MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
GREAT LAKES THEATER
March 29-April 14, 2013

                                                      216-664-6064 or www.greatlakestheater.org

Bob Abelman

Although Shakespeare did not invent the “I hate you/I love you” dynamic tension that drives romantic comedies, the hesitant affection Beatrice and Benedick display in “Much Ado About Nothing,” on stage at Great Lakes’ Hanna Theatre, is as good as it gets.

To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's News-Herald article here.

 Roy Berko

GLT’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, under the creative and disciplined direction of Sharon Ott, and choreography by Martin Céspedes, is Shakespearean comedy at its highest level.  Bravo! Bravo!  Bravo!

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Fran Heller

There is much to delight in the masterful production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado" at Great Lakes Theater. The comedy may be more than 400 years old, but in director Sharon Ott's freshly minted vision, it feels entirely new.

To see a full review of this show, read Fran Heller's review at the Cleveland Jewish News


Christine Howey

Life is full of contradictions. Teachers tell their students not to lie, then, at some point, they hand them Shakespeare's plays, which are so filled with lies and counterfeits of various sorts that the mind boggles. So it is with the beloved comedy Much Ado About Nothing, now at the Great Lakes Theater. You'd be hard pressed to find a single character who isn't lying in this laugh-filled romp, presented with lively energy and dialogue delivered with plenty of snap and crackle.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's review at  Cleveland Scene

Kory

The Charleston meets Shakespeare in Great Lakes Theater’s production of Much Ado About Nothing!

To see a full review of this show, read Kory's blog here.

Andrea Simakis

Sharon Ott and her team have created a fully realized universe, a seductive, consistent vision that is pulled through every costume and prop.  What a swell idea!

To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis' blog or visit Cleveland.com here.

Art Thomas

Director Sharon Ott's well-thought-out production concept makes Shakespeare's meanings crystal clear in this stylish romp. The cast, a cohesive ensemble, mold each scene into a stand alone statement on the nature of love, justice, and the other things that make us human. A forceful and beautiful interpretation.

Click here to read the complete review at WestLife

NICK & JEREMY
Cleveland Public Theatre/Theater Ninjas
March 29-April 13, 2013

                                                 216-631-2727 or go to www.cptonline.org

Roy Berko

NICK AND JEREMY is an electric kool-aid acid trip, minus the drugs, which would make Timothy Leary, the proponent of the use of psychedelic substances and believer in” tune on, tune in, drop out,” very happy.  It should be of great interest to deep or pseudo-deep thinkers.

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Christine Howey

This review is an experiment, a daring cutting-edge venture. To participate you have options.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's blog Rave and Pan

SORDID LIVES
convergence-continuum
March 22-April 20, 2013

                                                   convergence-continiuum.org or 216-687-0074

Roy Berko

The con-con production of SORDID LIVES is a hoot.  Simon has pulled out all the farcical stops.  His cast has fun, the audience has even more  fun.  If you want an evening of outlandish theatre, this is it!

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Christine Howey

When a theatrical property has been turned into a movie and also a TV show, you can be sure it has some popular appeal. And so it is with Sordid Lives by Del Shores, the down-home Texas comedy that explores a big ol’ dumpster full of white trash with joyful abandon.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's review at  Cleveland Scene

Kory

Sordid Lives is a raucous, raw, and hilarious look at how our true self will always prevail, despite our upbringing and familial relationships.

To see a full review of this show, read Kory's blog here.

GOOD PEOPLE
CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE
March 22-April 14, 2013

216-241-6000 or www.clevelandplayhouse.com

Bob Abelman

David Lindsay-Abaire certainly has a way with words. The language in this play could not be more natural in terms of its Southie-specific cadence, construction and content, and it falls on the untrained ear as if we were native speakers. Yet, it’s the director, performers and designers that draw the audience into this intimate world of disappointment and hardship and makes it immediately accessible, painfully funny and very real.

To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's News-Herald article here.


Roy Berko

CPH’s GOOD PEOPLE is one of those special evenings of theater that combines a well-written script,  excellent direction, and fine acting into an evening of humor and pathos to create a must-see production.  

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.


Fran Heller

In a world of an ever-growing schism between the haves and have-nots, this very trenchant, very funny play, hits home.
Laura Kepley's pitch-perfect comic direction and a sublime cast make this production a highlight of the season.

To see a full review of this show, read Fran Heller's review at the Cleveland Jewish News

Christine Howey

Sometimes a bland title can hide a funny and even gripping show, and such is the case with Good People now at the Cleveland Play House.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's blog Rave and Pan

Kory

GOOD PEOPLE is a hilarious, heart warming and scandalous look at the everyday lives of ‘good people’ and the twisted webs we weave.

To see a full review of this show, read Kory's blog at New102.com

Andrea Simakis

I love this play.  Go see it.  Right now.

