The egos of two highly competitive divas make it impossible for Mr. Dunlap, the hotel manager, to control a situation that quickly spirals into a wild and wickedly funny chaos in Michael McKeever’s “Suite Surrender.” Claudia McFadden demands top billing in a USO fund-raiser for WWII military. She also insists that white roses fill her …
Read moreCurtain Call: A ‘suite’ surprise in Brookfield farce
Long Wharf, New Haven: Sharon has retired from marriage (divorced) and now needs a roommate to help fill the emptiness she feels in her large Iowa home. She’s 50-something and she wants a roommate about the same age. Robyn arrives from the Big Apple and though the ages are similar, they exemplify total misfits. Sharon …
Read moreCurtain Call: The Roommate or what’s dormant comes alive
Phoenix Stage Company, Oakville: Anyone who has a sister can imagine what would happen when eight sisters get together every other Friday night to play bridge. Stories are going to be shared, gossip will make the round; and sparks will fly. So it is with The Octette Bridge Club, when eight Irish Catholic sisters come …
Read moreCurtain Call: Phoenix deals eight hearts — all winners
Phoenix Stage Company, Oakville/Naugatuck: Mystery fans rejoice. The Phoenix Stage Company has a mystery thriller on the boards that will have you sitting at the edge of your seat but only when you’re not laughing out loud. Playwright James Yaff has managed to create an intelligent mystery spiked with plenty of humor. It’s like the …
Eastbound Theatre, Milford: If you haven’t been to Eastbound Theatre lately, there’s something very new going on. On Friday and Saturday performances, the theater offers cabaret seating and BYO-Everything. There’s also wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks available in the theater’s lounge. I can’t think of a more perfect way to sit back and enjoy …
Read moreCurtain Call: Eastbound Theatre happily wagging its tail
Landmark Community Theatre, Thomaston Opera House: Unless you’ve really been off the planet, you have to be aware of how political everything has become. Whether it’s the White House, the NFL, or an awards ceremony, politics is blatantly in our faces. Theater is no exception. The choices artistic directors make and the direction a production …
Read moreCurtain Call: Cabaret darker and without enough edge
Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven: Is anyone safe anywhere? Doubly charged with timeliness and believability, there’s nowhere to hide once the shooting starts in Julia Cho’s play Office Hour. Since we can’t hide from it (the violence, the racism, the pain), we ought to address it. “Looking at this thing and not turning out, or …
Read moreCurtain Call: Of active shooters, guns, and violence
Seven Angels Theatre, Waterbury: “Nunsense” fans rejoice. Remember “Nunsense,” the first nun sensation musical by Dan Goggin, which starred Semina DeLaurentis — Seven Angels artistic director? Well, in that episode, Sister Amnesia finally realized that she won a fortune. Since then the nuns were able to build a cable access studio in the basement of …
There are universal truths about best friends. They trust each other, confide to one another and create strong bonds that often last for a lifetime. Adapted from Chaim Potok’s novel and adapted for the stage by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok, The Chosen shows how two enemies become best friends. Two Jewish fathers and their …
Read moreCurtain Call: The Chosen is a perfect pick for Hanukkah and the holiday season
Town Players Little Theatre, Newtown: In keeping with the season, Town Players Little Theatre of Newtown produced a most appropriate play “The Trip to Bountiful” by playwright Horton Foote. This is the story of Carrie Watts, an old widow who desperately wants to return to her home in Bountiful, Texas. She has been living with …
Read moreCurtain Call: There’s no place like home especially in Bountiful