This review aired on KBAQ November 29, 2012

DONNY & MARIE CHRISTMAS SHOW MORE LAS VEGAS THAN HOLIDAY

“DONNY & MARIE CHRISTMAS IN ARIZONA”
ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

A Las Vegas celebrity attraction arrived in Tempe Tuesday with the opening of “Donny & Marie Christmas in Arizona” at ASU Gammage.  It wasn’t even a particularly good Las Vegas production as the tacky looking show lacks elaborate mounting, the supporting dancer/singers weren’t anything special, the choreography was rudimentary, and even the stars themselves just ramble around chatting and adlibbing as they do as they please.  The show is supposed to be a Christmas extravaganza but it … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ November 19, 2012

FASCINATING “LOMBARDI” REVEALS A LOT MORE THAN SPORTS

“LOMBARDI”
Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

Sports don’t interest many theatergoers so I wondered what reaction Arizona Theatre Company’s southwest premiere staging of “Lombardi,” Eric Simonson’s play about football’s legendary coach, Vince Lombardi, would solicit.  But the excellent production and fascinating way the playwright adapted the biography, “When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi,” makes the play less about sports and more about Lombardi’s unique approach to life and how his attitudes influenced his successes.

It is November 1965, the height of Lombardi’s … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ November 15, 2012

“ANYTHING GOES” A BIG HIT AT ASU GAMMAGE

“ANYTHING GOES”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

After so many mediocre touring Broadway shows at ASU Gammage in the last few seasons, it’s great to attend the rousing “Anything Goes” production this week.

The top-notch staging duplicates the successful Broadway revival of the popular 1934 Cole Porter musical hit that is filled with song classics.  The sophisticated book is loaded with clever dialogue while the silly but charmingly fun story creates a rich environment to display Kathleen Marshall breezy staging and delightfully varied choreography.  The spirited … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ November 12, 2012

ACTORS THEATRE “OPUS” WELL DONE BUT SCRIPT DISAPPOINTS

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

We all know that the creative process that leads to the artistic performances we witness is fraught with squabbles, interpretative indecision and differences, plus performance styles that influence the process.

Therefore, the bickering and variance among the five people involved in a White House performance of a world-famous string quartet, is at the heart of “Opus,” Actors Theatre’s latest production.  The byplay between the quartet members is interesting but the endless disagreements get draggy and unusually pronounced in the show.  … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ November 5, 2012

PHOENIX THEATRE’S “DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN” IS CRUDE WITH CRASS JOKES

“DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN”
Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

“Defending the Cavemen,” Phoenix Theatre’s latest production, is a crude, stand-up solo comedy routine appropriate for those who enjoy the crass jokes that have been heard a million times before.  “Defending the Caveman” is certainly not an evening of true comedic theater.  The person who executed it opening night, Paul Perroni, is one of two actors who alternate at the various performances.

As Perroni paced back and forth randomly and boringly on the scantily set stage, it was obvious that “Defending … Continue Reading