Orange County Theatre Reviews

Santa Ana
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November 13, 2019 | Review, Santa Ana, The Wayward Artist, Theater, Uncategorized Comments (0) |

The Wayward Artist presents: God of Carnage @ Grand Central Arts Center in Santa Ana – Review

(photo courtesy: Jordan Kubat)

Written by Alina Mae Wilson 

“God of Carnage” surprisingly, is not a myth about unclothed Spartans. It’s a lurid headline that brings to mind grisly images of battles led by a shirtless Gerard Butler, but funnily enough, there are no naked Grecians here to be found. Forced into close proximity by the violent actions of their own children, two very American, very “typical” couples show us that wrath lurks in the hearts of even the most refined among us. The Wayward Artists “God of Carnage” is a thought provoking show that pumps out a few shocks along the way.

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August 18, 2019 | Review, Santa Ana, Santa Ana College, shakespeare oc, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Shakespeare Orange County Presents: Zoot Suit @ Santa Ana College – Review |

Shakespeare Orange County Presents: Zoot Suit @ Santa Ana College – Review

 (Please credit Jordan Kubat Photography)

Written by Alina Mae Wilson 

I just watched an amazing play called Zoot Suit.  Prior to this performance, I had never heard of the Zoot Suit Riots or Henry Leyvas- the man upon whom the central character is based.  After watching Zoot Suit at Santa Ana College, I immediately raced home to bombard Google with searches about the riots and Henry Leyvas, which led to me to gasping over my ignorance on the subject.  How could something like the Zoot Suit Riots happen in my home state, in nearby Los Angeles to be exact, without me knowing about it?  How could the subject of Henry Leyvas’s (and many other people’s) false arrest and imprisonment not be broached a single time during all my years of education?  Continue Reading

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July 15, 2019 | Review, Santa Ana, The Wayward Artist, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on World Premiere: Strong Arm @ Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana – Review |

World Premiere: Strong Arm @ Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana – Review

Allie (Autumn Paramore)

photo courtesy: Jordan Kubat

Written by Patrick Chavis 

As the old saying goes — what was once old becomes new again.  I’ve heard this before, but I don’t remember who said it. The basic idea, though, is ideas from the past are always recycled.  When something is recycled or not original, you start noticing how that idea, that style seems to reverberate more. Sometimes there are good explanations for why these thoughts reverberate so much. Sometimes, there’s no explanation.  Still, as a theatre critic seeing these thoughts reverberate and become trends, it informs me of how storytelling has changed over the years.  These trends influence how I judge new material. This fact is a factor in everything I review.  Some shows make this more apparent than others. Continue Reading

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July 15, 2019 | interview, Santa Ana, The Wayward Artist, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Interview with writer Wyn Moreno about his World Premiere play Strong Arm playing @ Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana |

Interview with writer Wyn Moreno about his World Premiere play Strong Arm playing @ Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana

photo courtesy : Jordan Kubat

Interview with writer Wyn Moreno about his World Premiere play Strong Arm playing at Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana.

July 12 – 28, 2019 

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April 13, 2019 | Grand Central Arts Center, Musical, podcast, Review, Santa Ana, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Next to Normal @ Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana – Review |

Next to Normal @ Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana – Review

(Photo by Jordan Kubat Photography) 

The Wayward Artist is pleased to produce the pop/rock, hit musical ‘Next to Normal’! Join Diana Goodman and her family in their anything-but-normal suburban home. ‘Next to Normal’ explores the effects of extreme loss and the tolls mental illness can have on a modern-day family.

April 12 – 28, 2019 


A GOOD SHOW!
Review
8.2 Overall
0 Users (0 votes)
Story9
Acting7.5
Set & Design8.5
Costumes8
Entertainment8
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April 6, 2019 | Review, Santa Ana, Santa Ana College, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot @ Santa Ana College – Review |

The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot @ Santa Ana College – Review

(Photos: Jaime Diaz)

Written by Patrick Chavis

After watching The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at Santa Ana College, I was reminded about not just the nature of drama but comedy as well.  Good drama — if not always then very often –requires comedy to lighten the load of the story especially when it comes to very difficult topics or subject matter. Comedy should balance the drama in a yin and yang sort of way so that comedic and dramatic parts of the play complement each other.  In this production, playing only one more weekend at the Phillips Hall in Santa Ana, the dramatic and comedic elements tended to fight each other instead of complementing the narrative.  Still,  there is plenty of meaty material coming from some very talented actors as well as some brave, enlightened scene staging.    Continue Reading

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