Theatre reviews by Makayla Hoppe
Over the years of its many productions, Cygnet Theatre has returned time and time again to the great works of Stephen Sondheim. From "A Little Night Music" to "Sweeney Todd" and "Assassins," the company continues to successfully and beautifully produce the works of one of Broadway's greatest composers. It's fitting that Cygnet has selected another... Continue Reading →
Based on the French novel “Réparer les vivants” by Maylis de Kerangal, La Jolla Playhouse’s musical adaptation, “The Heart,” follows the events of a heart transplant within a 24-hour window. The show opens by introducing Simon (Zachary Noah Piser), a young San Diegan who spends his early mornings surfing. What follows is a tragic car... Continue Reading →
This new adaptation from the screen to the stage has proven successful so far, and PowPAC's production is well done. The show runs until Aug. 17 and is a fulfilling theatrical contribution to Poway and the surrounding San Diego area.
Following the 1997 animated film of the same name, "Anastasia: The Musical," currently playing at Moonlight Stage Productions, brings the mysterious disappearance of the Grand Duchess to life with brilliant sets, costumes and performances. Nine years after the Russian Revolution, word has spread around Leningrad that the young Anastasia may have escaped her family's fate.... Continue Reading →
For Backyard Renaissance's production of "A Streetcar Named Desire," director Rob Lutfy and the entire talented cast have rethought this pillar of American theatre into a successful, original new take. The show manages to stay true to its roots while also imparting a modern and inventive view of these memorable characters and story. Simply put, the production is outstanding.
"Indian Princesses" had its opening night show on Father's Day, and it could not have been more perfect. It is a celebration of cultural understanding, female friendships and parental struggles, making for a fun and thoughtful evening at the theatre.
Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" never included a formal ball with S&M leather, but "Regency Girls" at The Old Globe delivers just that. The anachronistic new musical takes Regency-era England and pins it against the modern parallel of reproductive freedom and a woman's right to choose. Elinor Benton finds herself pregnant and unwed; she is... Continue Reading →
Diversionary Theatre cordially invites you to a dinner party. A mother, son and son-in-law will regale you with stories of childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and every moment in between. That's what "We Are Continuous" feels like--a seat at a familial dinner party. Written by Harrison David Rivers and directed by Kian Kline-Chilton, the play breaks... Continue Reading →
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson passed the Hart-Cellars Act. The law abolished the National Origins Formula, which sought to preserve American homogeneity by encouraging immigration from Western Europe. By abolishing the National Origins Formula, the Hart-Cellars Act opened doors and promoted immigration from Eastern and Northern Europe, as well as Asia and other non-Western... Continue Reading →
Horror is a tough genre to crack. It is wildly successful in novels, sometimes successful in film (the Academy doesn't tend to recognize horror all that often), and not very familiar to modern theatre-goers. However, when a story is captivating enough, it'll enthrall any audience, and this is particularly true for Stephen King's "Misery," which... Continue Reading →
To See or Not To See 