Tall Tales of the Unnatural Frontier
Charming vignettes in the weird and wacky West. The Annex theatre has so little street presence, you could be forgiven […]
Ham for the Holidays
Ham in Several Courses
Dos Fallopia is back at ACT for this year’s holiday comedy act Ham for the Holidays: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Ham? And ham it up they do: this show is packed with over-the-top comedy, from laugh track over nuns, to inter-act videos of yodeling chicken impersonators, to a finale called “How the Bitch Stole Christmas.”
Emma by Jane Austen
“I am going to make a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.”
Said Jane Austen about Emma, the heroine and namesake, of her last novel to be published in her life-time. Opening this weekend, Book-It Repertory Theatre, produced a narrative theatre version of Emma, whose audience expressed their amusement so vociferously Jane Austen might have thought it vulgar.
It’s a Wonderful Life-Solo Performance
America’s Equivalent to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Although there have been adaptations in several media of Frank Capra’s classic film It’s a Wonderful Life, ArtsWest’s seems to be the only solo performance adaptation. One actor played the hero, George Bailey, as well as all the other parts, including the guardian angel who tries to prevent him from committing suicide when his there is a business crisis.
Christmastown: A Holiday Noir Tradition?
Bedraggled private eye Nick Holiday (John Ulman) stands watching the Christmas shopping rush when Holly Wonderland (Pilar O’Connell) the seductive daughter of the CEO of the E B Wonderland department store empire, enters his office with a possible job. She has photographs she needs check out, but very soon Holiday has a more urgent question—
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
Holiday of Errors
In these dark times, a comedy riff on Shakespeare and Dickens seemed like just the thing to raise my spirits.
A Christmas Carol-Live Radio Play
One of the hidden secrets in Seattle is West Seattle itself; a lower density, less frenetic community with less traffic, and its own little hidden secret: Kenyon Hall. Built in 1916, it has a very old-fashioned small town feel to it, so it was a perfect setting for the 12th Night Production of A Christmas Carol-A Live Radio Production, which opened on Friday night, Dec. 4th.
Much Delight for the Holidays in She Loves Me
Well, well, well, well, well …
Everything about the production of She Loves Me by the Seattle Musical Theatre at Magnuson Park sings “fun.” Originally produces on Broadway by Harold Prince, Joe Masteroff penned the book, and Seldon Harnick and Jerry Bock provided the music (their next play was Fiddler on the Roof).
Director Alan Wilkie has honed all of the considerable talents of the cast and crew to a sharp edge.
Treat your Family to This Christmas at Taproot
The opening funny scene is a harried waitress (Elise) calling to get cake inscription instructions correct. There’s a strong chance the inscription may read “Congratulations New Dog” which is not what Leah intended. The word she wanted did start with “d” as in “Dad.”
Then there’s Mark’s mother Helen who swoops back into their apartment claiming the flights out of Seatac were cancelled, a next door neighbor Patrick who hadn’t really introduced himself
Come From Away Soars at the Rep
The Seattle Rep’s premiere of Come From Away could not have been timelier. The tragic events on the streets of Paris occurred only days earlier. The moment seemed to echo another era when western Europe grappled with darkness, of which Dickens noted “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” The play explores how immense tragedy somehow, someway brings out the best in humanity. To say that Come From Away is inspirational is greatly underselling the show. The work provides one of the most uplifting theatrical experiences imaginable.