Thought provoking A BRIGHT NEW BOISE at Dobama

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)

Samuel D. Hunter, the author of A BRIGHT NEW BOISE stated, “The baseline of a lot of my plays is the struggle for meaning and also the struggle for connection between characters.  I think it’s also definitely a product of my–not to be pretentious about it–but my spiritual journey.”  And that is an excellent preview …more…

THE MISANTHROPE is delightfully performed by the CWRU/CPH MFA students

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

Jean Baptiste Poquein, better known to the theatre world as Moliére, was the seventeenth master writer of dark comedy and satire.  He, like such other noted scribes as George Bernard Shaw, skewered that which they thought was ridiculous.

Moliére’s subjects include hits on religion, the Catholic church in particular, and upper class society, especially the two-faced way …more…

Problematic THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED at Beck 

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)

The Cleveland area is in the throes of a parade of gay-themed plays.

Cleveland Public Theatre is staging STANDING ON CEREMONY:  THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS; Blank Canvas is showcasing NEXT FALL; Ensemble is presenting THE NORMAL HEART; and Beck is enacting THE LITTLE DOG THAT LAUGHED.

Why the proliferation of homosexual theatrical vehicles?  Theatre represents the era from …more…

Browns finally win, so does THE KARDIAC KID at Cleveland Public Theatre

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association & Cleveland Critics Circle)

Sunday the Cleveland Browns won.  Later that day and carrying over to Monday, the city was abuzz.  No, the team hadn’t won the Super Bowl, the Browns had been victorious in the first game in their last eleven attempts.

Eric Schmiedl, a long time Browns backer, understands this city.  In fact, …more…

Emotionally laden THE COLOR PURPLE at Karamu

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

There probably isn’t a friendlier theatre for audiences in town than Karamu.  Guests are greeted by the gracious Vivian Wilson, the theatre’s public relations director.  If you get to the theatre early, there’s always someone inviting you to sit down at their table and talk.  After the production, the cast lines up to thank you for coming.

Karamu is the …more…

Funny, poignant, eye opening GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS at Cleveland Public Theatre

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association & Cleveland Critics Circle)

Every era has its controversies.  Since theatre represents the era from which it comes, here in the United States, attitudes about the women’s movement were presented by feminist plays.  The Black movement found African American writers sending forth their messages.  Today, with the Gay rights movement in full swing, it is …more…

Will Rogers shares his wisdom at Actors’ Summit 

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association & Cleveland Critics Circle)

William Penn Adair Rogers, known to millions of Americans as Will said, “When I die I want my epitaph, or whatever you call those signs on gravestones, to read:  I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn’t like.  I am so proud of that, I …more…

Farcical THE IMAGINARY INVALID should delight many at Great Lakes Theatre

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association and Cleveland Critics Circle)

Jean Baptiste Poquelin, better known to the Western world as Moliére, was a seventeenth century French dramatist who wrote penetrating satirical comedies. In an era when the theatre mostly centered on pastoral plays, divertissements, and neoclassic tragedies, he upset many by taking on social and societal issues and groups, such as …more…

ANYTHING GOES, dynamic dancing, fanciful farce and great music at The Palace

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)

Cleveland may not have great athletic teams, but it is a pennant contender when it comes to theatre.  The local area is one of the top subscription sales stops on the Broadway series tour.  Often the shows start their treks to other venues by opening here.  Such is the case with …more…

NEXT FALL, emotionally challenging, thought provoking at Blank Canvas

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)

When Blank Canvas opened its doors in a funky hard to find near-west side arts building, the question was whether artistic director Pat Ciamacco’s underfunded endeavor of love would make it.  The first show, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MUSICAL, was an artistic smash hit.  It was followed with critically acclaimed OF MICE AND MEN and …more…