This review aired on KBAQ January 30, 2012

HISTORIC EVENT DOESN’T WORK AS PLAY IN “DREYFUS IN REHEARSAL”

“DREYFUS IN REHEARSAL”
Arizona Jewish Theatre Company, John Paul Theatre, Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ

There’s a fascinating historical story behind “Dreyfus in Rehearsal,” Arizona Jewish Theatre Company’s current production, but playwright Jean-Claude Grumberg and adapter Garson Kanin never link the history effectively with a small Polish theater troupe that is presenting a play about it.  The result is a long, slow, amazingly dry, and lifeless play.

There are some awkward stabs at making the “Dreyfus Affair,” a rigged trial of French-Jewish Army Captain Alfred Dreyfus in the 1890s, … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 23, 2012

THEATER WORKS “DIXIE SWIM CLUB” IS FUNNY AND WELL STAGED

“THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB”
Theater Works
Peoria, AZ

There’s a wonderful surprise for audiences at Theater Works in the funny and beautifully presented “The Dixie Swim Club.”  The Jesse Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jaime Wooten comedy deals with the oft tackled subject of friendship but the comedy is loaded with genuine laughs, the story approaches the familiar subject differently than similar plays, and the staging shines with glowing professionalism.

In it, five longtime women friends meet each August at a North Carolina beach cottage to jab and jibe … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 16, 2012

PHOENIX THEATRE’S “THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES” FUN & ENTERTAINING

“THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES”
Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

There’s a fun 1958 Senior Prom at Phoenix Theatre in the entertaining “The Marvelous Wonderettes.”  The musical tells about a quartet of female high school singers who entertain at the prom by presenting popular musical numbers from that year.  By the second act, 10 years have passed and the girls are now housewives, mothers, and career earners who gather at a high school reunion and pick up where the group left off as they sing new hit songs.

There’s some story as the … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 12, 2012

STELLAR “SOUTH PACIFIC” AT ASU GAMMAGE

“SOUTH PACIFIC”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

Is there anything better in theater than a stellar production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1949 musical hit “South Pacific”?  That’s exactly what you’ll see at ASU Gammage where the captivating tour artfully recreates the 2008 Tony Award winning Lincoln Center Theater revival.

Everything about the Broadway staging was perfect from an impeccable cast, to the faithfully restored now-standard cuts, to the richness of Richard Rodgers score.  The production was staged magnificently by Bartlett Sher.  The tour captures that revival’s sheen with … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 9, 2012

CHARMING ATC “DADDY LONG LEGS” IS GENUINELY ROMANTIC

“DADDY LONG LEGS”
Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

“Daddy Long Legs” is a charming, refreshingly honest, genuinely romantic little musical that’s making its local premiere at the Herberger Theater Center in a lovely and touching Arizona Theatre Company production.  If a simple musical about a slowly evolving romance warms you, “Daddy Long Legs” is for you.

In it, orphan Jerusha Abbot is singled out for her outstanding educational accomplishments by wealthy Jervis Pendleton who decides to pay for Jerusha’s college with no strings except that … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 2, 2012

ACTORS THEATRE’S “HUNTER GATHERERS” HYSTERICALLY BIZARRE

“HUNTER GATHERERS”
Actors Theatre, Stage West, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

“Hunter Gatherers,” Actors Theatre’s hysterically bizarre new production, explodes all over the stage as its wacky, far-fetched hilarity keeps audiences in stitches.  In Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s play two seemingly civilized and sophisticated couples get together for an annual joint anniversary celebration.  But when these couples join, their animalistic proclivities dominate and they do offensive things with each other.

The playwright suggests everyone stoops regularly to these basic desires and they complicate our lives.  The play dramatizes but Nachtrieb writes funny and … Continue Reading