Review

March 9, 2010 - 10:27am
The Syracuse run of Lookingglass Alice alley-oops, flies and tumbles triumphantly into our hearts — all with just five people on stage.

Lookingglass Alice is writer-director David Catlin’s acrobatic re-imagining of Lewis Carroll’s beloved Alice’s Adventures in WonderlandThrough the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, now playing at Syracuse Stage. Based more on the latter story, Catlin charts Alice’s progression from pawn to queen (or metaphorically from child to woman) and in 90 minutes gives audiences a gasp-inducing, awe-inspiring visual and aural treat.

November 27, 2009 - 11:15am
A review of "Wishful Drinking," a one-woman show performed by Carrie Fisher at Studio 54 in New York City.

About halfway through “Wishful Drinking” one begins to wonder for whom the show is intended.  Traditionally, theatre is performed to bring about an emotional response from the audience but “Wishful Drinking” balances that purpose with the needs of its creator and star.  The one-woman show is a vehicle for Carrie Fisher to take control of her demons by confronting them—in full view of an audience.    

October 2, 2009 - 2:17pm
NBC's new prime time comedy series is already winning me over.

After only three episodes, I have high hopes for NBC's new comedy series about life at a community college. “Community,” created by Dan Harmon, is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, of  “Arrested Development,” (which, in my opinion, is hands-down the most brilliant comedy to ever grace prime time television.)

September 29, 2009 - 10:45pm
Review: 'Huacho' depicts rural Latin America in an honest and emotional way.

There’s a scene in Huacho, the feature-length debut from Chilean director Alejandro Almendras, when the camera closes in on the face of an elderly woman selling blocks of homemade cheese by the side of the road. The shot is held for an unconventionally long time, with no movement or dialogue to break up the seconds ticking by. But in those moments, the audience is able to read the hard-earned wrinkles on the woman’s face, and we can begin to absorb the profundity of a life where a...