Recent Reviews
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Review: All Is Calm by Playhouse San Antonio
by Kurt Gardner
Published on December 07, 2016
This affecting musical tribute to the soldiers of World War I provides a welcome message of peace just in time for the holidays.
Following one of the most divisive elections in American history, it’s highly appropriate for the Playhouse San Antonio to offer a superb production of All is Calm: the Christmas Truce of 1914 to spread a much-needed message of peace. The Great War was raging in December 1914, and no less imposing a figure than Pope Benedict XV pleaded with the German, French, and British governments to cease fire at least for Christmas Day, but …
Review: A Christmas Carol: A Rockin' Musical by Zach Theatre
by Michael Meigs
Published on December 05, 2016
Director Steakley serves up a production with more elegant delights than a mail-order fruitcake from Neiman Marcus.
That glossy Zach Theatre program produced by PAPI is emblazoned with a leapin' rock 'n' roll picture and the bright legend LET'S PARTY! It reflects precisely director Dave Steakley's creative aim with this third iteration of A Christmas Carol. It no longer carries the explanatory gloss A Rockin' Musical, but that's exactly what it is -- more than two hours of lively entertainment, offering covers of pop music and swift-moving stage choreography to amplify the story of …
Review: Nuestra Pastorela by Teatro Vivo
by Michael Meigs
Published on December 03, 2016
Director Ricky Ramón evokes a lively circus-style performance from his clowns, rich in gesture and pantomime. They frustrate minor devil Pingo, who's doing everything possible to keep these Bozos out of Bethlehem.
This weekend we attended Teatro Vivo's Nuestra Pastorela on Thursday and Zach Theatre's Christmas Carol on Friday, so as K. commented, we're now well prepared for the Christmas season. For Mexican and Tejano communities the pastorela tradition is as fundamental as Dickens' Christmas fable is for English speakers. The differences are immense and instructive. Dickens published his novella in 1843. Franciscan friars established the pastorela tradition soon after the conquista. One of the earliest documented instances was La Comedia de …
Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Woodlawn Theatre
by Kurt Gardner
Published on December 02, 2016
The Woodlawn Theatre production, directed by William McCray and Michelle Pietri, emphasizes the fun to be had in the music itself, making this a bright, family-friendly entertainment.
Though it was written first, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was initially promoted in America as the follow-up to their 1969 hit Jesus Christ Superstar. Since then it has become a staple for theater companies around the world. It certainly shows the composer-lyricist team in a decidedly playful mood. Like Superstar, Joseph’s story is based on the Bible, and they have some approaches in common. Both are …
Review: Present Laughter by Austin Shakespeare
by Michael Meigs
Published on November 22, 2016
In Noël Coward's witty drawing-room comedy emotions swirl about ever so polite characters, and there are plenty of hungry hearts and deceits. Matinée idol protagonist Gary Essendine's unashamed indulgence is refreshing by contrast.
Most of those in Noël Coward's London audiences would have immediately caught the Shakespeare reference of the title. In Twelfth Night Feste the clown serenades Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek: O mistress mine, where are you roaming?O, stay and hear; your true love's coming,That can sing both high and low:Trip no further, pretty sweeting;Journeys end in lovers meeting,Every wise man's son doth know. What is love? 'tis not hereafter;Present mirth hath present laughter;What's …
Review: Bajo Terapía by Pedemonte Productions
by Michael Meigs
Published on November 20, 2016
Bajo Terapía presents itself as bouncy comedy, where one would like to step into the same room and interact with the characters. And a final plot twist is likely to take your breath away.
Argentine writer Matías del Federico's Bajo Terapía places three couples in an absurd and ethically unacceptable group therapy situation, but we're so captivated by the wit and the fast-moving comedy that we don't care a bit about that. Their psychotherapist Antonia has summoned them to the equivalent of a 'locked-room' group therapy session. Three couples in their 30s and 40s, evidently with no connections other than Antonia, turn up in a room furnished with starkly …