Review: OVER HER DEAD BODY by Pinky Swear Productions at Theatre JJuly 12, 2024Pinky Swear has revived its 2016 production of Over Her Dead Body for this year's Capital Fringe. The musical revue surveys murder ballads (yes, that is a thing) which originated in Scotland and England during the 16th century before emigrating to Appalachia and obtaining improved orchestration (Americans organize mean fiddle, guitar, mandolin bands). but the plots of each of these songs resembles a fellow ballad: boy meets girl/boy and girl are in love/girl gets murdered--not really grislier than what's streaming these days, but with real, live musicians.
Review: THE ILLUSIONISTS at Opera House/Kennedy CenterApril 25, 2024Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages, The Illusionists brings the fun of magic and the magic of fun at a time when a little voluntary, recreational misdirection sounds like a great idea. Indeed, through the magic of a big screen and a little camera, The Illusionists have solved the problem of how to do card tricks for an audience of 2500--the smallest moves of The Manipulator (Hyunjoon Kim) can be seen from every seat--just don't expect to see how he does it.
Review: THE SEAFARER at Round House TheatreDecember 12, 2023What did our critic think of THE SEAFARER at Round House Theatre? Five fine actors give excellent performances in Ryan Rilette's solid production of The Seafarer through December 31.
Review: MOSES at Theater JDecember 5, 2023What did our critic think of MOSES at Theater J? The title character of Michele Lowe's 90 minute, one-man play, full name Moses Schneider, experiences a literal holocaust, not just a signal fire like that of the Biblical Moses. He then experiences a spiritual journey like the hero of Thomas Carlyle's Sartor Resartus (The Tailor, Re-tailored) which takes him through a loss of faith, a period of indifference when he can't quite remember why he is both numb and grief-stricken, to a regaining of the possibility of peace.
Review: DOROTHY'S DICTIONARY at Washington Stage GuildOctober 13, 2023What did our critic think of DOROTHY'S DICTIONARY at Washington Stage Guild? During the course of E. M. Lewis' 75 minute play, librarian Dorothy Ross and high school student Zan Hardt get to know each other.
Review: MRS. DOUBTFIRE at Broadway at the National in DCOctober 11, 2023What did our critic think of MRS. DOUBTFIRE at National? Rob McClure did not win a Tony for his star turn on Broadway as Mrs. Doubtfire (he was nominated), but he will win your heart through October 15 at the National.
Review: EVITA at Shakespeare Theatre/Harman HallSeptember 15, 2023What did our critic think of EVITA at Shakespeare Theatre/Harman Hall? The two hour show packs 17 years of her life into a constantly moving, theatrical matrix including social, political, and women's fashion history which can often be quite affecting because Pimentel's acting finds simple moments of true emotion amid the bustle and action.