Theater Review – September 25, 2019

TOURING “MISS SAIGON” IS DECENT BUT THE MUSICAL IS NO LONGER VIABLE

“MISS SAIGON”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

The touring production of the recent Broadway revival of “Miss Saigon” at ASU Gammage is decent but the 1989 musical based on Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” has not stood the test of time.  The now clichéd story of Kim, a Vietnamese woman who gets wooed by the corrupt Engineer into a shoddy life of pleasing U.S. soldiers is overly melodramatic.  Her first conquest, Chris, leaves her with child.  She struggles to keep herself and her son, Tam, … Continue Reading

Theater Review – September 1, 2019

“KINKY BOOTS” DAZZLES IN SMASHING LOCAL PRODUCTION

“KINKY BOOTS”
Mainstage Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre Company
Phoenix, AZ

The Phoenix Theatre Company’s smashing staging of the entertaining “Kinky Boots” musical is one of the first regional productions of the hit Broadway tuner that won a slew of 2013 Tony Awards.  The local version explodes with energetic choreography, a superlative cast that delivers dynamic and comically delightful performances, contains sharp staging that give the show a dazzling performance.  Even the remarkable sets look just like the original show while splashy costumes amuse as they capture the characters with superlative definition.

Like I’ve … Continue Reading