Orange County Theatre Reviews

June, 2015
Archive

June 11, 2015 | hollywood fringe, News, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on ELEANOR’S STORY : AN AMERICAN GIRL IN HITLER’S GERMANY @ The Hollywood Fringe – Theatre of NOTE in Hollywood – News |

ELEANOR’S STORY : AN AMERICAN GIRL IN HITLER’S GERMANY @ The Hollywood Fringe – Theatre of NOTE in Hollywood – News

Written by Patrick Chavis 

 

Eleanor’s Story is a one woman, hour-long dramatic play, by CSUF graduate Ingrid Garner, the grand-

Photography credit: Richard Maritzer

Photography credit: Richard Maritzer

daughter of Eleanor Ramrath Garner, who authored the award-winning autobiography Ingrid adapted into this show. It will be playing at the Hollywood Fringe June 14 – 27th. The show is about an American girl and her families trials and tribulation while living in World War II Berlin. Ingrid the “actual” granddaughter of Eleanor plays her grandmother in this production. The production premiered a year ago at Cal State Fullerton and it’s been making its rounds through the international theatre circuit ever since – Adelaide Fringe and the Fringe World Festival (both in Australia) just to name a few.  Continue Reading

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June 9, 2015 | Cabrillo Playhouse, Review, Theater Comments Off on The Importance of Being Earnest @ Cabrillo Playhouse in San Clemente |

The Importance of Being Earnest @ Cabrillo Playhouse in San Clemente

Written by Daniella Litvak  

The Importance of Being Earnest is Oscar Wilde’s Victorian era farce about how Jack Worthing, a respectable man in the country, felt the need to invent a wicked alter ego (“Ernest”), so he could escape his dutiful country life and have wild sexy fun in London. Jack as Ernest has fallen in love and proposed to Gwendoline Fairfax. She accepted because it has been her dream to marry a man named Ernest. (The name inspires “utmost confidence.”) Unfortunately, Gwendolne’s Mother, Lady Bracknell, does not approve of the match. Meanwhile, Jack’s friend, who is also Gwendoline’s cousin, Algernon Moncreif decided to borrow the Ernest persona in order to meet Cecily Cardew, Jack’s ward who also dreams of marrying a man named Ernest (for the same reason). Hilarity ensues.

This is “A” material. However, Eric Modyman’s director’s notes betray some anxiety about staging a comedy of manners originally written during a time period infamous for its fussiness. I have to admit to sharing a similar anxiety. Too many times, I’ve had to witness stagings and adaptations transform some of the greatest comedies ever written (Austen, Dickens, etc) into a dry, dull snooze fest. Continue Reading

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June 7, 2015 | Brea, Curtis Theatre, Musical, Review, Uncategorized Comments Off on High Fidelity : The Musical @ The Curtis Theatre in Brea – Review |

High Fidelity : The Musical @ The Curtis Theatre in Brea – Review

Written by Patrick Chavis 

“the reproduction of sound with little distortion, giving a result very similar to the original.”

The term “high fidelity” is really a phrase created by Audiophiles (intense music fans) who are looking for the most authentic and high quality sound they can find. For many that means vinyl, since it was the musical standard for a long time.  Even now, unlike a lot of its contemporaries, the vinyl record is making a huge comeback. This idea of authenticity in music and in life became clearer to me after watching the Curtis Theater’s production of High Fidelity : The Musical.  It was a completely different experience from the movie. Which isn’t to criticize the film, but the stage production works even better. 

In High Fidelity we first meet our main character Rob (Jeff Lowe), a former DJ and now record store owner who is currently receiving one of the coldest breakups imaginable from his most recent girlfriend Laura (Hallie Mayer).  What follows is a conversation between the audience and Rob as he takes us on a journey through his life, and (because he’s a DJ) his story revolves around his Top Five List.

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June 6, 2015 | Costa Mesa, interview, podcast, Uncategorized Comments Off on AMB Theatre Podcast #18 presented by OCR – Little Women @ Costa Mesa Playhouse in Costa Mesa |

AMB Theatre Podcast #18 presented by OCR – Little Women @ Costa Mesa Playhouse in Costa Mesa

 

May 29 – Jun 28 2015

Buy Tickets 

Tune in every Friday to http://www.kuci.org/or if you’re in the areas of Santa Ana, Irvine or Tustin turn your radio receiver to 88.9FM @ 4pm – 5pm for the AMB Theatre show in partnership with the Orange Curtain Review.

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June 6, 2015 | interview, Musical, podcast, Uncategorized Comments Off on AMB Theatre Podcast #17 presented by OCR – SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS @ UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts |

AMB Theatre Podcast #17 presented by OCR – SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS @ UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts

May 30 – Jun. 6

Buy Tickets 

Tune in every Friday to http://www.kuci.org/or if you’re in the areas of Santa Ana, Irvine or Tustin turn your radio receiver to 88.9FM @ 4pm – 5pm for the AMB Theatre show in partnership with the Orange Curtain Review.

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June 4, 2015 | Lake Forest, Modjeska Playhouse, Review, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Momma Drama : Secrets of a Soccer Mom @ Modjeska Playhouse in Lake Forest – Review |

Momma Drama : Secrets of a Soccer Mom @ Modjeska Playhouse in Lake Forest – Review

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photo courtesy: Modjeska Playhouse

Written by Alina Mae Wilson 

Part of what makes a story enjoyable is it’s relatability .  As the viewers are we able to identify with and appreciate the situations presented to us?  If the answer is yes, then points can immediately be awarded to the writer of said story.  This is the case with the Modjeska Playhouse’s Secrets of A Soccer Mom, starring Shana Jean Martin, Kelly McNamara, and Hailey Tweter.   Listening to modern day mothers regale each other with everything from spousal complaints to adventures in soul-searching is so familiar to us that our understanding of the ladies’ predicaments is instantly acquired if not pre-implanted by society. Though much of the drama does comes from a very serious place, there is a decent balance in this play, with some genuinely funny moments. 

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