by Jess Hoffman If you’re looking to transport yourself to a time of culture wars, class disparity, overseas conflict, and a deadly epidemic—as opposed to our current time of culture wars, class disparity, overseas conflict, and a deadly epidemic—come to the Cohoes Music Hall to see the Playhouse Stage Company…
by Jess Hoffman Will Kempe’s Players is a relatively new theater company to the New York Capital District. They specialize in bare-bones, low-tech Shakespeare and perform at various community centers. Their style brings to mind the travelling performers and street performers of Shakespeare’s era. Because Will Kempe’s Players is so…
by Jess Hoffman Historical dark comedies would seem to be a niche genre combination, but Archduke at Capital Repertory Theatre is not the first one I’ve reviewed and I doubt it will be the last. There seems to be an interest in recent years in writing avant-garde, darkly funny, historical…
by Jess Hoffman As a general rule, I dislike one-actor plays. Watching one performer speak to the audience for the length of an entire show is not fun for me, unless it has a really intriguing premise, a uniquely talented actor, and a director with vision. Luckily, the first show…
by Jess Hoffman I feel I must start this review by making it clear how much I love all things medieval. I attend renaissance festivals in full costume, I’m fascinated by pre-modern weaponry and warfare, I read Medieval fantasy epics like it’s my job, and I absolutely love to watch…
by Jess Hoffman If you’ve studied theater in any capacity, you’ve probably come across Arthur Miller and, specifically, The Crucible. I certainly remember reading The Crucible in high school, and then again in college… twice. I do love the play, but it’s not an easy play in any sense. It’s…
by Jess Hoffman A play that opens on the image of an old photograph of an enslaved Black woman nursing a White infant promises a provocative, no-holds-barred meditation on racism and sexism. This is exactly how Confederates opens at the Rep, as one of our two lead characters speaks passionately…
by Jess Hoffman In the era of “fake news” and “alternative facts,” I think everyone has strong opinions about truth, accuracy, and the difference, if any exists, between the two. But whatever your opinions, The Lifespan of A Fact, presented by Creative License and playing at Cohoes Music Hall, will…
