THE PAVILION
Thursday, August 21st, 2008
As the strains of The Beatles “Across The Universe” fade, a young man appears on a bare black stage.
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deLEARious
Sunday, August 10th, 2008
Open Fist Theatre has come up with a winner in their World Premiere production of deLEARious, a Monty Python meets William Shakespeare delight of a musical within a musical within a musical.
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THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Saturday, August 9th, 2008
Open Fist’s production of William Shakespeare’s The Comedy Of Errors may be the most fun I’ve ever had at a Shakespeare play, and that’s saying something for a Shakespeare-phobe like me. Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t really hate Shakespeare, and I have had fun at a Shakespeare play … a few times, at least. The trouble is that the Bard’s 16th Century English and tangled plotlines often go right over my head, or at least past my ears without really sinking in. Not so with Open Fist’s Comedy Of Errors. I’m not quite sure how they did it, but director Ron West and his cast of zanies have somehow clarified Shakespeare for me, archaic speech, convoluted storyline and all. The play’s 90 minutes (clearly some judicious snipping took place) just zipped by and I actually understood what was happening most of the time! I had a ball!
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PEN
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
If 17-year-old Matt Bayer had to choose a Stephen Sondheim song to describe his mother Helen, it would doubtless be “You Could Drive A Person Crazy.” Helen may once have been a happy and healthy wife and mother, but in recent years multiple sclerosis has bound her to a wheelchair, sent her ex-husband into the arms of a younger woman, and made living with her the proverbial “living hell,” at least for Matt. The poor kid can’t even make it out of their apartment to see a movie. Mom will do anything to keep Matt by her side tonight, and if she has her way, forever.
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LOST IN YONKERS
Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
Lost In Yonkers is considered by many to be the best play Neil Simon has ever written. It’s certainly the finest work I’ve seen by this most prolific of American playwrights, and won Simon both the 1991 Tony and the Pulitzer Prize. Not bad for a writer once best known for frothy fare like Come Blow Your Horn and Barefoot In The Park. The original Broadway production of Lost In Yonkers also won Tonys for three of its actors (Mercedes Ruehl, Irene Worth, and Kevin Spacey) and scored a Tony nomination for director Gene Saks.
7 REDNECK CHEERLEADERS
Sunday, August 3rd, 2008
Spread the news! Those 7 Redneck Cheerleaders are back in town for even more over-the-top fun!
For all those who couldn’t get enough of their smash 2006 return engagement, the Elephant Theatre Company’s band of zanies once again provide broadminded Angelinos with the most outrageously funny show in town, directed to perfection by Amy French.
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BODY POLITIC
Friday, August 1st, 2008
Every so often I see a play that hasn’t been on my “must see” list, a play that I just happen to pick because it fits into my schedule, a play that sounds like it might be interesting but then again maybe not … and then it turns out to be something extraordinary, and I think to myself, I almost missed that!
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GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Great Expectations (The Musical) began its Los Angeles journey back in April with a successful run at the Hudson Backstage Theatre. It has reopened at West L.A.’s The Odyssey Theatre, and what a difference a few months and a change of venue have made. A show that was more promising than great has blossomed.
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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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