Avid theatergoers are probably familiar with Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach trilogy and also Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song Trilogy. But how about Alfred Uhry’s Atlanta Trilogy? During the late ‘80s and ‘90s, Uhry wrote three distinctly different plays, all centering on his colorful Georgian family, each Jewish in their own way. The most acclaimed on them is 1989’s Pulitzer … [Read more...]
At the Wick, ‘Groucho’ tribute falls a little short of the Marx
When the incomparable Groucho Marx passed away in 1977 at the age of 86, he left behind a dozen classic movie comedies, kinescopes of 11 seasons of his TV game show, You Bet Your Life, and countless well-crafted or ad-libbed one-liners. In addition, there is An Evening with Groucho, Frank Ferrante’s one-man celebration of his comedy idol, which draws on each of the above … [Read more...]
‘Witches of Eastwick’ sees Slow Burn back in quirky form
Slow Burn Theatre, now celebrating the beginning of its 15th season, came into the world committed to producing musicals that for one reason or another were underappreciated initially. Its shows were anything but mainstream, yet the company developed an enthusiastic and loyal following. When the risk-oriented troupe moved to the Broward Center nine years ago, however, its … [Read more...]
Actress Jacobson triumphs in ‘Becoming Dr. Ruth’ at the Maltz
Few people are unfamiliar with Ruth Westheimer, the straight-talking grandmotherly sex therapist of radio, television, books and even a sex education board game. Perhaps even fewer, however, are aware of her back story, how this plucky German girl fled from the Nazis to Switzerland, eventually emigrating to America by way of Palestine and then becoming an unlikely media … [Read more...]
At the Maltz: ‘Becoming Dr. Ruth’ tells remarkable story of woman behind the frank talk
Most people are familiar with Ruth Westheimer, but few know her backstory — her roots as a German child who fled her homeland to Switzerland as the Nazis were gaining power. After World War II, she emigrated to Palestine and took up arms as a sniper for the Haganah, a Zionist paramilitary troupe. Ultimately, she moved again to the United States and became the world-renowned, … [Read more...]
PB Shakespeare Fest offers an admirable, dark-hued ‘Lear’
It is said that if William Shakespeare were alive today, he would probably be writing for a popular medium like television. Perhaps he would be penning tales of power struggles and family conflict on a series such as Succession. Instead, he wrote on those same subjects in King Lear, one of his greatest tragic plays. Now in its 34th season, Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival … [Read more...]
The arts cut fallout: Theater leaders discuss state funding veto
In the wake of the June 12 elimination of all state arts and culture grants in Florida by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Palm Beach ArtsPaper’s Hap Erstein talked to three of the area’s theater leaders for their reaction to the unprecedented cuts. Here is some of what they had to say: Sue Ellen Beryl, managing director, Palm Beach Dramaworks I believe the first thing I saw was a … [Read more...]
‘Mamma Mia!’ is in fine shape at the Kravis
Broadway lately has been plundering the song libraries of pop composer/performers, creating what has become known as jukebox musicals. Of them, none has been as successful — at least commercially — as Mamma Mia!, a celebration of the infectious compositions of the Swedish rock group ABBA. The show arrived on our shores in 2001, soon after 9/11, at a time when audiences … [Read more...]
Broadway Review 2: A gritty revival and a musical like no other
Ahead of this season’s Tony Awards presentation on Sunday, June 16, here are more of my Broadway reviews: * Appropriate — Where would the theater be without dysfunctional families? With his Broadway debut, playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins conjures up an extraordinarily vicious clan in the Lafayettes, who reunite in the dilapidated rural Arkansas home of their recently … [Read more...]
Broadway Review 1: Four new musicals contend in Tony season
Following a very busy April, in which two dozen new shows opened to end the Tony Award-eligible season, a host of new musicals by debuting composers arrived, many of them adaptations of popular novels and their subsequent movie versions. * Water for Elephants — Who wouldn’t want to run away and join the circus, even one so ramshackle and cash-strapped as the … [Read more...]