The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Lakewood Theatre
May 2 - June 8, 2008

Review by Followspot:

An enjoyable evening, but something is missing. Perhaps its the sense of improvisational fun that is hinted at but never quite comes to fruition - this could be so much more fun than it is. Margie Boule and Ryan Duncan are excellent and underused. Tim Smith and Jennifer Miser sing beautifully.

The Wild Party

Live on Stage
May 2 - 31, 2008

Review by Followspot:

Its rare to find a musical where the leads can sing AND act, but Wild Party pulls it off. The unfortunate exception, Clarence Mickens, with his extraordinary voice, can't quite make us forget he can't act. Erin Charles (Queenie) and the best dancing chorus this year are the real stars.

The Long Christmas Ride Home

Theatre Vertigo
April 18 - May 17, 2008

DUELING REVIEW!

Review by peanutduck

Heart, eyes, and ears enraptured, captivated for 85 minutes. Heart: vulnerability of children to parents’ weaknesses and lust, so forever wounded. Eyes: as puppets, children helpless to the hands of the (skilled) puppeteers. Ears: Vogel’s poetry, sweeping rhythms, soft irony, humor, and gentleness. Thank you Vertigo for breaking my heart.

Review by Followspot:

Magnificent puppet work. Fantastic star turn by Gary Norman in the 2nd half. Enthralling story that is, at times, derailed by Vogel's need to make everything about AIDS. Stick with the identity changes (family drama, AIDS play, afterlife fantasy) for a moving, gorgeous piece, and Vertigo's best in recent memory.

Les Miserables

Staged!
March 28 - April 6, 2008

Review by Followspot

Its no exaggeration - this show is magnificent. Not magnificent "for a bunch of kids," just plain magnificent. Spare technical elements allow for focus on tremendous singing and acting talents. If you're not moved, you're not alive. Top five production in Portland so far this year. Oh - not related to cast.

Boxes

Penplay
March 28 - 29, 2008

Review by Followspot:

Opening piece forgettable. "Boxes" itself intriguing, if a bit heavy handed on the message side. The acting, however, is stellar, and the script raises interesting questions. theresa hernandez (full disclosure: occasional Followspot reviewer) is a paragon of androgeny, and proves she is an actress, not just a critic. Worth seeing.

Robin Hood

Christian Youth Theater
March 14 - March 22, 2008

Review by followspot

The best kind of community theatre, emphasizing community. With extra heart. It's not top-notch theatre (and the script is simply atrocious), but those 70 kids are having the time of their lives, and so are the loved ones in the audience. Julia Reidlinger gives a forceful, elegant, almost professional performance.

Honk!

Cleveland High School
March 6 - 16, 2008

Review by Followspot:

Top-notch High School show, better than some recent professional work. Michael Chaffee is perfect as the titular Duck/Swan. Jordan Beck and Joshua Olmsted shine as cat and frog respectively. Excellent ensemble work shows magnificent direction, choreography. Band occasionally drowns out singers. Resolution a bit pat, but hey, it's a musical.

Landscape of the Body

Profile Theatre
March 5- April 6, 2008

Review by Followspot:

What will it take to get directors to stop blocking for proscenium when working in a thrust? Play the angles - the sides count! Alder, Bruno, Herman are fantastic, but the show lags when they are offstage. Props matter - if the body doesn't look like a body, it's not a body.

Why Can't I Marry the Cute Beatle?

Why Can't I Marry the Cute Beatle?

February 29 - March 29, 2008

Review by Followspot

There are two kinds of one-woman shows, but rest assured, this is the good kind. Sharon Knorr doesn't take herself too seriously (until the last ten minutes); makes for a fun night. At turns hilarious and heart-wrenching, you'll feel like you're best friends with this sexy 50-something by the end.

The Light Fingered Five

The Light Fingered Five

February 28 and March 13, 2008

Review by Followspot

Portland is seriously lacking in good short-form improv, and the Light Fingered Five (actually six) try hard to fix that. The effect? Reasonably good. The opening game was painfully riddled with denials. Rest of the first act was funny and original. Stop denying audience suggestions, guys - take what you're given.

