tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53557435727255442602024-03-03T10:39:20.913-08:00The Crippled CriticYour source for reviews of film, concerts, and theatre from an unusual perspective -- the wheelchair seats.Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.comBlogger283125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-19531475489646215192024-03-03T10:38:00.000-08:002024-03-03T10:38:31.980-08:00"A Few Good Men" @ Lakewood<p> I am so glad I made time to see "A Few Good Men" at Lakewood. It was the best play I've seen in a very long while. Its reputation is rock-solid by virtue of the film starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore. I'd consider the movie to be a modern-classic. I knew it had been a play first, the play that launched Aaron Sorkin's career. It is indeed a masterpiece. The performances aare uniformly superb, and it was a particularly pleasant surprise to see my former Language Arts teacher David Sikking on stage.</p><p><br /></p><p>Make time for this show. If there is one thing I've learned about managing the demands of being a late-in-life college student, it's this: Making time for art is absolutely essential for relieving-stress. Whatever your competing demands may be, do not neglect art, or you'll soon regret it.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-54206044860300744532024-01-06T13:27:00.000-08:002024-01-06T13:27:21.933-08:00"A Tomb with A View" @ Lakewood<p> I just glanced at the date on my last review. Over 7 months! I can think of no better way to break my "fast" than a murder mystery show at Lakewood. "A Tomb with a View" is exactly the type of show by which I was introduced to Lakewood., long before the advent of this website. It is the kind of show that I would deem to be Lakewood's signature: A witty romp, with a liberal dash oof the macabre. What distinguishes "A Tomb with a View" is the family of eccentrics at its center. The comedy comes mostly from character rather than plot. My favorite of these was Dora Tomb, the batty winemakeress, whose vintages may or may not be deliberately poisoned, Lisa Knox's daffy performance makes either option plausible. </p><p>If, like me, you consider the mystery-comedy Lakewood's specialty, you shouldn't miss it. In fact, I'm still a little disappointed to have missed "Arsenic & Old Lace" due to late-in-life resumption of college. Despite my newly busy schedule, it is quite gratifying-perhaps even necessary to make room for Art. I will endeavor to keep up with Lakewood, and I am already eagerly anticipating "A Few Good Men." </p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-1870261831425807712023-05-21T15:46:00.001-07:002023-05-21T15:46:26.884-07:00"Mary Jane" by Third Rail Rep @ Coho<p> I've been anticipating "Mary Jane" since it was first announced Pre-CoVid. Then, as everything limped back to life, Third Rail put on a few other things I did not see, but the absence of "Mary Jane" from them made me believe they had decided against producing it. So, I decided to read the script for myself. I must say, I'm not a huge Amy Herzog fan, (She had a play which ended with untranslated French, seemingly out-of-nowhere.) "Mary Jane" has a somewhat ambiguous ending as well, which I disliked. </p><p>Reading the script in no way prepared me for what was on stage last night.</p><p>In the exceptionally skilled-hands of CoHo's cast, the play is transformed into something as raw and real as I could ever hope to encounter.</p><p>Here's a small example: Mary Jane, (Rebecca Lingafelter) is telling a brand-new mother of a child with a disability all the ins-and-outs of navigating government bureaucracy for medical equipment and other needs. On the page, this registered as merely a vehicle to make the audience think: "my God, it shouldn't be nearly that difficult." If it was written for that purpose, that's fine--and even necessary--because it indeed should not be that difficult, but it was also a monotonous-read. Lingafelter's delivery is anything but monotonous. She speaks the lines as with the breeziness of a vetaeran of these processes, who can spare this new mother some undue frustration. A perfect representation of the parent-top-parent community that forms organically in this otherwise isolating world.</p><p>Later, a small but significant promise is broken by the hospital, and Mart Jane just loses it, because it's the last straw in one of the worst situations imaginable. I thought: "that's my mom." It was not a thought I had when reading the scene. Again, I suspect it is Langafelter's brilliant interpretation. </p><p><br /></p><p>If she does not win a Drammy, something is very wrong.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-63397276975041443892023-05-17T09:37:00.003-07:002023-05-17T09:37:43.507-07:00"True Story" @ Artists Rep, inside PCS<p> "True Story" is the play I've been looking forward to the most all Season. I am a huge fan of murder mysteries, and I couldn't wait. </p><p>"True Story" did not disappoint. </p><p>Its title alludes both to the search for the truth in a murder investigation, as well as a winking-nod to its inspiration by the "true story" of the publication, (and surrounding controversy) of O.J. Simpson's "If I Did It."