Recent Reviews
Review: Romeo and Juliet by Mary Moody Northen Theatre
by Michael Meigs
Published on February 23, 2018
In this Romeo and Juliet the young persons are the story, and they carry the story. Director Robert Tolaro uses his three older Equity actors wisely, leaving room for the hot-blooded, the love-struck and the lovelorn.
Every teen deserves to attend a good staging of Romeo and Juliet, and the production now at the Mary Moody Northen Theatre is just that. On opening night I happened to sit next to a young woman who was thrilled by the opportunity. Not a student at St. Edward's University either; she'd read the play in high school and had watched Zeffirelli's film over and over again, and she was rapt to see that …
Review: Bless Me, Ultima by Classic Theatre of San Antonio
by Kurt Gardner
Published on February 22, 2018
Andrew Treviño and Marisa Varela are perfectly cast as Antonio and Ultima in the Classic Theatre's sterling production of Rudolfo Anaya's breakthrough work of Chicano literature.
Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya's adaptation of his classic, arrives at the Classic Theatre in a sterling production. The 1972 work was a real breakthrough in Chicano literature, with its mixture of English and Spanish and emphasis on native mysticism. Those aspects are all effectively carried over to the play. Set in post-World War II New Mexico, this it the coming-of-age story of Antonio. a dreamy youth who is given invaluable guidance from Ultima, a …
Review: Smokey Joe's Cafe by Tex-Arts
by Brian Paul Scipione
Published on February 19, 2018
Smokey Joe’s Café is a must-see for anyone who is a fan of the music of the fifties and sixties -- or anyone in need of a rollicking good time!
Pop music has evolved throughout the years but in one of is earliest incarnations it was constrained by an approximate three-minute song limit. Music historians point out that the reason for this is because a 45 record could only hold that much music, so in order to get your song on the radio you had to, in the words of Billy Joel “cut it down to 3:05.” Many songwriters of the time took this …
Review: School of Rock by touring company
by Brian Paul Scipione
Published on February 17, 2018
School of Rock is cast pitch perfect, and it's a refreshing break to see a show that is all about having fun and sticking it to the man.
“It’s called growing up, you should try it.” So, says Patty to Dewey Finn, an out of work rock and roll singer and guitarist. Dewey’s just been fired from his last band and has been sponging of Patty’s boyfriend Ned Schneebly, his old, loyal friend and former bandmate. Dewey is at rock bottom, so he does what’s only natural for him: he tries to find a way to sink lower. This he does by stealing …
Review: Esther, a new musical by SoundBeacon Entertainment
by Michael Meigs
Published on February 17, 2018
Newly founded SoundBeacon Entertainment took on this big project in ambitious style and with a good understanding of how to market it. Expect to hear more from them before long.
Austin's new production company SoundBeacon Entertainment took over the Kleberg, Zach Theatre's mid-sized stage, for a one-night oratorio presentation of Esther, A New Musical, a work by board members Glenna Bowman and Matthew Shead along with pianist-composer Thomas Azar. The fourteen-member local cast was led by Austin favorites Ryan Smith in the title role and tall, well-mannered and mellifluous Matthew Redden, aptly cast as King Xerxes. Other faces were equally familiar from Austin's musical …
Review: The Seagull by Austin Shakespeare
by Michael Meigs
Published on February 15, 2018
Moral: Great thoughts, particularly those of Art (with a capital "A") that would make Existence meaningful sink like deadweight, leaving us with yearnings that carry us along through life like rafts of shipwrecked timber.
Entertainment site TimeOut Austin ran an interview with director Ann Ciccolella under the title "'The Seagull' Takes Flight at Austin Shakespeare." Written no doubt with the best of intentions and presumably without the advice of interviewer Andrew J. Friedenthal, that heading was one of terrible, unintended irony. Chekhov would have appreciated it. Because the titular seagull of Chekhov's first major success as a playwright doesn't fly at all. It's a dead bird, shot down …