Victoria Schwarz

The musicals of the 1920s-1940s are rich territory for parody since many imported the stylistic elements (vaudeville, dance hall style, revue, et al.) of popular entertainment of the era to carry the shows, often disadvantaging well-developed plot lines and complex characters.

Choosing to perform a Tennessee (Thomas Lanier) Williams (1911-1983) play means genuinely committing to some of theater’s most salient aspects: in this case, a plot that must capture and then hold the audience in unfolding layers of tragedy, characters that are complex and often display less-than-desirable human characteristics, believable delivery of modified language to portray a specific region or temperament, performance of disconcerting and sometimes virulent spectacle on a human scale, and production design that rises to the needs of the story. 

As many students of history know, 1929 was the beginning of a chaotic, and often tragic, decade for the United States. Seven months after a small stock market crash and recovery on March 25, the bottom fell out.

Julie Zaffarano’s ABOVE THE FOLD, set in 1935, is a play about three investigative reporters and a photographer who are staying in the same hotel as they cover a grand jury. The work of this particular grand jury is to determine if there is sufficient evidence to conduct a trial for the murder of singer Evelyn Hoey by her lover, Henry Huddleston Rogers III, the son of one of the richest men in the world.

I am delighted to have had a chance to interview Jill Van Velzer who plays the role of Mrs. Burke in GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY. An accomplished actress, Velzer has also toured with productions of Phantom of the Opera and King & I, in addition to acting in numerous regional productions.

What did our critic think of PRELUDE TO A KISS at The Bastrop Opera House? PRELUDE TO A KISS is the story of Peter and Rita, a couple who meet at a party at one of Rita’s neighbors and later, fall in love. Although there are some personal differences, they decide to get married after a few weeks.

What did our critic think of DANCING AT LUGHNASA at Genesis Creative Collective?

What did our critic think of GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS at Trinity Street Playhouse?

It is so delightful to walk into a theater and see chairs moved to the side so children can sit on the floor directly in front of the stage to see a show. Indeed, backing up a bit, it is even more delightful to walk into a theater and see children excited about seeing a show. Despite an increasing array of theater and performing arts camps for young people to attend, live theater meant for children is far less robust. Austin Scottish Rite Theater is one of the Austin theater companies that work diligently to provide consistent and quality theater directly intended for children, and their latest show, BARNEY CAREY GETS HIS WINGS, is a joyful, heartwarming addition.