</p><p>It is a brisk show, at a lean 80 minutes. It's momentum builds quite quickly. It is also well-suited to PCS' intimate Studio. My anticipation was richly rewarded. If you're in the mood for a spine-tingling adrenaline-rush, as a story you think you know unfurls, there is no better option than "True Story."</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-51813246875878258142023-03-09T15:36:00.004-08:002023-03-09T15:36:57.651-08:00"Where We Belong" @ PCS<p>(Pardon the rather belated review, please. The Crippled Critic is now also (rather unexpectedly,) the Crippled College Student once again, after a long absence.) </p><p>"Where We Belong" is the best kind of show: The kind that tells you something you completely did not know. Everyone knows about the horrific treatment of Native Peoples, in a broad-sense. But, I had no inkling whatsoever that the British Museum has unlabeled human-remains in storage, and has actively resisted returning them to tribes who have made a a claim. </p><p>That's disgusting, on every level.</p><p>That's far from the only tidbit of nauseating-knowledge that "Where We Belong" will impart in its lean 80 minutes. </p><p>Yet amid these disturbing details, there is also a story of Shakespearean Scholarship, through a Native lens, and that too is much more interesting than one might initially expect.</p><p>You'll learn a lot, (some of which, you might wish you hadn't.)</p><p><br /></p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-80061312889635788812023-02-24T13:11:00.006-08:002023-02-24T13:11:57.485-08:00"Young Americans" at PCS<p> Sometimes one character steals the show.</p><p> In "Young Americans," that character is Joe. Danny Bernardo plays the character at different ages, but he is most effective--and affecting--when he's "Dad-Age". This character is an Every-Dad, the boundless, goofy enthusiasm for the perfect trip, the micro-managing to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. The blindness to the irritation these things cause. </p><p>He's my my Dad, he's almost certainly yours. </p><p>He is worth the price of admission alone. It's worth still more to suddenly realize you're not alone in dealing with dad-ness.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-445497916674821232023-01-21T16:07:00.003-08:002023-01-21T16:07:33.561-08:00"Ms Holmes & Ms. Watson" @ PCS<p> Most incarnations of Sherlock Holmes are rather dour. Sherlock is a tortured, nearly anti-social genius. "Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson" touches upon these traits, Holmes has her trademark savant deductive-reasoning skills fully intact. She has an affinity for marijuana, as well, subbing for the usual cocaine habit, both meant to dull Sherlock's incessant deductions when they become bothersome. What's brand new in "Ms. Holmes, (other than the obvious gender-switch,) is her manic energy. It took some getting used to, but it eventually became the best part of the show. To call Ashley Song's performance "animated" is both apt and inadequate. Her "Sherlock" is kind of like what Inspector Clouseau may have been, had he been competent. </p><p>I believe there's a classic piece of acting-advice: "to play to the back of the House," and does she ever. (Opening-Night was packed, and I had to sit Rear-Orchestra. I've sat there before, when the demands of the set required it, but I'm accustomed to front-row.) Thus, I can attest to the veracity of my previous statement. On that note, while the sightline was decent, the amplification of the dialogue wqas sorely lacking. I hope they can increase the volume.</p><p>"Ms.. Holmes" is not quite a parody, (there's too much affection for the source-material to fit that designation.) But, it is far more of a romp than is typical. If you're in the mood for a healthy dose of comedy with your Arthur Conan Doyle, this is for you.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-21278669094368524112023-01-08T09:34:00.005-08:002023-01-08T09:34:54.984-08:00"The Ghost of David Balasco" @ Lakewood<p style="text-align: left;"> "The Ghost of David Belasco" is a pleasant farce, which fits in quite well with the kinds of shows at which Lakewood Theatre is particularly adept. I have long enjoyed mystery/ghost stories with a hefty dose of humor at Lakewood. They've had other types of shows, but it has become a bit of a trademark. An added bonus, is that this one was penned by C.S. Whitcomb, of whom I've been a fan, since seeing a Reading of "The Book of John" at Portland Center Stage's JAW Festival. Later, I was a volunteer script-reader at PCS, and had the opportunity to inquire about the fate of "Book of John." It seems that it didn't gain the traction I believed it deserved.