A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur — Shaw Festival — Court House Theatre
“A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur” is a compact one-act that carries the emotional and theatrical heft of a full-length play. Written by Tennessee Williams after his prime, “Creve Coeur,” … Continue reading
When We Are Married — Shaw Festival — Royal George Theatre
Joseph Ziegler’s production of J.B. Priestley’s “When We Are Married” for the Shaw Festival is a study of comic timing , characterization, and line delivery. Everything is this letter perfect … Continue reading
The Mountaintop — Shaw Festival — Studio Theatre
Katori Hall’s play, “The Mountaintop,” alas, is a recent of example of one my least favorite playwriting gimmicks, borrowing poignance by making a celebrity, literary, or historical figure the central … Continue reading
The Sea — Shaw Festival — Court House Theatre
Powerful forces of various kinds beset and motivate the characters in Edward Bond’s comedy with ominous overtones, “The Sea.” A young man who is washed to shore on the farthest … Continue reading
The Philadelphia Story — Shaw Festival — Festival Theatre
Just when you think you know a piece so well, a production of it comes along that not only surprises you but reveals new facets, including exponentially more depth, that … Continue reading
The Philanderer — Shaw Festival — Festival Theatre
Period costumes aside, Lisa Peterson’s production of “The Philanderer” for the Shaw Festival gleefully casts off Victorian trappings for the more carefree romantic and sophisticated dash of a contemporary comedy. … Continue reading
The Charity That Began at Home — Shaw Festival — Court House Theatre
Influenced by a sympathetic activist who believes every one deserves a second chance and that positive attention will improve, if not restore, a person’s social poise, the wealthy Lady Denison, … Continue reading
Cabaret — Shaw Festival — Festival Theatre
Entering the Festival Theatre for Peter Hinton’s production of “Cabaret” at the Shaw Festival, you sense a big monolithic spiral staircase that sits on a large turntable center stage. Hinton … Continue reading
Juno and the Paycock — Shaw Festival — Royal George Theatre
Jackie Maxwell’s production of “Juno and the Paycock” for the Shaw Festival is more than a sum of its parts. It’s a careful and seamless blending of episodes Sean O’Casey … Continue reading
The Shaw Festival — Preliminary Report
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ontario — During the next week, I will post full reviews of the 10 plays included on this year’s Shaw Festival roster. My intention was to file a review … Continue reading
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