A satisfying “My Fair Lady” opens the Porthouse 2014 season

Roy Berko

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

Last year’s Porthouse production of “South Pacific” joined the beautiful and gifted Kayce Cummings (Green) as Nellie Forbush with suave and talented Greg Violand as Emile DeBecque, with Terri Kent, the theatre’s artistic director.  The result was “an evening of fine entertainment.”  This year the trio joined forces for a pleasing “My Fair …more…

Roy Berko

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

Every once in a while a theatrical production results in a “what is going on?” and “why is time and energy being wasted on this?” reaction.  Such is the case with “A Map of Virtue” now on stage at convergence continuum.

I thought maybe it was just my limited insight into the world of the obtuse, so I went on an internet search …more…

Roy Berko

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

George Bernard Shaw, considered by many to be the premiere English playwright of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, had very set opinions, which he expressed in his writing.  A member of the Fabian Society, which was an utopian movement dedicated to establishing a socialist society, he attacked the English education system, organized religion, the blindness of the upper classes in …more…

Roy Berko

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

Ed Falco, who teaches writing and literature in Virginia Tech’s MFA program, may best be known for his being the uncle of Edie Falco, who played the role of Carmela Soprano on the Sopranos.  He is also noted for his work with artists and actors through exploring the healing power of drama.

Falco’s “Possum Dreams” is now getting its world’s premiere at …more…

Roy Berko

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

Eric Coble, a Cleveland Heights-based writer, is the author of the Alexandra Trilogy.  Each play showcases Alex/Alexa/Alexandra at different ages and stages of her life.

The series starts with “A Girl’s Guide to Coffee,” which was staged by Actors’ Summit in their 2012 season.  The plot finds twenty-two year old Alex, a college grad, working as a barista. Alex’s plan is to have …more…

“Seminar” gets an A at Beck Center for the Arts

Roy Berko

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

When a student pays $5000 for a ten-week educational seminar, s/he doesn’t expect to be verbally attacked, viciously belittled, diminished, called names, and have a sexual liaison with the instructor.  But that’s exactly what happens in Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck’s provocative comedy, “Seminar,” now on stage at Beck Center.

“Seminar,” which takes place …more…