Play Reviews, Lightning Round

In an effort to inject a little more culture into our lives, the wife and I bought a subscription to the La Jolla Playhouse this season. What follows are incredibly shallow reviews of all the plays we’ve seen this year (all at LJP unless otherwise specified). And despite the generally high ratings I’ve given these, I’m not one of those people who loves everything. I’ve just seen some pretty good theater.

The Times They Are a Changin’. Bob Dylan? Twyla Tharp? Ugh, don’t go there. This was at the Old Globe and if I’d been there by myself, I’d have left at intermission. The production was strong, but what transpired on stage was so incongruous with Dylan’s music that it lost me right from the beginning. I seriously had trouble staying awake. I’ve got nothing against inane plots and general silliness — it worked pretty well with “Mamma Mia” (then again, there’s a slight difference between the songs of Dylan and ABBA) — but this was unwatchable. Rating: 2.

Much Ado About Nothing. This version was set in the style of ‘60 British spy TV/movies, complete with blaring music and a Mini Cooper that the actors pushed around the stage. I seem to have less trouble with Shakespeare’s comedies that are set in unusual environments than with his dramas. Also, I’m a huge Avengers fan so I already like the period they chose. Good fun. Rating: 7 (8 if you’re a fan of The Avengers, Bond Movies, The Prisioner, The Saint, etc.).

Zhivago. Excellent set design, costumes, etc. Technically stunning. Well acted, good story, nice musical numbers. The gunshots were a bit loud but didn’t detract from the performance. I can’t say enough good things about this one. It engaged me at every point and left me wanting more. Rating: 9.

Mother Courage and Her Sons. My first exposure to Bertolt Brecht did not disappoint. Nice production, and I enjoyed the contrast between the stark reality of war and the cabaret numbers that served both as a break and a reminder of how horrific the situation really was. It’s one thing to beat an audience over the head with a heavy stick and have them leave feeling depressed, but quite another to bring just enough lightness into their lives so that the message lingers on long after the performance has ended. Rating: 8.5.

One Man Star Wars. Okay, this isn’t a play but I saw it in a theater — Spreckels Theater, to be precise — and it was hilarious. Charles Ross gets out on stage and re-creates the entire Star Wars trilogy (the good one from back in the day, not the garbage that came out a few years ago). Beyond that, any description wouldn’t do his treatment justice. Suffice to say, this is one of the most entertaining live performances I’ve seen in a very long time. Rating: 9.

Wicked. This one probably is hyped a little too much. We saw the production at Civic Theater, and it was good but not great. The musical numbers were solid, but the first act dragged on and the writing got a little cute at times. Fortunately the performances were strong and so was the finish. Probably the most accessible play I’ve watched this year. Rating: First Act 6, Second Act 9, Overall 7.5.

all wear bowlers. Don’t let the affected lower case title fool you, this is good stuff. If you see it, be warned that you may end up getting involved in the action. Also, there will be unsettling moments (not disturbing, just awkward for the audience — which I personally love). Described as Laurel and Hardy meets Waiting for Godot, all wear bowlers is clever, thoughtful, and entertaining. Rating: 8.5.

On this day…

• 2007: Little Fluffy Clouds — I keep hearing this tune on XM 84, and I’ve been wondering what the vocal samples are. According to Wikipedia, [...]