Reviews

Review: Jekyll & Hyde at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews January 19, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Murder. Madness. Mayhem. It’s all there awaiting you behind the façade. A darkened alleyway; a decent down stone stairs to the underbelly of Saint Paul Street and you shall find yourself amid the most diabolical musical mastery The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre has offered up on its stage in a great many years. Jekyll & Hyde sets to the stage with relentless power; a beast of a musical under the refined Direction of Fuzz Roark and superb resplendence of Musical Director Michael Tan,

Review: Other Desert Cities at Fells Point Corner Theatre

Reviews January 17, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Telling the truth is an expensive hobby. The costs are steep, the prices are high, and in the end the results can be catastrophic. In this riveting and politically charged Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Jon Robin Baitz, Fells Point Corner Theatre showcases an extraordinarily talented cast under exceptional direction with their production of Other Desert Cities. Directed by Michael Byrne Zemarel, this intense familial story focuses on opposing political views across the parental and child generations with a shocking family secret that can destroy the foundation upon which such a life was built.

Review: Rehearsal For Murder at Reston Community Players

Reviews January 16, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s a playwright’s prerogative to be mysterious. But when mystery and intrigue turn into scandal and spookiness there’s thrills to be had around every corner. A titular and haunting production of D. D. Brooke’s Rehearsal For Murder, based upon the teleplay of the same name by Richard Levinson and William Link, is setting up shop at the Reston Community Players this January. Ready to purge the audience of any remnants of the saccharine holiday,

Review: A Shot in the Dark at Prince George’s Little Theatre

Reviews January 12, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

The pure science of criminology will bring about the truth of the matter in this delicate situation: Prince George’s Little Theatre has filled their stage with disastrously hilarious mayhem by mounting A Shot in the Dark. Directed by Keith Brown, this dated whodunit mystery is receiving a refreshing makeover upon the PGLT stage this winter season. An honest hoot, this murderous marvel is packed full of laughter, surprise, and a rousing good time for all.

Review: Orson’s Shadow at Silver Spring Stage

Reviews January 11, 2015 Patrick Albright

After gaining control of my excitement over the chance to see my first production at Silver Spring Stage, I decided to do a little exploration on the plot of their current production, Orson’s Shadow. Written by Austin Pendleton, the play is a fictional story about a true situation of the dramatic and intertwined relationships between Hollywood egos; a writer, a critic, an actor, and a director. The Stage’s production of this piece is a roller coaster ride into the lives of some of the most beloved famous icons of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Review: Interlock at Vagabond Players

Reviews January 11, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Cinderella’s prince will wake up with soot on his face. Betrayal. Misery. Suspense. The unexpected and yet just desserts served with delicious vindication. An evening at the theatre never brought about such intrigue until The Vagabond Players dusted off a lesser-known Ira Levin work; Interlock. Not the edge-of-your-seat mystery thrillers the playwright often gets recognized for, this classic work simmers with sophistication under the skilled Direction of Roy Hammond. The third installment of the Vags 99th season,

Review: The T Party at Forum Theatre

Reviews January 11, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Labels are for soup cans! Join the party— The T Party— at Forum Theatre this January for their exciting remount of the world premier of their gender-driven conversation starter The T Party. Having absolutely nothing to do with the political party— as the show was being conceptualized and work-shopped before the party was formed— this provocative, evocative conversational piece of theatrical work is a compelling and connective cabaret of gender-binary defying stories,

Review: Fortune’s Child at Baltimore Theatre Project

Reviews January 10, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

They say life is for the living so live it or you’re better off dead. A quote that may sound harsh especially in the face of the dying, but it’s the honest reality of living. Life interrupts life, even the life of the dying, and that’s a fact. Baltimore-based playwright Mark Scharf captures the essence of humanity at its most simple— living life— with his new play Fortune’s Child, making its premier through the Actors Equity Association Members Project Code at The Baltimore Theatre Project.

Review: The Illusionists at The Kennedy Center

Reviews January 9, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Are you ready to witness the impossible? Theatrical magic at its utmost spectacular, The Illusionists: Witness the Impossible have arrived in a puff of glorious smoke and are ready to impress theatergoers across Washington DC as they take their illusions to the stage of The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Directed and Choreographed by Neil Dorward, this high-octane, riveting magical show defies description with its flashy and edgy new approach to magic— bringing big tricks an uncanny intimacy from the even bigger stage.

Review: References to Salvador Dalì Make Me Hot at Single Carrot Theatre

Reviews January 9, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

The universe is an optical illusion. Domesticity verses wildlife; the age-long endless battle of which is natural and which is right. Single Carrot Theatre investigates this controversial topic with their production of Josè Rivera’s References to Salvador Dalì Make Me Hot. Directed by Steven J. Satta, this surrealist work based in reality with hints of magical realism and dream-escapism lives up to the standard of the typical Carrot productions: making you think whilst spinning you about in blissful confusion.

