Susan McDonald

Amadeus: Gamm Theater

Such lavish pomposity and tomfoolery abound throughout Amadeus that any preconceptions of a stuffy 17th-century Classical music scene are dashed in shards of champagne-tinged crystal. Peter Shaffer’s creation, on stage at Gamm Theatre, is almost three hours of fast-paced wackiness as prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart comes of age in the brutally competitive Austrian emperor’s court, […]

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The Effect: Review of new play at The Gamm Theater

Humans know precious little about brain function, something that doesn’t change – and might actually worsen – in viewing “The Effect.” British playwright Lucy Prebble’s work, on stage at The Gamm Theatre, centers on two scientists and two volunteers in a sequestered medication study of the effect different doses have on depression. As doses increase, […]

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A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical: An interview with a young Diamond

All it took was one glance at the audience for Nick Fradiani to settle into his character the first time he stepped onstage for the Broadway production, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.  The Connecticut native proved that it’s a myth that actors are so blinded by the footlights they can’t see the audience, […]

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La Cage aux Folles

Five days into Pride Month and Trinity Repertory Company launched a larger-than-a-teased-beehive celebration of love that leaves its audience crowing with laughter and welling with emotion. Trinity’s 60th season ends with a feisty production of Harvey Fierstein’s 1983 Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles, examining the concept of loving who you want romantically and within […]

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Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf: On stage at The Gamm Theatre through February 25

It’s only when Jeanine Kane sprawls, spent, downstage, having wrung out every ounce of emotion, voice barely above a whisper, that the audience exhales, realizing the three-hour psychological pummeling of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? has ended. The acclaimed, Tony Award-winning Edward Albee piece, on stage at The Gamm, ferociously dissects the American dream and […]

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Hangmen

What is England’s second-best hangman to do when the punishment is abolished and questions of innocence clouding his last execution leave him reluctant to chat with reporters? In Harry Wade’s case, it’s layering demurred protestations, drinking and occasional angry outbursts. With twists perhaps only British playwright Martin McDonagh could conjure, Hangmen – onstage now at […]

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