TREEFALL

posted on August 13th, 2009 at 5:39 PM by Steven Stanley


At some time in the perhaps not so distant future, after a series of “ecological events” has altered civilization as we know it, a trio of teenage boys have set up house in a primitive one-room mountain cabin somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Despite the cataclysms that have befallen society, the “family unit” has somehow found a way to survive in Henry Murray’s Treefall, now in its world premiere engagement by Rogue Machine.  Though a post-apocalyptic nightmare fairy tale would not be my usual theatrical cup of tea, the performances of its talented, charismatic young cast, the contributions of a superb design team, and some ultimately moving, thought-provoking writing make Treefall an absorbing piece of theater.
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posted in Drama, Los Angeles, WOW!

THE MUSIC MAN

posted on August 11th, 2009 at 5:49 PM by Steven Stanley


If you want to know why The Music Man is one of the three longest-running musicals of the 1950s, head on up to Solvang for proof positive that Meredith Willson’s biggest hit is also one of the best Broadway musicals ever.
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posted in Musical, Santa Barbara County, WOW!

THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP

posted on August 10th, 2009 at 6:02 PM by Steven Stanley


A young woman arrives at a grand and stately manor, the second wife of its handsome owner, only to be surrounded by memories of wife number one, particularly those brought up by the mansion’s sinister housekeeper. (That’s Alfred Hitchcock-Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca, right?) Among the household staff is a hunchback swineherd who turns into a werewolf whenever the moon is full.  (What?  You don’t remember that from Rebecca?)  Another household worker is rumored to be one of those “beings who never die,” aka a Vampire.  (Now that sounds like Dracula!)  Our widowed, remarried hero journeys to Cairo where his presence brings a long-dead Egyptian mummy back to life. (What kind of movie mishmash is this? Have we died and gone to horror movie heaven, or hell?)
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posted in Comedy, San Diego County, WOW!

CLOSER THAN EVER

posted on August 8th, 2009 at 6:06 PM by Steven Stanley


Ten talented Asian-American performers sing about “life, love, and all the doors in between” in Lodestone Theatre Ensemble’s next-to-very-last production, an ingeniously-staged, brightly-performed revival of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire’s musical revue Closer Than Ever.
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posted in Burbank/Glendale, Musical Revue, WOW!

LIFE COULD BE A DREAM

posted on August 7th, 2009 at 6:10 PM by Steven Stanley


Looking for a great evening of musical nostalgia, romance, and laughter? Then travel back in time to the days of “Doo-Wop” in Roger Bean’s sure-to-be-a-smash new musical Life Could Be A Dream, just opened at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre.
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posted in Hollywood/West Hollywood, Musical, WOW!

SAY GOODBYE, TOTO

posted on August 6th, 2009 at 6:16 PM by Steven Stanley


Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, the Munchkins, and the Wizard himself are back—in Amy Heidish’s charming, delightful, and surprisingly original Say Goodbye, Toto, a Wizard Of Oz not just for the kiddies.
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posted in Comedy, Los Angeles, WOW!

40 IS THE NEW 15

posted on August 5th, 2009 at 6:20 PM by Steven Stanley

RECOMMENDED
Five former high school classmates turning 40 reflect on the ways their lives have changed over the past quarter century in 40 Is The New 15, a new musical by Larry Todd Johnson and Cindy O’Connor. Though “workshop” would be a more appropriate description of this not quite fully-staged production, tuneful, clever songs, an engrossing storyline, and a quintet of fine performances make this an entertaining, moving, and very promising evening of musical theater.
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posted in Musical, North Hollywood, Recommended

STOP KISS

posted on August 3rd, 2009 at 6:24 PM by Steven Stanley

RECOMMENDED
The recent rash of gay bashings throughout the U.S. makes Rogue Machine’s Los Angeles premiere of Diana Son’s GLAAD Award-winning Stop Kiss timely indeed. Though its movie screenplay-like structure presents staging challenges not always overcome by directors Elina de Santos and Matthew Elkins, a provocative storyline and excellent performances make the production a largely engrossing experience.
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posted in Drama, Los Angeles, Recommended

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