Theatre: ‘The Lion King’
I actually wasn’t allowed to watch PG-13 movies until I was 13 — thanks, Mom — so I was raised on Disney. With such a Walt-orchestrated childhood, I was expecting “The Lion King” musical to be perfect.
broadway
‘War Horse’ shines in artistry, not storytelling
The new SHN production of “War Horse” in San Francisco is all spectacle: amazing lights, sounds, sets, song and staging, as well as some impressive life-sized horse puppets operated by multiple puppeteers. “War Horse” is the epic story of a boy and his horse before and during World War I and tells of how both sides took turns caring for and loving the horse; if you saw the Spielberg film last year, this is a less polished version of the story. The play, however, equals, if not exceeds, the extravagance and drama of the film.
SF Playhouse’s take on ‘My Fair Lady’ a must see
SF Playhouse, a small theater company that has been consistently producing some of the best productions in the Bay Area, does it again with director Bill English’s reinterpretation of the classic Broadway musical “My Fair Lady.”
Solid ‘Story’ in San Jose
When “West Side Story” opens, we are introduced to two New York street gangs: the Sharks and the Jets. And they’re dancing with fisticuffs. It takes a few minutes to get used to the fact that the stage-fights will be dance-fights, but once you do, you know you’re in for a ride. The cast of this Broadway revival tour in San Jose can definitely dance. This is a show with a story told largely through song and dance; it’s physical and visceral and, for the most part, it’s done pretty darn well.
Avenue Q and A
Intended for mature audiences only, “Avenue Q” is chock-full of inappropriate, crude and raunchy dialogue, not to mention a sex scene. That’s right–full puppet nudity.