In The Spotlight, Inc.

Beethoven & Mozart

2010-03-18T10:07:00.005-04:00

Springfield Symphony OrchestraSymphony Hall, Springfield, MAwww.springfieldsymphony.orgMarch 13, 2010by T.C. LarsenFrom pregnant silence came the rumor of druids, a shimmering, misty pianissimo in the strings - a shadow of silence. The solo trumpet played the "Question" from exile in the Mahogany Room. The commentary of "the fighting answerers," a quartet of flutes stationed in the balcony,

The Four Bitchin' Babes present "Hormonal Imbalance"

2010-03-12T15:32:00.004-05:00

CityStage, Springfield, MAwww.citystage.symphonyhall.comby R.E. Smiththrough March 13, 2010 Continuing what seems to be an unofficial "gender based" show theme at CityStage, "Hormonal Imbalance" provided one of the best evenings of entertainment this season. Despite the title, this show was a perfect "balance" of humor, storytelling and musical craftsmanship. The four

Black Grace Dance Company

2010-03-12T09:30:00.004-05:00

UMass, Amherst, MAwww.fineartscenter.comby Amy MeekMarch 9, 2010 "I am proud to be a Pacific Islander, a Samoan. Equally, I am proud to be a New Zealander, a Kiwi...Despite our struggles, it is in this land and under these Gathering Clouds where I will learn, live and love." These words from choreographer Neil Ieremia are used to describe one of the dances in the program by

The Mikado

2010-03-07T19:45:00.003-05:00

Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield, MAwww.thecolonialtheatre.orgMarch 6, 2010By Karolina Sadowicz One of Gilbert and Sullivan's best loved operettas, "The Mikado," is a comic romp set in feudal Japan. It's the tale of Nanki-Poo (John Farchione), a prince disguised as a minstrel, who hopes to marry Yum-Yum (Lauren-Rose King), the beautiful ward and sometime betrothed of the Lord

A Man For All Seasons

2010-03-01T16:19:00.001-05:00

Majestic Theater, West Springfield, MAwww.majestictheater.comthrough April 3, 2010by Eric Johnson Conscience. Is it great courage or extreme folly to follow one's conscience if it means losing everything? This is the question Robert Bolt poses in this play, and it is one we are left to answer for ourselves. Faced with the same choices, what would we do? A Man for All

Spring Awakening

2010-02-24T13:37:00.004-05:00

The Bushnell, Hartford, CTwww.bushnell.orgthrough February 28, 2010by Bob Smith Ah, youth! The enjoyment of "Spring Awakening" will depend in large part on how well the audience has recovered from its own adolescent angst. Based on a scandalous play written in 1891, this Tony Award winning show illustrates that teenagers have always felt oppressed by the adult world and even

Communicating Doors

2010-02-21T17:24:00.004-05:00

Suffield Players, Suffield, CTwww.suffieldplayers.orgthrough March 6, 2010by Shera Cohen You don�t have to be a �Lost� fan to fully appreciate �Communicating Doors,� but it might help. Britain�s �Neil Simon,� Alan Ayckbourn penned this comic, science fiction, mystery before the cult TV show began. Perhaps �Lost�s� writers saw the play, said �great concept,� and the rest is

Rent

2010-02-17T21:31:00.004-05:00

Opera House Players, Broad Brook, CTwww.operahouseplayers.orgthrough March 7, 2010by Eric Sutter Love conquers all, even in the worst case scenarios of life. This message is the theme that ties the plots of "Rent" together. "Rent" has a lot going for it... a stellar cast of young actors playing energetic characters that truly deliver. It is fast paced and funny and, at times,

Les Liaisons Dangereuses

2010-02-08T19:48:00.006-05:00

Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MAwww.shakespeare.orgthrough March, 21, 2010by Shera Cohen Most of the characters in "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" are evil personified. They are also smart, handsome, sophisticated, highbrow, cunning, vengeful, and, "evil" bears repeating. Christopher Hampton's play, set in 1780s Paris, is created as a game, both visually and verbally. The squares

The Lady With All the Answers

2010-01-30T22:49:00.003-05:00

Hartford TheaterWorks, Hartford, CTwww.theaterworkshartford.orgthrough March 7, 2010by Jarice Hanson Biographical plays are always a challenge to mount when members of the audience have an image of the subject in their minds. David Rambo's The Lady With All the Answers portrays the life of Eppie Lederer, known as Ann Landers, on July 1, 1975 -- the eve of writing a deeply

The Lion King

2010-01-30T22:45:00.002-05:00

The Bushnell, Hartford, CTwww.bushnell.orgthrough February 14, 2010by Shera Cohen While many theatre-lovers have taken sides on the Disneyfication of today's musical theatre - its effects on the medium, audiences, and future audiences - this review takes "The Lion King" strictly at face value. The fact that its Broadway opening earned just about every theatre award given is

Men Fake Foreplay

2010-01-27T16:21:00.004-05:00

Men Fake ForeplayCity Stage, Springfield, MAwww.symphonyhall.comthrough January 31, 2010by R.E. Smith "Men Fake Foreplay" is neither as simple nor as crude as the title might suggest. In fact, this witty, funny and insightful show is actually quite complex. Emmy award winning comedian Mike Dugan is an affable and candid performer who has set out to win our trust with humor

