BWW Review: FROM HER EYES ONLY Missteps in Its Journey to Double Oh Heaven!September 6, 2015In FROM HER EYES ONLY, multi-hyphenate Derek Jeremiah Reid revels with his charismatic stage presence and characterization of famed James Bond novelist Ian Fleming. Reid commands the stage with his effective scripted emoting and his quick-witted improv-ed one-liners. Reid begins his show most promisingly with his Fleming delivering the pre-show instructions. Very clever.
BWW Review: CAFE SOCIETY - An Almost Satisfying Coffee BreakAugust 24, 2015The world premiere of Emmy-winning writer Peter Lefcourt 's CAFE SOCIETY deserves credit for attempting a hostage situation as a satisfying sitcom dramedy. A frequent collaborator, Terri Hanauer directs her game cast of seven. Kudos to Yee Eun Nam for her novel, innovative projection design utilizing the two huge menu boards as video screenshots of various text messages, incoming Caller IDs, web searches and TV news programs.
BWW Review: STUPID SONGS PRESENTS STUPID GOLD Featuring Stupidly Funny and Stupidly Incredible Singers!August 19, 2015On August 18th, The Stupid Songs Troupe wowed the packed house of the Rockwell Table & Stage with their fast-paced 70-minutes of 18 non-stop songs of high hilarity and witty, hysterical lyrics. Director Keri Safran begins the fun with 'Stupid Gold,' her re-written lyrics to the tune of 'Xanadu.' Backed by twelve of her enthusiastic troupe-mates, this opener sets the audience up for the lofty amusement that follows.
BWW Review: GOD'S MAN IN TEXAS Charismatically Commands Your Presence and You Must GoAugust 17, 2015In GOD'S MAN IN TEXAS, multi-hyphenate David Rambo has written a very smart and involving script on the inner workings of a successful Baptist church empire. Rambo also quite ably directs his trio of highly skilled actors in a firmly-reined, tight, well-crafted production. All three actors adeptly give their respective roles the distinct qualities essential to the believability and realism of their characters.
BWW Review: GROUNDLINGS RED LIGHT DISTRICT Provides Multiple Happy Endings LaughingAugust 15, 2015GROUNDLINGS RED LIGHT DISTRICT, most assuredly continues The Groundling's well-earned reputation of being one of the funniest improvisational and sketch comedy troupes in Los Angeles, if not the entire United States. Ably directed by Karen Maruyama, the evening features the talented Groundling members Mikey Day, Allison Dunbar, Andrew Friedman, Kevin Kirkpatrick, and Michael Naughton.
BWW Reviews: Witty NO HOMO Provides a Thoroughly Entertaining Tale of a Misconceived BromanceAugust 10, 2015In NO HOMO, playwright Brandon Baruch has written a very funny, smart and realistic script on the perceived misconceptions of Ash and Luke's relationship. Their respective siblings and their friends think the two admittedly hetero guys really cohabitate as lovers and not just roommates. Jessica Hanna directs her talented cast at a fairly rapid pace keeping the laughs coming in between the many realistic but involving conflicts.
BWW Reviews: Actor James Sherman Shines in His THE BEN HECHT SHOWAugust 10, 2015The West Coast Premiere of The Ben Hecht Show, ably directed by Dennis Zacek, showcases the charismatic performance of James Sherman in the titular role. In The Ben Hecht Show, playwright Sherman has written many a witty line ('She didn't have any anti-Semitic germs.') and dropped many a famous name (Moss Hart, Leonard Bernstein, Paul Muni, Stella Adler, Edward G. Robinson, Sidney Lumet, to name a few).
BWW Reviews: SNEAKY OLE TIME Will Have You Clapping Along, Tapping Your Toes and Laughing in No TimeAugust 10, 2015Ruskin Group Theatre's world premiere of Sneaky Ole Time makes for a delightful, easy-breezy, light-hearted two hours filled with clever songs by Grammy-winning writer Paul Overstreet and solid performances by its cast of nine triple-threats. Michael Myers directs his talented ensemble at a steady, easy-going pace. Providing strong musical support, musical director Cliff Wagner leads the nicely laid-back Halfway Home House Band.
