Roy Berko

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

Steve Yockey’s WOLVES:  AN URBAN FABLE, now on stage at convergence-continuum, centers on three people, Ben and Jack, ex-lovers who still live in the same apartment, and Wolf, a trick that Jack picks up one night at a bar.

Ben, who comes from a small town is xenophobic, agoraphobic and jealous.  He is afraid of strangers and everything that is foreign.  He fears …more…

At the end of each year, the Cleveland Critics Circle meets to select the winners of that year’s performance awards as well as to deal with matters of importance to area theatres.  At the session which brought to a close the 2014 season, I mentioned that Fran Heller, who was a member of CCC at the time,  had proposed several years ago that the group nominate the Cleveland Play House …more…

Roy Berko

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

Cleveland Heights School Board member, Eric Coble, has an inside track on understanding the way schools work.   In his play, FAIRFIELD, he starts with the premise of an elementary school whose motto is, “Peace.  Love.  Respect for all.”  And then asks,  “What could possibly go wrong?”

Fairfield Elementary, a public school located in a liberal suburb (locally, think Solon or Beachwood) has everything …more…

Roy Berko

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

In BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, Cleveland Heights native Rajiv Joseph’s, surreal dark play, ghosts roam the streets of Baghdad in 2003.   Ghosts of soldiers, citizens, zoo animals, a son of the former ruler of the country.  These ghosts are part of the vivid display of the madness of war, and what it means to be caught in the wrong place …more…

Roy Berko

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

Tracy Letts, the author of SUPERIOR DONUTS, now on stage at Dobama, is an accomplished playwright, actor, and screenwriter.  He was awarded the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for his play AUGUST:  OSAGE COUNTY.  He won a Tony Award for his portrayal of George in the recent Broadway revival of WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?.  He wrote screen adaptations for his plays:  BUG and …more…

Roy Berko

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

What are the feelings of a husband and wife when they want to conceive a child, but can’t?  What are the ramifications for that childless family when they are given the opportunity to adopt the “perfect” child?  What is it like when that family becomes aware that their child is autistic?  How do parents cope with a child who screams when …more…

BAD JEWS, bad title, bad script at Actors’ Summit

Roy Berko

Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle

Shortly into Actors’ Summit’s production of BAD JEWS, several things become obvious.  The off-setting title was not only a turn-off for many, but was misleading.  Secondly,  author Joshua Harmon, self-admitted stumbler into the world of playwriting, may need a re-thinking about his career.

On the surface, the play has been described as a black comedy …more…

Roy Berko

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

William Shakespeare is considered by most experts on English language theatre as being the greatest of all writers.  His vast folio of plays, consisting of tragedies, comedies, histories and dramas have lasted for over four hundred years.  He is one of the few writers who has theatres, let alone festivals, dedicated exclusively to his works.

One of his last solo-written plays was …more…

Roy Berko

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

As the lights came up at the start of Cleveland Play House’s VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, the audience is exposed to a comfortable large morning room, backed up by a piano area, and stairs to an upstairs.  On stage left is a patio, on stage right the house’s entrance.  Were in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a home situated on …more…

Roy Berko

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

To resounding applause, Gina Vernaci, the Executive Producer of Playhouse Square, the woman responsible for cobbling together each year’s Key Bank Broadway Series, announced at the local KINKY BOOTS’ press opening, that Cleveland’s 32,000 subscribers constituted the largest body of audience for any of the toured Broadway cities.  What she didn’t share was that almost all the tickets for the local run …more…

Beck’s LEND ME A TENOR, farce at its funny best!

Roy Berko

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

Some people go to the theatre to be educated.  Some go to see/listen to a pleasing combination of music and lyrics enclosed in a story.  Others go to just have a good time.  The latter group should run to their phones or computers right now and make reservations for LEND ME A TENOR.  …more…

Roy Berko

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

One of the major issues in watching a historidrama is figuring out what is real, what is fiction, and what is fantasy. This is especially the case in Lucas Hnath’s ISAAC’S EYE, now on stage at convergence-continuum. Between the laughs and mumbles of “I didn’t know that,” “wow,” and, “no way,” it’s easy to get lost in intrapersonal mumblings.

Before probing into Lucas …more…

Roy Berko

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

In October of 2012, when Cleveland Public Theatre first staged, STANDING ON CEREMONY THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS, “same sex marriage was legal in nine states (Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington and the District of Columbia).”  At the same time, “30 states had added language to their constitutions banning same-sex marriage.”

