All stories by Bill Marx on BroadwayStars

Friday, July 29, 2022

Theater Review: Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s “Much Ado” — “A Giddy Thing” by Bill Marx

Shakespeare's text has been streamlined for easy consumption on a summer's evening -- there's no intermission, lots of physical comedy, and a party vibe.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 02:54PM
Friday, June 24, 2022

Theater Review: “Screwball” — Laughter’s Saving Grace by Bill Marx

This is an indelibly zany concoction: part homage, part esprit de corps, part mediation on screwball comedy as a form of modest but invigorating cheer.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 12:24PM
Sunday, June 12, 2022

Theater Review: “The Light” — Squeeze Play by Bill Marx

This is a quicksilver drama about how a loving couple reacts as devastating bolts of lightning strike.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 09:54AM
Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Theater Commentary: “1776” — American Theater Jigs as Democracy Dies? by Bill Marx

Maybe I am an alarmist and the rich and powerful know something the rest of us don't. Perhaps the midterms will not put another nail in the coffin of democracy. Apparently, it will be busine…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 06:03PM
Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Theater Commentary: Burnt Norton by Bill Marx

What will guarantee obsolescence? If members of the BTCA continue to embrace a "whatever is, is right" attitude to Boston's stage scene.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 11:33AM
Saturday, May 14, 2022

Theater Review: “Sea Sick” — How Damned is the Ocean? by Bill Marx

Personable but bracing, Sea Sick delivers an essential message: not only about the damage that is being done to the oceans, but the horrors that are coming down the pike.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 09:12AM
Saturday, April 30, 2022

Theater Interview: “The New Galileos” — The Price of Freedom by Bill Marx

"Plays about climate are notoriously difficult , not only because the science is complex and has become politicized, but also because audiences don’t flock to work that shows us the terrif…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 11:48AM
Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Theater Review: “Burgerz” — Food Court by Bill Marx

Non-binary people have plenty to be angry about these days, but Burgerz is not an attempt to shock or strike back in anger. The post Theater Review: “Burgerz” — Food Court appeared fir…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 12:18PM
Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Theater Interview: John Bell on Bread and Puppet’s Staging of Aeschylus'”The Persians” by Bill Marx

"The play challenges us to think about those we consider our enemies, and to think of them with compassion and understanding." The post Theater Interview: John Bell on Bread and Puppet’s S…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 02:18PM
Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Theater Commentary: A Wacky Vision of Violence — “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” by Bill Marx

Finally, a sign that American theater might be facing the world of violence outside of its usual provincial purview. The post Theater Commentary: A Wacky Vision of Violence — “Gary: A Se…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 05:54PM
Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Theater Interview: The Need to Make Theater in Ukraine Today by Bill Marx

We live on the stage of my theater now. The post Theater Interview: The Need to Make Theater in Ukraine Today appeared first on The Arts Fuse.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 12:07PM
Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Theater Review: “Everyday Life and Other Odds and Ends” — “This Whole Going Downhill Thing” by Bill Marx

Everyday Life and Other Odds and Ends is admirable because it takes contemporary theater into fresh territory -- the slow paralysis of the body and the demands this decline makes on caregive…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 09:06AM
Thursday, December 30, 2021

Arts Feature: Favorite Stage Productions of 2021 by Bill Marx

Our theater critics pick some of the outstanding productions in a year mangled by COVID. The post Arts Feature: Favorite Stage Productions of 2021 appeared first on The Arts Fuse.

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 05:12PM
Friday, December 24, 2021

Author Interview: “Embattled” — Can the Greek Myths Help Us Resist Tyranny? by Bill Marx

"By cultivating our capacity for empathetic critical inquiry, Greek myths caution us against entertainers, pundits, politicians, and journalists who are trying to inflame our anger and fear.…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 10:42AM
Saturday, December 18, 2021

Theater Review: “Witness” — An Antique Virtual Voyage by Bill Marx

By all means, explore history's tragedies on stage -- virtual or otherwise. But always keep a sharp, invigorating eye on the present's tragedies-in-the-making. The post Theater Review: “Wi…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 11:12AM
Friday, November 19, 2021

Theater Review: “The Half-Life of Marie Curie” — The Science of Friendship by Bill Marx

A valentine card is touching because it is short and sweet. A valentine play -- even at 90 minutes with no intermission -- wears out its affectionate welcome. The post Theater Review: “The…

SOURCE: The Arts Fuse at 01:36PM
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

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic