BASKERVILLE @ CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE

Through February 12, 2017

(216) 241-6000

Or www.clevelandplayhouse.com

Bob Abelman

Before the Cleveland Play House considers Ken Ludwig’s next play, it should hire Dr. Ruth Westheimer as a dramaturg.

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

Roy Berko

Is Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, a great play?  No!  Is it even a very good play?  Probably not.  What it is is a play that will delight many.  Especially those who like to solve mysteries, who are enamored with farcical delights, and enjoy a cast who is having a lark playing lots of characters and changing costumes a great deal.  And, no spoiler alert here, the butler didn’t do it! 

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

Mark Horning

While not quite measuring up to the very high comedic bar of Ken Ludwig’s past works, “Baskerville” does make for an enjoyable evening of theater especially for those familiar with Sir Author Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series. While lacking in the farce department there is enough action to keep your attention. Not a bad play per say, just different than what was expected.

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

Christine Howey

There are chuckles aplenty in this send-up of Sherlock—it’s a bracing dose of silliness for the sometimes overly staid CPH audiences.

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

On the stage a well-crafted mystery provokes the audience to gasp or scream or grab the arm of a complete stranger. Every heart in the auditorium skips a beat and then gallops as the mystery moves toward its terrifying climax.

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

Andrea Simakis

The fast-moving production is as fun as roller coasters were when you were 10, thanks to the show's central conceit: Five actors play some 40 roles. The joy of "Baskerville" is seeing how they pull it off.

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

THE NIGHT ALIVE @ DOBAMA THEATRE

January 20 through February 12, 2017

(216) 932-3396

Or dobama.org

Bob Abelman

“The Night Alive” is an intriguing play and risky enterprise.  This is a remarkable production of it. 

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

Roy Berko

THE NIGHT ALIVE, which is about the lives of a few lost souls, gets a strong staging.  Unfortunately, the play is about people who don’t engender a reason to be cared about. 

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

Kerry Clawson

"The Night Alive" is a very dark show by famed Irish playwright Conor McPherson about five characters who have few redeeming qualities. ... Director Leighann Delorenzo has undoubtedly directed her actors to create consistently awkward connections between their characters. But their dynamics are so tentative that the intermissionless play, which runs an hour and 50 minutes, drags during the first half hour.

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


Mark Horning

While extremely well done, the show seems to falter at the end. Many of the patrons leaving the theater seemed to have enjoyed the complexity and especially the comedy of the play but were unanimously confused concerning the ending as in “Who died?” Tommy? Aimee? Both? Part of the challenge will be in figuring out this burning question.

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

Christine Howey

Under the intelligent and specific direction of Leighann DeLorenzo, the immensely talented five-person cast does this material proud. 

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

THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH @ ENSEMBLE THEATRE

Through January 22, 2017

(216) 321-2930

Or www.ensemble-theatre.com

Roy Berko

Ensemble Theatre should be commended for bringing live children’s theater to an audience.  There are far too few opportunities for youngsters to be exposed to the theatrical arts.  Though not a totally effective production, there is enough positive about THE PHANTOM TOLL BOOTH to encourage parents to bring their children and, hopefully, then discuss the implications of the script with them.

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

Mark Horning

If you are a young parent with small children (6 to 11) wishing to share a night of nonsense humor, puns galore and hilarious wordplay then this is a play you will not want to miss. Feed your inner child while introducing your own children to live theater.

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

THIS IS NOT ABOUT MY DEAD DOG@ PLAYWRIGHTS LOCAL

Through January 28, 2017

(216) 302-8850

Or http://playwrightslocal.org/

Bob Abelman

We’ve all had moments like those revealed by Amy Schwabauer and see ourselves in her embarrassment and angst.  But few of us are brave enough to put it on stage before an audience, bold or brilliant enough to perform it ourselves, and brazen enough to consider it theater.

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

Roy Berko

The largely mid-twenties female sold-out audience responded well to the tales of self-loathing.  Some even shed tears at the end.  The stories obviously hit a chord with them.  Some adjustments in the script could expand the appeal to a wider audience and provide a better theatrical experience.

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

Christine Howey

If you’re going to write a one-woman play that is largely about drinking and vomiting, it helps if you’re an engaging and at times electric actor. Thankfully, that’s what writer-performer Amy Schwabauer has going for her.

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

INTO THE WOODS @ PLAYHOUSE SQUARE

Through January 29, 2017

(216) 241-6000

Or www.playhousesquare.org

Bob Abelman

Put Sweeney Todd in lederhosen and brightly colored socks and he is still the demon barber of Fleet Street.

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

Roy Berko

The Fiasco Theater staging of INTO THE WOODS, part of the Key Bank Broadway series, is not a flashy production filled with special effects.  It is a visionary piece of directing excellence by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, who looked beyond the surface and came up with a concept which gave new life to an oft-produced play.  Will everyone like it?  No.  Those who live for escape, want conflict-free stories, who are tired of seeing yet another production of this script, and those who don’t appreciate Sondheim’s musical genius, may well be turned off.  The rest of us will revel in a magical evening of theatrical creativity.

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

Kerry Clawson

Fiasco Theater’s Into the Woods is a breath of fresh air,  full of offbeat imagination and crystal-clear storytelling that makes for a stimulating evening with Stephen Sondheim’s most famous musical.

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


Mark Horning

Whether you are a Stephen Sondheim fan or not, you owe it to yourself to see this adult targeted performance simply due to the uniqueness in which it is portrayed. The simplicity in the stage set, costuming and musical numbers allows more room for the story to stand on its own.

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

Christine Howey

Into the Woods is all about dreams and the reality of how those dreams often turn out, based on the decisions we make. In that regard, this production is a fine and inventive interpretation of this work. But at almost three hours with one intermission, and placed on a single unchanging set, it takes the resolve of a fairy tale hero to stay focused on these colliding yarns.

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

David Ritchey

Once upon a time, a team of actors and stage technicians went into the woods – or maybe just on tour and found themselves in the Connor Palace Theater, Cleveland, Ohio.  Yes, they tour with “Into the Woods.”  But, something went wrong.  Or even worse, several things went wrong.  Those Cleveland audiences known for giving everyone a standing ovation, did not stand for the cast of “Into the Woods” at the curtain-call time.  The audience rushed out of the theater.

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

Andrea Simakis

Be careful what you wish for, because it might just come true. It's a lesson we'd do well to heed, now and ever after.
Still, it's worth straying from that moral here, because one couldn't wish for a finer iteration of an American masterwork than Fiasco Theater's "Into the Woods."
Don't be afraid of the dark.

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