BWW Reviews: THE IMMIGRANT at Seven Angels Offers Storytelling at Its BestApril 9, 2013Subtitled 'An American Musical,' it is in the truest sense the story of striving for the American Dream. Haskell (Max Bisantz) arrives in the small town of Hamilton, in Central Texas shortly after the turn of the century, pushing a banana cart and unable to speak English. Wary at first of the stranger, who also turns out to be a Jew, Milton and Ima (Paul Blankenship and Sarah Knapp) take him in. Milton, the town's banker, partners with Haskell to help build his business, which eventually turns into a dry goods store. When Haskell finally saves enough to bring his wife, Leah (Rita Markova), over from Russia, the friendship is tested, however. Haskell no longer is the observant Jew she married. The new country has changed him. He doesn't wear his hat, keep a Kosher home or observe the Sabbath any more.
BWW Reviews: THE MOUNTAINTOP at TheaterWorks Hartford Recreates the Room and the ManApril 8, 2013It's April 3, 1968 and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., arrives at a Memphis motel after delivering his 'I've Been to the Mountaintop' speech. There, a mysterious maid bringing him a cup of room service coffee causes him to reflect on his life and destiny in Katori Hall's Olivier-winning play THE MOUNTAINTOP, running at TheaterWorks in Hartford.
BWW Reviews: Paul Giamatti's HAMLET at Yale Rep is 'Not To Be' Missed if You Want 'To Be' EntertainedMarch 24, 2013Giamatti, a little older and less handsome-of-face than most Hamlets these days, brings out the tortured Dane prince's humorous side and in doing so, engages a younger generation that might not normally think several hours in a theater listening to Shakespeare could be a fun way to spend an evening. It sure is, however, thanks to Bundy's skill in allowing his actors to find fresh new interpretations while keeping them true to the classic.
BWW Review: The Beatles Experience with RAIN Rocks at Waterbury's PalaceMarch 16, 2013If you're a Beatles fan, you'll enjoy the music-jammed two and a half hours (with an intermission). The music and vocals are good. It's the next best thing to seeing Paul, George, John and Ringo in person. Four generations were represented in the audience who sang and clapped along with the music.
BWW Reviews: Chatting with Chekhov Sheds Some Light in MAN IN CASE at Hartford StageMarch 1, 2013Dramatic music plays, people talk in short sentences expressing their deepest feelings, video mimics what is happening on stage - or the stage action depicts what already has happened - in an atmosphere that feels depressing and foreign. We have stepped into the world premiere of Man in a Case starring former ballet-sensation-turned-actor Mikhail Baryshnikov at Hartford Stage.
BWW Reviews: Good Acting, Direction, Make All the Difference for STONES IN HIS POCKETSFebruary 1, 2013When I first saw Marie Jones's play STONES IN HIS POCKETS, I wasn't reviewing, but was working as the Front of House Manager at the Bushnell where Bronson Pinchot was starring in the tour stop there in 2002. About half of the audience left at intermission, most of them asking what the play was about. I couldn't answer. I had no idea myself.
Photo Coverage: Inside MOOSE MURDERS' Opening Night After Party!January 31, 2013The Beautiful Soup Theater Collective's production of the first ever revival of Arthur Bicknell's Moose Murders, the most notorious flop in the history of modern theater, celebrated its opening last night, January 30, 2013 at The Connelly Theater. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and you can check out full coverage from the after party below!
BWW Reviews: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Brings Legends to Life -- AlmostJanuary 10, 2013It's 1956 and Carl Perkins (Connecticut native James Barry) is trying to record 'Matchbox,' the song he hopes will put him back at the top of the charts. Providing some distraction during the recording session (and adding to the music), however, are showoff Jerry Lee Lewis (Benjamin Goddard) and legends Johnny Cash (David Elkins) and Elvis Presley (Billy Woodward).
BWW Reviews: Enjoy Some Christmas Cheer from a Disgruntled Elf in THE SANTALAND DIARIESDecember 14, 2012Kready, dressed in full elf garb that incudes candy-cane tights (Margaret Charbonneau, costume design), often reclining in an ornate Santa throne decorated with a background of Christmas trees (Michael Lenaghan, set design), brings personalities to life with recreations of SantaLand moments under the direction of Rob Ruggiero, TheaterWorks' newly appointed producing artistic director.