This review aired on KBAQ January 30, 2012

HISTORIC EVENT DOESN’T WORK AS PLAY IN “DREYFUS IN REHEARSAL”

“DREYFUS IN REHEARSAL”
Arizona Jewish Theatre Company, John Paul Theatre, Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ

There’s a fascinating historical story behind “Dreyfus in Rehearsal,” Arizona Jewish Theatre Company’s current production, but playwright Jean-Claude Grumberg and adapter Garson Kanin never link the history effectively with a small Polish theater troupe that is presenting a play about it.  The result is a long, slow, amazingly dry, and lifeless play.

There are some awkward stabs at making the “Dreyfus Affair,” a rigged trial of French-Jewish Army Captain Alfred Dreyfus in the 1890s, … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 23, 2012

THEATER WORKS “DIXIE SWIM CLUB” IS FUNNY AND WELL STAGED

“THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB”
Theater Works
Peoria, AZ

There’s a wonderful surprise for audiences at Theater Works in the funny and beautifully presented “The Dixie Swim Club.”  The Jesse Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jaime Wooten comedy deals with the oft tackled subject of friendship but the comedy is loaded with genuine laughs, the story approaches the familiar subject differently than similar plays, and the staging shines with glowing professionalism.

In it, five longtime women friends meet each August at a North Carolina beach cottage to jab and jibe … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 16, 2012

PHOENIX THEATRE’S “THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES” FUN & ENTERTAINING

“THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES”
Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

There’s a fun 1958 Senior Prom at Phoenix Theatre in the entertaining “The Marvelous Wonderettes.”  The musical tells about a quartet of female high school singers who entertain at the prom by presenting popular musical numbers from that year.  By the second act, 10 years have passed and the girls are now housewives, mothers, and career earners who gather at a high school reunion and pick up where the group left off as they sing new hit songs.

There’s some story as the … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 12, 2012

STELLAR “SOUTH PACIFIC” AT ASU GAMMAGE

“SOUTH PACIFIC”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

Is there anything better in theater than a stellar production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1949 musical hit “South Pacific”?  That’s exactly what you’ll see at ASU Gammage where the captivating tour artfully recreates the 2008 Tony Award winning Lincoln Center Theater revival.

Everything about the Broadway staging was perfect from an impeccable cast, to the faithfully restored now-standard cuts, to the richness of Richard Rodgers score.  The production was staged magnificently by Bartlett Sher.  The tour captures that revival’s sheen with … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 9, 2012

CHARMING ATC “DADDY LONG LEGS” IS GENUINELY ROMANTIC

“DADDY LONG LEGS”
Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

“Daddy Long Legs” is a charming, refreshingly honest, genuinely romantic little musical that’s making its local premiere at the Herberger Theater Center in a lovely and touching Arizona Theatre Company production.  If a simple musical about a slowly evolving romance warms you, “Daddy Long Legs” is for you.

In it, orphan Jerusha Abbot is singled out for her outstanding educational accomplishments by wealthy Jervis Pendleton who decides to pay for Jerusha’s college with no strings except that … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ January 2, 2012

ACTORS THEATRE’S “HUNTER GATHERERS” HYSTERICALLY BIZARRE

“HUNTER GATHERERS”
Actors Theatre, Stage West, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

“Hunter Gatherers,” Actors Theatre’s hysterically bizarre new production, explodes all over the stage as its wacky, far-fetched hilarity keeps audiences in stitches.  In Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s play two seemingly civilized and sophisticated couples get together for an annual joint anniversary celebration.  But when these couples join, their animalistic proclivities dominate and they do offensive things with each other.

The playwright suggests everyone stoops regularly to these basic desires and they complicate our lives.  The play dramatizes but Nachtrieb writes funny and … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ December 19, 2011

“SISTER’S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM” NOT REALLY THEATER JUST STAND-UP COMEDY

“SISTER’S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM: THE MYSTERY OF THE MAGI’S GOLD”
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Scottsdale, AZ

Patti Hannon has Sister, the portly, sharp-witted Catholic nun teacher down to a science.  She’s played the part in several variations of the one-woman show at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts since 2000.  Before Scottsdale, Hannon played it in Boston, Chicago, and New York.  The current version, “Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold,” is a revival of the popular holiday show that’s played many times before.

“Sister’s” … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ December 12, 2011

“NUTCRACKER” IS OUTSTANDING; “A CHRISTMAS STORY” IS NOT

Today, I’m reviewing two holiday shows, one new and one celebrating its 26th anniversary.  Phoenix Theatre is mounting a stage version of the popular 1983 film, “A Christmas Story,” and Ballet Arizona is presenting its annual “The Nutcracker.”   “The Nutcracker” is the Valley’s best holiday show and let’s hope “A Christmas Story” doesn’t become an annual Phoenix Theatre holiday tradition.

“THE NUTCRACKER”
Ballet Arizona, Symphony Hall
Phoenix, AZ

If you want spectacle, grandeur, beauty, and gorgeous music with your holiday entertainment, you can’t go wrong with “The Nutcracker.”  The production’s … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ December 8, 2011

STAGE “WHITE CHRISTMAS“ MISSES FILM STARS DYNAMIC PERSONALITIES

“IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS”
ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

The 1954 movie musical “White Christmas” is a holiday tradition at my house.  Every Christmas Eve, the DVD starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen is the finishing touch to a festive celebration.  Irving Berlin penned the title tune in 1942 at the Arizona Biltmore.  The stage version, now at ASU Gammage through Sunday, was born in 2008 but, like the film, is only viable during the holidays.

On stage, it’s a big, splashy, and colorful extravaganza with elaborately choreographed … Continue Reading

This review was modified December 9, 2011 due to objections to my use of a specific word.  I appreciate the fact that this word usage and the way it was interpreted by many listeners and readers was pointed out to me.  I have learned from this situation and, of course, will not use the word again.

Chris Curcio

This review aired in a different version from the modified review below on KBAQ December 5, 2011

WACKY, IRREVERENT “MILK, MILK LEMONADE” SAYS IT’S OK TO BE GAY

“MILK, MILK LEMONADE”
Stray Cat Theatre, Tempe Performing Arts Center
Tempe, AZ

“Milk, Milk Lemonade,” Stray Cat Theatre’s latest, is a wacky, irreverent view of … Continue Reading