C Theatergoers who feel they know playwright Michael Frayn from the evidence of his most successful stage work, the backstage farce Noises Off! -- or even from his thoughtful drama on the architecture of relationships, Benefactors, which Palm Beach Dramaworks produced in 2008 -- are bound to be taken aback by his most cerebral script, the 2000 Tony Award-winning best play … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2009
Theater review: Challenging ‘Copenhagen’ deserves to be seen
Elizabeth Dimon, Christopher Odenand Colin McPhillamy in Copenhagen.By Hap ErsteinTheatergoers who feel they know playwright Michael Frayn from the evidence of his most successful stage work, the backstage farce Noises Off! -- or even from his thoughtful drama on the architecture of relationships, Benefactors, which Palm Beach Dramaworks produced in 2008 -- are bound to be … [Read more...]
Tommy Tune takes audience on easygoing shuffle through his career
Bigger, or at least taller, than life, 6-foot-6-inch Tommy Tune made a one-night stop on the Kravis Center Dreyfoos Hall stage Tuesday evening with an amiable shuffle-ball-change through his career, appropriately titled Steps in Time. The nine-time Tony Award-winning director-choreographer-performer celebrated his 50th year in show business in 2009, which was excuse enough … [Read more...]
Theater review: Tommy Tune takes pleasant look back at his career
Hoofer and choreographer Tommy Tune turned 70 this year. By Hap ErsteinBigger, or at least taller, than life, 6-foot-6-inch Tommy Tune made a one-night stop on the Kravis Center Dreyfoos Hall stage Tuesday evening with an amiable shuffle-ball-change through his career, appropriately titled Steps in Time.The nine-time Tony Award-winning director-choreographer-performer … [Read more...]
The Hapster Awards, 2009 edition
Producers, who will accept any award, covet them. Actors, who probably do not realize they are rarely complimentary, list them in their program bios. What are they? The annual Hapster Awards, given for achievement -- usually “dubious’ -- in theater during the past year. So here are the 2009 Hapsters (Sorry, times are tough and we couldn’t afford envelopes): Best Play about … [Read more...]
Theater feature: The Hapsters, 2009 edition
Marcus Bellamy and Holly Shunkeyin Vices: A Love Story.(Photo by Sean Lawson)By Hap ErsteinProducers, who will accept any award, covet them. Actors, who probably do not realize they are rarely complimentary, list them in their program bios. What are they? The annual Hapster Awards, given for achievement -- usually “dubious" -- in theater during the past year.So here are the … [Read more...]
Jazz world remembers pianist Higgins
Drummer Art Blakey (1919-1990) took many a young, future jazz star on the road for seasoning with his group The Jazz Messengers between the 1950s and the 1980s. The list included Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Keith Jarrett, Jackie McLean, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Joanne Brackeen, Benny Golson, Chuck Mangione and Cedar Walton. It might have also included … [Read more...]
Music feature: Jazz world remembers pianist Higgins
Pianist Eddie Higgins (1932-2009).Photo by Andrea Canter.By Bill Meredith Drummer Art Blakey (1919-1990) took many a young, future jazz star on the road for seasoning with his group The Jazz Messengers between the 1950s and the 1980s. The list included Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Keith Jarrett, Jackie McLean, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Joanne Brackeen, Benny … [Read more...]
‘Good Without God’ a well-written case for ethical non-belief
Books by atheist authors have flooded the market in recent years, and some, such as Christopher Hitchens’ God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, exhibit a stridently anti-religious tone. Now comes a more nuanced and balanced book written by Greg M. Epstein, the humanist chaplain at Harvard University. Good Without God critiques religious belief in a respectful … [Read more...]
Book review: ‘Good Without God’ a well-written case for non-belief
By Bill Williams Books by atheist authors have flooded the market in recent years, and some, such as Christopher Hitchens’ God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, exhibit a stridently anti-religious tone.Now comes a more nuanced and balanced book written by Greg M. Epstein (at right), the humanist chaplain at Harvard University. Good Without God critiques religious … [Read more...]