Theater Review – May 26, 2019

“ONCE” A CELEBRATION OF IRISH LIFE AND HOW TAKING CHANCES WORKS

“ONCE”
Mainstage Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre Company
Phoenix, AZ

“Once” is a joyous celebration of life in a small Irish town where long-hidden dreams become realities as residents push each other to explore their inspirations.  Girl pushes Guy, a local repairman who works for his father fixing vacuum cleaners, to explore his passion for creating lovely melodies with touchingly romantic lyrics.  The provincial town doesn’t have room for creative pursuits but Girl encourages Guy to go to New York City to market his tunes.

Girl is trapped in a … Continue Reading

Theater Review – May 19, 2019

CHALLENGING “THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE” TAKES ON A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY

“THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE”
Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

Arizona Theatre Company’s superbly crafted American premiere production of Australian playwright Andrew Bovell’s “Things I Know to be True” is a challenge to watch.  The production is a blessing staged with fascinating patterns by director Mark Clements on Scott Davis’ marvelously designed expressionistic depiction of a family’s house that tells audiences a lot about the dysfunctional six person family audiences are about to meet.

But every character has weird hang-ups that dominate, … Continue Reading

Theater Review – May 18, 2019

LEA SALONGA DAZZLES SCOTTSDALE AUDIENCE WITH SUPERB VOCALS

LEA SALONGA
Virginia G. Piper Theater, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Scottsdale, AZ

Bliss is the word that best describes Lea Salonga’s stunning Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts concert.  Salonga looked dazzling as she slowly walked on stage for the first time since a January skiing accident caused a lengthy recovery with an assortment of devices.  But now all those encumbrances are behind her as a compression stocking hidden by two classy outfits let her still recovering broken leg not stop Salonga.

Let’s put the recovering leg aside and talk … Continue Reading

Theater Review – May 4, 2019

WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL “COOKIN’S A DRAG” IS A ONE JOKE DISAPPOINTMENT

“COOKIN’S A DRAG”
Hormel Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre Company
Phoenix, AZ

It’s rare for a world premiere musical to debut locally so there was interest in The Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of “Cookin’s a Drag.”  While enjoyable, well performed, and a breezy little entertainment, “Cookin’s a Drag” is not a musical destined to be a huge hit.

The show is a one joke story stretched out for way too long so the routine comedy get tiresome and repetitious while the predictable plot is so telescoped in the first few … Continue Reading