photo credit: Jessica Peralta

Written by Patrick Chavis

Stephen King is one of today’s most prolific and successful horror writers. His influence on pop culture, film, television, and even theatre, is undeniable regardless of whether you enjoy his work. Despite a vast catalog of work, Misery stands out as a high watermark in suspense and drama. Misery is not a play you can take lightly. It’s incredibly challenging material, especially as related to the lead role of Annie Wilkes (Alli Maier). There are echoes of greatness in this production, but it ultimately settles for good with a performance that lacks the intensity this character sorely needs. Continue Reading

(photo credit: Austin Bauman)

Written by Patrick Chavis

You’ve seen the giant monster ape, King Kong, on the big screen. You’ve seen him fight the King of Monsters, Godzilla, but you’ve never seen The Eighth Wonder of the World like this on the big screen and stage simultaneously. The Maverick Theatre puts on its third production of this original adapted production of King Kong, continuing to innovate on its experimental blend of cinematic and theatrical style. The Maverick, for years, has been carving out its own lane in the SoCal theatre world, and Kong, without a doubt, is King at the moment. Continue Reading

(photos by Austin M Bauman)

Written by Patrick Chavis

I’m not a stranger to the story of The Crucible, having seen theater productions and the film version before. It’s a classic for a good reason. The Crucible has legs. Its story and themes are timeless. From what I’ve read, Arthur Miller, the playwright, partially wrote it in response to “McCarthyism” because many people were being blacklisted in Hollywood if they were accused of having a connection to Communism, whether it was true or not. This play is a great example of how the truth can be twisted and used for power, greed, and the destruction of people’s lives. The Maverick and a cast of veteran actors inhabit the characters and show off their long-practiced skills onstage to great effect. Continue Reading

Written by Scotty Keister 

In the film Patton, George C. Scott (as Patton) while touring an army medical tent famously smacks a GI in the head. The soldier is recovering from what was then called “shell shock” and Patton thinks he’s just malingering. In the military it was generally considered that having an emotional or nervous reaction to anything in war was simply weakness. Psychology has come a long way since then and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is now widely recognized as a serious result of combat, frequently resulting in suicide. As of 2016, suicides by veterans were averaging 6,000 per year. The VA has now made suicide prevention its highest priority. Continue Reading