Theatre reviews by Makayla Hoppe
Theatre that forces us to address life’s challenges can sometimes be the most rewarding. For “Redwood” at La Jolla Playhouse, the story takes us along a woman’s journey to face insurmountable grief. The story directly addresses the loss of a loved one, to the point where the actors sing, “Everybody dies.” It might be counterintuitive... Continue Reading →
A good period piece should transform our modern-day lives into a dreamy world of romance, scandal, drama and wit, even for a moment. The Old Globe’s current production of “The Age of Innocence,” adapted by Karen Zacarías, fails to deliver that dreamy drama. The show is a contemporary look at the 1920 novel of the... Continue Reading →
The skirts are short, and the legs are long. Broadway's national tour of "Chicago" made its stop at San Diego's Civic Theatre and delivered "all that jazz" and more. In a sense, the show is very traditional. There are all the songs we know and love, and the story of Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart... Continue Reading →
The walls are dingy. They’ve seen years of tobacco and stale air permeated with the wafting scent of strong booze and jazz. This seedy bar is the setting for “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” a snapshot of one of Billie Holiday’s final performances. Set in 1959, the play by Lanie Robertson shows an... Continue Reading →
To See or Not To See 