Houston Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 36

BWW Reviews: LES MISERABLES - A Pristine, Perfect Production From Top to Bottom
by David Clarke - November 07, 2012

Laurence Connor and James Powell's direction of the current tour is energetic and lively from opening to close. There are cleverly paid notes of homage to Trevor Nunn and John Caird's original direction of the piece. Yet, the team really takes advantage of being able to breathe new life into the sho...

BWW Reviews: THE OLDEST PROFESSION is Fun and Full of Heart
by David Clarke - November 06, 2012

Theatre Southwest is currently presenting THE OLDEST PROFESSION by Paula Vogel, who is known for her decidedly strong, controversial works like HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE that examines incest and THE BALTIMORE WALTZ that is about AIDS. In THE OLDEST PROFESSION, she gives audiences a chance to see a soft...

BWW Reviews: Emotionally Flat FLEAVEN Fizzles Instead of Pops
by David Clarke - November 03, 2012

It is the mission of The Catastrophic Theatre to destroy audiences with impressive and unique theatre. Unfortunately, the World Premiere of FLEAVEN only destroys audiences by sending them out into the world wondering what was missing. At 27 years old, I thought maybe it was not living through the Di...

BWW Reviews: MURDERING MARLOWE - Strong Cast and Crew Slayed By Clunky Script
by David Clarke - November 03, 2012

The Country Playhouse is presenting Charles Marowitz's MURDERING MARLOWE in their Black Box Theatre. With a healthy dose of elevated Elizabethan language and speculative fiction, the play tells the story of jealousy run awry. William Shakespeare, a fledgling artist, takes advantage of the government...

BWW Reviews: HGO's THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS Sparkles with Rib-Tickling Whimsy
by David Clarke - October 27, 2012

Houston Grand Opera is performing Gioachino Rossini's splendid, humorous, and simply delightful L'italiana in Algeri or THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS for the first time. Even knowing that comedic operas exist, it is still seems somewhat like a contradiction to this opera novice. With that said, being ...

BWW Reviews: ROCKY HORROR SHOW is an Exuberant Fun-Filled Halloween Treat
by David Clarke - October 26, 2012

Just under a week until Halloween, Bayou City Theatrics kicks off their inaugural season with Richard O'Brien's cult-favorite, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. While audiences at the Toyota Center waited for the original material girl to take the stage, Bayou City Theatrics channeled 80s inspired glam pop-pun...

BWW Reviews: HGO's Splendid, Opulent LA BOHÈME is an Immaculate Production
by David Clarke - October 22, 2012

Houston Grand Opera is opening its 2012-2013 season with a lavish and fresh production of one of the world's favorite operas, LA BOHÈME by Giacomo Puccini. The familiar opera tells the story of four bohemian artists that live in the same garret (apartment) in 1830s Paris. The poet, Rodolfo, falls fo...

BWW Reviews: Clear Creek's VIRGINIA WOOLF is Full of Bite, Misses Some Fire
by David Clarke - October 22, 2012

Clear Creek Community Theatre, which is in their 48th season of producing theatrical events, is providing audiences with the opportunity to enjoy Edward Albee's well-known hit play WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?. Whether you read it in school, saw the film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burt...

BWW Reviews: SRO's Perfectly Played [TITLE OF SHOW] is Exuberant, Hilarious and Heart-Warming
by David Clarke - October 20, 2012

One would never guess that [title of show] is only Standing Room Only Productions' 6th production. The show is perfectly polished, and every aspect of the production is simply magnificent....

BWW Reviews: ASSASSINS is Enjoyable, Mesmerizing, and Thought-Provoking
by David Clarke - October 20, 2012

As many gear up for Halloween, Music Box Musicals' inaugural production is striking a different nerve-a political nerve. With a wonderful production of John Weidman and Stephen Sondheim's thought-provoking musical ASSASSINS, Music Box Musicals invites audiences to listen. Not only to the tales they ...

BWW Reviews: MISSIONARY POSITION is Hilarious, Poignant, and Powerful
by David Clarke - October 15, 2012

Theater LaB Houston, continually bringing the best of contemporary theater in the Off-Broadway genre to Houston, is presenting Steven Fales' critically acclaimed and controversial one-man show MISSIONARY POISTION. The hilarious and poignant show is the second installment in The Mormon Boy Trilogy....

BWW Reviews: EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL Offers Camp Comedy But Lacks Vocally
by David Clarke - October 13, 2012

Campy horror always has a comfortable home during the Halloween season; therefore, programming the ultimate camp feature EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL is a natural choice. Country Playhouse is currently presenting the raucous, irreverent musical as part of their Halloween Creature Double Feature....

BWW Reviews: Country Playhouse's FRANKENSTEIN is a Dark, Thought-Provoking and Chilling Good Time
by David Clarke - October 13, 2012

Halloween time is upon us, and Country Playhouse is offering audiences a spine-chilling dramatic version of Mary Shelley's classic horror tale FRANKENSTEIN. The play, penned by Victor Gialanella, met a tragic end in New York City when it flopped in 1981 after 29 previews and 1 performance. Under the...

BWW Reviews: The Alley's DEATH OF A SALESMAN is a Beautifully Tragic Pristine Production
by David Clarke - October 12, 2012

With stunning emotional clarity, The Alley Theatre is presenting Arthur Miller's quintessentially American and classic family drama DEATH OF A SALESMAN as part of their 2012-2013 season. The play premiered in 1949 and has become a show of legendary status in the development of American dramatic thea...

BWW Reviews: Reinvented JEKYLL & HYDE is an Exciting Electric Experience
by David Clarke - October 11, 2012

Frank Wildhorn's JEKYLL & HYDE has been reinvented and completely reworked. The new production is not a revival of the show, but a revisal-a reimagining of the material for a contemporary audience. Over the course of a whirlwind 25 weeks, this production is touring the nation before it opens in Apri...

BWW Reviews: IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL THE FAT LADY SINGS - Crowd Pleasing Musical Revue
by David Clarke - October 08, 2012

Founded in 1993, Houston's Encore Theatre is returning to its midtown roots by opening a performance space at the corner of Main Street and Wentworth Street. It has been Encore Theatre's goal to provide quality theatre to Houstonians, especially to those who are economically disenfranchised and wis...

BWW Reviews: LIFE COULD BE A DREAM - Still Exciting & Entertaining in Extension
by David Clarke - September 30, 2012

Originally set to close September 2 Stages Repertory Theatre extended the Roger Bean crooning jukebox musical LIFE COULD BE A DREAM until October 14, 2012. The bubbly, fun, and popular musical is still going strong and delighting Houston audiences with its light story and amazing vocals....

BWW Reviews: DUCK FOR PRESIDENT is a Fun, Effervescent Comedy
by David Clarke - September 30, 2012

Main Street Theater's Theater for Youth 2012-2013 Season is starting with a resounding QUACK! To help young audiences understand the electoral process in the United States, they are producing the effervescent and spritely comedy DUCK FOR PRESIDENT. The show is based on Doreen Cronin's National Best-...

BWW Reviews: THE NACIREMA SOCIETY - Fun, Funny & Touching Romantic Comedy
by David Clarke - September 28, 2012

In Houston, The Ensemble Theatre is proudly opening its 36th season with Pearl Cleage's THE NACIREMA SOCIETY REQUESTS THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE AT A CELEBRATION OF THEIR FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS, often shorted to THE NACIREMA SOCIETY. The play premiered to fantastic audience reception on October 20,...

BWW Reviews: Classical Theatre Company's MISS JULIE - A Delightful Feat of Skillful Prowess
by David Clarke - September 27, 2012

Classical Theatre Company (CTC) is opening its 5th season with August Strindberg's seminal drama, MISS JULIE. Comfortably at home in their new performance space, Studio 101 at Spring Street Studios, CTC's production of this taught and intense drama is a fantastic miasma of contemporary social issues...

BWW Reviews: NETworks BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Passably Pleases Return Audiences, Truly Impresses New Audiences
by David Clarke - September 26, 2012

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BWW Reviews: Houston Ballet's WOMEN@ART is Exquisite and Engaging
by David Clarke - September 24, 2012

The main purpose and goal of Houston Ballet's WOMEN@ART is to celebrate the ability of women to choreograph interesting, thought-provoking, and fully realized ballets. In 2004, Stanton Welch was met with fantastic success the first time he programmed three one-act ballets choreographed by women in h...

BWW Reviews: LIFE IS A DREAM is a Sensational Tour de Force
by David Clarke - September 21, 2012

In 1975, Main Street Theater began with a dream of bringing quality theatre to Houston audiences. Whether we are actually existing or living in our imaginings, one thing is certain: Main Street Theatre has fulfilled its reverie for 37 years, and is continuing to do so with the opening of the first p...

BWW Reviews: Black Lab Theatre's BOOM - Bombastically Funny, Exploding With Insight
by David Clarke - September 15, 2012

In our current culture, it is impossible to escape tales of the apocalypse. As a collective audience, we are inundated with zombie pandemics and deadly catastrophes. Then, every so often we are treated to a fresh and original look at the end of humanity. This is exactly what Black Lab Theatre is off...

BWW Reviews: MURDER FOR DUMMIES - Fun Despite Flaws
by David Clarke - September 14, 2012

On a dark and stormy night, Philip L. Nichols, Jr.'s MURDER FOR DUMMIES had its world premiere at the Country Playhouse as part of their murder mystery desert theatre that is catered and sponsored by Brio Tuscan Grille. The play is a comedic murder mystery and revels in its genre cliches. The plot o...