Seattle Theater Reviews
BWW Review: “SONGS OF SUMMER” WITH SHELLY TRAVERSE at McCaw Hall
by Erica Miner - July 15, 2020
Seattle Opera's innovative 'Songs of Summer' recital series has been bringing some of the company's most valued singers to an electronic stage...
BWW Review: Seattle Rep's JITNEY Brings in the Power of Age and Experience
by Jay Irwin - March 05, 2020
I've often talked about the embarrassment of theatrical riches that we have in Seattle. We have several companies that bring us new works, many of which have made their way on to Broadway. We have a wealth of extremely talented performers who constantly wow us with their gifts. And we have a repu...
BWW Review: The Thought Police are Coming for You with Radial Theater Project's 1984
by Jay Irwin - February 22, 2020
Radial Theater Project is currently presenting an adaptation of George Orwell's classic dystopian nightmare a?oe1984a??, and don't even THINK about saying anything good about it. Big Brother has sent down orders from the Ministry of Truth that there is nothing good about this production and it has ...
BWW Review: Book-It's THE TURN OF THE SCREW Creeped Me Out, But Not in the Way They Hoped
by Jay Irwin - February 16, 2020
Henry James' novella a?oeThe Turn of the Screwa?? is considered by some to be a classic of horror literature. A suspenseful story of ghosts and insanity that leaves each reader with a different viewpoint on what just happened. To be perfectly candid, I'd never read it and so my first exposure to i...
BWW Review: BLISS at the 5th Avenue Theatre Misses the Mark, But Only Slightly
by Jay Irwin - February 15, 2020
Dear Readers, you may recall that several years ago there was a new musical that came through town, about Princesses (even called that), that many consider, including myself, to be one of the worst things they've ever seen. But as bad as it was, it had three things going for it. First, there was a...
BWW Review: THE CHILDREN at the Seattle Rep Examines Legacy and Responsibility
by Jay Irwin - February 13, 2020
With more and more younger people getting involved with politics and saving the planet, the question raises, what is the responsibility of the older generation, the generation that caused many of the problems, to clean up their own messes? Such a question is posed in Lucy Kirkwood's commanding play...
BWW Review: FROZEN at the Paramount Astounds with Disney Imagineering Magic
by Jay Irwin - February 09, 2020
You gotta love those Disney Imagineers. They repeatedly manage to take those beloved Disney movies and reimagine them for the stage, taking them far beyond a simple rehash with some new songs into a whole new world (yes, I know, wrong show reference). And a?oeFrozena?? currently playing at the Par...
BWW Review: Theatre9/12 Tackles Lesser Known Miller with THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND OTHER BUSINESS
by Jay Irwin - February 08, 2020
Most people are familiar with at least some works of the renowned playwright Arthur Miller. a?oeThe Cruciblea??, a?oeAll My Sonsa??, a?oeThe Pricea??, and of course a?oeDeath of a Salesmana?? to name a few. But one of my favorites, and a somewhat lesser known Miller, is his a?oeThe Creation of the...
BWW Review: Seattle Public Theater's ADMISSIONS Tackles White Privilege with Humor
by Jay Irwin - February 01, 2020
As a white man I can recognize the privilege that has been afforded me throughout my life. That's not to say I didn't work hard for what I've achieved, nor to say I haven't had hard times, but that underlying privilege has always been there. But is recognizing your privilege enough? How far do yo...
BWW Review: OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD from Strawberry Theatre Workshop - A Bit Long but Worth the Wait
by Jay Irwin - January 29, 2020
In Timberlake Wertenbaker's play a?oeOur Country's Gooda??, currently being offered from Strawberry Theatre Workshop, they say theatergoers should have three things. They should pay attention. How could you not with some of these incredible performances happening from the ensemble? They should be...
BWW Review: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Taproot Theatre Will Give You All the Feels and More.
by Kelly Rogers Flynt - January 27, 2020
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 ...
BWW Review: PEACOCK at The Can Can Soars
by Jay Irwin - January 25, 2020
The Can Can, Seattle's Hottest Burlesque Theatre, is back with an all new show, the dazzling a?oePeacocka??, plus a new cast member, and a new rival for my favorite production of theirs. In addition to their usual flashy, yet revealing costumes, on beautiful performers, and high-flying dance routin...
BWW Review: TRUE WEST at the Seattle Rep Bares the Teeth of a Classic
by Jay Irwin - January 23, 2020
Most theatergoing people know of Sam Shepard's a?oeTrue Westa??. It's considered a classic of American Theatre. But I have a question for you, a?oeHave you seen it?a?? It's revived every few years on Broadway but not so much locally. And I will admit, I knew it but never had the opportunity to s...
