Epic Theatre Company’s production of Absalom, from playwright Zoe Kazan, features a batch of first-rate performances. The show opened May 1 and runs until the 17th. In 1986, the Weber family has gathered at the country estate of patriarch Saul (Eric Behr), who is celebrating the publication of his tell-all book. Adam (Rudy Sanda) is the […]
It’s ironic that 2nd Story Theatre chose Mother’s Day weekend, of all holidays, as their press opening night for Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr. Sloane, a darkly comic puzzle-box of a familial drama that has more than its share of “Mommy” issues. Part psychological thriller, part ferocious family drama, yet often laugh-out-loud funny, Orton’s rarely produced […]
Our recent review of Lenny Schwartz’s Co-Creator posited that the biographical history formula may have run its course at Daydream Theatre, but after seeing the wildly entertaining Marie Antoinette at The Gamm, it seems that all Schwartz and Co. may require is a larger budget. Marie Antoinette’s story, in the hands of playwright David Adjmi […]
Counter-Productions Theatre Company is presenting a haunting version of William Shakespeare’s Richard III at the AS220 Black Box Theatre in Providence. The show opened on May 8 and runs through May 17. Michael Puppi is always mesmerizing to watch as Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, who embarks on a murderous quest for power. Wily and scheming, […]
In my experience, all too often someone will put their best efforts toward a book of poems only to fall short. Even with the best of intentions, they may pave their own road to hell, taking along everyone they anxiously try to force feed their verse to. Even beyond mimes, poetry may still be the […]
Ocean State Theatre Company’s new production of Into the Woods is a delight for the eyes and ears. This mash-up of a few Brothers Grimm fairytales unites Cinderella (Sarah Pothier), Rapunzel (Caroline Bateson) and Little Red Riding Hood (Nicole Calkins) in the story of a childless baker (Tommy Labanaris) and his wife (Amanda Ryan Paige) […]
From the moment Amy Lee Connell enters the opening scene as the title character, Lysistrata keeps the audience laughing as each outrageous episode of farce is followed by an even more outrageous one. At the incongruously-named Contemporary Theatre Company, this thoroughly modern and creative adaptation by Meg Perry of a 2,500 year-old satire by the […]
Festival51, a Rhode Island-based play festival focused on developing plays by women writers, seeks submissions for inclusion in the Festival51 Women’s Playwriting Festival. In the void of what was Perishable Theatre’s International Women’s Playwriting Festival, artists Leann Heath, the brainchild behind the festival, and Terry Shea, local actor and director, are collaborating to produce this […]
It took me a bit of time to find a connection with Jeff Danielian’s first book of poetry, Seasonal Ramblings. As I read through the first section, “Through Time & Space,” I felt like I just was reading words on a page. There were a few interesting lines here and there (“Language is about the […]
In order for a musical to work, it needs a few key ingredients. An engaging story, terrific songs, lots of dancing and interesting characters. Dirty Dancing, which opened at Providence Performing Arts Center Tuesday, is deadly dull. Based on the smash 1987 movie starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the show is hampered by a clichéd […]