BWW Reviews: Come to LUKA'S ROOM for a Totally Satisfying Experience!August 3, 2015Rob Mersola has written a wonderfully witty, realistic, totally shocking 'family drama' in the world premiere of his Luka's Room. Two major surprises in plot you will not see coming. But after theses 'surprises,' you realize Mersola has previously set up the plot points to make total sense. A brilliant script delivered beautifully by a exceptional cast, excitingly directed by Joshua Bitton at an intense, high-energy fast clip.
BWW Reviews: CITIZEN: AN AMERICAN LYRIC Lyrically Teaches Racism 101August 3, 2015If, for some inexplicable reason one didn't know, the world premiere of Citizen: An American Lyric will make it a point to educate you that racism exists. The multi-awarding winning book of poetry of the same name by Claudia Rankine, on which Stephen Sachs has adapted, will reinforce the many instances that black people deal with racism from their white counterparts. Citizen, ably directed by Shirley Jo Finney, succeeds more as a poetic performance art piece than an actual scripted play.
BWW Reviews: An Energetic, Enthusiastic El Grande CIRCUS de Coca-Cola Missing a Little FizzJuly 27, 2015The talented five-member cast, directed by Alan Shearman, certainly must be commended on their commitment and enthusiasm as they interact with the audience as second-rate circus artists and plow through their intentionally bad vaudeville routines. Just as a clown must know the correct techniques to pratfall or look ridiculous, best acts hit their intended, targeted reactions of laughter and applause when the audience's allowed to realize the good, solid techniques behind these really bad circus feats.
BWW Reviews: FAILURE: A LOVE STORY - An Original SuccessJuly 27, 2015Couerage Theatre Company mounts a fine-tuned production of Failure: A Love Story, playwright Philip Dawkins' fresh, unique take on a ill-fated family in the early 1900s. Michael Matthews smoothly directs and inventively stages his large talented, triple-threat cast as they sing, dance and act out this saga of the Failure family, with seemingly more deaths than the Kennedy clan has endured.
BWW Reviews: SHIV Nearly Transports You to Other WorldsJuly 13, 2015The west coast premiere of Aditi Brennan Kapil's Shiv receives a simply gorgeous mounting at the Theatre @ Boston Court. Amazing just how far, with the proper elements, your imagination will allow you to go.
BWW Reviews: Ann Noble Tour de Forces in STANLEY ANN: THE UNLIKELY STORY OF BARACK OBAMA'S MOTHERJuly 10, 2015All creative components align perfectly in Mike Kindle's Stanley Ann with the primary ingredient of this engrossing one-woman show - the luminous Ann Noble! Using her expressive face, her excellent line readings and her naturalistic miming; Noble allows the audience to actually see all the other characters in this play interacting with her. No easy feat that Noble consistently and seamlessly pulls it off! Brava, Ms. Noble!
BWW Reviews: Do Sample TACO KISSES - A Spicy Hot, Hilarious Treat!July 3, 2015Oscar Quintero 'nails it' again with his alter ego Kay Sedia in his non-stop, laugh-inducing, thigh-slapping seventy minutes, Kay Sedia in Her Juan Woman Cho: Taco Kisses. Your laugh muscles, whistling lips and clapping palms will definitely get quite a workout experiencing Kay Sedia's Taco Kisses.
BWW Reviews: With Patience, OFF THE KING'S ROAD AccommodatesJune 29, 2015Neil Koenigsberg' Off the King's Road vividly illustrates the need for patience in dealing with your elders. The talented Tom Bower tackles the challenge of embodying a now single, unapologetic man going through his mundane everyday routines while grappling with continuing life alone without Betty, his wife of many years. Bower shines in the scene where he reveals what really led to his Betty's demise.