Though Kim’s Convenience, now having its run at Center Theatre Group, is enjoyable in its many funny and touching moments, Ins Choi‘s 2011 play is very much outdated in its necessity to showcase Korean identity and culture that is completely catered to white people.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Kim’s Convenience’”
A fantastic all-Filipino cast cannot hide the simple fact that Here Lies Love, now having its West Coast premiere at Center Theatre Group, is a shallow, poorly written musical with relentless static disco tunes. It is also absolutely confused in whether they want to glorify their subject Imelda Marcos or warn about the dangers of fascism.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Here Lies Love’”
& Juliet, now performing in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre on their national tour, is a bombastic jukebox musical combo of Shakespeare and ‘90s and 2000s pop music that will leave a gigantic smile on your face when you leave the theatre.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘& Juliet’”
To the Los Angeles theatre community, I love you and I adore you. I’ve been part of you for the past 15 years and despite the many challenges I have come across when it comes to meaningful representation and opportunities, I will always cherish the countless memories we have experienced and will continue to experience together as an artist and as a critic. But I think it’s time we desperately need to talk about the one subject that you have been avoiding for so long — Palestine.
Continue reading “Los Angeles Theatre, Let’s Talk About Palestine”
With the promise of Center Theatre Group‘s Hamlet (both adapted and directed by Robert O’Hara) being bold and daring for the new generation, it is odd to say that despite a very able and entertaining cast and some novel ideas, this production could do without the first half entirely and leave just the second half. And even then, it still doesn’t quite fulfill the promise of being bold or daring. Was it entertaining? Sure. Was it necessary? No.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Hamlet’”
Throughout my teenage years as well as adulthood, I have never read Yann Martel‘s Life of Pi or seen the 2012 Ang Lee film adaptation so coming into the Broadway touring production of this staged adaptation at the Center Theatre Group here in Los Angeles was a wonderful surprise with a truly meaningful diverse ensemble cast, incredible puppetry and visuals, and a moving story (which has been beautifully adapted for the stage by Lolita Chakrabarti) that makes you question how you look at your own life.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Life of Pi’”
The satirical farce genre isn’t commonly utilized for global majority stories but it is always most welcome to see. Such is the case for the world premiere of Larissa FastHorse‘s Fake It Until You Make It at the Center Theatre Group (in association with Arena Stage) which sets its story in the Indigenous non-profit sector in the most wacky manner. While it is occasionally rough and uneven in terms of the comedic writing, the play is overall a romping good time that has some wonderful physical comedy moments to be remembered for.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Fake It Until You Make It’”
The Green Day album American Idiot was one of the most influential rock albums that affected our lives in ways too numerous to count. Considering the album structure, it also wasn’t a surprise that it easily converted into a musical that has been a riveting Tony and GRAMMY award-winning success since 2009.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘American Idiot’”
In what may be a first for me reviewing Los Angeles theatre is reviewing a dance performance or in this case with The 7 Fingers (also known as Les 7 doigts de la main), a circus troupe that makes their Center Theatre Group debut with Duel Reality, their acrobatic tour-de-force for all ages inspired by the star-crossed tale of Romeo and Juliet. Fusing circus, theatre, illusion, music, and dance, the show was an utterly delightful and breathtaking work of art that cannot be missed with the “cast” that’s mostly comprised of artists of global majority.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: “Duel Reality””
I was today’s years old in learning that the staged version of the cult classic 1985 movie Clue has only really been around for seven years or so as the ridiculously over the top film seemed like the perfect material to be adapted into stage well before that.
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Clue’”
I’m always wary when there’s any production lauded with so much critical praise and attention that I lower my expectations significantly, especially when they come straight from Broadway (I can’t help it, I’m fiercely proud of my local Los Angeles theatre community and the talents they offer).
Continue reading “A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘A Strange Loop’”
Los Angeles theater survives and thrives on community collaboration now more than ever. In conjunction with AAPI Heritage Month, Chalk Repertory Theatre will present the world premiere of PANG SPA directed by Reena Dutt in collaboration with EST/LA’s world premiere production of TWO STOP directed by Tracey A. Leigh.
Continue reading “Chalk Repertory & Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA Present World Premiere Companion Productions”