BAREFOOT IN THE PARK
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
There’s a fine line in theater between “period” and “dated.” A play that’s dated is one that’s no longer appropriate for a contemporary audience and may even be offensive to current sensibilities. On the other hand, a period play delights us with its look back at the way we were, as seen through then-contemporary eyes. That’s why, when someone recently described Neil Simon’s Barefoot In The Park as “dated,” my immediate response was, “No, it’s not dated at all. It’s period.”
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FOREVER PLAID
Sunday, January 16th, 2011
The Plaids of Forever Plaid are back, entertaining Glendale Centre Theatre audiences with their close-harmony vocals and amusing between-song patter in a 90-minute revue that couldn’t be a better choice for the retired seniors who make up the bulk of GCT audiences—and should prove entertaining to the under-65 set as well.
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CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION
Sunday, January 16th, 2011
There’s no treat for an avid theatergoer quite like the treat of seeing something absolutely fresh and original. Annie Baker’s Circle Mirror Transformation is just such a treat.
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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Friday, January 14th, 2011
If adapting a novel for the stage provides a writing challenge for any playwright, imagine how daunting the task becomes when the novel in question has been voted the “Best Novel Of The 20th Century.”* Christopher Sergel took on this challenge in his 1990 stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s beloved Pulitzer Prize winner To Kill A Mockingbird, and though the resulting script does not rise to the level of its source material, its latest revival reestablishes The Production Company’s standing as one of L.A.’s finest and provides two hours of edifying, thought-provoking, beautifully acted, and ultimately inspiring theater.
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GROUP: A MUSICAL
Thursday, January 13th, 2011
Musical group therapy might not be an effective way for people to work on their psychological problems and personal issues. There might not even be such a thing for that matter, or at least not as Adam Emperor Southard imagines it in Group: A Musical. One thing is certain, however. Musical group therapy is one terrific idea for a show, and Southard’s very first musical makes for one terrific evening of theater. As produced by the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble, Group: A Musical starts out promising, keeps getting better, and by the end of its second act, has earned every decibel of the audience cheers which erupted at Opening Night curtain calls.
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DADDY
Sunday, January 9th, 2011
Actor-playwright Dan Via puts an intriguing new spin on the romantic triangle—and the often blurred line between friendship and romance—in the highly provocative Daddy, now getting an impressive West Coast Premiere under the skilled, nuanced direction of Rick Sparks.
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greedy
Saturday, January 8th, 2011
Some of Hollywood’s busiest and best TV/film actors return to their stage roots in the West Coast Premiere of greedy, Karl Gajdusek’s dryly amusing though frustratingly cryptic dark mystery suspense comedy given about as fine a West Coast Premiere as can be imagined by the talented bunch who call themselves Red Dog Squadron.
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LOVE, SEX, AND THE I.R.S.
Friday, January 7th, 2011
Imagine you’re a 20something male living with your longtime best buddy and the tax season is drawing near. As you scan down the seemingly endless list of federal tax rules and regulations, you come to the realization that you’re paying loads more taxes simply because your roommate isn’t a woman and your wife. Then it dawns on you. Since your best friend is lucky enough to have one of those unisex names (like Ashley, Kelly, Tracy, Robin, or in this case Leslie), you suddenly realize how easy it would be simply to check F instead of M on Leslie’s tax return, and married instead of single on both of your returns. Voila, you’re saving a ton of money that Uncle Sam would otherwise pocket and do who knows what with.
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Since 2007, Steven Stanley's StageSceneLA.com has spotlighted the best in Southern California theater via reviews, interviews, and its annual StageSceneLA Scenies.
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