</p><p style="text-align: left;">When Shawn Hornbeck was rescued after 4 years of captivity, the case prompted comparisons to the story of Steven Stayner, and the TV Movie, "I Know My First Name is Steven," also written by C.S. Whitcomb... </p><p style="text-align: left;">Would Ms. Whitcomb be interested in lunch with a fan? </p><p style="text-align: left;">Worth a shot.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">"The Ghost of David Belasco" is a send-up of many theatre-industry conventions, and in-jokes abound. The comedy is typically fairly light, but be warned that the possessed tarp which functions as the portal to the afterlife, scared a young audience member pretty badly, so keep that in mind. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">For the rest of us, "The Ghost of David Belasco" is a welcome mild fright, on a cold wintery-night.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-28801011675465356452022-11-12T13:04:00.000-08:002022-11-12T13:04:16.329-08:00"Kristina Wong: Sweatshop Overlord"@ PCS<p>A play which sends audiences back to the worst of The Pandemic might be a hard sell. </p><p><br /></p><p>Kristina Wong know this. She acknowledges as much in the play's opening-minutes.</p><p>However, it takes a remarkably short time to win us over. She succeeds in this seemingly impossible task, by showing us hidden brightness in the darkness of worldwide despair.</p><p>Namely, her at first small, and then shockingly large, group of "aunties" who sew masks, which were then in very short-supply.</p><p>Along the way, she finds heaping amounts of unexpected humor. (Did anyone think we would look back upon one second of 2020 and laugh?) </p><p>Kristina Wong must have.</p><p>There's a moment in the show in which women are asked to throw their bras upon the stage, (for their precious, precious elastic. I thought for sure that these members were plants, in case audience members were reticent. (I was wrong, Wong tells of a prize for those brave participants at the end of the show.)</p><p>When I entered PCS's Ellen Bye Studio mentally-grumbling that PCS still has a mask-mandate, when most public places no longer do. After this stark reminder of what life was like when there weren't any, my factory-made mask became downright comfortable.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-88448438778920945492022-10-17T20:38:00.000-07:002022-10-17T20:38:03.175-07:00"The Ripple, the Wave that Carried Me Home"<p> "The Ripple, the Wave that Carried Me Home" stuffs its brisk 95 minutes with a ton of drama. Racism, segregation, father-daughter relationship issues, and on and on. What's most striking, however, is that all these disparate things take place against the backdrop of a public pool, literally and figuratively: the set is a public pool, and remains so throughout the entire play. While watching the play, I made a mental-note to praise the projections on the pool walls, but not all it was projection. (There's a conversation that happens on the wall where most of the projections are shown, but that would have to be a very well synchronized video, and I don't think it is. I couldn't figure out how they did it.) </p><p>Also was the fact that the play is set in the not-so-distant past. The first moves toward desegregating the pools began in 1957, and I'm thinking, "OK, my father was a toddler then." While not a very long time, I felt it was long enough to predict, "they'll fix it fairly quickly." A disturbing--not totally specified--incident, stemming from desegregation efforts, is said to have occurred in 1979, 5 years prior to <i>my </i>birth. That hit harder than I was expecting. </p><p>"The Ripple, the Wave that carried me home" is a superb play. One I am glad I saw, not just for the action on stage, but for the jolt it gave me when I realized that we haven't moved as far--or as quickly--as I thought we had. The whole country might benefit from that jolt.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-54587854284245634682022-07-16T16:57:00.000-07:002022-07-16T16:57:05.359-07:00"The Kiss" @ Lakewood<p> "The Kiss" is a musical conceived by Will Vinton, I was friends with from a very young age, when I was making stop-motion animated short films, and a frequent attendee of his Portland Creative Conference. So, it was nostalgic for me just to enter the lobby, and see the early sketches of various things in the production. (Make time to loiter a bit, it's well worth it.)</p><p><br /></p><p>My favorite moments in the production are, unsurprisingly those that are reminiscent of animation. Those moments in which one is struck by an actor's ability to execute movements that would seem to be in the realm of cartoons. Such as, when Keaton Fields does his "seduction dance," insisting in song how easy it will be to procure the kiss he needs to turn him back into princely-form. (Mr. Fields is a fresh from Acting School, his trajectory derailed by the pandemic. This is his debut-role, but --mark my words-- we'll be seeing much more of him.) Another actor deserves similar praise for his fully-committed portrayal of a rodent, but doing so by name would be a major-spoiler. </p><p><br /></p><p>I felt honored to be among the first to see "The Kiss," Vinton's final creative work. Yes, it took me back to my past, but it also cemented my faith in Portland's artistic-future.