Of the versions of Jane Austen’s classic novel there are no end. But I could not resist taking in NextStop Theatre Company‘s staging this autumn. A new script, 21st century casting and a good couple spoonfuls of added modernity are … Continue reading
On the YA fantasy front, author Rosamund Hodge has been making quite a splash with her moody, dark, intensely atmospheric reworkings of myths and fairy tales. So when I had the chance to review this collection, Desires and Dreams and … Continue reading
By chance more than wit, in the past seven days I have contrived to see Hamlet twice. The first was the filmed version of the play staged by the National Theatre in London in 2015, starring Benedict Cumberbatch. And a … Continue reading
You know it’s a really great work of art when it’s gemlike — full of angles to analyze. And Passion, a late Stephen Sondheim musical, is packed with meanings and facets. I took in the magnificent production at the Signature … Continue reading
We happened to find ourselves with a free day in New York City last week, and of course we invested our time wisely! The first stop was the Morgan Library, where the manuscripts of J.R.R. Tolkien are on view through … Continue reading
I went to see King Lear, another one of the thrilling broadcasts of London drama, that one may occasionally catch in the US. They are always thrilling, and give us Yanks a chance to affordably see productions that you could … Continue reading
Okay, now I see it. There are recent musicals I’ve seen which clearly were not quite successful. They were speaking to something that I couldn’t quite discern, following in a path that I hadn’t taken the turning for. And now … Continue reading
by Brenda W. Clough Is it really possible to be a saint? What would we do if one arrived here, today? George Bernard Shaw knew the answer. We would kill her. At the very end of his great play St. … Continue reading
by Brenda W. Clough I have never seen this musical (first staged in 2000) in production, although it’s a perennial in high schools and I know the score. Nor have I ever seen the 1967 movie, starring Julie Andrews and … Continue reading
While I was updating my Le Guin collection with the Hainish books I lacked, in preparation for my Big Re-Read of 2018, I also decided to pick up Ursula Le Guin’s last book, a collection of blog posts and essays, … Continue reading
