Houston Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 34

BWW Reviews: LEAVING SAN JACINTO - An Intriguing Historical Exploration
by David Clarke - February 28, 2013

Last night, I was invited to attend the final dress rehearsal of Country Playhouse and the Houston Masonic Library's World Premiere production of LEAVING SAN JACINTO by Diana Howie. The one act drama invites audiences to imagine what the journey on the Yellow Stone Steam Boat may have been like on a...

BWW Reviews: Houston Ballet's LA BAYADERE - Underwhelming but Worth Seeing
by David Clarke - February 26, 2013

There is no denying that the artistry of ballet revolves around creating mesmerizing visuals, whether it is lush lovely picturesque scenes or exhilarating 'stunt' work that appears to defy all the natural laws of gravity, human flexibility, and motion. In these regards, Houston Ballet's production o...

BWW Reviews: GOD OF CARNAGE - An Unforgettable Wild Ride
by David Clarke - February 23, 2013

Stark Naked Theater Company's production of Yasmina Reza's GOD OF CARNAGE, which was translated from its original French into English by Christopher Hampton, is one wild roller coaster of a ride that will leave audiences simultaneously speechless and breathless. Last night's opening night audience e...

BWW Reviews: BCT's Spellbinding LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is Compelling, Exciting, and Fascinating
by David Clarke - February 22, 2013

Houston had better watch out! Bayou City Theatrics is ensuring that audiences will feel the sturm und drang in the air with their production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, which opens tonight at the Frenetic Theatre at 5102 Navigation Boulevard. Last night, I was invited to attend their final dress rehe...

BWW Reviews: Stage Door, Inc's MISERY is Perfectly Discomforting and Fun
by David Clarke - February 20, 2013

Continuing their season of murder, madness, and mayhem, Stage Door, Inc. is presenting Simon Moore's theatrical adaptation of MISERY, based on the thrilling novel by Stephen King. The tense and disturbing play tells the story of the famed novelist of the Misery Chastain series, Paul Sheldon, being n...

BWW Reviews: THE FIRST CHURCH OF TEXACO - An Entertaining, Comedic Parable
by David Clarke - February 17, 2013

Direction by Jennifer Dean keeps this Texas style 'Beauty and the Beast' parable clipping brightly along during the first act, which is pleasantly bubbly and tender. In the second act, the writing and direction together slow the pace of the sprightly comedy. The writing, especially, becomes filled w...

BWW Reviews: Gene Kato's VIRAL INFECTION is Zany and Refreshing
by David Clarke - February 15, 2013

Modern Theatre of the Absurd is alive and very well at Obsidian Art Space, where the World Premiere of Gene Kato's VIRAL INFECTION is enjoying a glorious run. Gene Kato thought the play was un-producible and has kept it hidden away for 21 years. In a way, I'm deeply thankful. Had this play premiered...

BWW Reviews: Stages' Provocative THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE is Flawed But Fascinating
by David Clarke - February 14, 2013

Presenting their second out of three productions for this year's 'Get Talking' series, Stages Repertory Theatre is producing Julia Cho's THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE. The deliciously existential and fairy tale-esque drama won the 2010 Susan Smith Blackburn award, a prize given to plays written by women in t...

BWW Reviews: Tye Blue's HERE. is a Stellar Showcase of Talent
by David Clarke - February 11, 2013

On November 1, 2012, Tye Blue, who has been listed as 'Houston's Best Male Entertainer' for the past three years and just finished a Stellar run as Frank in Houston Grand Opera's production of Francesca Zambello's SHOW BOAT, released his mesmerizing debut solo album entitled Here. On the three track...

BWW Reviews: Country Playhouse's TRUE WEST is a Taut and Comical Drama
by David Clarke - February 08, 2013

Houston's theatre scene has been consistently upping the ante in 2013. Strong productions have been put on all over the city, and Country Playhouse has further elevated the bar with their tense and comical production of Sam Shepard's TRUE WEST....

BWW Reviews: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - A Guaranteed Good Time
by David Clarke - February 06, 2013

The musicalized version of Frank Abagnale, Jr.'s jet set life, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, flies into the Hobby Center this week. With a strong opening night crowd and performance, this toe-tapping musical is sure to put a smile on your face and make you feel great. Marc Shaiman wrote the catchy score with...

BWW Reviews: JEROME KERN IN HOLLYWOOD - A Must-See Captivating Cabaret
by David Clarke - February 05, 2013

Bayou City Concert Musicals has a track record of enjoyable and wholly entertaining performances. They burst onto the Houston Theatre scene with a concert production of FOLLIES. Since FOLLIES, Paul Hope has astounded audiences with productions of FALSETTOS, SHE LOVES ME, 70, GIRLS, 70, ASSASSINS, FI...

