Win Goodbody – Portland Theatre Scene

Review

HANNAH AND THE DREAD GAZEBO by Jiehae Park at Oregon Shakespeare Festival

All the cringeworthy hallmarks of a neophyte playwright are on display here: Unnecessary profanity, inane dude patois, self-referential winks about playwriting, sitcom ham, wildly weird non sequitor lines presented as some sort of triumph, cartoon character exaggeration, awkward scene cutting, et al.

No doubt deeply autobiographical and full of meaning for the playwright – but not much here for the audience.

Even at a scant 90 minutes, seems to take forever to end.

Neck in neck horse race with THE LIQUID PLAIN for worst show ever seen at OSF.

Coming Soon, News

What happens when a great new play touches down in the world capital of theatre? | THE FERRYMAN at Royal Court goes nuclear

The Ferryman Royal Court — Sure, they’re British. But still. Londoners have lost their minds over Jez Butterworth’s new play, THE FERRYMAN.

Hark! It’s a rock concert, it’s a world cup soccer match, it’s a – play?

If now and then you forgot just how insanely popular theatre can be when a play connects with the audience in a real theatre town, well, we’d understand.

I mean, outside of HAMILTON and a few other shows, how often is it that an old-fashioned theatre play sets a city on fire? It happens. But way less frequently than it should.

Too often it’s the opposite end of the spectrum – begging and pleading with people to shell out $8 for a show. And still they won’t come. That’s not how it should be.

Well, hello London. Jez Butterworth’s new play THE FERRYMAN started previews this past Monday at the Royal Court, and it appears we have a Nantucket sleigh ride on our hands.

Continue reading “What happens when a great new play touches down in the world capital of theatre? | THE FERRYMAN at Royal Court goes nuclear” →

Design

If a web site falls in the forest and no one can read it on mobile…

So you keep hearing about mobile this and mobile that and how important mobile everything is. Kind of tiring, right?

It’s nowhere near as tiring as the experience customers have trying to navigate your non responsive web site or email on mobile. In 2017.

When mobile experience can be so good, so compelling – there is no reason to have a bad mobile experience. Why would you?

Friends don’t let friends build non responsive web sites. Or email.

What does a theatre web site that fully harnesses the power of mobile look like?

Feast your eyes.

Center Theatre Group’s web site on mobile is a fully engaging show.

Continue reading “If a web site falls in the forest and no one can read it on mobile…” →

News

For Oregon: All the world’s a stage

And the envelope says…

Lynn Nottage wins her second Pulitzer for SWEAT, a play commissioned and premiered by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

We’ve known for a few years now, but this really drives it home: Oregon (Ashland, Oregon, to be specific) has become one of the great theatre centers of the world.

Continue reading “For Oregon: All the world’s a stage” →

Coming Soon

THE FERRYMAN by Jez Butterworth opens April 24 at the Royal Court

There are a lot of exciting things in the theatre these days. London’s Royal Court Theatre is one of them. Jez Butterworth is another. And a new play by Jez Butterworth at the Royal Court? It doesn’t get much more exciting than that. THE FERRYMAN opens April 24.

Continue reading “THE FERRYMAN by Jez Butterworth opens April 24 at the Royal Court” →

Editorial

Is Broadway the right place for SWEAT?

SWEAT, the latest play by Lynn Nottage that started life at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and went on to New York’s Public Theater, is now on Broadway. And that’s great. But is Broadway the right place for this play? Maybe not.

Continue reading “Is Broadway the right place for SWEAT?” →

Review

THE ANGRY BRIGADE by James Graham at Third Rail

THE ANGRY BRIGADE by James Graham at Third Rail Rep

Thru April 15, 2017

In what is undoubtedly the most exciting old theatre space remaining in Portland (Imago), a blast of comedy and 70’s confusion from Third Rail. The first half may be a bit too funny for where we’re headed, but the switch after intermission drives home evergreen youthful rage against the machine.

News

Let the disruption begin | BroadwayHD is here

If ever there was an industry ripe for disruption – it’s the theatuh.

Antiquated business models, pre electronic mindsets (don’t you DARE take a photo!) and calcified, pound-of-flesh unions all combine to make this live performance art a sometimes fraught affair in the US.

Continue reading “Let the disruption begin | BroadwayHD is here” →

Review

Winter 2017 New York Theatre Blitz

A recent trip to America’s drama capital confirmed two evergreen truths about New York theatre: There is always something good on; Theatre is cheaper here than anywhere else if you know how to look.

Here’s what I saw with a few recaps.

JITNEY by August Wilson on Broadway (TDF) $45
Signature Theatre – EVERYBODY by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (TDF) $36.50
Second Stage – MAN FROM NEBRASKA by Tracy Letts (TDF) $32
Labyrinth Theater – DOLPHINS AND SHARKS by James Anthony Tyler $34.50
Signature Theatre – WAKEY, WAKEY by Will Eno (TDF) $36.50
Irish Rep – CRACKSKULL ROW by Honor Molloy $52.50
Mint Theater Company – YOURS UNFAITHFULLY By Miles Malleson (TDF) $33
Atlantic Theater – THE PENITENT by David Mamet (TDF) $31.50
Joe’s Pub – LET US ASCERTAIN YOU by The Civilians $15
Roundabout Theatre – IF I FORGET by Steven Levenson (TDF) $40
Theatre for a New Audience – THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH by Thornton Wilder (TDF) $32
LCT3 – BULL IN A CHINA SHOP by Bryna Turner $35
SIGNIFICANT OTHER by Joshua Harmon on Broadway (TDF) $43
Barrow Street Theatre – SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET $85
Playwrights Horizons – THE LIGHT YEARS by The Debate Society $56
St. Ann’s Warehouse – THE TEMPEST $89
Manhattan Theatre Club – LINDA by Penelope Skinner (TDF) $32.50
MCC Theater – YEN by Ana Jordan (TDF) $32

Continue reading “Winter 2017 New York Theatre Blitz” →

News

Back to Broadway – Third new play in two years from Tracy Letts premieres at Steppenwolf in November 2017

With current goings on in Washington, the theatre has been crying out for a big new play on politics. And who better to do it than Tracy Letts.

THE MINUTES will open at Steppenwolf in November 2017 and then transfer to Broadway.

This is the third new play in two years for Letts.

Meanwhile his LINDA VISTA opens March 30, 2017 at Steppenwolf.