Theater Reviews – Page 2 – Theatrical Musings

FT. MYERS, Fla. — As many recent South Florida productions have proven, live theater can powerfully mirror the ails of today. But there’s a limit as to how much dark, disturbing fare, however timely, we can take before we become overwhelmed. At certain points, we require pure escapism. Broadway Palm…

The program for Florida Repertory Theatre’s powerful production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” lists Maycomb, Ala., 1935 as the time and setting. That is partially correct: Director Robert Cacioppo’s smart staging of the classic, based on Harper Lee’s 1960 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel, takes place as much in 2017 in Anytown, USA…

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The mostly dull theme park attraction which opened Wednesday at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts isn’t without merit. Diana Huey, who plays the lead role of mermaid Ariel in the second-rate attraction (sorry, musical) “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” can sing pleasantly, powerfully and clearly. She…

It’s probably not popular to brand a journalist a villain during these early days of the Trump presidency, what with his attacks on the media. Champions of the First Amendment surely will cast journalists in a positive light and “The Donald” in a negative one. But flash back to the…

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Many would argue that, in today’s troubled world, we especially need to hear the comforting song “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The moving, majestic, memorable melody is one of many Richard Rodgers’ and Oscar Hammerstein II’s gems that stick in our mind and soul once we’ve heard…

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. — Chalk up another success for award-winning Broadway producer Ron Simons — putting on Broadway the only August Wilson “Pittsburgh Cycle” play that has yet to appear on the Great White Way. Simons doesn’t have a definitive answer as to why Wilson’s play “Jitney” had never…

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The desperate, proud man at the center of GableStage’s excellent production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning dramedy “Between Riverside and Crazy” spreads his arms wide and yells his name as if for all of New York City to hear. It’s a desperate plea for attention, a…

MIAMI, Fla. — Miami theater lovers, prepare to get on your feet. The 2017-18 Broadway in Miami season at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts will kick off with “On Your Feet!,” featuring the true story of Miami legends Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The multiple Grammy-Award-winning husband-and-wife artists,…

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Toward the end of Palm Beach Dramaworks’ powerfully-acted, riveting production of Donald Margulies’ prized, multi-layered play “Collected Stories,” aging writing professor and accomplished author Ruth Steiner acts like a dementia-stricken patient. Her wide eyes betray an expression of bewilderment, wariness and anger. Steiner in no way…

MIAMI BEACH — As the riveting, disturbing and heartbreaking play “Terror” illustrates, in our post-Sept. 11 world, black and white morality can blow up in pieces, leaving lots of grey – just like the shattered, shot-down civilian commercial jet at the center of the new play, leaving shards and grey…