THE KING AND I

posted on January 9th, 2015 at 4:44 PM by Steven Stanley

NOT RECOMMENDED

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s score is as glorious today as it ever has been, the now iconic “Small House Of Uncle Thomas” ballet remains a thing of unique beauty and charm, and Victoria Strong and Richard Bermudez not only prove sensational choices to play Anna and the King of Siam, they give the visiting English schoolmarm and the Siamese monarch a romantic, sexual chemistry almost unheard of since The King And I made its 1951 Broadway debut.

Unfortunately, the current Welk Resort Theatre staging of the R&J classic also features some racially insensitive casting choices straight out of the 1950s that underline the creakiness of book writer Hammerstein’s depiction of the Thai people and their centuries-old culture.
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posted in Musical, Not Recommended, San Diego County, Theater Review

WIT

posted on January 5th, 2015 at 2:06 AM by Steven Stanley

Too much meddling with a Pulitzer Prize winner, along with an otherwise effective Kelly Carlton’s unwillingness to “go all the way,” make Stage Against The Machine’s revival of Margaret Edson’s Wit a no-go despite co-director Carlton’s often quite moving work as Vivian Bearing PhD and a couple of terrific supporting turns.
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posted in Drama, Hollywood/West Hollywood, Not Recommended, Theater Review

THE PENIS CHRONICLES

posted on January 4th, 2015 at 12:02 PM by Steven Stanley

RECOMMENDED

The eight largely unrelated monologs about sex and love (from a male point of view) that comprise The Penis Chronicles: Every Man’s Journey make Tom Yewell’s World Premiere drama seem at times more acting class showcase than full-fledged play. Still, there are enough fine performances in its mostly well-written one-man playlets to make The Penis Chronicles worth a look-see by those who don’t mind its lack of character interaction or cohesive storyline.
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posted in Drama, Hollywood/West Hollywood, Recommended, Theater Review, World Premiere

POSSUM CARCASS

posted on January 3rd, 2015 at 12:19 PM by Steven Stanley

The love triangles of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull return to wild-and-crazy 21st-century life in David Bucci’s Possum Carcass, the 120-year-old Chekhov classic retold as graphic novel … and the latest from the always intriguing Theatre Of NOTE.
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posted in Comedy, Hollywood/West Hollywood, Theater Review, World Premiere, WOW!

KINKY BOOTS

posted on December 31st, 2014 at 2:25 PM by Steven Stanley

Only rarely does a “feel-good musical” come along with the transformative power and emotional punch to set it apart from the rest of the “feel-good” pack. That rare musical is Kinky Boots, the 2013 Tony–winning Best Musical now beginning a two-week stay at Orange County’s Segerstrom Center For The Arts.
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posted in Musical, National Tour, Orange County, Theater Review, WOW!

A ROCKIN’ ROCKWELL FAMILY CHRISTMAS

posted on December 24th, 2014 at 3:12 PM by Steven Stanley

It’s a rocking Christmas celebration over in Los Feliz as Rockwell Table & Stage presents its short-but-sweet—and family-friendly—A Rockin’ Rockwell Family Christmas, an hour of fabulous vocals by six of Southern California’s top up-and-coming musical theater talents.
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posted in Cabaret/Concert/Variety, Los Angeles, Theater Review, WOW!

SAM ZELLER

posted on December 23rd, 2014 at 11:33 AM by Steven Stanley

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posted in Interview

THE GAYEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER!

posted on December 22nd, 2014 at 11:51 AM by Steven Stanley

The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever! is back for the holidays, tidings of good joy for anyone in search of outrageously funny end-of-year cheer out North Hollywood way.
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posted in Comedy, North Hollywood, Theater Review, WOW!

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