AN OCTOROON @ DOBAMA THEATER

October 21 through November 13, 2016

(216) 932-3396

Or dobama.org

Bob Abelman

In an act full of creative risk and artistic integrity, Dobama Theatre not only introduced playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' provocative work to Cleveland, but did so in a month other than February.

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

Roy Berko

The hottest play of 1859 is back, but this time it is aimed at a 2016 audience with a plea for understanding and realization that things, regarding the blacks and Indigenous peoples, haven’t changed very much in the last 175 years. Seeing this production can be an important theatrical experience and challenge your belief system--“GO SEE!”

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

Mark Horning

If you have a skewed sense of adventure and wish to travel down the path less traveled, you may find An Octoroon to your liking.  Remember that you are traveling back over 150 years to one of the first examples of theatrical social commentary with contemporary theater thrown in on both ends.  While not your typical evening of light entertainment, none the less it will give you food for thought and conversation following the show.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Christine Howey

The acting, under the superb direction of Nathan Motta, is always fully on-point and riveting. 

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

Andrea Simakis

"It's gonna make you laugh, it's gonna make you cry, it's gonna make you angry--but I hope what it does is make you think."  All that and an exploding steamboat, too.

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

SEX WITH STRANGERS @ CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE

October 22 through November 13. 2016

(216) 241-6000

Or www.clevelandplayhouse.com

Bob Abelman

The Cleveland Play House’s intimate, subterranean Outcalt Theatre is quickly becoming the place where carnality and clever writing come together for an evening of mutual and consensual gratification.  

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

Roy Berko

SEX WITH STRANGERS is a well-written script which gets a compelling production.  The acting is top-notch, the direction spot-on.  The must see show will delight and tantalize the audience.  It well deserves the standing ovation it got on opening night.

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

Howard Gollop

The plot may be familiar, but Eason’s work is fresh from start to finish.
The cast is vital and electric, and so is the direction by Joanie Schultz.

Mark Horning

Although seemingly implausible on paper (young stud beds late thirty-year-old within minutes of their meeting) it is the manner in which the action is portrayed that brings credence to the story. What at first looks like a romantic romp turns instead into a moral tale of burning issues as to what makes for a successful truly meaningful relationship that will stand the test of time. It is a good yarn for those who have been together “forever.”   

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Christine Howey

There’s a desire here to explore how two people from two different generations pursue their ideas of success and their own identities. But because of a few production wrinkles, the finished product is a bit like a promising, but not exactly stupendous, first date.

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

David Ritchey

Agatha Christie could not have done it better. And, in truth,  "Sex with Strangers" has elements of a good mystery. Why do people fall in love?  How do the most unlikely people find each other and suddenly realize they’re right for each other?

To see a full review of this show, read David's posts at Talkin' Broadway




Andrea Simakis

Directed with playfulness, subtlety and nuance by Joanie Schultz, "Sex With Strangers" moves like a red-hot page turner; it's a book you can't possibly put down.

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

SILENCE! THE MUSICAL @ BLANK CANVAS THEATRE

October 21 through November 5, 2016

(440) 941-0458

Or www.blankcanvastheatre.com

Roy Berko
 

SILENCE! THE MUSICAL is a typical Blank Canvas escapist musical comedy which will entertain the cult audience which the theatre has developed. Ciamacco knows his patrons and their tastes and has hit another home run with this script!

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

Kerry Clawson

If a musical could be found criminally insane, "Silence! The Musical" would fit the bill at Blank Canvas Theatre.

The show is a delightfully disgusting spoof of the creepiest thriller of the early 1990s, the Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs. The unauthorized parody by Jon and Al Kaplan and Hunter Bell takes that dark, twisted story that goes inside the minds of serial killers and turns it on its ear in foul and funny ways that surprise at every turn.

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


Mark Horning

You will find yourself nervously laughing at all the naughty bits in this musical send-up of the psycho/thriller classic. The musical is full of shock value that goes for the throat. It’s an embarrassingly delightful evening of farcical theater that will entertain those not afraid of things that go “F” in the night.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Christine Howey

While often offensive, juvenile and excessive, Silence! qualifies for its exclamation point through the kind of sharp, disciplined performance standards that BCT has often featured

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

44 PLAYS FOR 44 PRESIDENTS @ CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE

Through October 29, 2016

(216) 631-2727

Or www.cptonline.org

Bob Abelman

How refreshing that “44 Plays for 44 Presidents” is not only nonpartisan but downright playful.  First produced in 2002 by Neo-Futurists, a Chicago experimental theater troupe, the work is getting a wonderful staging at Cleveland Public Theatre.  

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

Roy Berko

44 PLAYS for 44 PRESIDENTS is a timely production, coming just before the contentious 2016 presidential election.  Though it is much too long, and has some staging and sound problems, history buffs should still rejoice. Others may enjoy the dancing, singing, and humor presented by the all woman cast.

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

Mark Horning

With the Presidential election just weeks away what could be more fun than a show about Presidents?  Nobody is spared as all 44 past Presidents are lined up and examined closely (warts and all).  This fast paced production will have you laughing, thinking and perhaps making decisions as to who is worthy to lead us for the next 4 to 8 years.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Andrea Simakis

It amounts to an evening of funny, poignant vignettes that make you think, kinda like a stump speech by Barack Obama.  Even when the mini-bios don't work--and a handful are as hard to decipher as Donald Trump's true net worth--they are buoyed by strong, witty performances.

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

LIKE I SAY

convergence-continuum
October 14-November 5,  2016

                                            convergence-continuum.org or 216-687-0074

Bob Abelman

con-con’s ‘Like I Say’ is less than the sum of its peculiar parts.

