LA ZIZANIE AU CONSULAT (Mayhem At The Consulate)

posted on December 13th, 2012 at 1:12 PM by Steven Stanley

RECOMMENDED
The laughter has a distinctively Gallic flavor to it in Euro-Theatre’s production of La Zizanie Au Consulat (Mayhem At The Consulate), Jean-Louis Darville’s World Premiere French-language screwball comedy, debuting tonight at Hollywood’s Assistance League Theatre. Though last night’s preview seemed technically quite a ways from being ready for Opening Night, the English-subtitled* farce had this French-speaking reviewer laughing from start to finish, thanks to Darville’s silly but très amusant script and all-around sparkling performances from its cast of ten native French speakers.
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posted in Comedy, Los Angeles, Recommended

THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

posted on December 12th, 2012 at 2:11 PM by Steven Stanley


The deadly-looking knife Colin hides under the queen-size bed he’s about to share with prostitute Salome in The Christmas Present clues us in from the get-go that Guy Picot’s dark holiday comedy isn’t going to be the sort of warm-hearted fare that usually fills our theaters each December.

Following four UK productions and a raved-about American debut last year at one of L.A.’s theater gems, The Christmas Present returns for another holiday-go-round at Sacred Fools, directed by its playwright and with its trio of 2011 stars intact.
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posted in Comedy-Drama, Los Angeles, WOW!

IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS

posted on December 11th, 2012 at 12:12 PM by Steven Stanley


For many Americans, it simply wouldn’t be December without an annual viewing of the Bing Crosby/Danny Kaye holiday movie classic White Christmas, and for the past eight years, theatergoers have been able to experience this seasonal favorite live and in person in its delightful stage adaptation, retitled Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and now playing at Rolling Hills Estates’ Norris Theatre.
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posted in Musical, South Bay, WOW!

WINTER WONDERETTES

posted on December 10th, 2012 at 2:53 PM by Steven Stanley


The marvelous Winter Wonderettes are back, and spending the holidays at the La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts, bringing their delightful, tuneful blend of comedy, harmony, nostalgia, and seasonal melodies to old and young alike for yet another Christmas season.
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posted in Downey/La Mirada, Musical, WOW!

CAROUSEL

posted on December 10th, 2012 at 2:53 PM by Steven Stanley


Rodgers and Hammerstein may have had their first (and longest-running) Broadway smash with Oklahoma! The Sound Of Music may well be their best-loved hit, thanks in large measure to the big-screen Julie Andrews movie classic. South Pacific and The King And I may each have their passionate fans, among which this reviewer counts himself. Be that as it may, in my humble opinion, none of the above quite match the overall brilliance and innovation of the extraordinary Carousel, R&H’s second Broadway hit.

It is this 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein classic that the enormously talented students o“Ballet.” Cal State Fullerton’s illustrious Musical Theatre BFA program now bring back to powerful, gorgeous life for 21st Century audiences.
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posted in Musical, Orange County, WOW!

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDOORS

posted on December 8th, 2012 at 12:45 PM by Steven Stanley


It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and for Los Angeles theatergoers that means the latest annual Troubies Christmas show at Burbank’s Falcon Theatre.

Last year’s A Christmas Westside Story mixed the music of West Side Story with the plot of the family film classic A Christmas Story. 2010’s The First Jo-el recounted that starry Bethlehem December with the music of Billy Joel. And 2009’s Frosty The Snow Manilow recreated the stop-motion animated TV classic with the music of Barry M—all of the above with the audacious flair, plethora of adlibs (or apparent adlibs), and sensational triple-threat performances that have become The Troubadour Theater Company’s stock in trade.

This year’s Rudolph The Red-Nosed ReinDOORS is no exception.
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posted in Burbank/Glendale, Musical, WOW!

THE LAST ROMANCE

posted on December 5th, 2012 at 12:30 PM by Steven Stanley

RECOMMENDED
There’s no age limit on love in Joe DiPietro’s charming, funny, and very romantic The Last Romance, now getting a rather good Los Angeles Premiere at Beverly Hills’ Theatre 40.
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posted in Comedy, Recommended, West Side/Beverly HIlls

THE SANTALAND DIARIES (UNDERSTUDY PERFORMANCE)

posted on December 5th, 2012 at 11:16 AM by Steven Stanley

That practice makes perfect was proven on Wednesday by the multitalented Matt Crabtree in the last of his Guaranteed Understudy Performances in David Sedaris’s The SantaLand Diaries, the true story of the writer’s humiliating (but hilarious-in-retrospect) stint as a Christmas elf at New York City Macy’s “SantaLand.”  With two performances under his belt last year, and another two this holiday season (including a last-minute step-in for Paulo Andino the previous Thursday), this fifth and (possibly) final understudy performance turned out just about as fabulous as fabulous can be.
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posted in Comedy, Hollywood/West Hollywood, Solo Performance, Theater Review, WOW!

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