Seattle Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 33

BWW Reviews: Seagull Project's THREE SISTERS is So Good it Hurts
by Jay Irwin - February 02, 2015

Every season productions come along that are so good that they remind me why us theater folk perform, produce and see theater. Personally, these are the shows that recharge my theatrical batteries so I can sit through the not so great ones (I'm looking at you "Flashdance: The Musical"). Such a sho...

BWW Reviews: A Winning Sweetness in SPT's HUMBLE BOY
by Jay Irwin - February 01, 2015

Charlotte Jones' "Humble Boy", currently playing at Seattle Public Theater, may not rock your world or alter your perceptions on life or anything like that but this sweet family dramedy has plenty of charm and humor. True it's a bit long winded at times but with such engaging performances and inter...

BWW Reviews: Cirque's KURIOS Brings Magic and Wonder to Marymoor
by Jay Irwin - January 30, 2015

Get ready to let your inner kid loose in the circus while the adult in you marvels at the death defying feats as you take in the wonder that is "Cirque du Soleil: Kurios". And while the cohesive story of it all wasn't the most solid, the acts involved more than make up for it as they fly, contort a...

BWW Reviews: Thought Provoking A DELICATE BALANCE from Theatre 9/12
by Jay Irwin - January 26, 2015

Here in Seattle we are blessed with a ton of theatrical choices. I mean of course there are the big boys, the Rep, ACT, 5th Ave, etc. But we also have those small companies that may not have the funds for a helicopter to land on stage but instead invest their time and tiny amounts of money into tu...

BWW Reviews: Village's AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Fails to Thrill
by Jay Irwin - January 26, 2015

A series of journal entries may work well as a literary device but as a theatrical endeavor it tends to fall flat. Unfortunately, Village Theatre's current stage interpretation of Jules Verne's famous novel "Around the World in 80 Days" falls into the latter category as the storytelling gets itself...

BWW Reviews: Rep's PIANO LESSON Alive with Heart and Soul
by Jay Irwin - January 22, 2015

The Seattle Rep continues their long standing relationship with the works of one of America's greatest playwrights with their current production of August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson". As usual the show comes alive with a rich and stirring history only made more poignant through the stunning directi...

BWW Reviews: DIRTY DANCING – They Should Have Left Baby in the Corner
by Jay Irwin - January 21, 2015

Not since 'Flashdance' has a more ill conceived, and forced 80's movie turned stage show been forced upon the unsuspecting theater goers in Seattle. But unlike 'Flashdance', in 'Dirty Dancing' currently playing at the Paramount there weren't quite as many WTF moments to make it somewhat entertainin...

BWW Reviews: Schmeater's THE SECRETARIES Brings Twisted Macabre Fun
by Jay Irwin - January 19, 2015

Take the murderous rampage of "Heathers", the violent cultish attitudes of "Caged Heat" and the hair and clothes of "Working Girl" and you'd have the dark twisted romp of "The Secretaries", currently playing at Theater Schmeater. This macabre cautionary tale goes all out and over the top to give yo...

BWW Reviews: Irreverent Goodbyes from DAME EDNA at the Moore
by Jay Irwin - January 16, 2015

Hello Possums! Everyone's favorite Dame is back for one final goodbye (potentially) with "Dame Edna's Glorious Goodbye, The Farewell Tour" currently at the Moore Theatre. And as usual she puts on a hilarious show that reminds us all why she's risen to the level of Megastar over her 60 years in the...

BWW Reviews: Seattle Shake's MEASURE FOR MEASURE Modernizes Tale of Virtue and Vice
by Jay Irwin - January 12, 2015

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I typically have two main sticking points when it comes to Shakespeare productions. First that if you must transplant the time or locale of the piece, make it meaningful and second don't just say the pretty words but convey the intent behind them. And whi...

BWW 2014 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks)
by Jay Irwin - January 08, 2015

Oh my! It's been a hell of a year for the Seattle Theatre scene and I can say we've been quite fortunate to see the incredible shows we have. So many amazing shows in fact that picking just a few stand outs (let alone a "best") is a near impossibility. But I have searched the deep dark recesses o...

BWW Reviews: ArtsWest's JUDY'S SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS Is Fun but Not Quite Little
by Jay Irwin - December 15, 2014

You know how those 'Saturday Night Live' skits are where it's a fantastic premise and really funny to start out but then they have no idea how to end it so it drones on and on. Well the current off-kilter holiday production out at ArtsWest is like that. Filled with gut busting laughs and wonderful...

BWW Reviews: More of the Same Brilliance with Rep's THE GREAT SOCIETY
by Jay Irwin - December 11, 2014

Sometimes a bit of greatness, when combined with an equally great companion can form something so amazing that they surpass the heights to which they've already achieved. Such is the case with Tony Kushner's "Angels in America", the cycle of plays from August Wilson and, in my opinion, even Taranti...

BWW Reviews: Theatre22's THE HOURS OF LIFE Lacks Focus, Structure and Coherence
by Jay Irwin - December 08, 2014

Considering the notes in the program say they have been working on Theatre22's World Premiere musical "The Hours of Life" for four years, I can only assume there have been a number of workshops of the piece. But in all that time did no one let the author, Paul Lewis, know that the framework for the...

BWW Reviews: HAM FOR THE HOLIDAYS at ACT Outdoes Itself
by Jay Irwin - December 08, 2014

Strengthen up those smiling and laughing muscles because the insanity of one of my favorite holiday show alternatives is back with "Ham for the Holidays: Fear the Bacon" over at ACT. And let me tell you, they have upped their game and outdone themselves. My cheeks are still aching from all the lau...

BWW Reviews: 5th Avenue's A CHRISTMAS STORY Comes Home to Find Its Heart
by Jay Irwin - December 05, 2014

When the musical adaptation of "A Christmas Story" first came to the 5th Avenue Theatre back in 2010 for the pre-Broadway Premiere I was dubious at best. And my fears turned out to be well founded as the musical felt scattered and lacked the emotional core that the original story and movie had. Lu...

BWW Reviews: You're a Bastardization, Mr. GRINCH!
by Jay Irwin - December 03, 2014

What in the name of Theodor Geisel were they thinking? Not since that deplorable live action film version have I seen a worse retelling of the classic Dr. Seuss tale as 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical' currently playing at the Paramount....

BWW Reviews: ACT's A CHRISTMAS CAROL Alive with Magic
by Jay Irwin - December 01, 2014

ACT and Director John Langs completely nailed it again and then some. I saw the production last year of ACT's Seattle tradition of "A Christmas Carol" and found myself struck by how well they conveyed this classic tale. And as much as I enjoyed it last year there was something even more magical an...

BWW Reviews: Book-It's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Will Jump Start Your Romance
by Jay Irwin - December 01, 2014

Romantics the world over have loved the works of Jane Austen for centuries with her tales of loves lost and then found. And one of her best beloved is now on stage from Book-It Repertory Theatre with "Pride and Prejudice". And not only is it a wonderful adaptation filled with superb performances b...

BWW Reviews: Schmeater's TWILIGHT ZONE: LIVE! – Both Hilarious and Touching
by Jay Irwin - November 24, 2014

Theater Schmeater may have moved to new digs but they still know what we all love and that's their long running series of "The Twilight Zone: Live!" And not only are they still bringing the thrills, suspense, and laughs but even some very touching and sigh-able moments with a holiday flair. I don'...

BWW Reviews: Seattle Rep Goes ALL THE WAY With a Stunner
by Jay Irwin - November 20, 2014

I'm just going to stop you right here, Dear Reader. If you haven't already gone out and got your tickets for the Seattle Rep's production of Robert Schenkkan's "All the Way" then just stop reading this and go take care of that. I'll wait. Done? OK, now we can continue to talk about this juggerna...

BWW Reviews: DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT Charm Kids and Adults Alike at SCT
by Jay Irwin - November 17, 2014

If you need a break from the bitter cold outside then step on in to Seattle Children's Theatre for the new musical version of "Dick Whittington and His Cat". Whether you're 4 or 40 this rollicking romp will warm your heart and have you beaming with joy from the sheer charm of it all....

BWW Reviews: THE HABIT 14 Brings Its Bawdy Silliness to The Bathhouse
by Jay Irwin - November 17, 2014

Those hilarious sketch comedy boys of The Habit are back with "The Habit 14". And if you like to laugh and aren't afraid of a little blue humor then you really should bring yourself down to The Bathhouse Theatre for the latest antics of one of the best and consistently awesome comedy troupes in to...

BWW Reviews: UMO's FAIL BETTER Certainly Does That
by Jay Irwin - November 16, 2014

We've had quite a few things come from The Seattle Beckett Fest and possibly the most "interesting" has come from UMO with their "Fail Better" over at ACT. And by "interesting" I mean it in my Mom's sense of the word as in "I have no idea what just happened, didn't care for it, but I'm trying to be...

BWW Reviews: MARY POPPINS Not Quite So Magical at Village
by Jay Irwin - November 14, 2014

It felt like they were trying to shove a ten-pound show into an 8-pound bag. Sometimes a show is just too big even for Village's usually ample stage. Such was the case with "Mary Poppins" over at Village Theatre. Yes, the talent was all there to support it but the technical wizardry felt at its w...