Review: TINA TURNER- THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL at Golden Gate TheatreAugust 3, 2023Fans are still absorbing the loss Tina Turner at age 83 this May, which makes attending Tina Turner – The Tina Turner Musical a tad more emotional and significant. The 12-time Grammy award winner and “Queen of Rock n Roll” sanctioned this production which premiered in the West End in 2018 and is now in its sixth incarnation. Following the jukebox format, the show highlights plenty of Tina’s huge hits wrapped around the ups and downs of her tumultuous and ultimately triumphant career.
Review: A CHORUS LINE at SF PlayhouseJune 30, 2023What did our critic think of A CHORUS LINE at SF Playhouse? For theatre lovers, A Chorus Line is iconic, holding a reverential appeal with its backstage story of cattle call hopefuls putting it all out there knowing their chances of making the final eight are slim. With its largest cast ever assembled, SF Playhouse’s production delivers on the required elements of Jamed Kirkwood Jr., Nicholas Dante, Marvin Hamlisch, and Edward Kliban’s 1975 Pulitzer Prize winning musical; superb choreography and the angst of the performers forced to expose their most intimate stories.
Review: OUT OF CHARACTER at Berkeley Repertory TheatreJune 29, 2023What did our critic think of OUT OF CHARACTER at Berkeley Repertory Theatre? And the winner is [long pause], Ari’el Satchel for The Band’s Visit. The crowd goes wild, agents, fans and friends congratulate him, but Ari’el can’t savor the moment- he’s hiding in the bathroom, a victim of debilitating anxiety and panic. Thus, begins the world premiere of Out of Character, Satchel’s emotionally raw, oft humorous recounting of his battle with OCD.
Review: THE ROAD TO MECCA at Z BelowJune 15, 2023What did our critic think of THE ROAD TO MECCA at Z Below? They say there’s a thin line between madness and genius. Aging widow Helen finds herself caught in a battle between her artistic freedom and conservative moralism. The battle plays out in an attempt to move her from her eccentric, fantasy-filled home to an old-age home supposedly for her safety. Athol Fugard’s award-winning play comes to life with three of the finest acting performances in recent memory.
Review: CHINGLISH at SF PlayhouseMay 12, 2023What did our critic think of CHINGLISH at SF Playhouse? SF Playhouse is all in with their take on Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang's Chinglish: stylish set and lighting, excellent direction, and a strong ensemble cast. While there's plenty of comic moments in Hwang's sardonic commentary on language barriers and the effects of those miscommunications, there's also thoughtful observations on fidelity, corporate and judicial corruption, and even nationalism.