David Edward Perry - Page 5

'Barefoot in the Park' has all the elements of a traditional good ol' American sitcom. Newlyweds discovering emotional peaks and pitfalls, a tense parent-child dynamic, unresolved family issues, wise advice from a telephone repairman and a bohemian continental who lives in mystery upstairs.

Five nuns sing, joke it up and dance in this hilarious musical. While frequently breaking the fourth wall to engage with the audience, the approachable cast makes 'Nunsense' funny and lighthearted. You'll feel as if you are at a live Las Vegas style variety show.

This production of CHICAGO is enjoyable. I was expecting more of an energetic 'umph' from the leads. Without that, I felt the show's energy lacked cohesion from the beginning. It's opening weekend. If they can find that spark, this show will be one hot CHICAGO.

Opera Birmingham delivered a trimmed version of "The Tragedy of Carmen" that did not loose a bit of its luster. The cabaret theater at the Red Mountain Theatre Company provided a perfect venue for this cast of powerful singers.

With growing Birmingham audiences looking for new and fun ways to laugh and be entertained, it looks like 'Nick & Jacob: A Two-Man Variety Show' is the right show at the right time.

'To Mock a Killing Bird!' is an improvised, murder mystery comedy that is a New Year's staple in the city of Birmingham. Every performance is new, fresh and full of madcap plot devices and hilarious characters.

Ravenswood Productions is once again delivering the holiday treat to the city of Birmingham. 'It's a Wonderful Life: Live!' is a bright and lively throwback to the days of radio theater

The music from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' is a time capsule of a simpler time, and gets you in the proper holiday mood. This concert by Butzer, Mahony and Beshera captures the same rhythm, not by imitating the music, but by being in tune with it.

'Cinderella: An Outrageous Fairy Tale' is a dynamic piece by Birmingham Children's Theatre. The show is a carousel of whimsy and childish glee. The actors and a live band keeps the energy up and a festive holiday spirit throughout the performance.

'Working: A Musical' is driven by the honest words of real people sharing why they work at what they do. The show is packed with with monologues and songs of people working various jobs put to music. The result of the varying talent of multiple composers sadly gives the show periodically draggy lyrics and music.

This 1930's style comedy/murder myster features a slew of quirky characters that get tossed into a 'whodunit' during a dinner party at a ritzy estate in the English countryside. As each character arrives, motives, backstories and weapons are revealed, gradually setting up the path for one of the dinner guests to be 'Murdered to Death'

If ever there was a time to challenge the ugly face of male chauvinism, it is now. Lets be honest, dating is rough these days. Courting in 2017 is far more complicated when compared to those in the 1500's. In today world, a line of cleverly arranged emoji's has replaced a heartfelt, handwritten sonnet composed on rose scented parchment paper. The thrilling anticipation once found from seeing a suitors initials imprinted over a wax seal is now applied to receiving a text message of 'WYD?' Complexities found in matching personalities are still a difficult factor in any relationship. William Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew' is one of the notable vintage comedy tropes about the fella trying to get the girl. But like wine, some comedy flavor becomes bitter with time. The core of 'The Taming of the Shrew' holds a tone of accepted abuse and manipulation of women. The comedy structure of an arrogant wealthy man psychologically berating a woman into submission was in the past seen as a blueprint of male behavior. Thankfully, now it is viewed as a reminder of chauvinistic dynamics in society that must be challenged.

The Big Meal makes a stylized approach to watching a family tree grow on stage. Pivotal moments in the timeline of this family are played out in sequence by a gifted group of eight actors.

The Dresser unveils the complexity of a co-dependent relationship between a pompous Shakespearian actor, aptly named Sir (Jack Cannon) and his dresser Norman (Judd McCluney). Norman's devotion to Sir is built upon many levels of admiration, even though Sir treats him like a second rate Sancho.

Birmingham playwright/director Daniel Martin has adapted a collection of a few choice cuts of Poe's library into a scary stage production that gets your heart beating fast with fright.

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox lit up the stage at Iron City. The evening was filled with amazing singers and a band that threw down some hoppin' music.

Dani Armstrong's smooth voice is a wonderful addition to the genre mixin' Postmodern Jukebox. Her amazing torch song renditions include The Police's 'Roxanne' and Weezers 'Say It Aint So'. I had an opportunity to chat with Armstrong before her show in Birmingham and talk more about her journey with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.

At its core, THE BOOK OF MORMON is a typical buddy comedy/fish out of water scenario infused with powerhouse song and dance. Added to the mix is a heavy, heavy dose of R rated flavors and an unapologetic irreverence.

Audrey Cardwell returns to the Red Mountain stage where she had her humble beginnings as a child in the RMTC Conservatory. Cardwell shares the stage with her talented and hilarious friend Veronica Kuehn.

Becky's New Car is comedy where you ride shotgun with a middle aged woman's journey to find clarity in self worth, fidelity and second chances. With no map and no clue, she finds herself lost at the middle of a quirky comedy with no exit in sight.