All stories by Robert Crew on BroadwayStars

Friday, July 31, 2015

Intelligent Homosexual's Guide at the Shaw Festival: review by Robert Crew

With clear-sighted direction from Eda Holmes and wonderful acting, Tony Kushner play has masterpiece stamped all over it.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 11:03AM
Sunday, July 19, 2015

Actors, director make most of challenging Comedy of Errors: review by Robert Crew

Shakespeare play is based on one extended joke that can confound modern audiences.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 10:39AM
Friday, July 17, 2015

A thought-provoking approach to Julius Caesar: review by Robert Crew

Shakespeare in High Park production, directed by Estelle Shook, relates ancient Rome to present-day Canada.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 11:53AM
Sunday, June 7, 2015

Driving Miss Daisy is enjoyable but bland: review by Robert Crew

This 30-year-old play about a friendship that transcends all barriers, directed by Philip Akin, could have been more satisfying than it is.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 05:02PM
Saturday, May 9, 2015

Bedroom Farce farcical for wrong reasons by Robert Crew

One of the major problems with the performance is that almost everyone overplays every aspect of their characters and it is shout, shout, shout.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 08:26PM
Friday, May 1, 2015

Tarragon's Much Ado About Nothing not just Bollywood Shakespeare: review by Robert Crew

Richard Rose convincingly and compellingly examines how a different culture reacts to the familiar tale.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 04:00PM
Friday, April 24, 2015

George F. Walker brings his biting satire to education system: Review by Robert Crew

There is humour and deep sadness in Parents Night and The Bigger Issue, at Theatre Passe Muraille until May 17.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 02:34PM
Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Women of Hooked not an inspiring bunch: review by Robert Crew

Nicky Guadagni pours her heart into play, but do we need to hear from people like murderess Myra Hindley and crazed aristocrat Unity Mitford?

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 02:49PM
Monday, April 20, 2015

Little Death sounds more interesting than it is: review by Robert Crew

Talented women can’t do much with roles in Daniel Karasik play about a man who philanders while facing a terminal illness.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 03:53PM
Thursday, February 19, 2015

The Sound of Cracking Bones: review by Robert Crew

The obscenity of child soldiers provides the angry spark for Suzanne Lebeau’s The Sound of Cracking Bones at Theatre Passe Muraille.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:02AM
Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Cannibal! The Musical gory excess and all farce all the time: Review by Robert Crew

Elicia MacKenzie is a strong-voiced Polly and Liam Tobin packs charisma as Alferd Packer, but a couple of scenes are in extremely questionable taste.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 03:05PM
Saturday, February 14, 2015

Soulpepper play balances nostalgia with honesty by Robert Crew

Actors gracefully navigate their way through more than 50 roles, past and present, in A.R. Gurney's The Dining Room.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:01AM
Thursday, February 12, 2015

Abyss a convoluted love triangle: review by Robert Crew

One character's main dramatic purpose seems to be telling, in grim, lurid detail, how to kill, skin and cook a rabbit.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 05:31PM
Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The Dog and the Angel eager to please but not that bright: review by Robert Crew

Theatre for young audiences doesn’t have to turn its back on notions of subtlety and intelligence in the name of broad entertainment.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 05:00PM
Thursday, December 4, 2014

Moral ground is forever shifting in Blackbird: review by Robert Crew

A passionate affair between a 40-year-old man and 12-year-old girl resurfaces 15 years later.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 11:00AM
Tuesday, December 2, 2014

James the Giant Peach gives kids something tasty to chew on: review by Robert Crew

Alessandro Costantini leads a terrific ensemble in musical adaptation of Roald Dahl story, at Young People's Theatre until Jan. 4.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 03:05PM
Friday, November 14, 2014

Not safe for work is not safe for sexists, and is worth watching by Robert Crew

The play is an edgy little satire about the continuing exploitation of women by and in the media, and the hypocrisy of those involved.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 11:23AM
Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Keep your hats on; depressing show entirely avoidable by Robert Crew

Despite the efforts of an outstanding cast, there is a sameness about the four main characters and precious little light at the end of the American tunnel

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 08:23AM
Sunday, November 9, 2014

Arcadia a mind-stretching tour de force: Review by Robert Crew

In Tom Stoppard’s dazzling play, the scholarly hunt for “the truth” is only the tip of the iceberg.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 10:34PM
Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Bakelite Masterpiece a convincing portrait: review by Robert Crew

A masterpiece it is not, but The Bakelite Masterpiece is a good and thoughtful piece of writing, acted with considerable skill.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 03:07PM
Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Review: the story of Marc Chagall and his muse, from her point of view by Robert Crew

Bella provides an unusual glimpse into the heart of a brilliant, selfless woman

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 08:18AM
Saturday, October 18, 2014

Art of building a bunker fails to go deeper: review by Robert Crew

SummerWorks hit delivers impish wit, refreshing incorrectness, but plagued by logical inconsistencies.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 04:28PM
Friday, October 10, 2014

To Kill a Mockingbird in stage form still inspires by Robert Crew

Young People's Theatre production on until Nov. 2.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 06:00AM
Friday, August 15, 2014

Shakespeare in the Ruff turns ‘Cymbeline’ into broad comedy by Robert Crew

Cymbeline is usually considered one of the late Romances or so-called problem plays. The production playing in Withrow Park, though, is a comedy, pure and simple.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 01:07PM
Thursday, July 31, 2014

'Juno and the Paycock' at Shaw: heartbreaking times two by Robert Crew

Set against the backdrop of the Irish Troubles, Sean O'Casey's masterpiece belongs to Mary Haney, who brings Juno’s agony to life.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 07:56AM
Tuesday, July 29, 2014

The Mountaintop shows us the Promised Land: review by Robert Crew

Kevin Hanchard and Alana Hibbert shine in Katori Hall play about Martin Luther King Jr.'s last night on earth, at the Shaw Festival until Sept. 7

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 06:14PM
Saturday, July 5, 2014

Titus Andronicus: review by Robert Crew

Shakespeare in High Park’s production of the Bard’s crudest, bloodiest play is set in medieval Japan. But the stylizing makes the violence seem even more shocking.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 04:18PM
Friday, July 4, 2014

Shakespeare in High Park is as we like it by Robert Crew

The comedy/tragedy double bill in High Park this year is off to a solid start.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 07:37AM
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014

A conflicted verdict on Soulpepper's ‘Twelve Angry Men’ by Robert Crew

Although it feels under-rehearsed and awkward in places, Soulpepper’s production still manages to please and to entertain.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 07:52AM
Saturday, June 14, 2014

Card Table Artifice: Review by Robert Crew

World premiere of magic tricks show by David Ben premieres at Luminato.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 11:26PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards