher and more realistic times.  Unfortunately, a creaky stage adaptation, now at the Hale Centre Theatre, appears … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 17, 2011

ATC’S NEW “SHERLOCK HOLMES” LACKS THE NECESSARY INTRIGUE

“SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE ADVENTURE OF THE SUICIDE CLUB”
Arizona Theatre Company, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

I wish I could be excited about Arizona Theatre Company’s world premiere “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club” but sleek and professional as the production at the Herberger Theater Center is, it lacks the necessary intrigue to be a successful spine-tingling mystery.

The fault is Jeffrey Hatcher’s contrived script which puts the detective and the usual characters into a dull-witted Robert Louis Stevenson short story to create a meandering, often … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 10, 2011

PHOENIX THEATRE’S DEEPLY MOVING “THE SPITFIRE GRILL” GUT WRENCHING

“THE SPITFIRE GRILL”
Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

It should be no surprise that I love entertaining boy meets girl musicals but gritty, reality based musicals are often more enlightening and dig deeper than their lightweight brethren.

The intimate “Spitfire Grill” now at Phoenix Theatre in a deeply moving production, is such a soul searching musical that grows more multi-faceted and complex as it progresses.  Add unusual but pleasing bluegrass songs and a gut wrenching musical results.  If you only like glitzy musicals, though, “The Spitfire Grill” isn’t for you.

Based … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 3, 2011

THEATER WORKS MOUNTS PROFICIENT “THE KING AND I”

“THE KING AND I”
Theatre Works, Peoria Center for the Performing Arts
Peoria, AZ

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s exotic “The King and I” is the team’s finest show.  The east-meets-west story set in Siam in 1862 pits Anna, an English school marm in Bangkok to teach the King’s children against the King who struggles with his desire to westernize his country.  The lovely songs combine Siamese musical flavorings with traditional tunes, while the ballet, “The Small House of Uncle Thomas,” is a fascinating eastern twist on the popular “Uncle Tom’s … Continue Reading