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

Roy Berko

LIKE I SAY is an overly long, irrational script.  One can only wonder why it was chosen by the theatre to perform and why a group of actors and a director would want to spend their precious time in producing it.  Con-con has performed some excellent works.  This isn’t one of them. 
 
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Christine Howey

This soggy, sloppy comedy isn't up to Convergence-Continuum standards. 

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

TAKE 5

TAKE 5
CESEAR'S FORUM
September 23-October 29, 2016

216-241-6000 or go to http://www.playhousesquare.org

Roy Berko

Cesear’s Forum, which has won both Cleveland Critics Circle and Times Theatre Tribute recognition for past performances, again proves, with LANFORD WILSON:  TAKE 5, that it doesn’t take a big budget, massive sets and ornate costumes to present wonderful and effective theater. Kudos!!

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

Christine Howey

If you want to taste some new theatrical material, executed with professionalism and creativity, head on down to Cesear’s Forum soon.

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

BODY AWARENESS

BODY AWARENESS
Beck Center for the Arts
October 7-Novemer 6, 2016

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

Bob Abelman

‘Body Awareness’ at Beck so low key it unlocks little.

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

Roy Berko

Beck’s ninety-minute intermissionless BODY AWARENESS has some high points, but doesn’t showcase the requisite humor built into the script.   Though not a great play, it appears that author Annie Baker learned from writing this, her initial script, and has gone on to expand her voice as evidenced by her receipt of a Pulitzer Prize for a later work.
 
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Christine Howey

This is a show that needs to be performed with crisp timing, not with the casual and indulgent pacing that director Vegh has employed. And that’s too bad, because the Beck cast is clearly capable of much more.

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

FUN HOME @ PLAYHOUSE SQUARE

Through October 22, 2015

(216) 241-6000

Or www.playhousesquare.org

Bob Abelman

It’s the creative juxtaposition of simplicity and complexity, and the heart wrenching and theatrically intriguing moments it produces on stage, that makes this musical such a welcome addition to this season’s lineup of Broadway roadshows.

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

Roy Berko

Tony winner, FUN HOME, gets a well-conceived, emotionally primed production.  The touring company should be greeted on each stop of its journey with positive kudos.  This is a dramatic message musical which deserves the accolades which it has won.  It’s a must see, with the caveat that audience members are aware of the subject matter.

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

Kerry Clawson

FUN HOME is a refreshingly different kind of musical with a story full of urgency and raw emotion that also evokes numerous tender moments. ... It’s a contemporary musical that has a middle-aged cartoonist looking back to key episodes in her life, trying to connect the dots regarding her complicated relationship with her father.

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

Howard Gollop

“Fun Home” is so uncompromising in its quest for real theater rather than theatrics, it transcends normal expectations of a big Broadway show. Members of Wednesday night’s audience jumped to their feet as if they had just seen the original cast of “Jersey Boys.”

Christine Howey

Last year, Fun Home won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and this is one award that is very much deserved, since it takes two genres—comics and memoir—and boldly fuses them together into something new and remarkable. And shattering.

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

MARGIN OF ERROR @ ENSEMBLE THEATRE

Through October 23, 2016

(216) 321-2930

Or www.ensemble-theatre.com

Bob Abelman

Our morale has just been shaken by a disconcerting televised debate between Trump and Clinton.  So the timing of Eric Coble’s political comedy “Margin of Error” couldn’t be worse.  Still, this one-act play is beautifully constructed and Eric Schmiedl’s direction rides all its comedic rhythms at just the right pace with just the right tone.

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

Roy Berko

If viewers didn’t have a disrespect for American political campaigning before, after seeing the well-written and performed MARGIN OF ERROR, they will probably be properly disgusted.  If they had concern, now they will be filled with even more disdain.   The play fulfills one of the major purposes of theater…to make the audience think.  This is a production very well worth seeing!

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

Christine Howey

Coble has written a tight and fiercely funny play about the way politics used to work, back when you had to be careful of every utterance should a lip slip lead to bad headlines the next day. 

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

Andrea Simakis

In 'Margin of Error', Coble, a self- avowed political junkie, mainlines the stuff directly into his veins, producing an instant classic – a blazing, savagely funny indictment of a system that blithely packages and markets candidates like products no matter how toxic or faulty. 

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

TWELFTH NIGHT @ GREAT LAKES THEATER

Through October 30, 2016

(216) 664-6064

Or www.greatlakestheater.org

Bob Abelman

Under Drew Barr's direction, Great Lakes’ exposes the dark underbelly of this romantic comedy.  This adds texture to the questions Shakespeare raises about love and desire, which makes for a truly intriguing evening of theater. But it plays havoc with the humor.

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

Roy Berko


TWELFTH NIGHT, one of Shakespeare’s most produced comedies, gets a creative, energized production.  It should please both Shakespeare enthusiasts and novices as it is an easy to understand and comprehensible staging with lots of humor and farcical periods.

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

Mark Horning 

It is with good reason why Shakespeare’s works have withstood the test of time.  Through the use of universal themes it is theater that everyone can easily relate to.  This Great Lakes Theater production of “Twelfth Night” truly hits the funny bone with audience members still laughing as they depart.  Check this one out.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Christine Howey

If you can get past some of the less than artful attempts at humor, this Twelfth Night has much to recommend it.

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

Andrea Simakis

Though "Twelfth Night" is one of the Bard's most famous comedies, Dres Barr's gorgeous production at Great Lakes Theater embraces its tragic underpinnings, from the spectacular decay of the set to the Goth chic of the costumes.
 
To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis' blog or visit Cleveland.com here.