One of the unexpected pleasures of New Rep’s current season—exploring themes of “identity”—is the inclusion of several small-cast shows. Shrugging off the expense and complications of large casts and cluttered sets, we are left with a few talented individuals charged with making their story relevant enough to hold our attention. New Rep’s production of Via […]
You are probably familiar with the work of James Joyce. It’s less likely that you are familiar with his only known play, Exiles. So if you are a Joyce fan, now is your chance to see this lesser-known work playing at the Red Sandcastle Theatre on Queen East, directed by Ryan Borochovitz. It makes sense […]
One of the latest revivals to hit the West End, Guys and Dolls is a classic piece of light-hearted entertainment, a thoroughly enjoyable romp which is sure to cure those pesky January blues. Set in a dizzying yet dazzling den of debauchery within the New York City underworld, Guys and Dolls tells the tale of […]
A revived musical has just pulled into town. SpeakEasy Stage Company has brought back the musical Violet, directed by Paul Daigneault, musical direction by Matthew Stern, to the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion. Jeanine Tesori (music) and Brian Crawley (book and lyrics) first joined forces to adapt Doris Betts’ short story “The Ugliest Pilgrim” into a musical […]
The imaginary beasts are back this January with their seasonal Winter Panto. This year they present the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the well-loved classic by L. Frank Baum, and proceed to shake it up in true panto style. References to Beyoncé, State Farm Insurance, and Hamilton bubble easily to the surface, as […]
Byhalia, Mississippi (Cue6 Theatre) This excellent contemporary drama from Cue6 Theatre tells the story of flawed but defiantly happy couple Jim and Laurel whose simple lives in nowheresville Byhalia, Mississippi are thrown into turmoil when the birth of their son destabilizes everything from Laurel’s relationship with her mother (a wonderfully infuriating Kyra Harper) to Jim’s […]
Everyone knows the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: the nice doctor turns into an evil and violent man after medical experiments go terribly wrong. The classic story has been adapted by Eric Gracey and is now playing until February 6th at the Cockpit in Marylebone. Set in 1930s London, the plot fits the […]
You walk into the hole-in-the-wall Unit 102 space and are met with literal red light (courtesy of Steve Vargo, the production’s lighting designer). It’s coming from a series of windows that line the back of the stage overlooking Pascal Labillois’ effectively dreary, detailed set- a shabby Amsterdam hotel room with two twin beds- one made, […]