All stories by Bill Marx on BroadwayStars

Saturday, November 6, 2021

Theater Review: “Macbeth In Stride” — Lady Macbeth Sings the Blues? Not Really by Bill Marx

As sure as "the crow/Makes wing to the rooky wood," Mrs. Macbeth is going to fall tragically short when it comes to being an inspirational role model for marginalized females everywhere. The…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 10:48AM
Friday, October 22, 2021

Theater Review: “The Chairs” — Not a Full House by Bill Marx

At the very least, Ionesco's drama about the unreality of the world should produce shudders as well as chuckles. The post Theater Review: “The Chairs” — Not a Full House appeared first…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 11:18AM
Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Theater Review: “The Sound Inside” — A Hollow Thud by Bill Marx

A hatred of self and others sits, relatively neglected, at the center of Adam Rapp's script. The post Theater Review: “The Sound Inside” — A Hollow Thud appeared first on The Arts Fuse.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 04:12PM
Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Theater Commentary: Theater in a Time of Emergency? — The Same Old Same Old by Bill Marx

Are Boston's stage critics disengaged from reality? Or is it that they are afraid to speak up? The post Theater Commentary: Theater in a Time of Emergency? — The Same Old Same Old appeared…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 04:03PM
Saturday, September 11, 2021

Theater Interview: “Moonlight Abolitionists” — Graveyard Shift by Bill Marx

"In these plays, part of my job is to unflatten history in a way that's engaging, and also shows us that it's okay for us to feel overwhelmed and confused and scared by the world -- that we'…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 02:24PM
Monday, September 6, 2021

Book Review: A Retrograde Shakespearean Shout-Out by Bill Marx

Shakespearean's version of the Bard comes off as somewhat Monty Pythonesque -- we are usually marching along with "Men Men Men." The post Book Review: A Retrograde Shakespearean Shout-Out ap…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 09:48AM
Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Theater Commentary: Healers, Cool Your Heels by Bill Marx

Throughout history, theater has been a place where the community has looked honestly at what is killing it. The post Theater Commentary: Healers, Cool Your Heels appeared first on The Arts F…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 05:18PM
Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Theater Commentary: A Time for Tragic Reflection by Bill Marx

"We can, of course, be deceived in many ways. We can be deceived by believing what is untrue, but we certainly are also deceived by not believing what is true." -- Søren Kierkegaard The po…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 01:54PM
Monday, May 3, 2021

Theater Commentary: Who’s Agitating for a “Green New Theatre”? by Bill Marx

The arrival of Groundwater Arts, and no doubt other groups to come, suggest the birth of efforts to organize artists and others to press cultural organizations to take meaningful action on t…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 12:33PM
Saturday, March 13, 2021

Theater Commentary: Where Is Our Rage? by Bill Marx

Why are Boston stages reacting so serenely to our current miasmas -- pandemical, political, economic, and spiritual. The post Theater Commentary: Where Is Our Rage? appeared first on The Ar…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 09:24AM

Arts Feature: Best Stage Productions of 2020 by Bill Marx

Our theater critics pick some of the outstanding productions of a year truncated by COVID-19. The post Arts Feature: Best Stage Productions of 2020 appeared first on The Arts Fuse.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 09:24AM
Sunday, November 17, 2019

Coming Attractions: November 17 through December 2 — What Will Light Your Fire by Bill Marx

Arts Fuse critics select the best in film, dance, visual art, theater, music, and author events for the coming weeks. The post Coming Attractions: November 17 through December 2 — What Wil…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 12:33PM
Friday, November 8, 2019

Commentary/Interview: Boston Globe Union Negotiations — Anger and Resistance Continues by Bill Marx

Those who value serious journalism (as well as the rights of journalists) should be quite worried about just how lethally Boston Globe management is attempting to undercut the newspaper's un…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 12:06PM
Sunday, November 3, 2019

Coming Attractions: November 3 through 17 — What Will Light Your Fire by Bill Marx

Arts Fuse critics select the best in film, dance, visual art, theater, music, and author events for the coming weeks. The post Coming Attractions: November 3 through 17 — What Will Light Y…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 01:03PM
Friday, November 1, 2019

Theater Review: “Triptych (Eyes of One on Another)” — Distanced Beauty? by Bill Marx

TRIPTYCH (Eyes of One on Another) serves up a cool emotional package. The post Theater Review: “Triptych (Eyes of One on Another)” — Distanced Beauty? appeared first on The Arts Fuse.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 03:48PM
Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Theater Review: “Cambodian Rock Band” — The Rhythms of Betrayal by Bill Marx

