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...]
Strong lead performances make ‘Oliver!’ a solid Maltz closer
In the early 1960s, long before Andrew Lloyd Webber and others sent a steady stream of mega-musicals from Britain to Broadway, a London songwriter named Lionel Bart scored a big hit on both sides of the pond with Oliver! Based, of course, on Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist, Bart erased much of its crusading social message in favor of bouncy tunes and adorable … [Read more...]
‘Overactive Letdown’ a harrowing look at postpartum mental anguish
Although it seems unlikely that playwright Gina Montet had this in mind with her new play, Overactive Letdown, anyone who sees her exploration of post-partum psychosis would then be loath to have a baby. After all, Christine and Mark are a smart, well-educated, caring couple, excited about their imminent parenthood and yet ill-equipped to cope with its demands. For while … [Read more...]
FAU Theatre Lab takes on dark side of childbirth in ‘Overactive Letdown’
The birth and care of a newborn baby is usually depicted in plays and movies as a blessed event. But Miami-based playwright Gina Montet knows that is not always the case. So, after researching the subject and having children of her own, she wrote Overactive Letdown, a look at the dark side of childbirth. An audience favorite at the 2020 New Play Festival of Florida Atlantic … [Read more...]
Kultur Fest’s ‘My Fair Lady’ proves delightful
By Dale King When the Florida Atlantic University Libraries and the Jewish Cultural Society join forces to put together their annual Kultur Festival, they always come up with a fascinating sample of musical theater to kick off the event on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. The co-sponsors’ selection of My Fair Lady to open this year’s 10th annual celebration of Jewish music and … [Read more...]
‘Tarzan’ not worth Slow Burn’s effort
When a theater company’s mission is to explore underappreciated Broadway musicals, it is probably inevitable that at some point it would select a show without any previously unrealized assets. For Slow Burn Theatre Company, that time is now and the show is Tarzan, the Musical. Give director-choreographer Patrick Fitzwater credit for investing such resources and energy into … [Read more...]
MNM mounts respectable ‘Company’ at Rinker
That sound you hear is the third shoe dropping in a surprisingly Stephen Sondheim-rich summer in South Florida. Following FAU Festival Rep’s Into the Woods and Palm Beach Dramawork’s current steampunk Sweeney Todd comes MNM Productions with the master of ambivalence’s take on marriage, 1970’s Company. In addition to launching an extremely fertile decade for composer-lyricist … [Read more...]