Review: Julius Caesar at The Rude Mechanicals

Reviews January 8, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Friends! Romans! Washingtonians! The time has come to take a stand against the inconstant shifting nature of theatre in Washington DC! Hail The Rude Mechanicals and their rebellious production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Directed by company founder Jaki Demarest, this scandalous production takes the great Roman Empire to 1920’s soviet occupied Russia. Stalin, proletariat, rebellion; all encompassed in Demarest’s revolutionary vision of one of the Bard’s milder tragedies.

With honor in one eye and death in the other,

(l to r) Mark (Steven Carpenter) Joey (Christopher Herring) and Sebastian (Conrad Feininger)

Review: In Praise of Love at Washington Stage Guild

Reviews January 5, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Every story tells a picture. The Washington Stage Guild has created quite the masterpiece with the story they are telling by bringing a Terence Rattigan work to the stage for the first time in Washington DC since the mid 70’s. In Praise of Love, Directed by Laura Giannarelli, is delightfully touching; a heart-warming slice-of-life drama that represents the epitome of a modern classic. With moment to moment realness that takes the audience into the reality of the characters,

Review- A Christmas Carol 1933: A Live Radio Play at Parlor Room Theater

Reviews December 20, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

The true power of theatre is to touch people’s lives and make them think, even just for a little while, a little less about their troubles. This time of year when people so keenly feel the troubles that surround them, Parlor Room Theater is working their power and their magic through a well-known Christmas story allowing audiences everywhere to feel the spirit of Christmas and forget about their troubles and their strife while indulging in a new adaptation of Dickens’ holiday classic.

Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Kennedy Center

Reviews December 19, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther 2 Comments

Strange as it seems there’s been a run of crazy dreams, and none quite so crazy as the new touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat now appearing on the Opera House stage of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Presented by Independent Presenters Network under the Direction of Andy Blankenbuehler with Musical Direction by Wayne Green, this rebooted conceptualization of the hit musical is targeting a younger,

Review: Mary Poppins at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia

Reviews December 18, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

This Christmas season is a jolly holiday indeed over at Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia as they serve up true theatrical magic at its finest with their production of Disney’s Mary Poppins. Making its regional debut with original music by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman; new songs, music, and lyrics provided by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and book by Julian Fellowes this wondrous production brings all the magic one needs for a practically-perfect holiday and an exceptionally spirited new year.

Review: The Color Purple at ArtsCentric

Reviews December 15, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Have you heard about po’ chile Celie? Have you heard about The Color Purple? Have you heard about ArtsCentric? The blossoming Baltimore-based company is bringing a quality show to the stage this holiday season with their production of the Alice Walker Pulitzer Prize-Winning novel-inspired musical. Directed by Kevin S. McAllister with Musical Direction by Cedric D. Lyles, this emotionally provocative, gripping musical is a heart-changing, inspiring story perfect for this time of year when everyone’s heart could use a little reminder of faith,

Review: Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge at Silver Spring Stage

Reviews December 14, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Ho-ho-humbug and all that rot! Christmas is enough to make you gag. That’s the Christopher Durang interpretation, though one would expect nothing less from the satirizing parody artist. Silver Spring Stage has gone round the twist this holiday season by mounting Durang’s unusual Christmas play Mrs. Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge for a two-weekend limited engagement run over the month of December. Directed by Star Johnson with Musical Direction by Jimmy Mrose,

Review: Deathtrap at Everyman Theatre

Reviews December 13, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

There’s no place like home for the holidays. Everyman Theatre is bringing home five of their company members for a holiday performance like no other this December as they mount Ira Levin’s classic thriller Deathtrap on their stage for Christmas. Directed by founding Artistic Director Vincent M. Lancisi, a little suspense makes the perfect stocking stuffer this season. Equal parts comedy and suspense; the precarious balance between darkly humorous and spine-tingling is delivered exceptionally in this devilishly thrilling performance.

Review: A Revolutionary Christmas at Maryland Ensemble Theatre

Reviews December 8, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

At this festive time of year when everyone is presenting their decorated version of Dickens’ holiday classic (and yes, even MET is doing that in their family series) it comes as a revitalizing surprise to see the Maryland Ensemble Theatre producing a Christmas original on their main stage. Written by company member Reiner Prochaska, this quaint tale is richly populated with local flavor and all the right notions to tug gently at the heartstrings for this spirited time of year.

Review: The Odyssey at Baltimore Theatre Project

Reviews December 8, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

What sort of performance doth await you here? Be it civilized or savage? Humane or hateful? Before the child of morning, Rosy-fingered Dawn, arrives, well, you’ll see exactly what sort of wily adventure you’re in for at Baltimore Theatre Projects. As one of precious few non-holiday shows this December, solo artist Charlie Bethel returns to the stage with his one-man performance of Homer’s epic tale. The Odyssey is Bethel’s adaptation of Odysseus in a fashion the likes of which seems impossible.

