Comment Archives: Stories: Arts and Culture: Theater
Re: “Women's Theater Project focuses attention on Lisa Loomer's Distracted”
God, her work is abysmal. What a mess.
Re: “Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Macbeth is a compelling spectacle, but style sometimes overshadows substance”
Loved the venue! Loved the play! Intimate and spectacular!
Re: “Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Macbeth is a compelling spectacle, but style sometimes overshadows substance”
I have to disagree to a degree. Nashville is not London, New York, or any other theatre town. Not knocking it because I love my city. But to keep people's attention and "wow" them, it takes more than Shakespeare's words to do that. Unless you want 20 people in the audience, that is what it takes. I have been doing theatre for almost 25 years, (Shakespeare shows for 15), and I see people paying more attention to their cell phones that the hard work being done on the stage. It is truly sad, but that is the time we live in.
These theatre companies need butts in the seats, and the folks who see the show need to tell their friends how "awesome" it is so they can pay for the production. If it comes down to pleasing a critic and the artistic few, or making money by pleasing the general population, I go with the general pop. Actors do not act to make friends happy, and this is not about selling out.
Re: “Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Macbeth is a compelling spectacle, but style sometimes overshadows substance”
I agree with alot of Brady's reviews lately. It is true that Nashville productions rely heavily on spectacle rather than on substance. It is almost as though directors ignore the strength of a script either because they are lazy to find the story or because they would rather emphasize their own egos. If a story is well told, there doesn't need to be much pomp and circumstance.
Re: “Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Macbeth is a compelling spectacle, but style sometimes overshadows substance”
It seems unfair to critique the show on what you wish you had seen. Job as a critic is to review what is there.
Re: “Circle Players and TSU team up for first local mounting of The Color Purple, with strong results”
HELD OVER BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!!
Circle Players' production of THE COLOR PURPLE will run this weekend, November 9-11, 2012 at the Tennessee State University Performing Arts Center Cox - Lewis
**Wear a PURPLE shirt or dress for Friday Night's Performance on November 9, 2012, and see the show for only 12.00. This price only available at the door!!!!!**
$18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors (60+)
TSU Students - $5
TSU Faculty/Staff - $10 (Must have valid ID and one per ID)
Friday and Saturday night performances at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m.
Group discounts available by calling (615)-332-7529 or email boxoffice@circleplayers.net. To purchase tickets in advance, visit the Circle Players website at www.circleplayers.net
Re: “NCT stages a full-length Sherlock Holmes adaptation aimed at adults, too — with fabulous results”
When one is reviewing a broadway MUSICAL it is completely ignorant of one to compare it to its movie equivalent. To provide your critique of the script and score, not only is above your pay grade, but also shows your consummate ignorance and inadequate reviewing abilitiy. As a professional performer with BROADWAY credentials, my opinion easily outweighs your obvious incompetent journalistic/ reviewing ability. Taylor Tracy is one of the most talented young performers to recently grace the Nashville stage. Her vocal technique, acting, and dancing abilities are the picture of a triple threat performer. As for the rest of your article of bantering, uneducated, opinions, there are 20 other performers on the stage, all of which you disregarded. Before you suffer the world another one of your "reviews," learn to review what the performers bring to the stage and not what YOU think they should. To anyone reading this review, the Keeton Theatre has struck gold with a brilliant musical that is full of life and bursting with talent. Martin Brady, learn how to do your job.
Re: “Stage musical version of Jerry Lewis' masterwork The Nutty Professor is wholesomely charming, though not without its shortcomings”
I agree with the comments above. I'm a very tough (amateur) critic and I really loved the show. The Step Out of Your Shell number received major applause the night I saw it (the very 1st preview). I couldn't stop smiling through the whole show - loved it.
Re: “Stage musical version of Jerry Lewis' masterwork The Nutty Professor is wholesomely charming, though not without its shortcomings”
I saw the first three previews of the show and respectfully beg to differ with your comment that Buddy Love was not sleazy enough. Buddy is Kelp's idea of what he would like to be and that is everything he's not. Good looking, attractive to women, confident, a performer and a show-stopper. Where is it written that he had to be ultra sleazy? I think the way Michael plays him is great as is.
"Step Out of Your Shell" is not filler; it is a show stopper performed magnificently by Klea and Michael and the audience stood up all three times I was there. I'm not an expert, but does an audience usually stand up for filler?
