Theatre Reviews |

Folger Theatre opens the 2019/20 season with Henry IV, Part 1

Rosa Joshi delivers an electric 1 Henry IV

September 9, 2019 Jaya Ghosh Theatre, Theatre Reviews

Henry IV’s reign isn’t going as planned. Instead of building his empire, his armies are focused on extinguishing rebellions led by those around him.

But 1 Henry IV isn’t really about its titular character. Instead young Prince Hal (future Henry V), his rotund sidekick Sir John Falstaff, and their adversary, Hotspur, dominate the action, literally and figuratively, in one of Shakespeare’s most popular histories.

Steven Levenson’s Dear Evan Hansen at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater thru Sept 8

Dear Evan Hansen Finds Us in DC

August 10, 2019 Jaya Ghosh Theatre, Theatre Reviews

Ben Levi Ross as 'Evan Hansen' and the Company of the First North American Tour of Dear Evan Hansen. Photo by Matthew Murphy. 2018

Dear Evan Hansen is the story of the individual struggles we hide under the facade of our public images.

Evan Hansen finds himself propelled to fame as a lie that he was best friends with Connor Murphy, a troubled student that committed suicide, spirals out of control. The heartbreaking part is that we can’t even fault Evan for his lie, he just wants to belong and has struggled for so much of his life to do so.

Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Free For All Production of Hamlet at Sidney Harman Hall

Accessible Arts: Bringing a Wily Hamlet to the People

July 17, 2019 Jaya Ghosh Theatre, Theatre Reviews

Photo of Keith Baxter as Ghost and Michael Urie as Hamlet in Hamlet by Scott Suchman.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) returns for its 29th season of Free For All, with a classic tragedy, Hamlet. Each summer, with the support of community sponsors, the STC is able to present two weeks of ABSOLUTELY FREE exemplary Shakespeare.

Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of The Oresteia at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall

The Oresteia: Michael Kahn’s Swan Song

May 10, 2019 Jaya Ghosh Theatre, Theatre Reviews

Orestes dispenses justice. Photo of the cast of The Oresteia by Scott Suchman.

The Oresteia shows us that the trials and tribulations faced by the ancient Greeks still maintain relevance to our moral and political dilemmas today, and that much can still be learned from these historic texts.

In addition to being Michael Kahn’s piece de resistance after an accomplished 33 year career with the Shakespeare Theatre Company, this performance is the world premier of Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of The Oresteia, three Greek tragedies by Aeschylus. Aeschylus’ Oresteia include Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides, and tell the story of the ill-fated House of Atreus following the Trojan War.

Theatre Review: Shakespeare's Love’s Labor’s Lost at the Folger Theater

Love’s Labor’s Lost: What would you do for love?

May 8, 2019 Jaya Ghosh Theatre, Theatre Reviews

The King of Navarre (Joshua David Robinson, top) proclaims his court as a place of scholarly pursuit to his companions (Zachary Fine, Jack Schmitt, Matt Dallal) in Folger Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s comedy Love’s Labor’s Lost. On stage April 30 – June 9, 2019. Photo by Brittany Diliberto.

Love’s Labor’s Lost is is a hilarious and raucous romantic comedy of errors, deception, and wit.

It’s the tale of the King of Navarre and his fellow scholars who have taken a vow to distance themselves from women and other bodily pleasures for three years during their course of study. This vow is immediately put to the test when the Princess of France arrives at the academy with her very female entourage.

Revue: STOMP 25th Anniversary Tour at the National Theatre

Yes, you can make music with that.

April 25, 2019 Jaya Ghosh Theatre, Theatre Reviews

STOMP. Created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas. © Steve McNicholas

STOMP, a New York and London-based percussive dance troupe, uses everyday objects, literally including the kitchen sink, to create harmony, melody, and comedy. The bangs of broomsticks, swishes of sand, and clangs of cans are transformed into complex syncopated rhythms that rival full symphony orchestras. The beats ranged from so loud that you could feel them in your chest to subtle clicks of lighters that had the audience holding their breath.

Review of American Girl Live at The Music Center of Strathmore

Dolls Come to Life to Empower Girls

March 6, 2019 Alisha Thomas Theatre, Theatre Reviews

Second only to Barbie, American Girl dolls enchant girls, parents, and grandparents with Broadway-esque live stage show at The Music Center at Strathmore.

One way to get a young audience out on a cold rainy night is to highlight an 18-inch doll and book series and bring it to life through music, song, and dance. The American Girl Live tour produced by Mills Entertainment and Mattel, Inc. came to the Strathmore Music Center in North Bethesda, Maryland, this past weekend for two shows.

Theatre Revue: Rock of Ages Tenth Anniversary Tour at the Hippodrome Theatre

Hippodrome Rocks Out 80’s Style with Rock of Ages

February 18, 2019 Denise A. Theatre, Theatre Reviews

The Tenth Anniversary Tour of Rock of Ages, brought the Hippodrome to it’s feet! For those of you who have never seen “Rock of Ages” the stage show, this is not the same premise as the movie of the same name. Yes, a lot is the same, but there are vast differences. Characters and plot lines, but who really cares about that when you’re rocking out to killer 80’s tunes!? This show is fun from beginning to end. It’s rocktastic!

Jessica Swale's Nell Gwynn at the Folger Shakespeare Library

Nell Gwynn: Breaking Glass Ceilings at a Time when Theaters Didn’t Have Ceilings

February 10, 2019 Jaya Ghosh Theatre, Theatre Reviews

“They’ve put a woman on the stage!” Nell Gwynn (Alison Luff) becomes a stage sensation in England. (Also pictured l to r: Catherine Flye, Quinn Franzen, Christopher Dinolfo, Kevin Collins.) Photo by Brittany Diliberto.

Nell Gwynn is the tale of one of the first female actresses in Shakespearean times, and her journey from orange seller, to actress, to mistress of King Charles II, and back to the theater. It’s a lighthearted, feel good performance, that’ll have you laughing out loud while celebrating the eponymous heroine.

Theatre Revue: School of Rock at the National Theatre

School of Rock is Worth Staying Up Past Your Bedtime

January 19, 2019 Jaya Ghosh Theatre, Theatre Reviews

I started School of Rock wondering if they could turn down the volume, and perhaps if I’m a bit too old for this rock and roll (get off my lawn!). But by the end of the show, I was in the audience at the Battle of the Bands, yelling for an encore and whooping after the solo riffs – all on a school night.