CORE Theatre Company presented their second production for their new company which began last summer - The Yellow Wallpaper which was adapted by CORE Theatre and performed at the Stables Theatre across from O.D.U. It was wonderful to see something so fresh and new in concept for the area.  Finally someone who does something abstract, cerebral and better yet... effective.

Pet Sounds may have been one of the greatest theatrical events that Hampton Roads has had in the last year.  This production was created by Bruce Hanson and Students from Granby High School and performed at 40^th St. Stage.  Now many may ask, “why was it not performed at Granby High School?”  Well simply put, subject matter.  That was a call made by the Principal at Granby High School and a good one at that.

Poquoson Island Players opened their season closer last week with Taking Leave by Nagle Jackson.  This show is different from a normal season closer for PIPs and an unusual choice of show.  Many when they go to a PIPs production expect a musical, a comedy or a mystery, maybe even a drama. But how about a show dealing with something that is hitting close to home for many people all over the country… Alzheimer’s.

When I first read this show, Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow in Enuf, being described as a “choreopoem”, I misread it as “chloroform”. Then I got my head on straight, looked up root words, and realized that the show I was planning to see was basically a collection of poems and monologues interpreted with a combination of music, acting and dance – all based on the lives and issues of African American women. But wait! Other ethnicities welcome! Especially in this particular version.

I was not familiar with KidsPAW nor with Theatrix when I was asked to review Disney's High School Musical. The reason why is that they are a newish group that has decided to expand their programming quality and content to, as their program states, "create an atmosphere where each child can experience genuine love and acceptance while using their God-given talents." They wish to make this happen by "providing productions that are edifying, relevant, and poignant for the community." So, as I quickly surmised at the middle school in which they were performing, it's going to be another rag-tag group of kids loosely thrown together into a show that really only shows off the leads. I was very pleasantly proven wrong.

The Williamsburg Players production of A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine is half musical review and half short musical comedy. While Day was unfortunately a bit of a struggle to sit through, Night made up for it in spades. I think I’m a new fan of the Marx Brothers now.

Biloxi Blues, the second selection of the trilogy of plays based on the life of the author, Neil Simon, takes us into the world of a group of GI's in Basic Training during WW2.  The manner in which "the greatest generation" is shown at Little Theatre of Norfolk, gives us all a new perspective on their life.  Especially during the greatest conflict the world has seen to date.

Man of LaMancha has always rated amongst my favorite musicals and overall Smithfield Little Theatre has met my expectations. For those who may not know, Man of LaMancha is based on the novel Don Quixote, written by Miguel de Cervantes about a dreamer, idealist and optimist much like Candide. We follow his journey as he battles windmills, knights and moors all to defend the honor of his Dulcinea.

For those keeping count, a review has to accomplish a few things. In general, those things are: to tell a bit about the story, to describe how well it was acted, to describe the technical aspects, and finally, to motivate a reader to either attend or avoid the event. However this is easier said than done.

Smith! Being the Life and Death of Cap’n John, produced by Virginia Premiere Theatre at the Kimball Theater, is inventive, witty and a drama well worth seeing.

Admittedly I'm a Sondheim junkie. I confess that he's my favorite American musical theater composer/lyricist. Perhaps it is my English degree that digs through his metaphors, or that fact that I'm partial to strings in an orchestra, but either way, he's my hetero man crush. What's not to admire about someone who has won multiple Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, an Academy Award, and did I mention the Grammy?

The crusty Christie is back, and this time…she’s ….well the same thing she always is.  It’s Agatha Christie, a favorite of high schools and Little Theaters everywhere.  You already know the story, a few people, stuck somewhere, get bumped off one by one until the person you least suspect for doing it is caught.  Admittedly this is not one of my favorite types of theater so I have to ask myself why is this show still running in London?  Perhaps getting there is half the fun…I mean, you do have to figure out whodunit.  So you’d better pay attention, because the clues are hard to catch from this cast at the Little Theatre of Norfolk.