BWW Review: Fine Performances Make TREVOR Must See Theatre
by Frank Benge
- May 23, 2016
Using true events as source material, TREVOR by Orange is the New Black writer Nick Jones, is at once witty, hilarious and gut-wrenching. The story is about former show biz chimp Trevor (Jason Newman), a 200-pound chimpanzee, and his owner Sandra (Rebecca Robinson), who has an almost maternal attachment to him. At the core, the play is a look at misunderstood communication. Sandra thinks she knows what Trevor is thinking, but the audience is aware of how far off she actually is. Trevor is almost singularly focused on returning to his show biz existence when he worked with Morgan Fairchild (Rebecca Pearcy) in a 'commercial about water bottles or possibly paper'. It is this communication failure that leads to mounting tensions and the ultimately tragic ending. Consider just how frustrating it is not being able to truly communicate with the
person you depend on. Yes, this happens in human relationships all the time, but when you make one of the elements in the equation an animal with violent tendencies, both the tension and the very real chance for disaster rise exponentially.
BWW Review: FIELD GUIDE is an Excitingly Experimental Evening
by Frank Benge
- Apr 18, 2016
FIELD GUIDE, a work-in-progress by Rude Mechs, is currently in a second draft performance at the Off Center. Rude Mechs creates new works collaboratively, and with FIELD GUIDE they are actively engaging their audience to get feed back on what works and what doesn't in order to help shape the piece. FIELD GUIDE, commissioned by the Yale Repertory Theatre, is a mash-up of Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, stand-up comedy, dance and some frankly uncomfortable direct audience addressing confessions. How much of the direct confessions are fact or fiction we'll never really know. What we do know is this is an excitingly different evening of pure theatricality… an evening that you, as an audience member, are being asked to help define.
Along the way during your 90 minute journey the Mechs cover topics from the longest Russian novel written such as intellectualism, spiritualism, sensuality and hedonism. While it is ostensibly an adaptation of The Brothers Karamazov, it really just uses the characters in the briefest Cliff Notes sense. This approach allows the performers to riff on the underlying themes present. There is even an unaccredited moment by Tom Lehrer when Robert S. Fisher performs 'They're Rioting in Africa'. What you are treated to is highly experimental in nature and at moments what ensues is truly magical.
BWW Review: YEAR OF THE ROOSTER is a Riotous Funny Black Comedy
by Frank Benge
- Aug 31, 2015
'One day I will destroy the sun' says the angry 8-month-old gamecock of the title in Capital T Theatre's current production of Eric Dufault's riotously funny black comedy, YEAR OF THE ROOSTER, now playing at the Hyde Park Theatre. 'I think I could kill a cow if I put my mind to it,' Odysseus Rex rages. 'I think I could kill a car. A house.' Now there's ambition. As a matter of fact, ambition is an underlying theme of Dufault's play. Loser Gil Pepper's ambition to finally succeed at something, Odysseus Rex's ambition to one day destroy the sun, local tycoon Dickie Thimble's ambition to stay on top of the cockfighting championship and Gil's teenage manager's ambition to someday run all the McDonald's in America. Without ever becoming preachy, Dufault has a lot to say about what we do to each other and to animals as well as a good deal to say about bullying.
Last Chance to Vote for the BroadwayWorld Austin Awards
by BWW Special Coverage
- Dec 26, 2014
It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Austin Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!
Austin Arts & Entertainment Presents INDUSTRY NIGHT All July
by Courtnie Mele
- Jul 1, 2014
Industry Night is coming! It's an old-school variety show featuring the Austin Arts & Entertainment Industry. Every Monday in July (7th, 14th, 21st, & 28th) at the North Door in East Austin, local artists and entertainers will salute the community that supports them! Doors open at 6pm show starts at 7pm! Inspired by the great variety shows like The Dean Martin Show, Ed Sullivan, and the Muppets, Industry Night will showcase some of the best of the Austin Arts & Entertainment Industry and feature its own, locally created, original content. There will be Industry folks. There will be drinks (and drink SPECIALS). There will be sketches, music, film, dance, comedy and so much more!
Photo Flash: First Look at Austin Playhouse's THE FOREIGNER, Opening 5/23
by Jeff Davis
- May 20, 2014
Austin Playhouse is proud to present one of the funniest comedies ever written. Shy Englishman, Charlie Baker has a hard time speaking to strangers. To help him out, his gregarious friend 'Froggy' LeSeur tells the residents of a rural fishing lodge that Charlie is a foreigner who doesn't understand English. Assuming their secrets are safe, chaos ensues when Charlie overhears dastardly plots involving the residents of Betty Meeks' lodge! Hailed as 'a charming comedy about the magic of kindness' by Chicago Theater Beat, The Foreigner is chock full of hilarious slapstick and witty wordplay.
Whole Foods Market Partners with Present Company for MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, 4/18-5/11
by BWW News Desk
- Apr 18, 2014
The Whole Foods Market flagship store has become a quintessential meeting and gathering place in downtown Austin with events ranging from yoga classes at sunset to family friendly film screenings, and now, live theatre. Whole Foods Market is partnering with local Austin nonprofit, Present Company, for 12 performances of Much Ado About Nothing running Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, April 18 through May 11.
Photo Flash: First Look at Austin Playhouse's ROARING
by BWW News Desk
- Apr 2, 2014
When the ghosts of their past are unleashed, the residents of an exclusive retirement community must come to terms with lost love, triumphs, fears, and the choices that haunt and connect us all. This moving new play by award-winning local playwright Cyndi Williams, reminds us that the most important moments of our lives are often the ones that defy explanation.
Austin Playhouse to Premiere ROARING, 4/4-5/4
by Tyler Peterson
- Feb 28, 2014
When the ghosts of their past are unleashed, the residents of an exclusive retirement community must come to terms with lost love, triumphs, fears, and the choices that haunt and connect us all. This moving new play by award-winning local playwright Cyndi Williams, reminds us that the most important moments of our lives are often the ones that defy explanation.
BWW Reviews: World Premiere of THE FAULT Runs into Character Development Problems
by Jeff Davis
- Dec 6, 2013
Original pieces of theater are a tricky business. For every well-crafted, well-received new work, there are countless others that are less successful, to put it mildly. The Fault, a new drama by UT-Austin M.F.A. candidate Katie Bender, falls into the second category. While Bender does have a few interesting idea and glimmers of a strong central character, the ideas and the play as a whole feel unfinished, underdeveloped, and tediously dull.
20th Annual FronteraFest Set for 1/15-2/16
by Kelsey Denette
- Dec 11, 2012
FronteraFest, now celebrating its 20th year as one of the largest fringe performance events in the Southwest kicks-off its 'Short Fringe' from January 15 - February 16 and 'Long Fringe' performances from January 21 - February 3, 2013. The Short Fringe takes place at Hyde Park Theatre (511 West 43rd) Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Long Fringe performances are held at Salvage Vanguard Theatre (2803 Manor Road) at various dates/times (available at www.hydeparktheatre.org). There is also a special 'Mi Casa es Su Teatro' event which takes place one day only, Saturday, February 9th from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.
BWW Reviews: VODKA, F***ING AND TELEVISION is a F***ing Good Time
by Jeff Davis
- Nov 30, 2012
When you see a show titled Vodka, F***ing and Television, it's inevitable that one question will come to mind. Will the show be as crass and funny as the name suggests, or will it go overboard and be dead on arrival? I'm glad to say that with its witty script, skillful direction, and extraordinary cast, Vodka, F***ing and Television, produced by Breaking String and now playing at the Hyde Park Theatre, will easily win you over.
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