Spotlight on Reviews

3-1/2 stars – bumped up to 4 stars!  Porchlight Theatre’s “Cabaret” is fun and entertaining yet retains its dark underpinnings of things to come: having to do with the Nazis’ rise to power in Germany in the 1930s. With hummable music by Kander and Ebb and a remarkable book by Joe Masteroff, the singing, dancing, and acting in this show are terrific—and many elements are exceptional.

**** Highly Recommended **** Fans of the beloved TV show "The Golden Girls" will love "The Golden Gals Live!"  While we were chatting at intermission, a friend – who’s a GG aficionado – told me that all the lines in Act I were taken directly from the show, but weren’t always in the same order.  From a personal perspective, since I was only an occasional viewer, I can’t dispute that.  I must say, however, that this cast has the characterizations down pat.  This is a comedy that anyone – TV viewer or not – will enjoy.  The cast is terrific and the laughs are real!  4 Spotlights

5 Stars! Highly Recommended!  Juicy and flavorful, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” is a treat! The acting is fantastic; the choreography is beautiful; the singing is excellent; and the music is fun and enlivening. The original Broadway musical came out in 1978, written by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson, with music and lyrics by Carol Hall. But this new production by the Theo Ubique company can boast of originality too: with both female and nonbinary characters playing the “working girls” and with lots of gender fluidity: men playing women’s roles, women playing men’s roles, etc., and doing so convincingly. Due to the marvelous trifecta of three talented women: director Landree Fleming, choreographer Jenna Schoppe, and music director Isabella Isherwood, this largely comedic show provides an enjoyable evening’s-worth of live theatre.

**** Highly Recommended **** One of my favorite things post-Thanksgiving treats is the Towle Theater’s Fabulous 50’s Christmas.  The show is modeled on the old Perry Como/Andy Williams Christmas specials our parents/grandparents watched in the 50s.