Recent Reviews
Review: Carolyn, or Change by Zach Theatre
by Michael Meigs
Published on September 27, 2008
There is much here to praise, particularly the talent of the singers and the designers of the Zach Theatre production. But try as I might, I’m not happy about witnessing playwright Tony Kushner4's catharsis.
Zack Theatre staff probably know that they have a marketing problem with this production, which runs pretty fiercely against the grain of the happy rock ‘n’ roll that thrums through many productions at the Kleberg stage. The print ad appearing in this morning’s XL supplement to the Austin Statesman is just going to make things worse. Tuck and Ebert’s handsome depiction of Janis Stinson in the title role of Caroline (right) implies an uplifting experience …
Review: Third by Paradox Players
by Michael Meigs
Published on September 22, 2008
I cannot stand the indulgent depiction of academic dishonesty on the part of a professional, no matter how lunatic, and I cannot swallow the fact that Wasserstein makes happy at the end, letting her get away with it.
Thanks to Paradox Players for giving us the opportunity to see this 2005 piece by the late Wendy Wasserstein, acknowledged by the New York Times as “a chronicler of women’s identity crises.” To be honest, I hated it.Not the production, which is a good effort, but the play itself. First let me explain the concept of a “visceral twinge.” When I began work involving lengthy assignments abroad, the single most useful bit of counseling was …
Review: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change by North by Northwest Production Company
by Michael Meigs
Published on September 21, 2008
The show has the bright, derisive flash of New York – it is fun poked by sophisticate singles and the New York artist community at the dilemmas of the love life of bourgeois middle America.
This cheery cabaret production is a strawberry parfait, a delicious concocoction highly appealing to the eye with lots of sugar and self-confident sophistication. The North by Northwest Theatre Company has enlisted four attractive and highly talented actor/singers to create in Austin the first presentation of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, a piece that played for 12 years off Broadway. Its 5000+ performances put the run of this simple musical second only to the …
Review: Marisol by Vestige Group
by Michael Meigs
Published on September 20, 2008
Dark, dark, dark. Think of a melding of Hieronymus Bosch and Salvador Dali. The dark clouds of Apocalypse are fulgent with irony and savage black humor.
Dark, dark, dark. José Rivera’s 1993 piece Marisol, now in production by the Vestige Group at the Off Center, may draw on the Latin American tradition of “magical realism,” but his vision is that of a Puerto Rican author raised in the outer boroughs of New York City. Think of a melding of Hieronymus Bosch and Salvador Dali. The dark clouds of Apocalypse are fulgent with irony and savage black humor. The final image of …
Review: Amadeus by Austin Playhouse
by Michael Meigs
Published on September 20, 2008
Rick Roemer owns the stage in the Austin Playhouse presentation of 'Amadeus.' He shows extraordinary attention, precision and energy throughout his nearly three hours on stage.
Rick Roemer owns the stage in the Austin Playhouse presentation of Amadeus. In his portrayal of composer Antonio Salieri, both as a 73-year-old invalid and as a 40-ish striving court composer, he is onstage during at least 80 percent of the action.Roemer shows extraordinary attention, precision and energy throughout his nearly three hours on stage. He communicates a depth of feeling that is at times hair-raising. He is deeply convincing when the playwright puts into …
Review: Canciones for Generations by Letitia Rodriguez
by Michael Meigs
Published on September 12, 2008
A sly, funny, heart-warming gambit gives her the opportunity to outline her roots, from five generations back, to mock stereotypes (frijoles or brisket? Selma Hayek is: a), b) or c)?) and to sit listening with us as her mother and aunt recall growing up Tejana.
Leticia Rodriguez’s charming one-woman show at the Mexican American Cultural Center is really a one-woman-and-three-musicians-and-a-crowd show. She is onstage throughout, but the magic of multimedia brings us video reminiscences from her family, photos, recorded music, visual jokes and a hectoring quizmaster running a zany bilingual quiz show. The Big Question for the quiz show is “Eres tejana o coco?” Are you a Texan with Mexican roots, or are you a coconut – brown on the …