Matthew Alvin Brown first played the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2002, and he’s appearing again as the bewigged belter under the auspices of Oklahoma City Theatre Company at Civic Center Music Hall’s Freede Little Theatre. This is the fourth time I’ve seen him in the role. Directed by Christopher Castleberry, […]
Larry Laneer
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Pop pattern
By: Mark Hancock As summer’s dog days wane, the new theater season begins with the much-produced musical Forever Plaid. Stuart Ross’ tribute to guy groups of the early 1960s is such a sweet-natured little show, it would be churlish to knock it, but devotees of edgy, provocative theater should look elsewhere. Forever Plaid is about […]
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Make a wish
Thinking big — and why shouldn’t she? — Kathryn McGill of Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park said she yearns for a comprehensive performing arts center with 60-, 250- and 400-seat theaters and office and rehearsal space. She correctly notes the severe shortage of affordable, available theater space. But OKC already has one of the most […]
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It’s the top
Summerstock Productions is presenting Cole Porter’s 1934 classic, Anything Goes, directed and choreographed by Shannon Hurleigh. It’s a satisfying, if modest, production. If nothing else, this is a welcome chance to see Renee Anderson play Reno Sweeney, “the world’s most sensuous sermonizer.” Anderson has the perfect voice for Porter’s songs, and she delivers them with […]
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Play in the water
Under the sharp direction of Michael Jones, The Tempest is one of Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park’s best presentations of a Bard play in some time. Jones has assembled a top-notch cast, led by Hal Kohlman as Prospero. The second scene is a lengthy exposition in which Prospero tells his daughter Miranda how they came […]
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This is the ‘End’
End Days is a slog to a conclusions that’s hardly worth the effort. In Deborah Zoe Laufer’s play, you have a religious nut, her clinically depressed husband and disaffected daughter, Jesus Christ and Stephen Hawking (the latter two played by Terry Veal in a long wig and biblicalera robe or motorized wheelchair, depending on the […]
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The Bard, with bark
In Verona, young Proteus (Kyle Whalen) follows his friend Valentine (Brad Brockman) to Milan to serve in the duke’s court. In the process, Proteus becomes smitten with the duke’s daughter, Sylvia (Victoria Hines), and forgets his girlfriend, Julia (Suzanne Stanley). Proteus schemes against Valentine, who also loves Sylvia, as well as Thurio (Mason Pain), the […]
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Crazy house
Michael James is Pollard Theatre’s longtime resident costume designer and a capable actor, although he rarely appears onstage. But now, he’s giving a winning encore as Albin in Pollard’s production of La Cage aux Folles. James’ performance is a joy to behold. His sequin-laden costumes look sharp, too. He played Albin when Pollard staged La […]
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Getting attention
Carpenter Square Theatre presents a challenging play in Lisa Loomer’s Distracted, about a family with a child who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Carpenter Square bills the play as a comedy, and although Loomer tells the story with a certain amount of humor, it’s a stretch to call it a comedy. Directed by Rhonda […]
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Collision course
Sometimes all people can do is salvage whatever is left of their lives after a tragedy. That’s the subject of Diane Glancy’s new play, Salvage, now being presented under the direction of Sarah d’Angelo. As it opens, Wolf (Jeremy Tanequodle) comes home to report he’s been in a head-on collision in which a passenger in […]