After 20-odd years singing, dancing and acting in dinner theatres, summer stocks and the ever-popular audience participation murder mysteries (try improvising with audiences after they?ve had two hours of open bar), Michael Dale segued his theatrical ambitions into playwriting. The buildings which once housed the 5 Off-Off Broadway plays he penned have all been destroyed or turned into a Starbucks, but his name remains the answer to the trivia question, "Who wrote the official play of Babe Ruth's 100th Birthday?" He served as Artistic Director for The Play's The Thing Theatre Company, helping to bring free live theatre to underserved communities, and dabbled a bit in stage managing and in directing cabaret shows before answering the call (it was an email, actually) to become BroadwayWorld.com's first Chief Theatre Critic. While not attending shows Michael can be seen at Citi Field pleading for the Mets to stop imploding. Likes: Strong book musicals and ambitious new works. Dislikes: Unprepared celebrities making their stage acting debuts by starring on Broadway and weak bullpens.
Director Pam MacKinnon and her sharp ensemble perfectly balance the tragic feelings of the characters with their comic obliviousness to how out of touch they are.
Musical biography of Carole King frequently pushes its central character aside for more interesting and entertaining moments played out by supporting ensemble.
While inebriation is not a non-negotiable requirement for enjoying the fizzy mindlessness of director/writers Bob and Tobly McSmith's two musicals, it ain't a bad idea.
The Mobile Shakespeare Unit's spirited production settles at The Public after touring prisons, nursing homes, community centers and juvenile detention centers.