Review: TEMPERED: A CABARET at 4615 Theatre CompanyAugust 1, 2022'tempered' isn’t going to cure or remove your rage – it will still be there. But there’s something freeing about leaning into it, about sharing it through music and poetry, that makes carrying it much more bearable.
Review: THE GATE at Capital Fringe - W. Washington TheatreJuly 22, 2022With a thoughtful, open message and strong technical elements, 'The Gate' is a nuanced and beautiful examination not just of the conflict in the Middle East, but also at how people relate to one another in big and small ways.
Review: SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE at The Keegan TheatreJune 21, 2022'Shakespeare in Love' may appeal to fans of the movie, but its convoluted plot and awkward presentation make this production one that is unlikely to earn new admirers. It can make for a fun night out, but isn’t a production I’d actively recommend prioritizing over others.
BWW Review: CARMEN at The Kennedy CenterMay 24, 2022While this production of 'Carmen' is very traditional on its face, the thoughtfulness and sheer talent packed into this performance elevates it to something far more engaging, and absolutely enchanting. It’s more than worthy of audiences’ time, and hopefully WNO’s fresh interpretation will help audiences reconsider the true tragedy presented.
BWW Review: THE UPSTAIRS DEPARTMENT at Signature TheatreMay 6, 2022While ostensibly about grief and how we see the world, 'The Upstairs Department' is really more about the central sibling relationship, about how two people can drift apart and find their way back to each other along their journeys to better understand themselves.
BWW Review: WE DECLARE YOU A TERRORIST. . . at Round House TheatreApril 22, 2022There’s certainly something timely about 'We declare you a terrorist. . .' premiering now, as Russia, once again under Putin’s control, lays siege on neighboring Ukraine, but Lord’s script also makes it clear that the show’s relevance goes far beyond the current war.
BWW Review: NATHAN THE WISE at Theater J / Folger TheatreMarch 24, 2022'Nathan the Wise' handily lives up to the reputation of the two powerhouse theaters behind it. With a beautiful message, a solid cast and creative team, and a spirited atmosphere, 'Nathan the Wise' is one of those productions you want to cheer during the curtain call, then immediately go back and watch it again.
BWW Review: THE PHLEBOTOMIST at 1st StageFebruary 23, 2022'The Phlebotomist' is a fascinating look into how the world could be in the not-too-distant future, and it raises all the questions good science fiction can. 1st Stage’s production does the complex tale justice, and ensures that people will continue to ruminate on these topics for a long time – as we all should.
BWW Review: LA CASA DE LA LAGUNA at GALA Hispanic TheatreFebruary 9, 2022'La Casa de la Laguna' is a fascinating and thoughtful play, and carefully balances delicate conversations about statehood and independence, race, colonialism, and socio-economic status, and gender. The result is a deeply political and nuanced production that touches on issues that are as relevant today as they were in the mid-twentieth century.
BWW Review: COMPULSION OR THE HOUSE BEHIND at Theater JFebruary 3, 2022'Compulsion or the House Behind' is a good show, with a strong creative team and an immensely talented cast, but it’s also a flawed one. With pacing issues and a shyness about fully facing the questions it raises, it’s often a frustrating production. But it’s a thought-provoking one for that same reason.
BWW Review: WHITE NOISE at Studio TheatreJanuary 25, 2022'White Noise' is the kind of theater that everyone hopes to experience – it grips each member of the cast and audience a bit differently, but no less fully. 'White Noise' isn’t a safe production, but it’s one that’s truly moving because of that. It’s a powerful experience, and absolutely one worth having.
BWW Review: FLIGHT at Studio TheatreDecember 21, 2021'Flight' is an experience that will stay with viewers, as it should. It's an especially poignant production in the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, though it's also a reminder that stories like Aryan and Kabir's existed long before, and will continue to exist long after the political and military dust have settled. But Studio's production is a beautiful, clever presentation of a heart wrenching story, and perfectly captures the love, hope, and loss that drives refugees - and all of us.
BWW Review: TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE at Theater JNovember 16, 2021Theater J’s 'Tuesdays with Morrie' is a touching, emotional exploration of human connection. It’s an intimate portrait of a beautiful relationship between a man and his mentor in the face of tragic circumstances, but it’s also a greater insight into how we all relate to each other and ourselves.