Theater Review – March 21, 2019

BRITISH FARCE MAY HAVE TICKLED LONDON AUDIENCES IT DOESN’T WORK HERE

“THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is a typical British farcical comedy which American audiences may find mildly amusing but it rarely creates the wild guffaws like it did for British theatergoers.  But American comedies often fall flat in London so it says something about what audiences on both sides of the Atlantic like.

While on a London holiday, I caught up with the long-running British comedy.  “The Play That Goes Wrong” is still going strong … Continue Reading

Theater Review – March 13, 2019

2019/20 SEASONS ANNOUNCED BY THREE LOCAL THEATERS

ASU GAMMAGE BROADWAY SEASON

ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY SEASON

THE PHOENIX THEATRE COMPANY SEASON

The Valley of the Sun’s three professional theaters have announced their 2019/20 seasons.  ASU Gammage will present 10 touring musicals, some are recent Broadway hits, others are recent revivals of classic shows and there are three return engagements of popular shows from recent seasons.  Arizona Theatre Company will mount six plays.  Four are announced but the last two will be selected by ATC’s new artistic director, Sean Daniels.  The Phoenix Theatre Company has the longest season lasting a full … Continue Reading

Theater Review – March 10, 2019

NEW PLAY FAILS TO MAKE IMAGINARY ROCKERS INTERESTING

“AIRNESS”
Hormel Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre Company
Phoenix, AZ

New plays are always exciting especially if the playwright is also relatively untested.  Audiences approach such a play with no expectations and they wonder if the characters will be unique and if the story is different and interesting.

Such is the situation with The Phoenix Theatre Company’s “Airness” by Chelsea Marcantel.  The local production is only the third time the piece has been presented.  The title refers to a new music phenomenon where performers simulate guitar strumming while miming but not singing rock … Continue Reading

Theater Review – March 9, 2019

CHATTY GAVIN CREEL SINGS MUSICAL THEATER CLASSICS GLORIOUSLY

GAVIN CREEL
Broadway @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Center for the Arts
Scottsdale, AZ

Broadway musical theater star Gavin Creel entered the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts for his solo appearance by roaming toward the stage from the back of the facility as he introduced himself and chatted with audience members.  He even grabbed a patron’s beverage on the way to the stage, had a taste, liked it, and, as he returned it, asked what it was.

That’s the way the entire concert with pianist/music director Seth Rudetsky … Continue Reading