To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis' blog or visit Cleveland.com here.

Art Thomas

Combine the beautifully literate script with performers who become the characters under strong direction, add first-rate design, and you have a production that gives one comfort that the future of theater is secure. "Good People" is about people who are good, with terrible faults in their past and present--a morality story of the "haves" and "have nots" of this decade. 

Click here to read the complete review at WestLife

STRUCK
Cleveland Public Theatre
March 21-April 6, 2013

216-631-2727 or go to www.cptonline.org

Roy Berko

STRUCK is an interesting piece of devised theatre, that clearly illustrates the angst of a stroke on a human and the fragility of the human mind.

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.


Fran Heller

As one woman's true journey from a near death experience to a life-affirming recovery and renewal, the show is inspirational, courageous and moving.

However, as a work of art, it is intensely personal, enigmatic and hard to grasp.

To see a full review of this show, read Fran Heller's review at the Cleveland Jewish News


Christine Howey

If theater can be truly immersive—employing light, sound and movement in continually surprising ways—then Struck is the perfect example. And just like the fuzzy basal ganglia that floats above the set, activating and pulsing in different colors, your synapses are going to light up in new and different ways when experiencing this amazing event.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's blog Rave and Pan

Kory


STRUCK is an engaging, and manic piece of theatre that will transport you to another place, namely, the human mind.

To see a full review of this show, read Kory's blog here.

Andrea Simakis

It's a testament to actors-creators Brett Keyser and Tannis Kowalchuk--the two human gambling around a set at Cleveland Public Theatre that appears to be the inside of a human brain--that I left STRUCK with a slight headache.

To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis' blog or visit Cleveland.com here.

THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES
Beck Center for the Arts
March 22-April 21, 2013

                                                216-521-2540 or http://www.beckcenter.org

Bob Abelman

“The House of Blue Leaves” demands that its actors walk that fine line between absurdity and broad comedy, so that the pathos and pratfalls stroll hand-in-hand.  This production trips over its own shoelaces upon occasion but it is an otherwise balanced and delightful production. 

To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's News-Herald article here.


Roy Berko

THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES is an absurdist black comedy that asks, “Is this the way to live?,” while exposing the craziness individuals possess that drives them to adulate and desire to be celebrities and hero worshippers.  Though the production is good, this is not a play for theatre-goers wanting realistic people in realistic situations. 

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.


Fran Heller

The play meshes absurdist farce with tragic realism.
In director Russ Borski's well-balanced production, the wackiness makes the pathos more keenly felt.

To see a full review of this show, read Fran Heller's review at the Cleveland Jewish News

Christine Howey

It seems like a farce, and often plays like one, but this is a tragedy of substantial proportions. This juxtaposition is where Guare’s genius resides, and where director Russ Borski finds all the right notes to play, unlike his musically challenged protagonist.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's blog Rave and Pan


Kory

THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES is dark, at times funny and well staged, but overall comes across as a confusing mess of scattered characters with no clear conflict or purpose.

To see a full review of this show, read Kory's blog at New102.com

Andrea Simakis

Borski [the director]chooses the madcap over the maudlin, an artistic decision that pays off in laughs early on but ultimately deflects the gut punch of the play's final, shocking moments.  So do the varying abilities of the cast members.

To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis' blog or visit Cleveland.com here.

Art Thomas

Director Russ Borski's passion for this show is clear. His interpretation is valid, but heavy on a presentational style which squelches a lot of the poetry which marbles the script. Christine Fallon and Todd Hancock give a huge boost to the second act while the principals carry on quite well in the first act.

Click here to read the complete review at WestLife

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION
KARAMU
March 15-April 7, 2013

                                              216-795-7077 or www.karamuhouse.org

Roy Berko

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION is a well conceived script, based on a fascinating concept which gets an acceptable, but not mesmerizing production at Karamu. 

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.


Christine Howey

John Guare's play now exists as a period piece and there's nothing wrong with that. Its unforgiving analysis of upper crust eccentricities and one man's craven ambition can still resonate, but they require well-crafted characterizations and split-second timing. And that's where this production at Karamu House struggles to deliver.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's review at  Cleveland Scene

FREUD'S LAST SESSION
ACTORS' SUMMIT
February 28 throlugh March 17, 2013
For tickets:  330-374-7568 or actorsummit.org

Roy Berko

FREUD’S LAST SESSION is a must see, fascinating theatre, for anyone who is interested in a philosophical, thought laced drama, with laughter and fine acting.

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.


Kerry Clawson

     Sparring about the existence of God creates fascinating drama at Actors’ Summit in Akron in the absorbing play Freud’s Last Session, by Mark St. Germain. ...

     Brian Zoldessy, a theater professor and director at Cuyahoga Community College, brilliantly brings to life Freud’s crusty, dry humor as well as his physical infirmity at age 83.

