Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 The King and I is one of those shows that everyone assumes is wonderful. After seeing the decidedly shoddy production at the Mac-Haydn last night, I began to wonder if the underlying problem isn’t in large part due to the show itself. By…
Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 The Theater Barn has a hit on its hands with its charming production of “Promises, Promises.” This production has everything their “Grease” needed and lacked – energy and good casting. The Theater Barn proves that you don’t need a big budget or a…
Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 There are two things you need to know at the outset. First, this is Greek tragedy we are discussing here. Hecuba is two hours of angst, grief, death, revenge, self-pity, misery, and helplessness. Second, the title character is referred to by her Greek…
Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 Coming home from the theatre late last night, after a long and exhausting day, the question entered my mind “Why do we bother writing new plays when there are so many good old ones?” That is a foolish question, of course. The real…
Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 Oldcastle has another Ayckbourn hit on its hands. Their production of Ayckbourn’s 1991 comedy “Taking Steps” is a flawless gem. Oldcastle has made a lucky find in Sir Alan Ayckbourn, one of the modern theatre’s most prolific and consistently funny playwrights. Armed with…
Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 You know you’re getting old when… You know you’re getting old when you walk out of the theatre saying “When I was young we knew how to do sex and nudity on the stage. Not like these politically correct young whipper-snappers today. No…
Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 I don’t know how many of you are even aware of the existence of the Miniature Theatre of Chester. Chester, MA, is one of those you-can’t-get-there-from- here places. And what the heck, you may be asking, is a “miniature theatre”? Well, it is…
