Review – 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.

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.

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” →

Review

Review: ASTORIA at Portland Center Stage is a wooden, pre-modern melodrama about heroic white men battling the wilderness – minus Eugene Levy

ASTORIA Adapted by Chris Coleman at Portland Center Stage

Thru February 19, 2017

If you’re setting sail on the perilous journey of adapting a long historical drama for the stage, particularly one that tries to deal with the glorious (or not) story of America’s early days, you should be very familiar with two examples from the genre that define a spectrum of possible outcomes.

On one end, HAMILTON, the international juggernaut that breathes life into history by using forms and multi ethnic bodies of the present. On the other, RED, WHITE AND BLAINE, the show staged inside of the film WAITING FOR GUFFMAN that has become a defining reference for amateur community theatre and (more subtly) oblivious historical white washing of what life on the merry frontier was like.

Astoria at Portland Center Stage — “How high a ridge I could not tell.” Eugene Levy could make ASTORIA really fun.

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Review

CAREER SUICIDE by Chris Gethard at Culture Project

CAREER SUICIDE by Chris Gethard

Culture Project at Lynn Redgrave Theater

Thru Jan 8, 2017

3-stars

Stand up comedy seems to have its share of substance abuse and extreme emotions. From the smoking craters of several career directions, Gethard weaves a personal story about how he finally figured out the right dosage and made a life on stage and off. Now we know: NJ is crazy.

Review

THE DEATH OF THE LAST BLACK MAN… by Suzan-Lori Parks at Signature Theatre

THE DEATH OF THE LAST BLACK MAN IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD AKA THE NEGRO BOOK OF THE DEAD by Suzan-Lori Parks

Directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz

Signature Theatre

Thru Dec 18

4-stars

When in the theatre – do what can only be done in the theatre. Color, costume, words. The avant garde language of Parks is framed and filled out by masterful direction from Lileana Blain-Cruz. This talented new director keeps her streak of utterly theatrical experiences going strong.

Review

MATILDA by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin at Shubert Theater

MATILDA by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin (via Ronald Dahl)

Shubert Theater on Broadway

Thru January 1, 2017

4-stars

#JoyAlert. Even while many ingredients are well known and commonly used, the combination here connects deeply. That’s what arch types do. Willow McCarthy mesmerizing as our little reader and revolutionary. Bryce Ryness crucial as the iron-breasted Miss Trunchbull. Though it must be said he simply channels the great David Thewlis.

Review

THE PRIDE by Alexi Kaye Campbell at Theatre22

THE PRIDE by Alexi Kaye Campbell at Theatre 22

Thru Nov 19, 2016

2-stars

Rendering plausible British accents – so often a challenge for American actors – here turns into a minefield of problems with a near constant barrage of detonations. Potential melodrama of story not helped by excessive directorial pauses, teeth gnashing, tearful breast beating. Setting between two eras is not clear enough. Not authentic.

Review

OFFENDING THE AUDIENCE at Liminal

You original theatre artists. You inspiring makers. You smart, witty subversives. FUCK OFF!! Please crawl back in your hole. You’re making everyone else look bad. Liminal smacks Portlanders upside the head with a wholly unique live experience. Impressive audience turnout of non theatre people. This is why we go. EXCELLENT!

Review

BLOOD ON THE BOOKS by Nick Zagone at Shaking the Tree

There are compelling dramatic threads and several strong performances here. But the central scaffolding does not always hold up. Perhaps too much direct address to audience, and not enough interaction between the characters. One thing that’s prescient though: One day Powell’s will go under. You heard it here first. Poof.