BWW Reviews: I'M NOT RAPPAPORT Contains Few Laughs and Uneven Pacing
by David Clarke - February 04, 2013

I've been writing for Houston's BroadwayWorld page for a brief 8 ½ months now, and one thing that I quickly learned and came to love about Houston is that there is always a wide selection of venues and titles to choose from. This past Saturday, I ventured from my residence in a Southeast suburb of t...

BWW Reviews: FOUR SEASONS and CANTATA by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal is Refreshing and Wholly Energizing
by David Clarke - February 04, 2013

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal amazed and impressed Houston audiences with their fourth engagement in our city. Enthusiastic cheers, thunderous applause, and lengthy standing ovations greeted the company after each act in the Cullen Theatre at the Wortham Center last Friday night. In an ef...

BWW Reviews: KNOCK ME A KISS - A Moving and Powerful Glimpse at an Unsung Hero
by David Clarke - February 01, 2013

Perhaps one of the greatest achievements of theatre is its ability to shed light on an issue or people that the audience may not be wholly familiar with. The Harlem Renaissance is the well-known and highly lauded period of time when African-American artists became exposed to and appreciated by mains...

BWW Reviews: Stages' WITTENBERG is Humorous and Intellectually Stimulating
by David Clarke - January 28, 2013

All across the greater Houston area, public schools and post-secondary college and universities are back in session. Students are hopefully becoming enlightened through quality education. However, to kick off their annual Get Talking Series, Stages Repertory Theatre is giving audiences something to ...

BWW Reviews: World Premiere of FISHING is Energizing, Fun, and Completely Fresh
by David Clarke - January 28, 2013

World Premieres are always exciting to attend. You never know what you are getting yourself into, so there is the allure and excitement of mystery. Sometimes they're terrible. Sometimes they're amazing. Sometimes they're in-between. Luckily, Leighza Walker's first full-length play, FISHING, is an en...

BWW Reviews: HGO's DON GIOVANNI's Plot Drags Despite Tremendous Talents
by David Clarke - January 27, 2013

Running opposite the bright and colorful SHOWBOAT in Houston Grand Opera's winter repertoire is an austere and dark production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte's DON GIOVANNI. This atmospheric and melodramatic opera presents the audience with the lecherous Don Giovanni, who has hired ...

BWW Reviews: A WRINKLE IN TIME - A Splendid, Engaging Adaptation of the Alluring Classic Novel
by David Clarke - January 26, 2013

Main Street Theater's Theater for Youth program's current production of A WRINKLE IN TIME is a splendid production of the classic novel by Madeleine L'Engle. The play tells the beloved story of Meg Murray and, her little brother, Charles Wallace's journey through time and space in search of their fa...

BWW Reviews: TUTS' CAMELOT is Mesmerizingly Regal
by David Clarke - January 25, 2013

Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe may be best known for MY FAIR LADY, their 1956 musical adaptation of Pygmalion. The show was an incredible success and left anticipation high for another Lerner & Loewe musical. After tumultuous writing, casting, and rehearsing processes their follow up opened on ...

BWW Reviews: The Alley's CLYBOURNE PARK is a Must See Humorous Social Commentary
by David Clarke - January 24, 2013

There is always that one play that captures attention at a national or international level. It hits a nerve and becomes dominant in the cultural zeitgeist. That play is talked about for a couple of years because of powerful productions in prominent theatre cities. It wins Tony Awards. It wins Olivie...

BWW Reviews: MEMORY HOUSE - Astounding, Emotionally Powerful Acting Saves Shaky Script
by David Clarke - January 21, 2013

Spring is fast upon us and high school seniors will soon be getting their acceptance letters for universities in the mail. They have put in hours of hard work in their classes, extracurricular activities, doing community service, and writing those dreaded and trite essays for college admissions boar...

BWW Reviews: UBU ROI - Absurdist and Surrealist Theatre at its Finest
by David Clarke - January 21, 2013

Continuing its mission to boldly re-envision classical drama, Classical Theatre Company is presenting Alfred Jarry's UBU ROI. The 1896 play is a precursor of the Theatre of the Absurd and Surrealism, but certainly opened the doors for the development of those genres of theatre....

BWW Reviews: Houston Grand Opera's Entertaining SHOW BOAT Dazzles and Delights
by David Clarke - January 20, 2013

Houston Grand Opera opened their Winter Repertory offerings with an impressive and rousing production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's iconic book musical SHOW BOAT. The musical historically changed the face of American Musical Theatre and introduced a genre of entertainment that many feel ...

BWW Reviews: SPANK! THE FIFTY SHADES PARODY is Laugh-A-Minute, Raunchy Fun
by David Clarke - January 18, 2013

By now, you've heard of E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey, the erotica novel that found mainstream success and wide readership in 2011. You probably even know it spurned a trilogy (what isn't a trilogy these days). And you may have even read at least a portion of the novel yourself. You may have swoo...