Friends and Neighbors
Arts, Life, and Musings from Greater Minnesota
Category: Criticism
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Theatre Latte Da continues their streak of smartly produced and impeccably acted interpretations of beloved musicals with My Fair Lady, a new production of Lerner & Lowe’s classic musical adaptation of Pygmalion. Director Justin Lucero brings a light touch that keeps the comedy moving quickly, but also knows when to slow down, allowing the characters…
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The main reason most people give for seeking out entertainment is “escapism”, that is, finding a story or experience that you can lose yourself in as a way from getting away from the troubles of the real world, at least for a few hours. Teatro Del Pueblo’s production of Kander & Ebb’s Kiss of the…
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As a vehicle for talented performers to cover a lot of Prince’s greatest songs, Purple Rain works. As a story about a young musician striving to define himself amongst sterility, unresolved emotional issues, and romantic pain the show is too unfocused and makes too many strange storytelling decisions to really succeed as a drama. There…
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10 November is a difficult sort of stage production to review, because it doesn’t feel like a conventional play or musical. The show (written by Steven Dietz with music by Eric Peltoniemi) is loosely structured with a series of vignettes alternated with songs, having more of the feel of a memorial service. That is appropriate,…
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With so many movies or other properties being adapted to the stage these days, it’s tough to be surprised by a new stage production. But when I saw my Alma Mater the University of Minnesota Morris was staging a musical adaptation of The Terminator, my interest was piqued, especially because the production wasn’t a fair…
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Through the League of Live Stream Theatre, the final week of Broadway performances of James Graham’s new play Punch were available to stream online, for about the price of your average ticket to the Guthrie. I decided to take advantage, and while the streaming experience itself had some hiccups, the play was a very satisfying…
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Although set in the 1990s, Primary Trust speaks directly to the “loneliness epidemic” of the modern era that so many have written and spoken about. Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy-drama captures not only the pain of loneliness, but also how escaping it can create difficulties of its own. Kenneth (Bryce Michael Wood) is a man…
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Hello, everybody. I figured I could use a spot to do more long-form writing on the various topics that spark my interest. And as is so often the case for me, I find myself joining a trend about a decade after it stopped being trendy. So welcome to my blog! Mostly, this will serve be…
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