‘Water by the Spoonful’ is richly symbolic, moving
Photo by Ryan Arnst The title ‘Water by the Spoonful’ is symbolic in the play. In the above photo, Arlette del Toro, as Haikumom, appears in a scene from the play. By AARON KRAUSE If you are trying to escape from a stressful past or painful situation, taking small,...
MNM’s ‘Guys and Dolls’ is a mixed bag
Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Miss Adelaide (Leah Sessa) wishes her fiance, Nathan Detroit (Larry Buzzeo, right) would marry her in MNM Theatre Company’s production of “Guys and Dolls.” By AARON KRAUSE Accurately depicting Damon Runyon’s fantasy world of colorful characters can prove a tough task. In particular, a director...
Island City Stage demonstrates boldness by producing ‘Suddenly Last Summer’
Photo by Matthew Tippins An overwhelmed Catharine (Jeanine Gangloff Levy) rests her head against Dr. Cukrowicz’s chest (Jonathan Furedy) during a scene from Island City’s Stage’s production of Suddenly Last Summer. By AARON KRAUSE A grieving mother fights to keep her late son’s reputation blemish-free. Family members argue over...
‘The Duration’ delivers in its world debut at Palm Beach Dramaworks
Photo by Alicia Donelan Audrey Batten (Elizabeth Dimon) and Audrey’s daughter, Emma (Caitlin Duffy) appear in a tense scene from Bruce Graham’s new comedy-drama, The Duration. By AARON KRAUSE The ancient Greek playwright, Aeschylus, said: “There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief.”...
The Wick’s ‘Gypsy’ is a gem
Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Mama Rose (Laura Hodos, right) has big aspirations for her daughter, Louise ( Melissa Whitworth). By AARON KRAUSE Mama Rose, from Gypsy, is an abusive parent. True, she might not get physical with her daughters. However, chances are that the words this mother of all...
New play reveals the ‘Real Cuba’
Photo by Tony Tur Cast members appear in a scene from the world premiere production of GringoLandia. By AARON KRAUSE If you talk to Miami native and Cuban-American playwright Hannah Benitez about Cuba today, she might quote a saying. It goes something like this: “If you visited...
Approaching Anne Frank from another angle
Photo by Tim Stepien Amy Miller Brennan plays Miep Gies in the world premiere production of Michael McKeever’s play, The People Downstairs. By AARON KRAUSE Whenever Palm Beach Dramaworks (PBD) Producing Artistic Director William Hayes read or watched Anne Frank’s story play out on stage or screen, he wondered...
New City Players’ ‘Lungs’ is eye-opening
Photo by Ryan Arnst Marlo Rodriguez and Denzel McCausland appear in one of the more upbeat scenes in Lungs By AARON KRAUSE In Duncan Macmillan’s devastating drama, Lungs, a woman and her lover’s decision to have a kid could come with dire consequences. Let her explain. “I could fly...
GableStage’s ‘The Price’ is first rate
Photo by George Schiavone Victor Franz (Gregg Weiner, seated), Esther Franz (Patti Gardner), and Walter Franz (Michael McKenzie) appear in a tense scene from GableStage’s production of The Price, by Arthur Miller. By AARON KRAUSE These days, witnessing a theater company staging a live, in-person production with as...
An invigorating Mamma Mia! at The Wick
Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Donna Sheridan (Jodie Langel, center) clowns around with her friends, Tanya (Aaron Bower, left) and Rosie (Britte Steele) in The Wick Theatre’s energetic production of Mamma Mia! By AARON KRAUSE When Mamma Mia! opened on Broadway in October 2001, the entire country was hurting. A...
