It was a very wet and dark drive out to Williamsburg to see the opening night performance of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. After attending the opening show of the season for Williamsburg Players, I liked the idea of being able to bookend the season. My daughter who is a Sondheim enthusiast was excited to have another date night with me. We usually enjoy … [Read more...]
Review: You Can’t Take it With You at Williamsburg Players
My familiarity with You Can’t Take it With You was the 1938 film version starring Jean Arthur and Jimmy Stewart. The film version won two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director out of seven nominations. Likewise, the play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart won the 1937 Pulizer Prize for Drama. Photo credit to MJ Devaney I was quite young when I … [Read more...]
Williamsburg Players Theater Review: Enchanted April
Normally when I go see a play or musical, I have some level of expectation of what I’m going to see. My latest outing found me in my old stomping grounds, The Williamsburg Players Theater. I had very little familiarity with Enchanted April at the time. I knew it had played on Broadway, and I also knew it was a feature film back in the early 90s. Beyond that, the subject … [Read more...]
A Review of Shakespeare in Love – Williamsburg Players
It isn’t often that a stage production is an adaptation from a movie, but that happens to be the case with Shakespeare in Love. It is a story that flirts with history in an attempt to provide an insight into how Shakespeare may have found inspirations in his daily life to become the acclaimed author we know today. … [Read more...]
Local Review: “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” at Williamsburg Players
Happiness is fun and friendship. Those are the themes of this retro musical comedy. We all know the story of Charlie Brown, and with the world today, taking a trip down memory lane is a welcomed treat. … [Read more...]
What’s Happening in Local Theatre Right Now
Shakespeare said it best that “all the world’s a stage," and I couldn’t agree more. So read on to see what’s happening on a stage near you, in this little world of ours called Hampton Roads. … [Read more...]
Give Me Pain, if That’s What’s Real: “Next to Normal” at Williamsburg Players
Next to Normal, directed by Christina Westenberger, is being presented by the Williamsburg Players as a six-performance special event in proud support of the Williamsburg chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (or NAMI). NAMI is a support, education and advocacy organization for and by individuals with serious mental illnesses, their families and friends. … [Read more...]
Local Review: “Six Degrees of Separation” at Williamsburg Players
I have a confession to make. You see, up until the current theatrical season, AltDaily covered only theatre on the Southside. … [Read more...]
Local Review: Williamsburg Players’ “The Best Man”
Prior to seeing this show, I was familiar with playwright Gore Vidal by reputation only, and had not seen a production by the Williamsburg Players at all. I must say, they’ve both made one hell of a good first impression. … [Read more...]
Local Review: Williamsburg Players’ “Jekyll and Hyde”
I had only seen one show at the new home of the Williamsburg Players prior to seeing the Saturday matinee of Jekyll and Hyde: The Producers in 2011, immediately after the space was completed. Knowing the resources that went into the facility, and being a techie at heart, I was looking forward to seeing what could be accomplished in the space. … [Read more...]
Applauding the Hidden Hands: Sound Design at Wmsbg Players and PCT
If behind every good man is a good woman, then behind every great play production is a great tech crew. A show may be spectacular, the actors superb, the orchestra sublime and the direction visionary, but it is the work of those unseen – the crew in the booth or backstage – that can make a production flawless, that can propel a show from just good to exemplary. … [Read more...]