SONA TERA ROMAN HESS

posted on August 17th, 2008 at 12:33 AM by Steven Stanley

NOT RECOMMENDED

“Some people never die, and I am one.”

These are the words that begin Sona Tera Roman Hess, described in press materials as “the story of a family struggling to reconstruct itself in the aftermath of a strange infidelity, set against the backdrop of impending war.”
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posted in Drama, Not Recommended

BABY

posted on August 16th, 2008 at 12:28 AM by Steven Stanley

RECOMMENDED
Three women learn that they are pregnant.  One is surprised, the second overjoyed, the third shocked, almost horrified by the news.
 
Thus begins Baby, Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire’s 1983 Broadway sort-of-a-hit (241 performances and 7 Tony Award … nominations).
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posted in Musical, Recommended, San Fernando Valley

deLEARious

posted on August 10th, 2008 at 12:25 AM by Steven Stanley


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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posted in Los Angeles, Musical, WOW!

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

posted on August 9th, 2008 at 12:22 AM by Steven Stanley


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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posted in Comedy, Los Angeles, WOW!

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS

posted on August 8th, 2008 at 12:19 AM by Steven Stanley

RECOMMENDED
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Torrance Theatre Company’s 10th annual Summer Musical, provides ample proof as to the amount and level of musical theater talent on our local stage scene. Unlike recent 7Brides productions by FCLO Music Theatre and Cabrillo Music Theatre, Torrance’s brides, brothers, and assorted townspeople are all portrayed by non-Equity actors, and though TTC’s production does not reach the bar its predecessors set, the results are nonetheless praiseworthy indeed.
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posted in Musical, Recommended, South Bay

PEN

posted on August 6th, 2008 at 12:16 AM by Steven Stanley


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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posted in Drama, West Side/Beverly HIlls, WOW!

LOST IN YONKERS

posted on August 5th, 2008 at 12:07 AM by Steven Stanley


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.

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posted in Comedy, West Side/Beverly HIlls, WOW!

7 REDNECK CHEERLEADERS

posted on August 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 AM by Steven Stanley


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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posted in Comedy, Los Angeles, WOW!

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