At its best, Lauren Yee’s vibrant play with music offers a compelling exploration of survivor guilt, the urge for revenge, the deforming power of the past, and the impossibility of finding…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 02:42PM
Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Theater Review: “Trayf” — By the Book of Numbers by Bill Marx

Evaluated as an empathy workout, Trayf never asks us to break a sweat. The post Theater Review: “Trayf” — By the Book of Numbers appeared first on The Arts Fuse.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 12:06PM
Sunday, October 20, 2019

Coming Attractions: October 20 through November 3 — What Will Light Your Fire by Bill Marx

Arts Fuse critics select the best in film, dance, visual art, theater, music, and author events for the coming weeks. The post Coming Attractions: October 20 through November 3 — What Will…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 02:54PM
Sunday, October 6, 2019

Coming Attractions: October 6 through 22 — What Will Light Your Fire by Bill Marx

Arts Fuse critics select the best in film, dance, visual art, theater, music, and author events for the coming weeks. The post Coming Attractions: October 6 through 22 — What Will Light Yo…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 02:42PM
Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Theater Review: “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” — Absurdist Death Pangs by Bill Marx

Much ado about nihilism. The post Theater Review: “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” — Absurdist Death Pangs appeared first on The Arts Fuse.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 12:18PM
Sunday, September 22, 2019

Coming Attractions: September 22 through October 8 — What Will Light Your Fire by Bill Marx

Arts Fuse critics select the best in film, dance, visual art, theater, music, and author events for the coming weeks. The post Coming Attractions: September 22 through October 8 — What Wil…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 05:48PM
Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Theater Review: “The America Plays” — Aisle of the Dead by Bill Marx

Listening to the dead speak, amid the natural grandeur of Mount Auburn Cemetery, is a moving experience. The post Theater Review: “The America Plays” — Aisle of the Dead appeared first…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 12:36PM
Sunday, September 8, 2019

Coming Attractions: September 8 through 24 — What Will Light Your Fire by Bill Marx

Arts Fuse critics select the best in film, dance, visual art, theater, music, and author events for the coming weeks. The post Coming Attractions: September 8 through 24 — What Will Light …

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 01:33PM
Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Theater Review: “Cherry Docs” — Healing Hate by Bill Marx

David Gow’s earnest, intelligent drama about the fragility of identity, though somewhat glibly reassuring, generates powerful moments in this bare-bones production from the Acropolis Stage…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 01:24PM
Sunday, August 25, 2019

Coming Attractions: August 25 through September 10 — What Will Light Your Fire by Bill Marx

Arts Fuse critics select the best in film, dance, visual art, theater, music, and author events for the coming weeks. The post Coming Attractions: August 25 through September 10 — What Wil…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 03:18PM
Sunday, August 18, 2019

Theater Review: “Fall Springs” — Singing Our Way to Extinction by Bill Marx

But this is an American musical, so political content (and blame for the way things are) must be kept fuzzy, a strategically-calculated myopia. The post Theater Review: “Fall Springs” �…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 07:48PM
Thursday, August 8, 2019

Music Interview: Klezmer Clarinettist Michael Winograd Does “Kosher Style” Proud by Bill Marx

"There's a giant chip on the shoulder of those who love musics of the world when it comes to klezmer." The post Music Interview: Klezmer Clarinettist Michael Winograd Does “Kosher Style”…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 07:18PM
Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Cultural Commentary: Arts Criticism — An Embarrassment of Whiteness by Bill Marx

Can anyone -- with a straight face -- argue that our largely white critical contingent in Boston is interested in generating hard hitting debate, controversy, and unconventional ideas? The …

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 02:42PM
Wednesday, June 12, 2019

From the Editor’s Desk: We Turn Twelve — The Future of the Arts Fuse by Bill Marx

This funding means that The Arts Fuse will be cranking out the kind of arts coverage you have come to expect for a good time to come. The post From the Editor’s Desk: We Turn Twelve — Th…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 10:54AM
Sunday, June 9, 2019

Theater Commentary: An Open Letter — to the “Open Letter” by Bill Marx

The media big boys should be part of the discussion, if only because they have the resources to change the situation for the better. The post Theater Commentary: An Open Letter — to the �…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 03:03PM
Thursday, May 16, 2019

Theater Commentary: The Boston Theater Critics Association — Still Evaluating? by Bill Marx

The BTCA should take action in support of #MeToo. The post Theater Commentary: The Boston Theater Critics Association — Still Evaluating? appeared first on The Arts Fuse.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 10:03AM