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Written by M..J. Garland
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Monday, 06 November 2006 |
 Old Dominion University opened the new University Theatre with William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Whenever I think of this production I think of Lady Macbeth’s line, “Out, out damn spot.” Like the images of this production that have been burned on to my cornea.
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Written by Ronnie Pirate
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Sunday, 05 November 2006 |
 The Poquoson Island Players or PIPs as they
refer to themselves serve up a batch of madcap laughs in their production of
Mark Landon Smith’s Radio T.B.S. Or at least that’s what they wanted to do. There were, however, several obstacles that
had to be overcome.
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Written by Mike Diana
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Wednesday, 01 November 2006 |
 It doesn't make sense to review a national touring company production when it lands someplace like the Ferguson Center for the Arts. In most cases the production is on to the next stop before the article appears so it serves little material purpose (such as selling tickets) to comp the press. All that aside OHR was granted the opportunity to experience the Tim Rice/Elton John extravaganza Aida with all the theatrical trimmings the Ferguson Center has to offer its patrons. So with that in mind let's go to the show!
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Written by David Springstead
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Thursday, 26 October 2006 |
 Attending a production of The Diary of Anne Frank is like seeing a movie about the Titanic's maiden voyage, you know how it's going to end. As a result the director needs to insure that there are elements within the performance that create moments of tension and empathy for the characters, and also allow the audience to become part of the show and not just observers. The Regent University Theatre's production fails in these areas more often than it succeeds.
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Written by M.J. Garland
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Tuesday, 24 October 2006 |
 Probably one of the greatest mystery stories of all time by the British mystery writer Agatha Christie is now playing at Peninsula Community Theatre. It's a murder mystery that revolves around the events of a nursery rhyme and keeps the audience guessing with really no chance of solving this mystery.
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Written by Laura Apelt
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Sunday, 22 October 2006 |
 Well, split me infinitives, I kinda liked it! And so did all the adorable litte girls dressed in Tinkerbell outfits in the audience. I had fun! ...I just wish I'd left before the last act.
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Written by Mike Diana
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Friday, 20 October 2006 |
 Gypsy is a star vehicle. It lives or dies depending on the radiant power of the actress bringing the complexities of theater's ultimate stage mother, Mama Rose, to life. Add kids, animals, women that know how to bump and grind, a complex score, too many songs, many multiple modular set changes, plus a first act that runs over an hour and forty minutes and you have a recipe for disaster. |
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Written by Jeff Corriveau
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Wednesday, 18 October 2006 |
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Old Dominion University and PlayTime Theatre presented
Fairly Stupid Stories this weekend at the Stables
Theatre at O.D.U. This original adaptation opened the O.D.U. Theatre Department's 2006-2007
season.
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Written by Laura Apelt
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Tuesday, 17 October 2006 |
 Upon entering the Generic Theatre for the second perfomance of The Guys, I fully anticipated a rather depressing evening. After all, when one goes to see a show based on the events of 9/11, one expects to be sobbing with tears by the end of the night. Boy, was I mistaken.
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Written by David Springstead
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Monday, 16 October 2006 |
 In my almost 40 years being involved in theatre I have never before met someone with the accolades awarded to OLYMPIA DUKAKIS. Winner of a New York Film Critics Award, a Los Angeles Film Critics Award, a Golden Globe, and the much coveted Academy Award, the "Oscar," she has proved that she has great talent on the big screen. But in addition she has won two Obie Awards for her stage work, making her one of those rare actors that can perform in both mediums. So needless to say I was looking forward to her all too brief appearance at THE AMERICAN THEATRE in Hampton with the concert reading of the MARTIN SHERMAN one woman show, "ROSE" on Saturday, October 7.
