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Doug Krentzlin
Keegan scores again with superb ensemble piece ‘Translations’
- Is Keegan Theatre on a roll these days or what?
- Is Keegan Theatre on a roll these days or what?
Arthur Miller retread still a great American classic
- The Washington area is fortunate to have one of the nation’s liveliest theater communities, which makes it all the more frustrating that local companies keep repeating the same shows over and over again. Scena recently did Ionesco’s “The Chairs,” which had been revived by Round House two seasons ago. Olney is currently presenting the musical “1776,” which Keegan performed last summer.
‘Cymbaline’ crashes
- “Caveat emptor.” (Latin for “Let the buyer beware.”)
Marvelous ‘Mollusc’
- To say that Edwardian-era playwright Hubert Henry Davies is not terribly well-remembered nowadays would be a major understatement, but Quotidian Theatre Company’s current revival of his 1907 comedy “The Mollusc” proves that he is a writer worthy of rediscovery.
- To say that Edwardian-era playwright Hubert Henry Davies is not terribly well-remembered nowadays would be a major understatement, but Quotidian Theatre Company’s current revival of his 1907 comedy “The Mollusc” proves that he is a writer worthy of rediscovery.
Constellation shines brightly
- Fledgling troupe Constellation Theatre Company’s production of Mary Zimmerman’s “The Arabian Nights” was one of last fall’s most pleasant revelations. Now Constellation is back with a revival of Bertolt Brecht’s 1943 satire “The Good Woman of Setzuan,” which proves that this is definitely a theatrical company to be reckoned with.
Review: An amusing ‘Birthday’
- Most of American Century Theater’s shows fall into one of two categories: unjustly neglected works that deserve rediscovery, or plays that are so hopelessly dated that there is no plausible excuse to revive them. Their latest offering, Kurt Vonnegut’s 1970 black comedy “Happy Birthday, Wanda June,” belongs in a third category: It is very much a product of its period, but that is part of what makes it such an interesting historical curio.
- Most of American Century Theater’s shows fall into one of two categories: unjustly neglected works that deserve rediscovery, or plays that are so hopelessly dated that there is no plausible excuse to revive them. Their latest offering, Kurt Vonnegut’s 1970 black comedy “Happy Birthday, Wanda June,” belongs in a third category: It is very much a product of its period, but that is part of what makes it such an interesting historical curio.
Review: ‘Portia’: delivers twists and turns
- “Portia Coughlan,” Irish playwright Marina Carr’s 1996 drama, which is receiving its local premiere courtesy of Solas Nua, is a ghost story with a twist. It is a twist, however, that will be eminently recognizable to anyone familiar with Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw,” which is to say that it is open to interpretation whether the title character is actually being tormented by a malevolent spirit or whether it is a figment of her imagination.
- “Portia Coughlan,” Irish playwright Marina Carr’s 1996 drama, which is receiving its local premiere courtesy of Solas Nua, is a ghost story with a twist. It is a twist, however, that will be eminently recognizable to anyone familiar with Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw,” which is to say that it is open to interpretation whether the title character is actually being tormented by a malevolent spirit or whether it is a figment of her imagination.
Review: Folger’s ‘Macbeth’ a bloody good show
- “Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” – Lady Macbeth
- “Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” – Lady Macbeth
‘Major’ fun
- The fact that the great Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw was both an idealist and a pragmatist is not as paradoxical as it sounds. Shaw firmly believed that it is impossible to make the world a better place without acknowledging the realities that stand in the way of achieving this goal, a sentiment he best articulated in his 1905 satire “Major Barbara,” which is receiving a splendid revival by the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
- The fact that the great Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw was both an idealist and a pragmatist is not as paradoxical as it sounds. Shaw firmly believed that it is impossible to make the world a better place without acknowledging the realities that stand in the way of achieving this goal, a sentiment he best articulated in his 1905 satire “Major Barbara,” which is receiving a splendid revival by the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Review: No ‘Love’ lost
- Back in the mid-1980s, playwright/actor Sam Shepard was the Next Big Thing in American theater. At the time, his fame was so widespread that David Letterman could get a huge laugh by joking about Shepard’s love life (“Shepard’s new play is an autobiographical work called ‘Boy, Oh, Boy, I Can’t Believe I’m Sleeping With Jessica Lange.’”). But that was over 20 years ago and Shepard’s scripts are rarely revived nowadays. Spooky Action Theater’s current production of his 1983 play “Fool for Love” is a prime example of why they aren’t.
- Back in the mid-1980s, playwright/actor Sam Shepard was the Next Big Thing in American theater. At the time, his fame was so widespread that David Letterman could get a huge laugh by joking about Shepard’s love life (“Shepard’s new play is an autobiographical work called ‘Boy, Oh, Boy, I Can’t Believe I’m Sleeping With Jessica Lange.’”). But that was over 20 years ago and Shepard’s scripts are rarely revived nowadays. Spooky Action Theater’s current production of his 1983 play “Fool for Love” is a prime example of why they aren’t.
‘Trad’: another triumph
- Look up the word “blarney” in the dictionary and you’ll find the following definition: “deceptive or misleading talk; nonsense; hooey.” Mark Doherty’s hysterically funny 2004 award-winning comedy “Trad” (short for “tradition”), which is receiving its local debut courtesy of Solas Nua, is based on the premise that, for the Irish, blarney isn’t just a fanciful gift for gab, it is rather a way of dealing with life’s misfortunes.
- Look up the word “blarney” in the dictionary and you’ll find the following definition: “deceptive or misleading talk; nonsense; hooey.” Mark Doherty’s hysterically funny 2004 award-winning comedy “Trad” (short for “tradition”), which is receiving its local debut courtesy of Solas Nua, is based on the premise that, for the Irish, blarney isn’t just a fanciful gift for gab, it is rather a way of dealing with life’s misfortunes.
Review: ‘Romeo,’ sweet ‘Romeo’ at Synetic Theater
- When Synetic Theater made its debut six years ago with “Hamlet… the rest is silence,” an adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic that eschewed the Bard’s dialogue, it seemed like a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience. Now, it has become a tradition with Synetic, which is currently offering “Romeo and Juliet,” their third and best yet “Silent Shakespeare” presentation.
- When Synetic Theater made its debut six years ago with “Hamlet… the rest is silence,” an adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic that eschewed the Bard’s dialogue, it seemed like a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience. Now, it has become a tradition with Synetic, which is currently offering “Romeo and Juliet,” their third and best yet “Silent Shakespeare” presentation.
A typical day in Belfast
- For the last two years, Solas Nua, the only local theatrical company devoted solely to modern Irish drama, has consistently offered D.C. audiences memorable and thought-provoking entertainment.
- For the last two years, Solas Nua, the only local theatrical company devoted solely to modern Irish drama, has consistently offered D.C. audiences memorable and thought-provoking entertainment.
Howard Nemerov
Austin Gun Rights Examiner
Most Recent Article
More evidence that concealed carry benefits Blacks
Austin Gun Rights Examiner
Most Recent Article
More evidence that concealed carry benefits Blacks
