Recent Reviews
Review: The Little Mermaid, Disney by Georgetown Palace Theatre
by Justin M. West
Published on December 23, 2016
Unfortunate. And nothing was more disappointing and consistently cringeworthy than the wire work. I felt bad for the actors on stage doing their absolute best to overcome a stage effect that was overused, clearly under-practiced, and that should have been done away with entirely.
CTXLT note: Many of the roles in The Little Mermaid are double cast. The photos below are of the actors who appeared at the performance reviewed. I left Georgetown, Texas in a huff about fifteen years ago as a pissed off teenager ready to take on the world, vowing never again to return to that shithole. Clearly I failed, as I found myself coasting into town on fumes this past Tuesday night, irked at the …
Review: The Paisley Sisters' Christmas Special by Roxie Theatre Company
by Kurt Gardner
Published on December 17, 2016
The plot of Christmas Special is rudimentary, the backstage business is rather weak, but the songs are bouncy yet appropriately vanilla with a subversive undercurrent that keeps the satire on track.
The Paisley Sisters’ Christmas Special, written by Steve Silverman, Jim Ansart, Joel Benjamin and Bret Silverman, is a gently humorous sendup of the holiday specials of the past, when color television broadcasts were major events and a single sponsor ran the whole program. Now playing at the Roxie Theatre, the show provides some colorful, holiday-themed fun. The show is set in Manhattan during Christmas 1964. Color broadcasts are just coming into vogue, and networks are …
Review: Constellations, Street Corner Arts
by Michael Meigs
Published on December 12, 2016
Playwright Payne and director Liz Fisher open up Marianne and Roland to one another, and as a result they expose our hearts as well.
I wanted to see it twice. I needed to see it twice. And it's been so much on my mind that last night in my sleep I worked for a long time on the wording for a review, only to have those decisive phrases dissolve when I roused fitfully in the darkness of the small hours. Theatre space is plastic, transformable, and theatre time is elastic. Place your audience before a blank black stage with …
Review: The Santaland Diaries by Classic Theatre of San Antonio
by Kurt Gardner
Published on December 11, 2016
Playwright David Sedaris sketches a wealth of universally familiar characters that John Stillwaggon nimbly brings to life, shifting accents and attitudes in his various portrayals.
If you’re a discerning adult looking for a break from all the saccharine sweetness that comes with the holiday season, go to San Antonio’s Classic Theatre to see The Santaland Diaries. Written by acclaimed humorist David Sedaris, this one-act solo show hilariously and irreverently recounts his experiences working as an elf at Macy’s Herald Square one December. Co-directed by Kelly and Burt Roush, the Classic’s production stars a well-cast John Stillwaggon as Sedaris surrogate Crumpet …
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Review: All Is Calm by Playhouse San Antonio
by Kurt Gardner
Published on December 07, 2016
This affecting musical tribute to the soldiers of World War I provides a welcome message of peace just in time for the holidays.
Following one of the most divisive elections in American history, it’s highly appropriate for the Playhouse San Antonio to offer a superb production of All is Calm: the Christmas Truce of 1914 to spread a much-needed message of peace. The Great War was raging in December 1914, and no less imposing a figure than Pope Benedict XV pleaded with the German, French, and British governments to cease fire at least for Christmas Day, but his …
Review: A Christmas Carol: A Rockin' Musical by Zach Theatre
by Michael Meigs
Published on December 05, 2016
Director Steakley serves up a production with more elegant delights than a mail-order fruitcake from Neiman Marcus.
That glossy Zach Theatre program produced by PAPI is emblazoned with a leapin' rock 'n' roll picture and the bright legend LET'S PARTY! It reflects precisely director Dave Steakley's creative aim with this third iteration of A Christmas Carol. It no longer carries the explanatory gloss A Rockin' Musical, but that's exactly what it is -- more than two hours of lively entertainment, offering covers of pop music and swift-moving stage choreography to amplify the …