Unable to speak Mandarin, Arthur Miller was in need of a translator and found in the young university professor, Shen Huibui, not only a translator of language but of culture, life, and the art of storytelling. Salesman之死.
Like a flower slowly opening its petals to reveal its beauty, Rip Tide, the one-person show now playing at Axis Theatre, carefully and beautifully unfolds its story over the course of 60 minutes.
Exorcistic is a rock ‘n roll, hubris-free, hilarious take-off of the 1972 film The Exorcist. The music is thumping, toe-tapping, and diverse. Solos and harmonies fit magically within the storyline. The lighting and sound are perfectly managed, and the costumes and sets blend well with the staging trappings. The actors frolic about the theater, from the balcony, and about the audience as they create a truly multi-dimensional, intimate experience. The premise of the production and script is clever and effective, and the cast barely escapes demonic possession.
Twisted was outrageously funny from beginning to end. A mélange of chortling-provoking antics, the show delved into areas where laughs can’t help but bubble up in a brew of hilarity. A talented, passionate cast ensured the delivery of this burlesque pasquinade. A rockin’ band supported the action, physical comedy, singing, and pantomime.
After the final reading, Burns remarked, “Let’s put Cather back on the Times Best Seller list. You will not be disappointed.” Not disappointed, the audience celebrated with a hearty round of applause for the brilliant performances of those who were onstage.
In the Trenches is fun and one feels just a bit sorry to see young adults leave behind their single, childless lives. But they muddle through and discover that raising a family is rewarding, time is fleeting and precious, and your single friends will have to deal with you and your yoga pants, PTA meetings, trips to the mall, a barking lab, and dinner moved up from 10 pm to 5 pm.
The actors’ droll and elegant linguistic patter sliced into the backdrop of the city’s hubbub of engines, horns, and sirens. The virtual world they drew us into was a topsy-turvy pastiche of clever banter, delight, and merriment.
From a bottomless pit of prison and despair, Stevens mustered sobriety and hope powered by a renewed, unwavering determination, self-worth, confidence, and passion for his craft. His life became a transformative journey of recovery, growth, and personal empowerment. He crushed his alter ego D Man and broke free, becoming a beacon of resilience and strength. Ronald “Smokey” Stevens is a superbly gifted raconteur with an authentic, inspirational story for everyone that must be told.
Hansol Jung’s stage interpretation of Romeo and Juliet doesn’t challenge the work of Shakespeare’s classic but enhances it by bringing her version to a new audience, and the final standing ovation was proof of her success.
The Theater for the New City presented Bliss Street, a blockbuster musical production based on the life and times of New York rocker Charlie Sub (played by Blaize Adler-Ivanbroo) and his unique connection to the legendary Coventry Club in Queens, New York. Narrated by Ethyl (Marlain Angelides), Bliss Street depicted Charlie Sub’s growing up in an ever-changing New York City in a family that adapted and survived with panache.
