Christine Kowal

Simply put, Synetic Theater's current production of The Three Musketeers (playing now through June 9th) completely, in every way, stands up to all that Synetic Theater proposes to offer by way of a "dynamic synthesis of the arts". Frankly, Synetic knocks it out of the park. Out of the city. Out of the state. Out of the good ole' U.S. of A.

According to Archie Bunker, lovable star curmudgeon of the 1970s hit TV sitcom All in the Family, the 'change of life' should happen in 30 seconds or less. His wife Edith's endearing irritability nearly drove him to the edge, and upon learning the root cause as the 'silent passage' of change that all women go through, he emphatically declared, with the frustration of millions of men behind him: 'If you're gonna do it, do it right now!'

This is not your ordinary musical. Not. At. All. There are no elaborate tap dance numbers, no catchy sugar-pop show tunes, no grand finale romantic embraces. Good does not prevail over evil in this production. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find 'good' at all embedded within Stephen Sondheim's musical creation. This is a musical in which you stop at intermission, stunned, and double-check that you're in the right place - and that the performance taking place before you is reality.

Old Hickory certainly left his mark in the history books. It's no secret that Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, was one of America's most polarizing figures. Acting under what he declared were the choices and movements of the people, he initiated ethnic cleansing in the United States through the forced relocation of Native American tribes from the Southeast to the west of the Mississippi River. He became Father of the Democratic Party and defeated the British at the notorious Battle of New Orleans.

How many people realize that one of America's greatest musical sweethearts, who serenaded World War II war heroes and America's small towns with Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy, was treated for swallowing 18 sleeping pills in a near-death overdose? Or that each of the Andrews sisters suffered their way through difficult and emotional divorces during a time when divorce was often not discussed? Infinity Theatre's current production of Sisters of Swing brings to light these lesser known facts about the beloved Andrews sisters, all while these three early American idols choo-choo, she-bob, and ring-a-ring their way through one of the most classic and memorable eras of music.

Enchanted, by definition, is 'magical' or 'bewitching'. Wolf Trap fits the bill perfectly during its brief summer run of South Pacific, playing now through June 3, 2012. The stars were out, the air was cool, and the arts did, in fact, come out to play. Though the playing was fierce, as the cast and crew of Pacific put on an earth-shattering revival of the great Rodgers and Hammerstein theatrical hit. It was, without a doubt, 'Some Enchanted Evening.'

Most any in the industry should consider themselves lucky to stumble upon Compass Rose Studio Theater, both a workshop studio and professional performance theater founded in the belief that theater education creates performance excellence. This small, shoe-box theater takes local talent - great local talent - and creates an open platform for pure, unadulterated dramatic creation.

I wanted to like you. In fact, I was fairly convinced I was going to love you. Truly. After I was given the complimentary audience glo-stick, told that my seat was directly under the large disco ball, and instructed to keep my arms and legs away from the stage to avoid collision with the roller skating chaos, I quickly fell into theater 'true love.' But Xanadu, despite your best efforts, I'm breaking up with you.

Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little, cheep, cheep, cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more. Repeat. Multiple times. At increasing speeds. In unison. While dancing, singing, making facial expressions, and flailing your arms about. With any luck, you'll make it through one refrain successfully and get a small glimpse into the seasoned talent of the cast of Arena Stage's The Music Man, playing now through July 22nd, 2012.

Shakespeare. Truth be told, in ordinary circumstances, not many are beating down theater doors and knocking over ceramic busts in an effort to catch the latest production of one of England's most prolific playwrights. But when it comes to Folger Theatre's current production of The Taming of the Shrew, they should be. Three words to describe this Wild West rendition: bold, biting, and brilliant.

Who would think to deem Eugene O'Neill as one of the original forefathers of reality television? But perhaps we should - to add it to his long list of artistic achievements as one of the great playwrights of our time. Especially in the context of Long Day's Journey Into Night, one of O'Neill's brilliant constructions now playing at Arena Stage through May 6th, 2012.