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-62033034823302334752022-03-12T16:01:00.003-08:002022-03-12T16:01:59.452-08:00"Gem of the Ocean" @ PCS<p>An August Wilson play is always appoint-viewing. Add in top-flight Portland actors, (many of whom have done several Wilson productions over the years,) and you have unmissable, (and dearly-missed) theater. Wilson's often lyrically beautiful dialogue is the main-course. But, the dazzling implementation of the magical-realist themes should also not be given short-shrift. It's a classic, and deservedly so. As such, it almost seems arrogant of me to add any personal feelings. But, I must say, of PCS' scheduled Season, "Gem of the Ocean" was the one I most fervently hoped would not be a casualty of CoVid. If ever there was a show worth venturing out for, this is it.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-41008030415262846332022-01-29T13:13:00.002-08:002022-01-29T13:13:38.320-08:00"The Great Leap" @ PCS<p> Take 2! </p><p>I tried to attend Opening Night of ArtistsRep/PCS's production of "The Great Leap." The show was called off at Curtain for positive tests. </p><p>It was worth the wait. </p><p><br /></p><p>"The Great Leap begins as a sports-story, but becomes far more: A story about parents and their children amid the backdrop of Revolution. Playwright Lauren Yee is a voice I haven't otherwise encountered, and "The Great Leap" made me wonder what audiences had missed with "'Cambodian Rock Band" a musical by Yee, set to premiere Pre-Lockdown, and not yet mounted at PCS.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Great Leap" is worth your time. It's full of the kind of drama we've missed for so very long.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-61182387145764607412022-01-08T13:07:00.000-08:002022-01-08T13:07:01.663-08:00"Murder on the Orient Express"<p> "Murder on the Orient Express" is the play I was looking most forward to, as live performances slowly crackled back to life on local stages. An added bonus is that this show is directed by my former teacher David Sikking. </p><p>"Murder" is the kind of play I associate most with Lakewood Theatre since I first began going in earnest. The classic Agatha Christie tale, with its snowbound train is perfectly suited for a Winter's night. While I am far from a Christie expert, (my tastes gravitate more toward the grittier Raymond Chandler,) I'd say that "Murder on the Orient Express" is likely her best. </p><p>As I sat in the theatre, waiting for the show to begin, I reflected upon how this was an ideal way to cautiously resume "normalcy." I was proven right. It really felt like "we're back!" I urge you to join me in that feeling. It's like feasting after a fast, and what a feast it is.</p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-40159911191627385542021-04-07T20:42:00.003-07:002021-04-07T20:49:06.515-07:00Crippled Critic Ice Cream Review: The Village Ice Cream Factory<p>With stages and screens still dark for over a year, this website has gotten no use. The Crippled Critic himself, as an immunocompromised individual, has been under extraordinary lockdown since mid-March 2020. Then when I became eligible for the vaccine, it reached full-effectiveness on Feb 20th, 2021. Soon after, during an unseasonably warm March day, I ventured out to Multnomah Village Ice Cream Factory. My ever-vigilant twin sister, who knows of my obsessive-love of Blue Raspberry Slurpees/Icees, noticed that they had a Blue Raspberry flavor on a day she passed by. On this day, that flavor was not on the chalkboard. I had a Cookie Monster milkshake instead. ("Cookie Monster" is a delightfully decadent twist on Cookies & Cream, with a far more extensive list of cookies, I am certain it would do its muppet namesake proud.) Nikki, (the aforementioned twin,) decided to bring home a couple pints to-go. Among the pre-packed pints, was Blue Raspberry. Oh. My. God. I think this flavor typifies the unusual--but never veering into bizarre--flavors that Village Ice Cream Factory serves. I love this place. Hopefully, as Summer approaches, they'll be open longer hours than their current hours of 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM M-F, & 12 PM-8:00 Sat-Sun. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;">The Village Ice CreamFactory</p><p style="text-align: center;">Multnomah Village</p><p style="text-align: center;">7709 SW Capitol Hwy</p><p style="text-align: center;">Portland, OR 97219</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">(971) 279-5047</p></blockquote><p></p>Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-13352528264866532462020-03-08T14:01:00.002-07:002020-03-08T14:01:27.632-07:00"The Odd Couple" @ Lakewood"The Odd Couple" was written in the sixties, it would stand to reason that <i>something </i>would make it slightly dated. No, there's nothing, except for the use of the yellow-pages and a rotary dial phone, and perhaps that characters smoke indoors. The point being, nothing in the plot makes it feel the least bit stale. Even with the film and tv series versions being classics in their own right only increased my desire to see the original, which somehow I hadn't yet seen on stage. I find this particularly odd because there was even a Broadway revival in the not so distant past. One would think that would have spurred a host of regional productions, but I don't recall any. The description "laugh out-loud funny" is over-used an often hyperbolic, I reserve its use to occasions where it's literally true, and this production qualifies handily. See it. The comedy sparkles as if it were brand-new, and the set, (an often unsung element is gorgeous. It is also the lightest fare currently running, which I must say is quite welcome. Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-79252235099032894812020-03-08T13:30:00.001-07:002020-03-08T13:30:17.033-07:00"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" @ PCS "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" is strange in all the best ways. Its protagonist has a deliberately unspecified neurological disorder. It makes him averse to touch, extremely skilled in certain academic subjects, and quite observant, which serves him well for the "detective story" element of the play. You may have noticed my omission of symptoms typical of such disorders, ones that are more debilitating than those I've mentioned. They too are shown in the play, but given the first-person perspective, significantly more downplayed than they otherwise may have been. I found this refreshing. By focusing on those attributes that could be considered assets, it makes those of us who might be broadly described as "introverts" feel less self-conscious about our various quirks. If someone in y0our life is, to use the term that's en vogue, "neuro-atypical," they might enjoy this show very much. If their enjoyment would be enhanced by a more "sensory-friendly" presentation, those are offered as well. One thing to note, however, is that I was advised to select the wheelchair-seats in the rear-orchestra, due to the configuration of this particular show, so the wheelchair-using readers of this site should keep that in mind. Still, I'd highly recommend attending.Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-807952662395536772020-03-01T19:25:00.003-08:002020-03-01T19:25:33.515-08:00Joshua Radin @ Revolution HallExperiences like this don't happen every day. I am a huge fan of Joshua Radin, and had happened upon William Fitzsimmons on a double-bill with Griffin House. Seeing Radin and Fitzsimmons on the same stage was quite a treat. The third artist on the bill was Ben Kweller. whom I had never encountered. He was a pleasant surprise. I'll have a chance ti get better acquainted with all of them , because when I visited the merch booth in search of a large T-shirt, they were out, but as I was leaving the clerk gifted me Cds by all three men. That was the highlight of a night full of contenders.Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-83243395723180446172020-02-24T11:14:00.001-08:002020-02-24T18:12:27.415-08:00"Indecent" by Artists Rep @ PSU's Lincoln HallI love Paula Vogel's work. I read "How I Learned to Drive" in college, and the local production of "The Long Christmas Ride Home" at Theatre Vertigo in collaboration with Tears of Joy is among the best productions I've seen.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Indecent"has its strengths as well, particularly Michael Mendelson as a tailor who becomes enamored with the play-within-a play, "God of Vengeance" a real-life work that got the entire cast arrested for the "obscenity" of the first lesbian kiss on Broadway.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I must note that significant bits of text are projected on a teeny-tiny screen attached to the set. I'm aware that I have subnormal vision, but even from my fairly close seat, I had a very hard time seeing. Perhaps the can adjust that? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All in all, "Indecent" is worth seeing for its exploration of censorship, assimilation, and the power of theatre itself. It's worth seeing.....provided you can see. </div>
Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-57927833121509140142020-02-24T10:48:00.001-08:002020-02-24T18:34:44.831-08:00Crippled Critic Concert Preview: Joshua Radin at Revolution Hall Feb. 29thJoshua Radin is a wonderful singer. I often describe him as Simon & Garfunkel in one body. I am looking very forward to his concert, which also features William Fitzsimmons, the man who holds the record for the longest show I've ever seen. So long that he ended up turning off the mic and playing in the audience. Radin is one of the few artists who, when I saw my first show I raided the merchandise booth. I highly recommend both artists, and Revolution Hall is among my favorite venues in the city. If you've never been, Joshua Radin's show is a great place to start.Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-67538002848086664342020-01-27T21:13:00.001-08:002020-01-27T21:13:54.733-08:00"Up & Away" @Broadway Rose"Up and Away" is a slight departure for Broadway Rose. It is far goofier than their typical offerings. In fact, my favorite part was the intentionally low-tech props and effects. It's a parody of superhero stories, most obviously Superman, but the rogues gallery of comic villains (in both senses of "comic") could fit in any universe. This light comedy was a welcome respite from some particularly somber productions elsewhere. Let Broadway Rose lift your spirits "Up & Away."Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-86630814868740379312020-01-27T20:45:00.001-08:002020-01-27T20:45:11.884-08:00"School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play" @ PCS, co-prod w/ Artists Rep"School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play" has undeniably interesting themes: Race, Class, definitions of beauty, and the role of all of them in society, shrunk down into a Girl's School in Africa. It does what it sets out to do, but with its remarkably brief 70 minute running-time, I was left with the feeling that the play had barely scratched the surface of any of the issues it raises. I mean, most shows in Las Vegas are at least 90 minutes and they have the ulterior motive of rushing guests back into the casinos. On top of its brevity, the ending was particularly unsatisfying. There are wonderful performances, so if that's enough, then by all means, buy a ticket, but be forewarned it is among the shortest pieces I've ever attended.Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-58337352976353527672020-01-11T14:16:00.001-08:002020-01-11T14:16:38.650-08:00"Wait Until Dark" @ LakewoodLakewood's "Wait Until Dark" is the show I've been looking forward to the most since the theatres announced their Seasons. It did not disappoint, to say the least. I would put this at the very top of your "Must-See" List. Lakewood did Frederick Knott's Dial 'M' for Murder" last Season, and returns to his work with this production. I've always considered Lakewood the best venue in which to see an old-fashioned, but still crackling thriller. Not only have they done quite a few over the years, the building itself just has that vibe: classy with a dash of gloom. With the play closing in mid-February, you may wait until dark, but not much longer.Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-55427870202714405322019-12-30T15:54:00.003-08:002019-12-30T15:54:54.575-08:00"THE STRANGE UNDOING OF PRUDENCIA HART" By Artist's Rep @ The Tiffany CenterThe Tiffany Center is the best ART On Tour benue yet. The immersiveness of the show, taking place on all sides of the ballroom "pub"is innovative, as is the idea of eating a pre-show meal pf pub-fare pre-curtain. But, sometimes one performer steals the whole show. In this case, that actor is Darius Pierce. It would be a monumental spoiler to reveal to you what role he really playsm but as one of Portland's most fully-committed actors, who seems most comfortable in odd roles that allow him to let genuine strangeness shine through, this is a role he was born to play. His big-reveal occurs at the very end of Act I, just as the comedy mined from Academic Politics was growing a little tiresome. His performance lends the show some badly needed momentum. It's worth seeing the show for, all by itself.Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5355743572725544260.post-11873869791081024982019-12-02T09:13:00.001-08:002019-12-02T09:13:25.486-08:00"It Happened One Christmas," @ Broadway Rose With "It Happened One Christmas," Broadway Rose reclaims its rightful place on the Nice List. For years on end, Broadway Rose has been the go-to theatre for holiday cheer. Then came last year's <a href="http://www.crippledcritic.com/2018/11/a-1940s-radio-christmas-carol-broadway.html" target="_blank">"A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol"</a>a show with a decidedly melancholy tone. I remember that a few audience members were not shy in expressing their disappointment in the shift. Much of this was surely due to the fact that audiences had come to count on Broadway Rose as the one theatre seemingly immune to the impulse to skew their holiday production in any direction other than festive. I'm happy to report that "It Happened One Christmas" has them back on the right track. I'll be sure to inform Santa. Also, if memory serves, there seem to be quite a few new songs in this one, which is always nice. If you want to get into the spirit of the Season, this is where to go.Kristopher Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11145307159283314468noreply@blogger.com0