What do you get when you take one part Super Mario Bros., another part Scott Pilgrim, combined with Mortal Kombat, and a little bit of The Last Airbender? You get all kinds of awesome, which is pretty much the only way to sum up the Fighter experience. Written, directed, and choreographed by Jose Perez IV,Continue reading “Rise Up with Fists: Organs of State Packs a Punch with ‘Fighter’”
Category Archives: Review
Like a Prayer: The Adaptations Project Takes Allen Ginsberg’s Autobiographical Poetry from the Page to the Stage
The Adaptations Project’s Founding Artist Donnie Mather, as Allen in “Kaddish.” Photo by Ben Strothmann. Allen Ginsberg is considered one of the most important figures of the Beat generation. Originally from Paterson, New Jersey, the poet later moved to New York, a city with which he later became closely associated. He is best known for writingContinue reading “Like a Prayer: The Adaptations Project Takes Allen Ginsberg’s Autobiographical Poetry from the Page to the Stage”
Going Back to the Start: Knife Edge Productions Shows What Happens When You Replay the Past and Erase it
What do you do when your past comes back to haunt you? Such is the running theme in this revival of Stephen Belber’s Tape, directed by Sam Helfrich. The play tells the story of two former high school best friends, Jon (Neil Holland) and Vince (Don DiPaolo) discover just that when a ten-year reunion starts toContinue reading “Going Back to the Start: Knife Edge Productions Shows What Happens When You Replay the Past and Erase it”
Beauty in the Breakdown: The GIMP Project’s ‘If’
Aerialists Jennifer Bricker and Nate Crawford. Photo by Chris Ash. Last weekend, from June 16-18th, La Mama Moves! 2011 presented choreographer Heidi Latsky‘s brave piece entitled, IF. Composed of three sections — each featuring a quartet, ensemble and duet — IF challenges notions of what it means to be different in today’s society. The piece is part of an ongoingContinue reading “Beauty in the Breakdown: The GIMP Project’s ‘If’”
A Mad World: The United States Theatre Project’s ‘columbinus’ Goes Inside the Typical All-American High School — And Tears it Apart
This past weekend’s viewing of A Shot Away had me reminiscing about other docudramas I’ve enjoyed over the years. Jonathan Mandell noted how Red Fern’s production had reminded him of Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s The Exonerated, and I definitely agree; it had a lot of the same elements, including a lot of quote-worthy dialogue.Continue reading “A Mad World: The United States Theatre Project’s ‘columbinus’ Goes Inside the Typical All-American High School — And Tears it Apart”
An Argument for Consciousness: Red Fern Theatre’s ‘A Shot Away’ Gives a Voice to Those Silenced
Photo by Brittany Duck “The Few, The Proud.” “Be All that You Can Be.” These are just some of the ways the military uses to attract the many that enlist each year. However, beneath the handsome and dutiful men in uniform shown on television and moviehouse screens lies a darker side of the military thatContinue reading “An Argument for Consciousness: Red Fern Theatre’s ‘A Shot Away’ Gives a Voice to Those Silenced”
Let’s Pick up the Pace and Go to Hell in a Fast Car: Kander & Ebb’s Chicago Serves Up Some ‘Razzle Dazzle’
Imagine this: a steamy jazz club. A saxophone whining and groaning into the smoky air. Dancers in their racy costumes, warming up. All of a sudden, the song segues into a rag-tag big band number, and under a single spotlight stands headliner Velma Kelly in a rendition of a familiar song. Well, stop dreaming, becauseContinue reading “Let’s Pick up the Pace and Go to Hell in a Fast Car: Kander & Ebb’s Chicago Serves Up Some ‘Razzle Dazzle’”
In Our Bedroom After the War: Sarah Kane’s ‘Blasted’ Explores War at Home
Reed Birney and Marin Ireland, as Ian and Cate, in “Blasted.” Photo © Simon Kane (Playbill) Soho Repertory Theater‘s production of Sarah Kane‘s chilling play, Blasted — helmed under artistic director Sarah Benson — is a daring, bold take on the venerated British playwright’s inaugural play. While still very much a work in progress, Benson’s direction and LouisaContinue reading “In Our Bedroom After the War: Sarah Kane’s ‘Blasted’ Explores War at Home”
Welcome to The Real: From Amsterdam to Berlin, The Public Theatre’s ‘Passing Strange’ Breaks Stereotypes and Crosses Boundaries
So, like three weeks later, here’s my review. Oh. My. God. I know — not very articulate of me in what is supposed to be a review, but suffice it to say that these are the only words that could describe my immediate reaction upon leaving the Belasco Theatre late Saturday night (5/31/08). Before IContinue reading “Welcome to The Real: From Amsterdam to Berlin, The Public Theatre’s ‘Passing Strange’ Breaks Stereotypes and Crosses Boundaries”
Jessica Taghap 