Recent Reviews
Review: The Santaland Diaries by Zach Theatre
by Michael Meigs
Published on December 18, 2012
Sedaris' text is smug and sarcastic, an appropriate antidote to all the sugar swirlilng around at this time of year, but Martin Burke himself is the reason to go see the supposed sayanora performances.
Zach Theatre Artistic Director Dave Steakley says that this is the last time -- for a while -- they'll stage David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries. This is the 15th (!) season they've done it, so perhaps it's time, but if like me you had abstained from attending this holiday ritual, it's time to swing on board before the caboose gets out of reach. The program states that Martin Burke has been doing his role as Crumpet …
Review: CL(100)49(P) by Rude Mechs
by Michael Meigs
Published on December 16, 2012
One understands that this cake hasn't yet been baked. A central feature of the Rudes' methodology is to run their creative imaginings repeatedly with different audiences and different creative participants until somehow the scenes coalesce.
The Rude Mechanicals ran a workshop performance of some of a new and as yet unnamed piece last Friday at their Off Center stage behind Joe's Bakery in east Austin. They charged nothing to attend the single staging, but prospective attendees had to sign up through an on-line service for the gratis tickets. All available seats were reserved well ahead of time. The printed program was enigmatic, a single sheet with unexplained designs thrust into …
Review: The Attic Space by Palindrome Theatre (2010-2013)
by Michael Meigs
Published on December 13, 2012
The Attic Space troubled me and haunted my wee hours; I wanted more from it. Thanks for the opportunity to be vexed!
Nigel, this is stupid stuff. There, now, I've said it. You and your friends of Palindrome have made arresting, sometimes astounding art in the three years that you promised yourselves for the experiment after your graduation from the theatre program at St. Ed's. You have shown yourself to be an impressive actor and promoter of our dear, beloved and commercially moribund art of live theatre, gathering award nominations and recognition along the way. …
Review: It's A Wonderful Life, a Live Radio Play by Penfold Theatre Company
by Michael Meigs
Published on December 04, 2012
Penfold's It's A Wonderful Life is a charmer and a thoroughly feel-good performance, particularly recommended for the holiday season.
Frank Capra's film It's A Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart captured the yearning, optimism and nostalgia for small-town U.S.A. in 1946, a time when millions of American men were returning from the war. The film made an unpromising start and was considered something of a failure in its first release, but yearly television showings of this black-and-white tale of redemption and grace set it deeply into our collective consciousness. Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed as his sweetheart, Lionel …
Review: Vodka, Fucking and Television by Breaking String Theater
by David Glen Robinson
Published on December 03, 2012
Of greatest enjoyment in Jude Hickey’s performance is his teaming with Joey Hood as Vodka. Together, they acted as a kind of Bobbsey Twins of temptation.
This play, written in 2003, may reach an apex in the new generation of Russian plays. Breaking String Theater Company is getting used to this Russian art explosion, having produced a number of Russian plays in translation, and producing this extremely well written comedy with an exceptional ensemble of some of Austin’s most talented actors. Liz Fisher directs Vodka, Fucking and Television for Breaking String. The only speed bump in the raceway to success for this …
Review: Grotesque and Arabesque - Poe Retold by Weird City Theatre
by David Glen Robinson
Published on November 23, 2012
The stage artists showed profound respect for the literary artist, expressed in the best way they knew how to express it—on stage. At that moment I knew I could trust Weird City with my Poe.
I keep hearing the BLUE Theatre is closed or closing, but I keep going there to shows, despite the construction and demolition all around it. Now Weird City Theatre has installed in it Grotesque and Arabesque: Poe Retold, a bold collection of five one-acts abstracted from five of Poe’s horror stories. The story treatments were written by Weird City Theatre company members or associates, and they arrive on stage as one-act plays just in time for …