Every thoughtful, well-planned theater season should have a family drama in the lineup: a play with a small cast, a compelling plotline, and (preferably) a strong female character. While “Annapurna” could have filled the quota in October, Blackfriars presents another sagacious selection with David Auburn’s “Proof.” “Proof” debuted at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 2000 […]
Theater Review
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Theater Review: RBTL presents “Beautiful”
The jukebox musical is a wild card in the world of theater. Some jukebox musicals — in which the musical selections are hits culled from a particular legacy — suffer from contrivance and superficiality steeped in a desire to cash in on the popularity of the songs. In these instances, like in the movie “Across […]
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Theater review: “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Geva has created an honest, compelling tribute to Harper Lee’s
classic story.
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Theater review: “An Iliad” at Geva
In the last century, photography, video, and the Internet provided the world with astounding visuals of war, but unless a person has experienced war, it’s difficult to fully grasp. It can be argued that only those who fight on a battleground understand the depth of that journey. A modern, award-winning adaptation of “The Iliad,” Homer’s […]
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Theater review: NTID/RIT’s “Tribes”
One of theater’s greatest strengths is its ability to illuminate the experience of the underrepresented, the marginalized, and the disregarded. A timely play can foster connection and understanding where there was once alienation and confusion. “Tribes,” a play by Nina Raine, attempts to draw from this strength, with limited success. It’s not that this production […]
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Theater review: “Miracle on South Division Street”
Tom Dudzick is described as “one of the few
playwrights who makes a living at it,” and after seeing one of his shows, the
high success rate is obvious.
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Theater review: Screen Plays’ “Holiday”
It’s an often overlooked fact that playwright Philip Barry (best known for “The Philadelphia Story”) was a Rochester native. But this weekend and next, Screen Plays — a local group that specializes in stage versions of Hollywood’s Golden Age films — brings to life one of Barry’s more popular works, “Holiday.” The plot follows Johnny […]
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Theater review: “White Christmas” at RBTL
It’s been an unseasonably warm December in Rochester, and at this point there’s a very small chance of snow for Christmas. In other words, it’s a welcome time for Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” to open at the Auditorium Theatre for a pre-holiday run. The musical was adapted for the stage in 2004, exactly 50 years […]
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Theater review: “The Game’s Afoot” at Blackfriars
On paper, “The Game’s Afoot” has all
the trappings of an enjoyable play. On stage, it’s a different story.
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Theater review: “Coney Island Christmas” at JCC
The JCC’s CenterStage has a track record of presenting surprising, quality holiday productions. “Coney Island Christmas” is just the latest.
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Theater Review: “The Lion” at Geva
There’s a performance term called the “first three seconds,” which refers to those hushed moments when the lights go down and a show begins. An expert artist knows how to capture the attention of the audience in those moments. During the first three seconds of “The Lion,” part of Geva’s Fielding Studio Series, performer Benjamin […]
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Theater Review: “A Twist of Lemmon” at Downstairs Cabaret
“A Twist of Lemmon” offers a rare glimpse into the creative process and personal life of actor Jack Lemmon.
