LOST IN YONKERS New England Repertory Company, Sinai Stage

July 31, 2017August 13, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

New England Repertory Company’s current show is “Lost in Yonkers”, Neil Simon’s 1991 Pulitzer Prize winning play. New England Rep’s new performing space is at Sinai Stage. This show is set in 1942 and it examines the relationships of the emotionally crippled Kurnitz family. It is the coming of age story that focuses on two brothers, Artie and Jay, left in the care of their Grandmother Kurnitz and their Aunt Bella in Yonkers, NY.

Burbage at the Brewery’s THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Abridged) –

July 30, 2017July 30, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Burbage Theatre’s latest show is “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” written by the Reduced Shakespeare Company. The show is a parody of the plays written by Shakespeare, all 37 plays in 90 minutes. It is an irreverent, fast-paced romp through all the Bard’s plays in shortened form by three actors. The actors speak directly to the audience during much of the play and some scenes involve audience participation. Improvisation plays an important role with the actors deviating from the script. They open the show with a parody of “Romeo and Juliet”, then combine the comedies into a convoluted reading by stating that they recycle the same plot devices and they do this while wearing red noses. They then tackle the histories and the tragedies. The second act is a very hilarious performance of “Hamlet.” Jeff Church directs the talented and energetic performers in the show wonderfully, bringing a lot of shtick and slapstick antics to keep the audience entertained for the whole performance. They win a resounding standing ovation at the end of the show!

“THE LITTLE MERMAID” Company Theatre

July 29, 2017July 29, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Company Theatre’s summer musical is “The Little Mermaid”, based on the Danish fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson. It is also based on the 1989 Disney movie of the same name. It tells the story of Ariel, a beautiful mermaid who wants to become human after rescuing a handsome prince from drowning. This goes against her father, King Triton and his advisor, Sebastian’s warnings that contact between merpeople and humans is strictly forbidden.

WHAT’s “The Empaths” Zings Millennial Culture, Dating

July 28, 2017July 30, 2017 michaelhoban1 Comment

by Mike Hoban

‘The Empaths’ – Written by John Markus and Rebecca Bazell; Directed by Jeffry George. Scenic and Lighting Design by Christopher Ostrom; Costume Design by Gail Astrid Buckley; Sound Design & Original Music by Nathan Leigh. Presented by the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater at 2357 Route 6 in Wellfleet through August 19^th.

The ritual of dating has come a long way from the “have I got a girl/guy for you!” era of the blind date, to the point where everything you need to know about a romantic prospect is (theoretically) available on your I-phone. But for Celine (Kate Margalite), an attractive 30-something Daddy’s girl searching for true – and extreme vetted – love, that’s not good enough, as we see in “Empaths”, the consistently funny new comedy now making its world premiere at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (MMAS Black Box Theater, Mansfield, MA)

July 27, 2017July 27, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome back to the 1920’s and to MMAS Black Box Theater’s current show which is “The Drowsy Chaperone”, a five-time Tony Award winning musical. The show first opened on Broadway on May 1, 2006 and starred Georgia Engel as Mrs. Tottendale. It won Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score. The hilarious show-within-a-show begins when a die-hard musical fan decides to play his favorite cast album, a 1928 smash hit called The Drowsy Chaperone and the show magically bursts to life right in his very own apartment. It is a send up of a Jazz Age musical featuring one show stopping number after another. When the house lights dim, a man in a chair appears onstage and plays his favorite recording of this fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life and “The Drowsy Chaperone” begins. Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight. Director Vincent Ratsavong picks the best 16 performers for these wild and madcap roles, winning his cast a thunderous ovation at the close of the show.

“Blood on the Snow” a Surefire Hit

July 23, 2017August 2, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian

“Blood on the Snow” – Written by Patrick Gabridge. Directed by Courtney O’Connor. Presented by The Bostonian Society at the Old State House, 206 Washington Street, Boston, through August 20.

Through a side entrance in the Old State House, you make your way up a winding, wooden staircase to be ushered into The Council Chamber. Two sets of chair rows face each other, flanking a long, elegant table. Dr. Nathaniel Sheidley, Executive Director of the Bostonian Society enters – he’s modern day, by the way – and explains to us that the real-life drama that “Blood on the Snow” is based on took place in this very room, the violence having taken place outside the actual window. Wow. This adds a level of authenticity to what we are about to witness that makes this not just a play, but an experience.

ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS (Renaissance City Theatre, Westerly, RI)

July 22, 2017August 11, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

“ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS”

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Renaissance City Theatre Inc., the producing entity at the Granite Theatre’s current production is “One Man, Two Guvnors” by Richard Bean. It is an English adaptation of “Servant of Two Master’s”, a 1743 Commedia dell’arte style comedy play by the Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni. This version changes the locale from Italy to Brighton in 1963. The man, Francis finds himself having to pick up an second job to just scrape together enough money to buy himself a pint of beer. But he soon finds out having two bosses is more trouble than it is worth.

“Beauty and the Beast” at Theatre by the Sea

July 12, 2017July 31, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Richard Pacheco

“Beauty and the Beast”, now playing at Theatre by the Sea, is a musical extravaganza, a treat for eyes and ears, and a sheer delight for all ages. This spectacular production is marked by stunning sets, glorious costumes and propelled by an extremely talented and flashy cast. The choreography is standout too – vibrant, daring and dazzling.

NSMT’s “Beauty & the Beast” A Musical Gem

July 10, 2017August 2, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The second musical of North Shore Music Theatre’s 62nd season is Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” which first opened on Broadway on April 19, 1994. It closed on July 29, 2007 and ran 5,461 performances. Based on the 1991 animated Disney movie, the show tells the story of a spell cast on a Prince which transforms him into a ferocious beast. He must love and be loved before the last petal falls from the rose or he will be a beast forever.

We Ain’t Waiting – For a Laugh – in Hub Theatre’s Stellar “Waiting For Waiting For Godot”

July 10, 2017August 11, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

CJ Williams

“Waiting For Waiting For Godot”. Written by Dave Hanson; Directed by Paula Plum; Produced by Lauren Elias; Lighting Design by Mike Wonson; Set Design by Megan Kinneen; Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl; Sound Design by Kyle Lampe; Production Management by George Page. Presented by Hub Theatre at the Club Café, 209 Columbus Ave through July 29

What a spin! Hub Theatre’s “Waiting For Waiting For Godot” takes the classic existential tragicomedy by Sam Beckett and tips it upside down – or maybe inside out – to generate some serious belly laughs. But don’t think because this play by Dave Hanson goes for comedy that it skips over its inspiration’s serious depth. It manages what humor does best (and what takes artistic craft and subtlety to achieve): slips insight in on the sly, and catches you with moments of profundity mid-laugh.