BWW Review: THE REVOLUTIONISTS at Arts West Is a Revolutionary Dream Fugue That Elicits Both a Chuckle and a Sigh.
by Kelly Rogers Flynt - January 20, 2020
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 peop...
BWW Review: SHE LOVES ME at Village Theatre - The RomCom that Wouldn't (and Shouldn't) Quit
by Jay Irwin - January 20, 2020
Everyone loves a good Romantic Comedy, and when people find a good one, they latch onto it. Such a RomCom was the 1937 play a?oeParfumeriea?? by Miklos Laszlo. Now, if you're not familiar with that one maybe you're more familiar with some of the films that were based on it. There was the 1940 Jam...
BWW Review: BOHEMIA Is Back at The Triple Door for One Last Run
by Jay Irwin - January 19, 2020
a?oeBohemiaa?? is back! That fabulous burlesque show from the minds of Opal Peachey and Mark Siano is back for one last time at The Triple Door before they wing their way off to Berlin to perform at the Ballhaus Berlin. With new cast members and characters, the classiest burlesque show you'll ever...
BWW Review: DANCE NATION from WET - High on Shock, Low on Story
by Jay Irwin - January 18, 2020
Believe it or not, Dear Readers, I was a dancer in my youth. I took tap lessons for 12 years starting in 3rd Grade. And while I didn't do much in the way of competitions, I did see my fair share of stage moms and dancer heartache. So, a play such as Clare Barron's a?oeDance Nationa??, currently b...
BWW Review: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Paramount Theatre Brings Heart and Humor in a Winning Combination.
by Kelly Rogers Flynt - January 15, 2020
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 s...
BWW Review: REPARATIONS from Sound Theatre Company Examines the Truth in Our Blood
by Jay Irwin - January 12, 2020
What would you do if you could peek in on the memories of your ancestors? That's the question posed in the World Premiere play by Darren Canady, a?oeReparationsa??, currently offered from Sound Theatre Company. In a play filled with thought provoking ideas and stirring performances, they metaphori...
BWW Review: Not much Sticks in Seattle Shakespeare Company's THE RIVALS
by Jay Irwin - January 11, 2020
While viewing the opening night of Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's a?oeThe Rivalsa??, one old adage kept springing to mind. a?oeThrow it against the wall and see if it sticks.a?? Well, aside from a few standout performances, not much stuck. But that wasn't ...
BWW Review: SUMMER at the Paramount - A Raucous Party with No Story
by Jay Irwin - January 01, 2020
a?oeSummer, The Donna Summer Musicala?? opened last night, New Year's Eve, at the Paramount like a shiny ball descending on Seattle signifying the new year. But just like the ball dropping and switching from one year to the next, it amounted to very little other than a reason to party. With a book...
BWW Review: Naughty Holiday Fun in WONDERLAND at the Can Can
by Jay Irwin - December 21, 2019
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, sugar plums dancing in your head, and candy canes intertwined. These are some images that spring to mind when you think of the holiday season. Now what if those were euphemistic chestnuts, sugar plums, and candy canes and they were all naked and singing? Do I h...
BWW Review: Say 'Helloooo' to MRS. DOUBTFIRE at the 5th Avenue
by Jay Irwin - December 14, 2019
There was no one like Robin Williams. Let's just state that right now. And when you think of Robin Williams, many gravitate towards his 1993 comedy smash a?oeMrs. Doubtfirea?? where he created an enduring, iconic character as a divorced father who posed as a female nanny in order to remain in the ...
BWW Review: Nordo's CHRISTMAS KILLINGS AT CORGI CLIFFS Brings the (somewhat disjointed) Laughs
by Jay Irwin - December 12, 2019
Becky-June Beasley-Jones (played by the irreverent Butch Alice), the Jessica Fletcher of Café Nordo, a young girl who can't help but stumble into murder after murder (so much so that I'm not certain she's not perpetrating them) has returned to rock your holidays with a?oeThe Christmas Killings at Co...
BWW Review: Magic Abounds in San Fran's Curran with HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD
by Jay Irwin - December 10, 2019
First off, Dear Readers, let me emphasize that the Harry Potter Plays, a?oeHarry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2a?? are NOT here in Seattle. And, personally I doubt they ever will be considering the amount of technical wizardry needed to pull it off. They'd have to practically remodel the...
