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Two Gentlemen of Verona: boredom and brilliance

Thanks to director Scott Bellis, silent woman make the loudest statement in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Warning: I’m going to give away some major plot points here, but I will not give away what makes their realization so wonderful in this production. This comedy is...

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Mary Poppins at TUTS: the reason for living

This is what life is for. Really. I’m not exaggerating. This realization hit me as I was in Malkin Bowl watching the Theatre Under the Stars production of the musical Mary Poppins. The backdrop behind the number “Step in Time” was soaked in indigo lighting that was...

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Much Ado About Nothing: I wanted more

Let’s be clear: Much Ado About Nothing is about something. Director John Murphy’s production accesses the play’s depths, but only intermittently. Too often, it gets distracted by its own inventive surfaces. Shakespeare sets his comedy in Messina, Italy, and Murphy...

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Children of God: Listen

Just entering the theatre for the premiere performance of Children of God, you could tell what a monumental opening this was going to be. Corey Payette’s new musical speaks from the heart to one of the most important subjects facing all inhabitants of the territory...

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The Piano Teacher: Bask in its music

The Piano Teacher is honest, smart, moving, and exquisitely performed. Sometimes, when people write about artistic expression, they bullshit. I’m thinking about Stephen Sachs’s play Bakersfield Mist, for instance. In that script, an art expert almost has a literal...

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Redpatch tells a worthwhile story too earnestly

Redpatch doesn’t work—at least it doesn’t work for me. I’m a white guy and Redpatch deals with the experience of a Métis soldier during WWI, so some might feel inclined to dismiss my criticism. But the company invited me to review the show, so here goes. Raes Calvert...

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