Roy Berko

Member, Cleveland Critics Circle, American Theatre Critics Association

Yes, it’s snowing outside, but soon Spring and Summer will be upon us.  That means The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, will beckon.  The Shaw is one of the two major Canadian theatre festivals, the other being The Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario.  Both are high quality venues.

The Shaw Festival is a tribute to George Bernard Shaw and his writing contemporaries.

Many Clevelanders …more…

Roy Berko

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

Cleveland Public Theatre is sometimes referred to as an off-Playhousequare theatre for its continued probing of non-traditional script choices and presentation styles.  It’s the place that did an age-blind version of OUR TOWN, a play which paralleled southern slavery with the Holocaust and added a gay twist, presented a one-man diatribe about the Cleveland Browns, and was recognized by the Cleveland …more…

Well written FICTION gets excellent production at Actors’ Summit

Roy Berko

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

Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, William Inge, Arthur Miller, Stephen Dietz.  What do these playwrights have in common?  They are on the list of the top ten American writers who have the most produced plays.  Never heard of Dietz?  You are not alone. He is a regional playwright who makes a living as a …more…

Roy Berko

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

There are some weird and off-beat goings-on in downtown Cleveland’s PlayhouseSquare.  At the State, cross-dressers and a transvestite are feverishly dancing and preening in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE MUSICAL.  At the Hanna, witches and warlocks are cavorting in BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE.  On stage at the Hanna, in SPANK!  THE FIFTY SHADES PARODY, whips, chains, handcuffs and undulating abs have …more…

Entertaining BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE at Cleveland Play House 

Roy Berko

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

Since it moved into its new digs at the Allen Theatre, Cleveland Play House has been on a roll.  Attendance has skyrocketed, they are operating three theatres with spaces that allow for creative and technically complicated staging.  The artistic staff has selected challenging and interesting shows, including LOMBARDI, IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE …more…

PRISCILLA…costumes, dancing, rocking escapism @ State Theatre

Roy Berko

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

There is an old expression in theatre evaluation:  “If you come out of a musical whistling costumes and sets, it’s not good!”  Well, generally, that’s the case, but with PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL, that idiom is not true.

PRISCILLA isn’t intended to be a great message musical.  NEXT TO NORMAL or CHORUS LINE it …more…

http://artsamerica.org/blog/genre/theater/44737/