This review aired on KBAQ May 26, 2014

SMASHINGLY SUCCESSFUL “MIRACLE WORKER” AT HALE CENTRE

“THE MIRACLE WORKER”
Hale Centre Theatre
Gilbert, AZ

Back in 1957 when William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker” premiered on television and in 1959 when a stage version opened on Broadway, the piece reintroduced blind and deaf Helen Keeler’s touching life story to America.  Helen’s high fever as an infant in the 1880’s left her with the challenging impairments.

The play and it’s story has all but disappeared since its initial splash but Gilbert’s resourceful community theater, the Hale Centre, has revived it in a smashingly successful production.  The company found a … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ May 19, 2014

2013/14 ARIZONA OPERA SEASON REVIEW

Arizona Opera
Symphony Hall
Phoenix, AZ

The Arizona Opera presented an impressively sung 2013/14 season of five operas in two venues.  I was only able to see three of the operas and of the productions I saw – Richard Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman,” Puccini’s “La Boheme,” and Verdi’s “La Traviata,” – I wasn’t impressed with the rather boringly staged productions and the mediocre sets and costumes, but I was amazed at the fine opera singers the company used who did justice to the great musical roles and acted the drama with enough … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ May 12, 2014

BLACK THEATRE’S “PURLIE” SPUTTERS AND SLOGS

“PURLIE”
Black Theatre Troupe, The Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center
Phoenix, AZ

“Purlie” is a rousing, soul-inspired musical that must explode across the stage to become a vibrant gospel show.  The current Black Theatre Troupe production falters on so many levels that it sputters and slogs through the throbbing musical score and the book scenes, based on Ossie Davis’ play “Purlie Victorious,” are dreadfully lethargic.

The show opens in the recent past of South Georgia where the tribulations of the Old South live on and Blacks remain second class citizens.  The … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ May 5, 2014

ATC’S “VENUS IN FUR” INSTILLED WITH DIVINE COMIC SHENANIGANS

“VENUS IN FUR”
Arizona Theatre Company, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

David Ives’ “Venus in Fur” lit up off-Broadway in 2010 followed by a successful 2011 Broadway transfer and it marks its local debut in a sparkling Arizona Theatre Company staging that is instilled with divine comic shenanigans.

In a two character play like “Venus in Fur” you must have two master comic farceurs and a dynamic director something the fine ATC production that is co-produced with the Seattle Repertory Theatre has in stager Shana Cooper and two comically … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ May 1, 2014

“ONCE” ISN’T WORTHY OF BEST MUSICAL TONY AND WELL PRODUCED “GOOD PEOPLE” TELLS ABOUT STRUGGLING POOR PEOPLE

Another busy theater opening period with last weekend’s Actors Theatre’s slickly polished “Good People” production, an interesting play about challenged people.  And Tuesday the bland and uninteresting musical “Once,” winner of the 2012 Tony Best Musical Award, premiered at ASU Gammage.

“ONCE”
Broadway Across America- Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

“Once” has a terrible pseudo-Irish-folk-song score.  The repetitious tunes blur together because they sound so similar.  The show is boringly staged by John Tiffany with uninteresting “movement” by Steven Hoggett.  The … Continue Reading