Re: “Christ Church Cathedral raises the roof with Crowns, Regina Taylor's lively gospel musical”
If you missed the run of this production at Christ Church Cathedral in Downtown Nashville, you'll be happy to know that the cast and crew of Regina Taylor's CROWNS, is having an encore performance! The CROWNS Encore Performance will be at the Cherry Theater on Columbia State Community College in Columbia, TN (1665 Hampshire Pike Columbia, TN 38401). This show will truly bless you and I hope you'll be able to join us on the evening of Saturday, April 28th, 2012. To Purchase Tickets Online: go to http://crownsmusical.eventbrite.com/
Re: “Doyle and Debbie do Chicago, as ersatz hillbilly heroes Bruce Arntson and Jenny Littleton storm the Windy City”
Attended the D&D show last night Wednesday 4/18/12. What a fun evening. Truly we here in Chicago have been treated. Bruce Arntson, Jenny Littleton (what a voice and a body to match) and Matthew Carlton were terrific. Go see it soon before it is gone. We had an uproarious time!
Dave & Kathy Harris, Crystal Lake, IL.
Re: “Street Theatre Company provides a refreshingly adult spin on Sesame Street with Avenue Q”
Saw Avenue Q last night (our 2nd performance at Street Theater) and it was GREAT! Would especially recommend to those in their 20's and 30's or those like myself who have kids in those age ranges. Wonderful cast; so much talent.
Re: “Despite a few shortcomings, Boiler Room's Xanadu is an enjoyable diversion”
I saw it opening night as well as LOVED THIS SHOW. Gottlieb and Jones were an absolute delight. Their rendition of "Suddenly" stole the show. They had great chemistry and the whole cast was an absolute delight. I smiled through the whole thing. You'll be singing the songs the whole way home!
Re: “Despite a few shortcomings, Boiler Room's Xanadu is an enjoyable diversion”
@Bridget: I'd hardly call this a negative review, particularly as it ends, "This production of Xanadu might be as improbable as the show's history, but it provides laughs, some '80s pop music nostalgia and an entertaining spirit that more than compensates for its shortcomings."
Re: “Despite a few shortcomings, Boiler Room's Xanadu is an enjoyable diversion”
It is sad to see the negative comments on Xanadu. I wonder if the reviews would be any different if Gottlieb and Jones were locals. Both are majoring in Voice and Theater. Both display confidence and ability to perform. Jones has a list of past theater perfomances much more difficult. We were there for opening night and there were bumps in the road but nothing that couldn't be worked out. We have not laughed that hard in a long time.
The show is great and provides a trip down memory lane.
Re: “Despite a few shortcomings, Boiler Room's Xanadu is an enjoyable diversion”
My wife and I always enjoy going to the Boiler Room. We saw Xannadu on Tuesday night and it was great. I haven't laughed that much in while. It brought back some good and not so good memories of the 80's. It is great to see a show like that in such an intimate setting. I have to agree that the skating was a little tight and thought at any moment someone was going to fly off the stage. But they didn't. It's like a great off Broadway theater. We also attended Rocky Horror show and that was wonderful. We have yet to be disappointed at the Boiler Room and plan to come back again and again. We love the comedies. John
Re: “Christ Church Cathedral raises the roof with Crowns, Regina Taylor's lively gospel musical”
I've seen it twice!
Re: “Sondheim's revelatory Pacific Overtures shines in an atypically small venue”
We've all got opinions. Me, I think a commenter who leaves cheap shots but doesn't have the guts to sign his name is probably some troll with an ax to grind. But that's just me.
Re: “Sondheim's revelatory Pacific Overtures shines in an atypically small venue”
I'm sure this show is great and all, but not only were you in "Thong Girl 4", you were atrocious in it. I think a reviewer should be at least halfway proficient in the domain in which he wishes to offer/give his opinion.
Re: “A musical about budding sexual curiosity makes for darkly compelling entertainment at Street Theatre”
just a quick word about the R rating: the rating is more to let people know that there is some serious adult content in the show, but it isn't as strictly enforced as it would be in a movie theatre. like martin mentioned, the show is about kids after all...and my 17 year old loved it. if you have a 16 year old or even a mature 15 year old who is familiar with some of the conventions of theater, then i'd say bring them. the nudity is brief, tasteful, and can be easily ignored.