| My LA ten best list | |
| Posted by: | Pir8Jenny 01:34 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| In no particular order (actually, that's not true -- it's the order in which I have the programs stacked) 1. Nothing to Hide (Geffen) -- I jokingly assume that the quality of my year will be determined by the quality of the show I see on New Year's Eve. After this one on 12/31/12, I figured I'd have a jaw-droppingly good year. 2. Walking the Tightrope (24th Street) -- This delicate children's play about death left me outright sobbing. I still can't say the last line without getting choked up. 3. We are Proud to Present... (Matrix) -- An exceptional play which studies the inherent power of theatre. 4. Parade (3D Theatricals) -- I still think this is a terrific score which nobody has managed to put on stage correctly, but this production came damn close. 5. A Man of No Importance (Good People) -- A new theatre company tried a fully staged musical at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and nailed it. 6. The Katrina Comedy Fest (Bayou Playhouse) -- Another fringe entry, from the "truth is more dramatic than fiction" department. 7. One Night in Miami (Rogue Machine) -- A curiously timely script about politics, religion, and how to change hearts and minds. 8. RII (Boston Court) -- A new adaptation cuts Shakespeare's Richard II down to 3 actors and the play's essence. 9. Gidion's Knot (Furious) -- A smart play about death, blame, transition, and art. 10. The Normal Heart (Fountain) -- A powerful revival, which, when taken at a historical distance, still packs a punch. | |
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| re: My LA ten best list | |
| Posted by: | showtunetrivia 09:41 pm EST 12/31/13 |
| In reply to: | My LA ten best list - Pir8Jenny 01:34 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| I also was hugely impressed by A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE. Wonderful production, in spite of the a.c. not working on a 90 degrees plus day. And R II was simply amazing. Laura | |
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| re: My LA ten best list | |
| Posted by: | DistantDrumming 12:54 pm EST 12/29/13 |
| In reply to: | My LA ten best list - Pir8Jenny 01:34 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| Pir8Jenny, I'm kind of ashamed to say the only theatre I seem to ever see in LA is at Center Theatre Group and The Geffen. Any particular websites or blogs you recommend for keeping abreast of the latest LA theatre news besides the LA Times and LA Weekly? Of the smaller companies, do you have any particular favorites ones at which you more consistently see strong productions than at others? Cheers! | |
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| re: My LA ten best list | |
| Posted by: | Pir8Jenny 01:10 pm EST 12/29/13 |
| In reply to: | re: My LA ten best list - DistantDrumming 12:54 pm EST 12/29/13 |
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| Well, now that we've got Terry writing for Regional, hopefully the two of us will give you more LA coverage right here. That said, I'm happy to plug a friend's site, ArtsinLA.com - which has quite a bit of good theatre coverage. As for me, personally, I try not to play favorites, but it inevitably happens. I love Furious and Boston Court (both geographically convenient for me, in Pasadena) for more edgy work, and A Noise Within (completing the Pasadena trifecta) for classics. Somewhat further out distance-wise, I've found both The Fountain and Rogue Machine to be on a roll for at least a few years. When I retire from my day job and can therefore be a full-time reviewer (I can dream, right?) I'd never miss a show at any of those five theatres. (... or Antaeus. Or the Chance. Or the Road. Or...) | |
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| re: My LA ten best list (Parade) | |
| Posted by: | Dr._L 05:51 pm EST 12/27/13 |
| In reply to: | My LA ten best list - Pir8Jenny 01:34 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| The 2009 production of Parade at the Mark Taper is a fond memory of mine. I believe I remember you posting on that production. How did the two productions compare? | |
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| re: My LA ten best list (Parade) | |
| Posted by: | Pir8Jenny 06:53 pm EST 12/28/13 |
| In reply to: | re: My LA ten best list (Parade) - Dr._L 05:51 pm EST 12/27/13 |
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| This one was much more straightforward. None of the business with the Southern Belle floating through the production -- and I didn't feel any attempt to relate "Parade" to any sort of current political debate like I felt at the one in the Taper. This production tried really hard to put the emphasis on Leo Frank himself -- they had blow-ups of newspaper articles and stuff all over the lobby, just drawing more focus onto this single act of anti-Semitism and injustice. Also, the guy playing Leo Frank could really sing it. I think he's the best of the three Leo's I've seen (the first was on Broadway). I *still* think there's something about "Parade" which the CD got right and none of the productions have -- which is the delicate balance between the townspeople being sympathetic characters (because they are grieving over the murder) and them being an unruly mob. To me, the CD hits this right -- with Frankie's youth, the reporter's desire for a big story, and the preacher's own motives sort of combining into a perfect storm. But I haven't seen a staged version where the town came off as anything other than biased assholes. | |
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| re: My LA ten best list (Parade) | |
| Posted by: | Dr._L 07:09 pm EST 12/28/13 |
| In reply to: | re: My LA ten best list (Parade) - Pir8Jenny 06:53 pm EST 12/28/13 |
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| Thanks! I love Parade. I'm sorry I missed this production. | |
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