Wednesday, March 13,2013

The mystery of history

MSU Summer Circle finds comic adventure in 'On the Verge'

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

Friday, June 15 — If you’re a lover of words, rhymes, wordplay and linguistic acrobatics, you will relish “On the Verge, Or The Geography of Yearning.” You might call its script stunningly imaginative.

Lessons out of school

Devin Faught delivers as restless teacher in LCC’s ‘Theophilus North’

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

Because Lansing Community College’s current outdoor theatre production is mostly in the hands of 11 students and three graduates of the school’s Second Semester Theatre Studio, many of them with little or no acting experience, watching “Theophilus North” could easily have felt like a class exercise or final exam. But it didn’t.

Starlight takes the 'Cake'

Zany 'Red Velvet' is a country-fried crowd pleaser

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

“I’ll tell you exactly how, Miss Sour Britches! Oh, I’m hosting this reunion all right, and it’s gonna be the best one in Verdeen family history. And it’ll be a really good time for a change, unlike the constipated snooze-fests you throw every year. And you know what? I’ll bake Uncle Aubrey the most incredible red velvet cake he’s ever laid tongue to! And you’ll just have to shut your yap and accept it.”

Read more Read it in print

Wednesday, March 21,2012

Checkout time

Admirable intentions lead to sadly awkward results in a slow-moving comedy

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

For one thing, it’s their first show in the Curry Street Theatre, LCP’s new home at 6025 Curry Lane in Lansing. Second, it’s the show that might have turned around their slipping reputation after a series of flops and cancellations and restored the confidence of long-time theatergoers who want to see this 83-year-old grande dame of Lansing community theater make a comeback.

Read more Read it in print

Wednesday, February 29,2012

Two points

Riverwalk double feature unites the Sprague family — and marks director Bill Helder's swan song

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

That BoarsHead production was the world premiere of the full version of Kent R. Brown’s drama, which tells the story of angry and disillusioned Randy, about to leave home but meeting his father, Dexter, a difficult man with secrets, on the basketball court for a last game.

Read more Read it in print

Wednesday, February 8,2012

Risky business

Despite a few star players, Holt-Dimondale's ‘Company’ doesn't work

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

Why would that be when you’re dealing with the work of a dominant artistic force like Sondheim and a potentially exciting (if somewhat dated) show like “Company?” And also, how can that be when you have some of the biggest and best names in community theater in the cast?

Read more Read it in print

Wednesday, December 28,2011

Theater: Stormfield's 'Heroes' was a triumph

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

My favorite show of 2011 was Stormfield Theatre's "Heroes," a play in which all the major elements of what makes fine theater came perfectly together.

Read more Read it in print

Wednesday, November 9,2011

War of words

The laughs are lacerating in wonderfully played ‘God of Carnage’

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

Originally written in Review French and translated by Christopher Hampton, Carnage was a major success in Zürich, Paris, London and New York.

Read more Read it in print

Wednesday, October 19,2011

Pure passion

MSU’s ‘Streetcar’ takes you on a thrilling ride through a masterpiece

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

Right. What do you do with a 64-year-old play that almost everyone knows something about? A play that’s been described as the best play of the 20th century, that’s won every award imaginable and that’s had countless adaptations in film, opera, television and ballet?.

Read more Read it in print

Wednesday, August 10,2011

Lacerating 'Laughter'

The battle of the sexes leads to bruising comedy in Riverwalk production

by UTE VON DER HEYDEN

The Woman says, "I want to talk to you about life. It’s just too difficult to be alive, isn’t it, and try to function?” Later on, we hear: “Have you all wondered why sexual intercourse sometimes makes you want to commit...

Read more Read it in print