Kelly Rogers Flynt - Page 3

ALMOST, MAINE at Heart Repertory Theatre beckons us to stop a while and enjoy a brief time of shared moments with average people in average situations, a slice of life if you will. Through the sharing of these moments, Heart Rep reminds us of the universal threads that connect our experiences to those all around us and even those in remote places such as Almost, Maine. New love, lost love, unrequited love, and unspoken love are all part of this story and in some ways, everyone’s story. ALMOST, MAINE invites you into the lives of its residents and into their hearts as well.hat did our critic think of ALMOST, MAINE at Heart Repertory?

Something missing, someone dead, many with motives, and none telling the whole truth. Taproot Theatre invites you to lean in and study the scene. With a marvelous set, dynamic characters, and some unexpected humor, Black Coffee is a delightful romp through Agatha Christie’s world of mystery.

Memories, secrets, and what is believed to be true are held in a delicate balance in the hands of The Bonesetter’s Daughter at Book-It Repertory Theatre. There are the stories we tell and the stories we hide. Can you really know who you are if you don’t know the past? The bonds of mothers and daughters will be tested when all is revealed. Book-It Repertory Theatre takes you on a journey through three generations to discover the truth of a family’s roots.

Every once in a while the stars will align, and magic will happen. Magic is exactly what happened on stage last night as Seattle Shakespeare presented MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. From director to cast to staging, everything worked together in perfect unison to not only tell this age old story, but to elevate it. The good folks at Seattle Shakespeare have put together a very special production that reminds us of the magic of theater and how it can bring us together.

Most people associate springtime with hope, a time when things can begin anew. But in Gilead, Wisconsin, the people at the Spitfire Grill look to the majestic beauty of fall colors for their hope. For them the vibrant colors are a reminder that good things come, even when it seems like the chance for them is over. It is a reminder that the later chapters of life can be as fulfilling as the early ones. If we look close enough, we can find the value in things even when they come to a close. These lessons are brought to life by the characters in THE SPITFIRE GRILL at Taproot Theatre and shared with all who enter the doors.

HOLMES & WATSON at the Driftwood Theater has twists and turns enough to intrigue and laughs enough to delight. With a mystery to solve and suspicious characters at the ready, the audience has plenty to chew on throughout this show. Jeffery Hatcher’s HOLMES & WATSON has the flavor and feel of the original Doyle mysteries while giving us a new story, I mean account, of Sherlock’s adventures.

Friendship, struggles, heartache, and triumph, JERSEY BOYS has it all. The story of four young men from New Jersey that were seeking something beyond the lives their neighborhood afforded, this show takes you through the hills, valleys, and to the mountaintop of success right along with them. And through it all, you are encompassed with the dulcet tones of their distinctive sound and the music that made them legends.

In a world full of conflict, division, and uncertainty, there is a lot to worry about. As the pandemic continues, we wonder if we will ever get back to normal. It’s been a very hard couple of years and now more than ever, I’m feeling the need for a reprieve - just a moment to forget all of the outside problems and things beyond my control. I have a deep-seeded need to just laugh. Taproot Theatre’s first show of 2022 just might be the tonic we all need. SEE HOW THEY RUN reminds us that laughter really is the best medicine.

BABETTE’S FEAST nourishes the soul and feeds the spirit. It is a sweet story about the beauty of life and finding contentment. Told slowly without the need to rush, we meet the characters and traipse along with them through their lives in the small Norweigan town of Berlevaag. It is a story of insiders and outsiders who cross paths, the story of what is expected and what is desired, and a story of finding answers within yourself, and mostly a story of home. And much like the turtle soup, BABETTE’s FEAST is the show we didn’t even know we were hungry for until we got the first bite.

After nineteen long months, The Paramount Theater welcomed the cast and crew of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR to its stage, and the Seattle audience welcomed them into their hearts. The mood was heightened and the air electric as patrons entered the theater after showing their vaccination documentation. Although masked, the smiles sparkled in the eyes as the crowd gathered in anticipation of sharing a journey of storytelling and music. From the first note to the last, the audience was held in rapt attention as we all remembered the unmatched joy of watching live theater.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Taproot Theatre will give all the feels and more. It is a heartfelt story of enduring friendships: of living, loving, and letting go. With little fuss or fluff, the show owes its appeal to the witty dialogue delivered with zest. Unafraid to feel the hurt of loss, the show reminds us that we are never just one thing, but can feel many complex emotions all at the same time.

THE REVOLUTIONISTS at ArtsWest is a revolutionary dream fugue of an implausible meeting of four great women during the French Revolution. They have individual battles and seek to better the world, yet find a way to support each other. Their imagined sisterhood is a fresh take on could happen if people work together and move beyond the stereotypes and labels that box us in. The show's tragi-comedy elicits both a chuckle and a sigh.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Paramount Theatre brings heart and humor in a winning combination. With soaring music, reinvented choreography, and its timeless story, FIDDLER provides the elements we have always loved with a freshness that makes us love it more. Bartlett Sher's production has cemented the show in the hearts of a new generation ensuring that people's affection for it will continue for many years to come.

A VERY DIE HARD CHRISTMAS at Seattle Public Theatre will have you dying from laughter. With gags, antics, witty remarks, and tomfoolery, the cast manages to tell a fairly accurate story. While the gunfire and explosions may be downgraded to squirt guns and Nerf guns, there is nothing downgraded about the humor and entertainment. With barely a pause for a rollerblading Zamboni clean up, the show heats up the holidays in perfect parody style.

Taproot Theatre breathes some fresh air into the holiday season with their production of THE BISHOP'S WIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY. While other theater leans on the old standards, Taproot is rolling the dice and presents a new adaptation of a lesser-known work. Their gamble is already paying off with smiles, cheer, and holiday spirit. THE BISHOP'S WIFE is a perfect blend of nostalgia and freshness.

Seattle Shakespeare Theater gives THE TEMPEST a new edge and makes it sharper than ever. Filled with intrigue, love, revenge, plots, ploys, and magic, this show has something for everyone. With a fresh look and clever casting, Seattle Shakespeare makes this show its own.

SUNSET BABY at Arts West presents a slice of life with all its complexities, troubles, and truths. Troubled pasts, hard choices, and conflicting emotions rule the day in this show. No one has it easy, and no one escapes unscarred. Everyone has baggage, but must own their choices. They must all decide if they can find the courage to do better, to be better, or let their past rule their future.

NECESSARY SACRIFICES at Taproot Theater is both necessary and a gift to audiences. In a time of great division, this show reaches deep into the psyche of our nation and reminds us how even those with great differences can work together. With compelling dialogue, witty and heartfelt performances, and the absence of distractions, NECESSARY SACRIFCIES wastes no time in showing us what it means to be guided by the better angels of our nature.

EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED is packed to bursting with stories, journeys, memories, and realizations. The show occurs in three different time periods and slowly reveals how two families were shaped by historical events. The show explores how family histories both known and unknown can shape our own self-perceptions.

PEELING by Kaite O'Reilly is a deep look into the lives of disabled actors and the issues they face both on and off stage. The three-actor show is a play within the play as we see the actors both in their staged performances and in their interactions between scenes. The show begins with one actor missing the opening cue for places because she is deaf and no thought was given as to how the stage manager would communicate with her. From that initial slam of reality, PEELING pulls no punches as the actors tackle a manifold of issues facing the disabled community.