‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ sweet, not scrumptious
Photo by Jeremy Daniel Willy Wonka (Cody Garcia, far right) shows visitors his chocolate factory. By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — Remember Willy Wonka’s chewing gum? When it assumes a blueberry pie flavor, problems arise. Well, the stage musical version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is also problematic. To...
A shattering ‘Streetcar’ at Palm Beach Dramaworks
Photo by Samantha Mighdoll Stanley Kowalski (Danny Gavigan) pleads with his wife, Stella (Annie Grier) to forgive him in Palm Beach Dramaworks’ stellar production of A Streetcar Named Desire. By AARON KRAUSE WEST PALM BEACH — Brutal reality shatters sensitivity, fragility and illusion with the force of a monster...
This is certain: Actors’ Playhouse’ ‘Doubt’ is a winner
Photo by Alberto Romeu Sister Aloysius (Laura Turnbull) castigates Father Flynn (Terry Hardcastle) in Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre’s production of Doubt: A Parable. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES, Fla. — No doubt, sparks fly quickly and furiously in Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre’s combustible,...
Documentary play about doomed flight is upsetting, yet empowering
Photo by Michael Brosilow Actors portraying crew members of United Flight 232 demonstrate what went wrong with the doomed aircraft. By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — In the deeply unsettling, tragic, yet heartwarming, even life-affirming documentary play United Flight 232, plane crash survivor Clif Marshall speaks about the ordeal...
Island City Stage’s From White Plains packs an emotional punch
Photo by George Wentzler Ethan (Todd Bruno) and John (Alex Alvarez) live it up in Island City Stage’s production of From White Plains. By AARON KRAUSE WILTON MANORS, Fla. — William Faulkner wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” And in a devastatingly honest...
Crossing Delancey is heartwarming at the Levis JCC
PHOTO BY ALAN NASH Izzy (Hannah Marks, far left) clearly doesn’t want to hear what Hannah the matchmaker (Betsy Lichtman, far right) is saying in the Levis JCC Sandler Center Theater production of Crossing Delancey. Pictured between Izzy and Hannah are Sam (Mark Kirschenbaum) and Bubbie (Fern Katz). ...
A darker Oliver! is still tuneful, hopeful, compelling at Goodspeed Opera House
Photo by Diane Sobolewski The Artful Dodger (Gavin Swartz) takes Oliver (Elijah Rayman) under his wing in Goodspeed Musicals’ production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! By AARON KRAUSE EAST HADDAM, Conn. — Goodspeed Musicals’ impressive production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! isn’t shrouded in darkness and dismay. But, make no mistake: This...
GableStage’s ‘White Guy on the Bus’ is a necessary ride
Photo by George Schiavone Ray (Tom Wahl) makes a point to Shatique, who reacts with disgust in GableStage’s production of White Guy on the Bus. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES, Fla. — You might hear yourself talk about race when you listen to Molly, a fictional character in a...
GableStage’s riveting ‘I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard’ is a hit
(Photo by George Schiavone) David (Tom Aulino) seems more interested in his booze than his daughter, Ella, in GableStage’s production of I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard. CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Our desire for affirmation that others value us is sometimes as strong as our hydration needs on...
Powerfully-staged ‘Equus’ at PBD proves terribly timely
(Photo by Samantha Mighdoll) Alan Strang (Steven Maier) has a disturbing obsession with horses in Peter Shaffer’s Equus. WEST PALM BEACH — In the wake of recent school shootings, some undoubtedly and understandably harbor emotions too raw to ponder psychological motivations behind heinous crimes. Yet, theater has a responsibility to...