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Written by Stephen Mason
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Saturday, 14 October 2006 |
 Georges Bizet’s Carmen is one of this planet’s greatest examples of opera. It has drama, lust, seduction, violence and gypsy fortune telling. Even those that don’t care for opera have heard its music and perhaps did not even realize. However what most opera lovers don’t even realize is that Carmen was truly a shock to the world of opera on its premier in Paris on March 3rd 1875 at the Paris Opéra Comique.
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Written by Jeff Corriveau
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Sunday, 08 October 2006 |
What happens when a teenage girl's mother is killed in a gruesome hit-and-run accident? What else can she do but..CHEER! Presented by Theatre CNU, this coming of age story is a dark comedy that twists and turns through issues of materialism and personal vanity.
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Written by John Campbell
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Monday, 02 October 2006 |
The saints are singing "I've got a crown, you've got a crown, all
God's children got a crown..." By this time we are well into the
story of the musical Crowns by Regina Taylor, adapted from
the book "Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats" by Michael
Cunningham and Craig Marberry and presented at Virginia Stage Company through October 8th.
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Written by Ronnie Pirate
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Tuesday, 26 September 2006 |
 Having never been to a Williamsburg Players production before, I was
excited to explore a new venue. There is a definite sense of community
in this theater. On the wall there are collage tributes to previous
seasons, as well as a scholarship board featuring headshots of
recipients for the past two decades. I have even worked with some of
these formerly young people professionally. It is nice to know that the
work done in this building has had an impact in the theatrical
community.
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Written by David Springstead
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Wednesday, 20 September 2006 |
 The 40th Street Stage in Norfolk is one of those places where actors go to stretch their wings, and theatre companies have the chance to mount productions with support from an understanding venue. With the current production of CRAIG LUCAS' "Reckless" we have the privilege of experiencing both.
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Written by Mike Diana
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Saturday, 16 September 2006 |
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Folks, British farce ain't for everybody. Frantic antics and door slamming can go from unbridled hilliarity to excessively unfunny in short order, rendering an audience bewildered and a cast gasping for breath. Regent University Theatre's production of Michael Frayn's popular farce Noises Off revels in excess. Doors are opened and closed and sardines are shuffled off and on, but the work to make it work was so obvious it got in the way of the laughter.
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Written by Laura Apelt
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Thursday, 14 September 2006 |
 If all movies were Star Wars blockbusters, it'd get old pretty fast. Likewise, if all plays were Wicked, we'd soon be unimpressed by all the "impressiveness". Not to mention, very poor. Little Theatre of Virginia Beach's production of Shakespeare in Hollywood is not one of those blockbuster shows that will be talked about for years to come, but it's pretty cute all the same.
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Written by James R. Johnson
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Monday, 11 September 2006 |
 The Little Theatre of Norfolk kicked off its 80th season with a production of Out of Order by Ray Cooney and Directed by Scott Rollins. It seems hard to believe that a nonprofit community theater could have survived the rigors of time since 1926. Eighty years of productions sounds like a monolithic feat, and indeed it is. A lot has changed the world since this humble beginning, but it is a delight to see the theater changing with it. The building itself looks like a veritable fountain of youth. I hope I look that good after 80 years.
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Written by PJ Freebourn
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Saturday, 02 September 2006 |
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One would be generous to call the 40th Street Stage a warehouse let alone a stage, but this little black box theatre is turning out to be quite an exciting venue. Everything from film festivals to comedy sketches is being produced here. I got the opportunity to see a new play in its infancy receive its baptism into the Congregational Church of Theatre. Produced by City Arts, The Portable Henry Hobbs by Robert Wray had it’s premiere showing in a sort of pre-workshop on Sunday, August 20th.
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Written by David Springstead
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Sunday, 27 August 2006 |
 When asked to review the Generic Theatre's latest production, "Bad Dates," I was rather looking forward to seeing the place again. It's been years since I've been there and was wondering if they'd done anything to the venue to "spruce it up." Same old place, but that's not always a bad thing.
But then, as I looked at the playbill, I noticed that this is a one woman show. A one woman show? |
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