Clean House

Artists Repertory Theatre
January 22 - March 2, 2008

DUELING REVIEW

Reviewed by peanutduck:

Ruhl subverts expectations to affect without sentimentalism. Cool, controlled, geometric home of clinical dispassion contrasts well with lush, messily passionate sea-view veranda (though latter placed in neck-cramp-invoking area of theatre). Villazan endearing, if slightly too subdued, in quest for perfect joke. Distractions: production feels dishonest; casting Janke for Brazilian/Argentinean bothersome.

Reviewed by followspot:

Villazan is good in the lead role, but Marilyn Stacy steals the show as the cleaning-obsessed Virginia. Coromel disappointingly unbelievable. Janke fine, but why not cast someone who looks less....American? Creative use of space was a joy. 20 minute intermission after only 40 minutes of theatre seems slighly silly.

Complete History of America (Abridged)

Bag and Baggage
January 30 - February 23, 2008

Review by Followspot:

Starts out funny, but fizzles fast. Desperate to escape throughout second act. Just doesn't have the legs of "Complete Works of Shakespeare." Funny actors working hard, top props to Maggie Chapin for giving it her best. It wasn't enough. Dress warm, they turn off the heat. Why? Guard your beer.

24 Hour Play Festival

Coho Productions
January 5, 2008

Review by Followspot

Always a gamble, this 24 hour play festival turned out top notch. Despite an early misfire by Archie Washington, the evening was a success. Alex Helios got just a bit preachy about anorexia, but Dan Chandler and Valory Lawrence created real plays of quality in less than 24 hours. Kudos.

Some Girl(s)

Northwest Academy
November 29 - December 9

November 29, 2007
Posted by Followspot

Impressive to see a high school tackling this disturbing play. Just when things are bad enough, with LaBute they always get worse. Pace of verbal blood sport at times lags, but overall convincing, off-putting, sharp. If anything, young age of cast accentuates core themes. Liked in-the-round staging. Morbid male desires.

Glengarry Glen Ross

Portland State University
November 8-17, 2007

November 8, 2007
Posted by Followspot

Based on Preview Performance

Thoroughly enjoyable delivery of Mamet’s love letter to real estate salesmen. The on again off again broken glass poetry of rip-off American capitalism is there, though timing and dynamics occasionally falter. Kelly and Fuchs distinguish themselves as the immortal Shelley and Roma. Superb set. And you think your job sucks?

Godspell

Stumptown Stages
November 2 - December 1, 2007

November 11, 2007
Posted by Followspot

Moving, contemporary, top speed. The spare, mostly unamplified approach effectively showcases pure voice and found object instruments, though several solos are too quiet to be heard. Lots to watch as pace moves ever onwards. There is a hunger to know what these characters will do next. Several great old songs.

The Underpants

Portland Center Stage
October 16 - December 9, 2007

November 7, 2007
Posted by Followspot

Not so much over the top as under the bottom. Why, when you could do almost any play, would you choose this one? Kind of like ordering a corn dog at Higgins. Martin’s talent seems more about his own physicality than writing ability. Despite material, Steinkamp and Borrelli shine bright.

Fall of the House

Action Adventure
Through November 10, 2007

November 8, 2007
Posted by Followspot

Based on Episode 4 Only

What popular, local live theatre looks like. Top notch marriage of improv and plot. Way more fun than TV, this living, breathing Portland DIY soap opera has created its own niche out of thin air. The packed, young audience shows that if you build it, they will indeed come. Bravo!

Six Degrees of Separation

Profile Theatre
October 10 - November 11, 2007

October 14, 2007
Posted by Followspot

Erratic direction slows down, confuses Guare’s smash success. Production feels uncertain and tone deaf. None of the three lead characters is convincingly of their world. Many of the actors play the roles we know them for, yet how that fits into THIS particular play is less than clear. Incomplete vision.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Photo: Carrie Farrar

Northwest Classical Theatre Company
September 30, 2007

Into the wild. Of love that is. Fast-paced and compact at two hours, NWCT’s show focuses on the physical action, hot potato turnovers and comedy of the moonlit Athenian woods. Effective use of small space, especially in streaming chase scenes. Play within a play delightfully off. Celebrating the near unseen.