Rachmaninoff & Brahms

2010-01-25T17:20:00.006-05:00

Springfield Symphony Orchestrawww.springfieldsymphony.orgSymphony Hall, Springfieldby Debra Tinkham The house was full, the orchestra was charged and Maestro Keven Rhodes made his usual exuberant entrance for an action packed evening. Gaetano Donizetti's Robert Devereau Overture, premiered in the mid-19th century, displayed deliberate patriotic percussion and theme. Being a

Almost, Maine

2010-01-11T09:28:00.003-05:00

Majestic Theater, West Springfield, MAwww.majestictheater.comthrough February 14, 2010by Shera Cohen"Almost, Maine" is charming, delightful, funny, and sweet. "Almost, Maine" is also poignant, sad, powerful, and harsh. This is a non-existent town located in northern Maine where, on a Friday night, one can see the beauty of the aurora borealis lights, taste moose paddies, and fall in or out of

In the Heights

2010-01-06T16:45:00.005-05:00

The Bushnell, Hartfordwww.bushnell.orgthrough January 10, 2010by Shera Cohen While the title of "In the Heights" refers to New York's Washington Heights neighborhood, this is a musical that's high on life, dreams, challenges, and changes. The story may be universal for all eras, yet this is very much a contemporary show evidenced particularly by the multi-racial cast, songs

Christmas with the Rat Pack�Live at the Sands

2009-12-17T08:21:00.003-05:00

The Bushnell, Hartford, CTwww.bushnell.orgthrough December 20, 2009by R.E. Smith �Christmas with the Rat Pack� reinforces the notion that �they just don�t make �em like that anymore�. The personalities, the songs, even the tuxes all serve to transport the audience to a different time and place. The time is the �60s, the place is Las Vegas, and the performers are Frank

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, et al

2009-12-04T18:08:00.002-05:00

Hartford Symphony OrchestraThe Bushnell, Hartford, CTwww.hartfordsymphony.orgby Terry Larsen When the leader of an ensemble is in complete control it might be said that he had them eating out of his hand. Regarding the Hartford Symphony's concert, it is more fitting to say that the orchestra and guest conductor Andrew Grams were feeding off each other. Each of Grams'

�Mamma Mia!�

2009-12-02T22:38:00.005-05:00

The Bushnell, Hartford, CTwww.bushnell.orgthrough December 6, 2009by Shera CohenWhat can a reviewer write about �Mamma Mia!� the fifth time around? First, this musical is obviously worth seeing over and over again. Second, it�s two hours of sheer joy as nearly everyone in the audience has a constant smile. The smile doesn�t come off for the next two days � just about the same time the humming of

Barber & Tchaikovsky

2009-11-23T09:04:00.005-05:00

Springfield Symphony OrchestraSymphony Hall, SpringfieldSpringfieldSymphony.orgby Debra Tinkham Kick off your shoes, put your feet up and relax for a quick review of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra's 66th season gala performance with Maestro Kevin Rhodes, now in his 9th season, and guest Janet Sung, performing Samuel Barber's violin Concerto Op 14, on a c. 1600 Maggini

Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats

2009-11-15T13:31:00.003-05:00

Mahaiwe Arts Center, Great Barrington, MAwww.mahaiwe.orgby Amy Meek The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats thrilled and delighted the large audience of the beautiful Mahaiwe Arts Center with a show that successfully combined amazing acrobatic feats with both colorful spectacle and humor. The troupe, which was comprised of young performers who displayed immense skill and agility,

Schumann & Brahms

2009-11-14T22:38:00.007-05:00

Hartford Symphony & Hartford ChoraleThe Bushnell, Hartford, CTwww.hartfordsymphony.orgby Terry Larsen So many love choirs, orchestras, and the great musical works that feed them, with the monumental �Ein Deutches� Requiem being one of the most cherished. The instruments and vocals all meet with the other necessary element of the ritual sharing of sonorous beauty -- the

Til Death Do Us Part/Late Night Catechism 3

2009-11-12T22:22:00.015-05:00

CityStage, Springfield, MAwww.symphonyhall.comthrough November 15, 2009by K.J. RogowskiCityStage's "Late Night Catechism 3" confirms what most audience members already know: nuns are really funny people. This one woman show featuring Kimberly Richards as everyone's archetypal nun, has the theatregoers participating and laughing out loud from the moment she steps on to the stage and brings the

Mistakes Were Made

2009-11-10T09:21:00.006-05:00

Hartford Stage, Hartfordwww.hartfordstage.orgthrough November 22, 2009by Shera Cohen Hartford Stage has a deserved excellent and long-running reputation of presenting quality productions - in all areas including costumes, special effects, sets, acting, and direction. First and foremost, however, is play selection. Certainly, no one anticipates that every audience member will

Piecemeal - The Frankenstein Musical

2009-11-01T22:16:00.003-05:00

Majestic Theater, West Spingfield, MAwww.majestictheater.comthrough December 6, 2009by Shera Cohen "Piecemeal" has taken a known entity - the story of Frankenstein - and created a humorous, loveable, musical prequel. The Majestic presents local playwright Howard Odentz's version of how Dr. F., Igor, the Monster, et al came to be. Not only did Odentz write the play, he

Dan Zanes and Friends

2009-10-26T08:36:00.004-04:00

Fine Arts Center, Amherst, MAwww.umass.edu/fac/by Eric Sutter Dan Zanes and Friends brought their rollicking rollercoaster of musical fun into the Fine Arts Center for the entertainment of area families. Zanes is a multi-instrumentalist who fronted the 80's rock band the Del Fuegos. The new century has brought him into the children's music market where he has found success