Had I known Ferndale Repertory Theatre’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood is a complete “huzzah” and “tally-ho” audience-inclusive affair, I’d have rethought my regular theater attire in favor of Renaissance fair garb. Though the show doesn’t take it to the extremity of a Rocky Horror Show cult, this production pleasantly invites the audience to […]
Tiggerbouncer Custodio
Posted inFront Row
‘Bat Boy’s’ Bloody, Messy Fun
Let there be blood. Not blood represented in scarlet scarves pulled from a jugular like a macabre magic trick, but thick and tacky liquid lifeforce spilled across the stage splattering the audience with its faint metallic scent. Bat Boy: The Musical can be the production to do it. Perhaps it even should be that production. […]
Posted inFront Row
‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’ Live Again
Classes consistently bludgeon young directors to simply tell the story of theater works — stick to themes, find rhythms, push characters’ objectives and explore consequences. Then you’re given a work like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, forcing you to question or challenge those teachings. After all, theater, like life, doesn’t come with rule books […]
Posted inFront Row
No Vonnegut, No Glory
Humboldt Light Opera Co.’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater It’s a rotten state in America. Obscene wealth, unyielding poverty, war, alternative altruism, repressed freedom — this being post-World War II in a 1979 musical based on a 1965 novel by Kurt Vonnegut. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, presented by Humboldt Light Opera Co., may seem […]
Posted inFront Row
The Wizard of Oz Leads with Its Heart
The excitement for this beloved show coupled with the inspiration that wide-eyed children get when they see their peers on stage is already well worth the ticket price to Ferndale Repertory Theatre’s newest production of The Wizard of Oz. As more families swoop up the already scarce tickets, this is one of those shows that sparks the imagination of a new generation of superstars that we will be awed by in future productions. Where the […]
Posted inFront Row
A Christmas Carol Sings in the Season
Devised theater is (or should be) an exciting and fun process. It is the process of collaboratively creating new work through improvisation and exploration. The final product can be inspiring, whimsical and impactful when executed perfectly, or messy, unfinished and forced as productions balance creating a cohesive ensemble and an innovative piece simultaneously. Further, predicting the impact on the audience can be challenging as some elements that the collaboration loves in rehearsal could be lost in its transference to the stage. Luckily, North Coast Repertory Theatre’s newest offering of the devised A […]
Posted inFront Row
Rocky Horror’s New Thrust
The Rocky Horror Show is an iconic cult classic that manages to bend theater norms and create a pearl-clutching experience for staunch and pedigreed theaterists with the level of debauchery its script unabashedly offers. In its 50th year, productions of this scrappy “don’t like it? don’t care” musical often try to mimic the movie in visuals, concepts and characterizations with varying degrees of success. Not being a fan of cookie-cutter theater, nor lazy recycled […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Love’s the Best Doctor on the Mend at Dell’Arte
If Dell’Arte’s newest offering feels dated, it’s because it is. Love’s the Best Doctor is adapted from French playwright Moliere’s l’Amour Medicin from the 1600s. Michael Fields’ rework adds an onslaught of tech and social media observations, cute musical numbers and unapologetic explication of our healthcare system in the brash ruckus and masked chaos that Dell’Arte excels […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Urinetown is Absurdly Fun
Urinetown is a silly, overacted, melodramatic, musical political satire that is pure excessive hilarity. The talented cast of North Coast Repertory Theatre’s incarnation of the show understands the assignment and creates an entirely entertaining evening of must-see theater. The surface of this production is stupid, stereotypical theater complete with puns, gags, terrible writing and an onslaught of […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Steel Magnolias Blooms in Ferndale
It’s a bold choice to present a piece of theater as beloved and acclaimed as Steel Magnolias. For people of a certain (cough) maturity, the movie is a go-to experience for anyone needing a deep laugh, a cathartic cry and brilliant writing. It’s hard to separate the cinematic masterpiece from the stage play, and the iconic actors […]
Posted inArts + Scene
A Gentleman’s Guide Kills Again
I think many directors salivate at the idea of reworking their theater pieces despite knowing it is a double-edged sword. As a production runs, actors’ discoveries, relationships and the merging of tech solidifies, creating a slew of nuance that can be explored and expanded. However, that evolution could result in the production feeling overworked to […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Mystery and Mirth
The Game’s Afoot If local theater awards existed, North Coast Repertory Theatre’s last production of the season, The Game’s Afoot, would be nominated for several coveted (and imagined) Woody awards. With ugly Christmas sweaters, oversized magnifying glasses and half-in-the-bag smiles smattering the audience, the production is lively, spirited and fun. Despite my having one of […]