Stage Write

When I first saw the Phoenix Theatre’s production of " The Lieutenant of Inishmore " in 2008 I loved the unique feel of the Irish black comedy. The theatre’s current show “The Cripple of Inishmaan” is by the same playwright, Martin McDonagh, and has a similar tone. Set on the Aran Islands in 1934, we see the chaos caused when a Hollywood director visits to make a film. There’s a cruelty in small towns. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. They’ve all grown up together, so there’s a comfort level that tends to ignore privacy. No one flinches in calling someone a degrading nickname or referring to an embarrassing moment in their past, because it’s all common knowledge. It’s that very familiarity that can be so claustrophobic to residents. Nathan Robbins is our title character, Cripple Billy, and he feels more suffocated than anyone. Each member of the excellent cast adds their own eccentric layer to the rich fabric of the community. Ryan O’Shea is the bras...

Dystopian novels have become common commodities as of late, but “The Giver” was around long before Katniss and Tris made an appearance. “The Giver” tells the story of a perfect world, where no one needs to make decisions because you know exactly what you are supposed to do every day. The Indiana Repertory Theatre, which first produced the play in 2009 , has brought it back this month. Although the story remains the same, this is not simply a repeat performance. There’s a new set, new actors in each role, and a new generation of students being introduced to the story. Courtney Sale’s direction gives the piece an appropriately eerie feel. What seems innocent and friendly at first takes on a sinister atmosphere as we learn more about the rules of their world. Each chime heightens the tension as Jonas begins to question the world around him. David Alan Anderson’s appearance as The Giver brings a sense of gravity to the show from the moment he steps on stage. As Jonas lear...

Let me start by saying I'm not necessarily a fan of magic shows. Having never attended any sort of professional magic show I can't say I was drawn to go see this one. That being said, the Broadway Across America's production “The Illusionists: Witness the Impossible” was one of the most entertaining performances I've been to in a while. The show includes acts by seven different illusionists. Each one goes by a specific moniker: the Inventor, the Warrior, the Escapologist, the Trickster, the Manipulator, the Anti-conjurer, and the Futurist. I was incredibly surprised by the level of showmanship that each one demonstrated. Vegas veteran Jeff Hobson (the Trickster) and Adam Trent (the Futurist) act as the show’s emcees. They take turns hamming it up with the audience and introducing the other magicians. Both were hilarious and although neither of their magic tricks are mind blowing, their interactions with the audience made the whole show more entertaining.   ...