Category Archives: Reviews

September 22, 2022 · 3:43 pm

SWEAT Quick Review

SWEAT presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through Oct. 9. I attended the opening night performance. 

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Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia, Mierka “Mookie” Girten as Tracey, Ollie Corchado as Oscar, and Allen R. Middleton as Stan. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

It is not very often I leave a theatre as energized as I did last night’s opening at ETC. SWEAT is simply damn good theatre.

The foundation is the excellent, Pulitzer prize-winning script by Lynn Nottage (Intimate Apparel and Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine), giving face and voice to the blue-collar workers impacted by America’s economic decline.

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Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia and Mierka “Mookie” Girten as Tracey. Photo by Ryan Kurtz

The characters are believable, easily relatable, and played brilliantly by the near-perfect ensemble. While the dialogue is very conversational, the performances and pacing easily draw you into the story. Director Darnell Pierre Benjamin takes full advantage of his cast and set, expertly using both to bring this story to the stage.

The set is amazing and so realistic looking that you believe you in a bar, allowing the audience to effortlessly be transported into the story. Excellent work by Brian c. Mehring (set and lighting designer), Shannon Rae Lutz (properties curator/design assistant), and Rae Kuhn (scenic charge/production assistant). The costumes by Jerrilyn Lanier Duckworth are well-suited to the characters and the time period.

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Charlie Cromer as Jason, Allen R. Middleton as Stan, and Jay Wade as Chris. Photo by Ryan Kurtz

I do want to circle back around and again praise the cast as a whole (Burgess C. Byrd as Cynthia, Ollie Corchado as Oscar, Charlie Cromer as Jason, Denise Dal Vera as Jessie, Mierka Girten as Tracey, Allen R. Middleton as Stan, “ranney” as Brucie, Derek Snow as Evan & Jay Wade as Chris). There are so many little moments by and between the characters that make SWEAT such a rich experience.

Overall, ETC’s production of SWEAT needs to be seen and will easily stand as one of the best productions of the 2022-2023 season.

My rating: 5.0 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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September 8, 2022 · 4:15 pm

HAMILTON Quick Review

HAMILTON presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through Oct. 2. I attended the opening Wednesday performance. 

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Angelica National Tour Company. Photo by Joan Marcus.

In case you somehow haven’t heard, HAMILTON makes its sophomore stop in Cincinnati for four weeks at the Aronoff Center.

For those who have not seen it yet, HAMILTON is a juggernaut of a show from the opening note to its final gasp. For the performance I attended, several roles shifted to stand-bys and swings, which is always exciting to experience.

This was my second time seeing it on stage and I enjoyed having the opportunity to focus a bit more on the big picture; seeing how all the elements (set, lights, costumes, blocking and choreography) compliment each other so well. Even the precise use of the turntable is incredibly intricate and adds so much visually to the production.

Edred Utomi is very enjoyable in the title role, bringing a great energy to the youthful man we meet in act I and a grounded yet somewhat world-weary older version in act II. There were times I struggled hearing his lighter singing voice. Also strong was Neptune in the role of George Washington. Zoe Jensen is wonderful in her portrayal of Eliza Hamilton. Her vocals in “Burn” and the “Finale” were strong and emotionally moving. Yana Peffault impresses with her smoky, sultry vocals as Maria Reynolds. A special shout-out to the incredibly hard working and talented members of the ensemble that serve as the foundation of this show.

Overall, the production is stunning: in content, in talent and in presentation. The staging and choreography breaks convention and is engrossing for the same reason. Truly a unique show.

My rating: 4.75 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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August 23, 2022 · 1:41 pm

ALL YOUR FRIENDS ARE DEAD Quick Review

MISC_All Your Friends are Dead promoOkay, gang: I’m stepping out of my usual comfort zone for a local movie review.

I caught ALL YOUR FRIENDS ARE DEAD at a preview on August 11th. You can see the one-night-only local premiere this Thursday, Aug. 25th at 8pm at the Esquire Theatre in Clifton.

Think Friday the 13th meets The Big Chill as a group of high school friends reunite decades later in the very woods where they were last together as a group.

Produced on a shoe-string budget, AYFAD is written and co-directed by local comedian Ricky Glore who also plays Matt, a former wrestling star who peaked in his “glory days” of high school. A drunken email to members of his high school “pack” serves as the imputes for the reunion. Little do they know a killer is among them.

Glore’s fondness for the genre is easily evident. The movie is a bit more comical than you normally get with a slasher film, with some fun over-the-top characters and a cornucopia of grisly, blood-spattering deaths that you come to expect in a slasher film.

If I would have one complaint, it felt like Matt’s downward spiral was given a bit too much screen time that might have been better spent fleshing out the backstory of the remainder of the “pack.” Once the deaths start, they come fast and furious as the movie charges to its resolution. Don’t miss the obligatory credits scene and a promise of a sequel in ALL YOUR FRIENDS ARE DEAD TOO.