On October 18, while the …more…

Roy Berko

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

Gina Gionfriddo, the author of BECKY SHAW, now on stage at Dobama Theatre, is one of the new breed of playwrights who reflect topics relevant to today, cleverly construct their writings, and uses language that shimmers with naturalism.  They don’t use stage language or formats like Arthur Miller or Eugene O’Neill, or the oft-present symbolism of Tennessee Williams, nor the existential philosophy …more…

Compelling THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE at Cleveland Play House

Roy Berko

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

It is the intent of theater to educate and entertain, and, in the case of some special offerings, enrapture.  Such a piece of theater is THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE, now on stage at Cleveland Play House.

THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE, adapted and directed by pianist and musicologist Hershey Felder, tells the tale …more…

DIRTY DANCING disappoints at the Conner Palace Theatre

Roy Berko

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

DIRTY DANCING, THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE, which is now in production at the Connor Palace transports the audience back to the summer of 1963.  As is the custom of many well-to-do Jewish New York City families of that time, the Housemans have escaped for the summer to the Catskill Mountains, home of the Borscht …more…

Roy Berko

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

Mystery books are the second highest money-making genre in literature, only exceeded by Romance/Erotica.  They are the highest rated television demand topic.

Building on the desire of readers and viewers, Great Lakes Theater has included a “who done-it” in each of their last two seasons.  Both DEATHTRAP and THE MOUSETRAP met with audience approval.  Their present offerings, DIAL “M” FOR MURDER, should …more…

Roy Berko

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

One of the major purposes of collegiate musical theater programs, besides teaching acting, singing and dancing skills, is to expand student knowledge of not only traditional, but new scripts.  Kent State is offering its students such an opportunity by presenting MY HEART IS THE DRUM.

Though the Jennie Redling (book), Phillip Palmer (music and original concept) and Stacey Luftig (lyrics) musical has been …more…

DOGFIGHT fails to live up to Beck-Baldwin Wallace past productions

Roy Berko

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

Beck Center for the Arts and Baldwin Wallace’s Musical Theatre Program have, for the past four years, collaborated to produce some outstanding productions.  CARRIE, SPRING AWAKENING and NEXT TO NORMAL all received Cleveland Critic Circle and Times Tribute recognitions.

Unfortunately, this year’s offering, DOGFIGHT, probably won’t get such attention.  It’s not that the production …more…

Roy Berko

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

FIRE ON WATER is the fourth play in Cleveland Public Theatre’s Elements Cycle, plays about the environment.  According to Artistic Director, Raymond Bogban, the plays were not created “to preach or propagandize.  We wanted to make plays that explored our ongoing efforts to understand and transform our relationship with the world.”  The presentations have done that, with varying degrees of artistic …more…

Roy Berko

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

PIPPIN, the Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Roger O. Hirson (book) magical show is now on stage at The Palace Theatre.  It tells a modern version of the mythical tale of Pippin, the oldest son of King Charlemagne, and his search for purpose and identity.

The clarion song of the show, and one of my favorite tunes from any Broadway musical, is …more…

Roy Berko

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

Thurgood Marshall has been called the “greatest lawyer of the 20th Century,” “Mr. Civil Rights,” and is credited with doing “more than any other American to lift the burden of racism from our society.”    It is only appropriate that his life and judicial story be told during Black History month.  Ensemble is doing exactly that by presenting multi-award winner George Stevens, …more…

Roy Berko

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

Cleveland Play House has in its recent history included small cast musicals in its offerings. Those shows included TAPPIN’ THROUGH LIFE (Maurice Hines), BREATH AND IMAGINATION (Roland Hayes), WOODY SEZ;  LIFE AND MUSIC OF WOODY GUTHRIE (Woody Guthrie), THE DEVIL’S MUSIC:  THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BESSIE SMITH (Bessie Smith), and ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN (Janis Joplin).  Each told a story …more…

Roy Berko

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

On June 15, 2015, Karamu, the country’s oldest continuously performing Black Theatre, will celebrate its 100th birthday.

As part of the celebration year, the theatre is reviving some of its most notable productions.  Therefore, it is entirely appropriate that August Wilson’s personal favorite play in his “The Pittsburgh Cycle,”  JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE, be performed.

Wilson was one of America’s best known African-American …more…