Orange County Theatre Reviews

Attic Theatre, Musical, Review, Santa Ana, Uncategorized Comments Off on Oliver! @ The Attic in Santa Ana – Review |

Oliver! @ The Attic in Santa Ana – Review

Written by Mike Martin 

The Attic Theater’s Oliver! is an energetic production with more than its fair share of charm. That said, uneven casting and direction which sways between detrimental and non-existent keeps it well within the realm of what audiences have unfortunately come to expect from the words “community theater.” Continue Reading

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Musical, podcast, Uncategorized Comments Off on AMB Theatre Podcast #55 presented by OCR : Bye Bye Birdie @ The Gem Theatre in Garden Grove – Podcast |

La Habra, Musical, Review, Uncategorized Comments Off on The Music Man @ The Mysterium Theatre in La Habra – Review |

The Music Man @ The Mysterium Theatre in La Habra – Review

Written by Daniella Litvak 

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photo courtesy: Robert Ladd

Set during the early twentieth century, The Music Man is about what happens when traveling salesman Harold Hill (Ray Buffer) comes to River City, Iowa. Harold is the titular character because he sells boys marching bands: the instruments, the uniforms, the lessons, and so on. He guarantees a marching band will keep River City happy and out of trouble. While most of the people fall under Harold’s spell and become wildly enthusiastic about a marching band, librarian/music teacher Marian Paroo (Mallory Staley) doubts the purity of Harold’s intentions. Still she cannot ignore the effect Harold is having on River City or her changing feelings towards the man himself. Continue Reading

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American Coast Theatre Company, Costa Mesa, Review, Theater, Uncategorized, Vanguard Uni Comments Off on Hamlet Goes Gangster : American Coast Theater Company Presents Hamlet @ Vanguard University in Costa Mesa – Review |

Hamlet Goes Gangster : American Coast Theater Company Presents Hamlet @ Vanguard University in Costa Mesa – Review

(Photo courtesy: Susie Sprinkel Hudson)

Written by Alina Mae Wilson 

Many, if not most leading characters in successful fiction today have qualities that endear them to the viewer, making them desirable as friends, lovers, or both.  But before there was all that nonsense about actually liking the star, there was someone else–there was Hamlet.  An angst-filled Danish prince forever brooding about his castle, Hamlet is often described with words like “depressed,” “whiny,” and “cowardly.” As a result, he has often been the target of viewers’/readers’ scorn, derision, and annoyance.   In contrast, is the portrayal from American Coast Theater Company’s Hamlet.  The young prince here is heavily sarcastic, bitter, and volatile. He is not likable or sympathetic, but he has a strange energy to keep you hooked.   Continue Reading

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American Coast Theatre Company, Costa Mesa, Review, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on American Coast Theatre Company: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead @ Vanguard University in Costa Mesa – Review |

American Coast Theatre Company: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead @ Vanguard University in Costa Mesa – Review

Written by Erin Tobin 
The play’s the thing at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa.  Well actually no, it’s two plays that are the thing. From June 3– July 3, the American Coast Theater Company will be performing William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy about a conflicted Danish prince and his struggle to avenge his father’s death. In conjunction with Hamlet, the company will also be presenting Tom Stoppard’s less well-known tale about Hamlet’s old college chums, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

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Cabrillo Playhouse, Musical, Review, San Clemente, Uncategorized Comments Off on Godspell @ Cabrillo Playhouse in San Clemente – Review |