Review: It’s A Wonderful Life at Howard Community College Arts Collective

Reviews December 6, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

No man is a failure who has friends. At this festive time of year it is easy to lose sight of such a simple message among all the decorations and holiday events. Howard Community College’s Arts Collective reminds us of the true joys of Christmas with their resplendent production of It’s A Wonderful Life. Directed by Gareth Kelly and Anthony Scimonelli, this heartwarming classic is reimagined to the stage in a most spectacular fashion.

Belle (L- Lauren Giglio) Tiny Tim (C-Sophia Nasreen Riazi-Sekowski) and Scrooge (R- Ray Converse) celebrating a Christmas miracle.

Review: A Christmas Carol at Wolf Pack Theatre Company

Reviews December 3, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

The bells of St. John are ringing you in for holiday season. Wolf Pack Theatre Company is proud to present an original adaptation written and directed by William Leary of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. When everyone is popping this holiday classic onto their stages this time of year as the Christmas Cash-cow, Leary’s socially brilliant commentary brings the story to modern day times and highlights the social issues that are so prevalently buried in Dickens’ original text that are all too often forgotten or overlooked in favor of spectacle.

Review: Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol at Adventure Theatre MTC

Reviews December 1, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Deck the halls with boughs of holly! Fa-la-la-la-la! La-la-la— wait a minute— that’s a different Christmas story all together. Of course, so is the inventive reimagined retelling of the Dickensian Christmas classic this holiday season at Adventure Theatre Musical Theatre Center. Making its world premier in Glen Echo Park, this exciting new adaptation by Ken and Jack Ludwig engages children of all ages into the fantastical Christmas tale written by Charles Dickens so many years ago.

Review: The Wizard of Oz at Charm City Players

Reviews November 30, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Just click your heels three times and say “There’s no place like Charm City Players. There’s no place like Charm City Players. There’s no place like Charm City Players!” in the first production of their 2014/2015 calendar season, Charm City Players is taking its audience down the well-traveled yellow brick road to the Emerald City with their production of The Wizard of Oz. A timeless stage classic, the family-friendly musical offers a sweet alternative to the holiday shows popping up all across town during this festive time of year.

Review: The Nutcracker at The Puppet Company

Reviews November 29, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Now entering its 26th year as a holiday tradition in Washington DC, The Puppet Company proudly presents Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in all its resplendent Christmas glory in a fashion that can only be seen upon the magical stage at Glen Echo Park. Originally taking the stage in 1988 with the Arlington Symphony, the production is gloriously remounted with Director and Puppetmaster Christopher Piper at the helm. Spearheading a team of performers including Joshua Aaron Rosenblum,

Review: It’s A Wonderful Life at Pasadena Theatre Company

Reviews November 29, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Every time a bell rings an angels gets his wings; so listen closely to see if you can hear the bells ringing at the Pasadena Theatre Company presents the non-musical version of the Frank Capra film It’s A Wonderful Life. Directed by Chuck Dick and Sharon Steele, this timeless holiday classic will warm the cockles of your heart as it reminds audiences everywhere of the simplest of joys at the holidays— family and friends.

Review: The Man Who Came To Dinner at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews November 23, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

During this festive season the overwhelming urge to invite friends and family around to the house for dinner creeps up out of nowhere, much like the sharp biting winter chill of the season. The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre reminds people everywhere why dinner guests are an atrocious idea, especially at this time of year with their zany and highly amusing production of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Review: Coriolanus at Cohesion Theatre Company

Reviews November 22, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

The end of war is uncertain; Cohesion Theatre Company making an impact in the Highlandtown Arts District with their inaugural production Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, is certain. Exploding onto the scene with one of the lesser performed tragedies in the Bard’s repertoire, the new Baltimore-based company settles in with an ambitious first show, delivering on their company’s namesake a hybrid of classic tragedy with modern minimalist influences. Directed by company Co-Founder Alicia Stanley,

Review: Five Guys Named Moe at Arena Stage

Reviews November 21, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

You can’t eat away the blues. You can’t wish away the blues, heck most of us can’t even sing away the blues. But Arena Stage, in a co-production with Cleveland Play House is going to blow away the blues with their production of Clarke Peter’s Five Guys Named Moe. Directed by Robert O’Hara with Musical Direction by Darryl G. Ivey, this bouncy musical zinger features the greatest hits of Louis Jordan.

Review: The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide…at Theater J

Reviews November 19, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Dreams are what sustain the human need for remaining alive. They perpetuate the notion of living until they are achieved. But what happens when one’s dream is to no longer be living? Reality implodes upon itself in a chaotic and cosmically imbalanced sense the result of which is life viewed through the lenses of comically dark reality. Everyone has problems, some more than most, and Theater J proudly presents the Washington DC area premier of The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures,