Seattle Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 39

BWW Reviews: Classic Vegas Thrills at Teatro ZinZanni's LUCKY IN LOVE
by Jay Irwin - May 31, 2013

From the sumptuous meal to the hilarious antics to the high flying thrills, you always know you're going to have a stellar time at a Teatro ZinZanni show and their current show "Lucky in Love" is no exception. The story and theme may have been a bit unfocused at times (and that could have just been...

BWW Reviews: FELA at the Paramount – High Energy Message But Not Enough Story
by Jay Irwin - May 29, 2013

Musical Theater is a strange animal. It's trying to tell an engaging and evocative story through music. And when you frame that storytelling in the guise of a concert it gets even more difficult as the lyrics of the songs really need to drive that story but it can work ('Passing Strange', 'Hedwig'...

BWW Reviews: SPT's THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE Explores Love Beyond Words
by Jay Irwin - May 24, 2013

For a show that is all about words and how to express them correctly, it sometimes feels that Julia Cho's "The Language Archive" could have done a little better expressing them efficiently. Occasionally the show tends to drone on and could have ended a few times. Fortunately the cast in Seattle Pu...

BWW Reviews: Schmeater's TWILIGHT ZONE: LIVE! Offers Up The Creepy Mixed With The Sweet
by Jay Irwin - May 18, 2013

Theatrically speaking, there are few things in this town that are a sure lock of enjoyment. Anything from New Century? Sure. Putting Bobbi Kotula on stage? Hell yes. And any of the 'Twilight Zone: Live!' productions from Theater Schmeater? Damn Skippy! The tall, dark and brooding master of th...

BWW Reviews: Arouet's THE TEMPERAMENTALS - Important History Told with Care
by Jay Irwin - May 11, 2013

In these exciting times where state after state are ratifying same sex marriage laws and teens are taking their same sex boyfriends and girlfriends to school dances, we can sometimes lose sight of the people that fought to break down those barriers to get us where we are today. This is why stories ...

BWW Reviews: CHICAGO at Village Has a Cast of Killers!
by Jay Irwin - May 10, 2013

I've seen it more times than I care to count. Between the movie version, the still running Broadway revival, the touring productions and copious local productions most people have. And why not? 'Chicago' is one of Kander and Ebb's best and most enduring. So when Village Theatre announced it woul...

BWW Reviews: TEAM OF HEROES 3 at Annex Suffers Lack of Pace and Plot
by Jay Irwin - May 04, 2013

The conclusion of the "Team of Heroes" Trilogy, "Team of Heroes: No More Heroes" currently playing at Annex Theatre has swooped in to save us all, but it could use some saving of its own. Yes, all of your favorite damaged superheroes and super villains are there as well as little gimmicks and trick...

BWW Reviews: Seattle Shake's TAMING OF THE SHREW - A Rip Snortin' Good Time
by Jay Irwin - May 02, 2013

I've always been leery of transplanting locales and time periods of classic plays just because we can. Naked 'Macbeth', 'Romeo and Juliet' in a high school, cartoon lions in Africa doing 'Hamlet'. Often times it's just to shake things up and lends nothing to the story. But the current production ...

BWW Reviews: ASSISTED LIVING at ACT Lives Only From Assistance
by Jay Irwin - May 01, 2013

A few days ago I posted a review for another comedy in town where I commented on the fact that they just don't write farces like they used to. And last night the current production at ACT, "Assisted Living" only served to support that statement. That's assuming this World Premiere play from local ...

BWW Reviews: An Enchanting Evening With THE BOYS NEXT DOOR
by John James DeWitt - April 30, 2013

Tom Griffin's 'THE BOYS NEXT DOOR' is a tricky script…its subject matter is a group home in the Boston area housing four mentally-challenged adult men; Arnold, Norman, Lucien and Barry. They have a caretaker, Jack, who lives offsite, and the play progresses through a series of vignettes illustrating...

BWW Reviews: BLACK WATCH at the Paramount is a Visceral Experience Not To Be Missed
by Jay Irwin - April 29, 2013

More often than not when you go to see a play you do just that, see it. You attend, enjoy, let it wash over you, but still manage to stay safely detached from any unsettling things that happen during the narrative. But sometimes a play comes along that goes beyond a simple storytelling and takes i...

BWW Reviews: BOEING BOEING at Seattle Rep - Nicely Naughty Hilarity
by Jay Irwin - April 28, 2013

They just don't make good door slammer farces like they used to. Perhaps we've lost the sensibilities to come up with new ideas that make these tales of mistaken identity, concealed trysts and ridiculous characters funny. But luckily we still have old chestnuts like "Boeing Boeing", currently play...

BWW Reviews: FLASHDANCE at the Paramount - What? A Feeling? Nope.
by Jay Irwin - April 17, 2013

Not since the epic failure that was 'Princesses' at the 5th Avenue have I seen such an abysmal big stage musical with aspirations to Broadway as 'Flashdance - The Musical' currently playing at the Paramount Theatre. There are so many things wrong with this show that I'm not even certain where to be...

BWW Reviews: NCTC's THE TRIAL Brimming With Nightmarish Intensity
by Jay Irwin - April 12, 2013

This is not a play. You are informed that as soon as you step into the oppressive world of New Century Theatre Company's current production of "Franz Kafka's The Trial" adapted by Kenneth Albers. And it's true; it's not so much a play as it is an existential experience as the bureaucracy of this w...

BWW Reviews: AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY at Balagan – Stunningly Powerful
by Jay Irwin - April 06, 2013

If you've seen it you know you love it. "August: Osage County" has got to be one of the most powerful stories to grace the stage in quite some time. And soon everyone will love it as it's about to be turned into a movie due out next November with a powerhouse cast. But until that time you can sti...

BWW Reviews: EDITH CAN SHOOT THINGS … at SPT a Bit Cliché But Still Touching
by Jay Irwin - April 05, 2013

Remember those cheesy After School Specials that were on TV when we were young? No? Just me? (Man, I'm old!) Anyway, for those not old enough to remember, they were hour-long specials back in the 80's and 90's that dealt with teen issues such as pregnancy, abuse, and even homosexuality (Ah, "The ...

BWW Reviews: Theater Schmeater's THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE Shines with Dark Intensity
by Jay Irwin - March 24, 2013

To say that the current production from Theater Schmeater, "The Gingerbread House" by Mark Schultz, is intense is somewhat of an understatement. In fact this modern day fable doesn't just tell its story so much as it beats you over the head with it. A little long winded at times, this gripping tal...

BWW Reviews: GREY GARDENS at ACT Not Quite Up To Expectations
by Jay Irwin - March 22, 2013

You know when you go on vacation and come across that amazing restaurant that serves one of the most surprising dishes you've ever had that you pine over for years and then you find a restaurant back home that makes the same recipe? And maybe they don't have all the best ingredients or maybe the ch...

BWW Reviews: TRAILS at Village – A Slow Starter But Worth the Hike
by Jay Irwin - March 18, 2013

A new musical about two old friends hiking the Appalachian Trail doesn't sound like a dead lock winner does it? I mean, how much can we sing about hiking? And while it does take a bit to really hook into you and at times isn't so sure of its footing, the new musical 'Trails' currently playing at V...

BWW Review: Seattle Shakes' LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST - A RomCom That Needs Focus
by Jay Irwin - March 16, 2013

Sometimes Shakespeare is all about murder and revenge and history and import and sometimes it's just a goofy romp through the ins and outs of the heart. And "Love's Labour's Lost" from the Seattle Shakespeare Company currently playing at the Center Theatre is definitely part of the latter group. P...

BWW Reviews: Powerful Class Warfare in Seattle Rep's GOOD PEOPLE
by Jay Irwin - March 14, 2013

Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire has made a name for himself as an author who takes those uncomfortable situations and artfully puts them up on stage with heart and humor. Whether dealing with the loss of a child or the loss of memory his crisp dialogue always conveys sincere emotion and a discomfor...

BWW Reviews: ALTAR BOYZ at Seattle Musical Theatre - Filled With Humor, Heart and Hips
by Jay Irwin - February 16, 2013

God has heard our prayers. He knew we were all longing for some hot guys to come and teach us all about his divine wisdom and make us laugh along the way. And so he has sent us the Seattle Musical Theatre production of 'Altar Boyz' to show us the path. Not only do they have some incredible voices...

BWW Reviews: 5th Avenue's MUSIC MAN High On Energy But Low On Chemistry
by Jay Irwin - February 15, 2013

Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" may be about a con man but at its heart it's a love story. A love story about a man who's willing to give up his duplicitous ways so he can be with the one woman who sees through his lies. And it's because this is a love story that it's such a shame that the curre...

BWW Reviews: WAR HORSE at The Paramount Goes Beyond Theater and into Art
by Jay Irwin - February 14, 2013

Sometimes all the elements of a show come together to form something truly special. Every aspect combines to take the piece beyond just a piece of theater and into the realm of art. (Yes I know theater is an art form but you know what I mean.) Well, "War Horse" currently playing at the Paramount ...

BWW Reviews: Second Story's HOW TO SUCCEED is Fun but Lacking Style
by Jay Irwin - February 11, 2013

Frank Loesser's "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" is one of those shows that's just plain fun. It's hard to make it not fun. But beyond the fun, in order to make it really shine it needs a consistent style and pace and that's where the current production at Second Story Rep could ...