     Under Neil Thackaberry’s direction, the chemistry in this two-man show is delightful. 

To see a full review of this show, read Kerry Clawson's review here.


Fran Heller

A drama centering on a theological debate about the existence of God seems an unlikely subject for entertainment.
"Freud's Last Session" proves otherwise as a play of ideas that is also vastly entertaining.
The intimate two-hander, under Neil Thackaberry's bracing direction and crackling performances by Brian Zoldessy as Sigmund Freud and Keith Stevens as C.S.Lewis is 80 uninterrupted minutes of intelligent and irresistible theater.

To see a full review of this show, read Fran Heller's review at the Cleveland Jewish News

SISTER ACT
PALACE THEATRE
March 5-17, 2013
216-241-6000 or www.playhousesquare.org

Bob Abelman

The national tour of ‘Sister Act’ is déjà vu in excelsis Deo.

To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's News-Herald article here.

Roy Berko

SISTER ACT is not a greaet musical, but it makes for a generally entertaining evening.  It is the kind of cotton candy, that, with an attitude-filled production, could have been total fun.

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Kerry Clawson

If tired clichés and humorless stereotypes are your thing, check out the musical SISTER ACT at PlayhouseSquare’s Palace Theatre.
Nuns seem to provide endless fodder for poking fun at in the entertainment world, especially in this musical, which portrays them as clueless creatures doddering around like penguins. This attempted humor would work if it were completely over-the-top, but here, it lacks both wit and smarts.

To see a full review of this show, read Kerry Clawson's review here.

 Fran Heller

Sometimes it can be a very good thing to let your hair down and your brain go numb.
That's just the attitude I had after seeing "Sister Act," a silly, mindless musical that is all glitter (literally and figuratively) and little gold.
Show failed to convert me like the rest of the audience, who leapt to their feet in roaring approval.

To see a full review of this show, read Fran Heller's review at the Cleveland Jewish News


Christine Howey

Sister Act is the disco-drenched musical now at PlayhouseSquare. Written and directed by a stable of genuine pros (Alan Menken on music, Glenn Slater on lyrics, Jerry Zaks directing), it's a slick and satisfying Broadway song-a-thon.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's review at  Cleveland Scene

Kory

SISTER ACT overflows with pure energy, excitement and fabulousness, but lacks heart.

To see a full review of this show, read Kory's blog here.

Andrea Simakis

The infectious R&B melody from Alan Menken, with twisted lyrics by Glen Slater, bounces around the cranium like a bullet, then lodges in the pleasure center of the brain, a signal that while "Sister Act" is chock-full of crowd-pleasing nuns, there is a welcome, creepy thread running through the feel-good hype for those who like their musical comedies dark. 

To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis' blog or visit Cleveland.com here.

NEXT TO NORMAL
BECK CENTER/BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY
March 1-April 21, 2013

                                                 216-521-2540 or http://www.beckcenter.org

Bob Abelman

At the Beck Center for the Arts, a powerful and startling story has been paired with magnificent storytelling, resulting in a “Next to Normal” worthy of the original’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Awards, while serving up something special of its own design and on its own terms.       

To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's News-Herald article here.


Roy Berko

NEXT TO NORMAL, a combined Beck Center and Baldwin Wallace University production, is well done.  This is the type of show that should result in sold out houses.

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.


Fran Heller

In the more than two decades I have been reviewing Cleveland theatre, I have never seen two productions of the same show within a month's span of time.
Following the mind-blowing production of "Next to Normal "at Lakeland, Beck Center's production of the landmark musical is equally compelling, proving the show's staying power and how two uniquely creative approaches can achieve the same stunning impact.
If you saw the show at Lakeland, the Beck production makes the experience worth repeating. If you haven't seen it yet, see it at Beck.

To see a full review of this show, read Fran Heller's review at the Cleveland Jewish News


Christine Howey

Director Bussert brings the story of Dan and Diana, and Gabe, front and center, making this Next to Normal a powerful and memorable experience.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's blog Rave and Pan

Kory

NEXT TO NORMAL is a little less than I was expecting from Beck Center, but still an incredible show!

To see a full review of this show, read Kory's blog here.

Andrea Simakis

Through two intense acts -- made even more so by the choice to stage the show in the smaller, more intimate of the Beck's two theaters -- those bottles of uppers and downers and anti-psychotics glow yellow or orange or red, taking on the look of circuitry inside a computer -- or the wiring in Diana's febrile brain.

To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis' blog or visit Cleveland.com here.

Art Thomas


Although the life journey is rough for the characters, this production is a harmonic convergence for the audience. The storyline and dramaturgy are honestly interpreted by the talented cast and the each member of the multigenerational audience on the night I attended was intimately drawn into the show.

To see a full review of this show read Art Thomas' review at WestLife