Overall a low-budget, tongue-in-cheek slash fest that shows promise from all those involved.

Click here for more information on the Aug. 25th premiere at the Esquire Theatre

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August 17, 2022 · 11:47 am

GEORGE REMUS, a New Musical Quick Review

GEORGE REMUS, a New Musical presented by The Carnegie through Aug. 28. I attended the opening Sunday performance. Please note that GEORGE REMUS, a New Musical is being done in rotation with INTO THE WOODS and RENT.

TC_George Remus1The Carnegie completes its summer theatrical hat-trick with the enjoyable staging of a new musical showcasing Cincinnati’s “King of the Bootleggers.”

Mike Sherman is excellent in the titular role, bringing a great balance of arrogance and charm to the character. Eliza Levy, who stood out in the ensemble of RENT, shines as Remus’ money-loving second wife, Imogene. Kate Mock Elliott makes some fun choices in her portrayal of Mabel Walker Willebrandt, the U.S. Assistant Attorney General doggedly pursuing Remus. From top to bottom, the cast boasts solid performances and strong vocals throughout.

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Tyler J. Martin as Franklin Dodge, Eliza Levy as Imogene Remus, and Michael Sherman as George Remus. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.

The music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman are well-suited to the show and time-period. It would have been nice to have a number or two that more strongly integrated with the script to forward the action a bit more. “There Once Was a King” is pretty, but it and its variations became a bit repetitive for me.

The script by Joe McDonough is well-done and engaging, certainly piquing my interest in the character and his history. I did find it odd that Ned Gillespie’s fate was not mentioned in the final moments and, unable to find anything about him online I can only assume the character was created for the musical. If that is the case, I’m not sure his relationship subplot is worth the time it takes away from Remus’ story. Also if what I found online is correct, the changing of the confrontation in Eden Park doesn’t well-reflect the animosity between the George and Imogene.

Overall a strong and engaging look at one of Cincinnati’s most notorious criminals.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Please note that tickets for GEORGE REMUS are selling extremely well and only four performances remain.

I’d also like to say congratulations to Theatre Director Maggie Perrino and everyone involved with The Carnegie’s Summer Series for their success on what is hopefully an inaugural repertory line-up. All three productions featured excellent casting with a super talented core of performers plus show specific-additions. Further scenic designer Tyler Gabbard should be praised for the ingenious versatility of his set design across all three shows.

Click here for more information on the production.

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August 16, 2022 · 11:26 am

SUNRISE COVEN Quick Review

SUNRISE COVEN presented by Know Theatre of Cincinnati through Aug. 28. I attended the opening night performance. 

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Denisa Dal Vera as Hallie, Julie Sonia Locker as Winter Moon & Ryan-Chavez Richmond as Ethan. Photo by Dan R Winters.jpg

Know Theatre kicks off their 25th anniversary season with a surprising and entertaining play SUNRISE COVEN.

Director Holly L. Derr shows a deft hand in managing the quirky but human characters that populate this small Texas town. The set design by Andrew Hungerford works well as the action switches between the hospital and the New Age shop, and serves as a great backdrop for the projected images. Stage manager Grace Wohlschlegel (from her tower at the back of the theater) and the cast handle the choreographed set changes well keep the show moving forward. Danielle Robison’s scenic artistry and prop work really do well in defining the two play spaces and the angel statue was hilarious.

The strong cast is led by Denise Del Vera as Hallie. I enjoyed the bite and weariness that she brought to the character. She easily conveys why the residents of this small Texas town have such an admiration for her and is believable in dealing with the unexpected road she finds her life going down.

Resa Mishina is a welcome newcomer to the Know stage as Annie who can barely contain her fan-girl excitement at meeting her medical idol, Hallie. Mishina brings a fun, barely contained energy to the role, but also handles the confrontation with Hallie well. There were a couple of times when Annie talked so fast that I had trouble understanding what was being said.

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Julie Sonia Locker as Winter Moon. Photo by Dan R Winters.jpg

Julie Locker has a nice energy in the role of witchy new age shop owner Winter Moon. I would have liked to have a seen a bit more passion in the defense of her beliefs as I didn’t feel she always believed what she was selling, so to speak.

Ryan-Chavez Richmond is enjoyable as Hallie’s literal partner in crime, Ethan. While his anger issues are addressed, for the most part Ethan seems to be on a pretty even keel for the most part. It would have been nice to see him struggle to contain that anger here and there, making his actual explosion a bit more logical. I also felt that Ethan and Hallie could have had a nice little emotional moment on their final exit from the shop.  

Michael Burnham was fun as Jax and his line upon being woken-up in the hospital brought back some fond memories of my dad. I enjoyed his performance, but he was a bit too soft-spoken that even in the third row I had to strain to catch some of his lines.

Overall, a quirky, smart, and fun production.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

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