988 stories by "Darryl Reilly"
Darryl Reilly, Critic It is not widely known that among Frank Langella's many accolades, including four Tony Awards, there was also a hat named after him. In the winter of 2003, after Sunday…
As "Rock of Ages" did for the 1980's, "Cruel Intentions: The Musical" does for the 1990's. This is a carefree entertainment accompanied by the revelry incited by a two-item minimum in a nigh…
Vince Guaraldi's monumental jazz themes are beautifully rendered by musical director Jenny Shiroma on piano, Laura Hamel on percussion and Billie Sholen on bass. This talented trio also perf…
Deffaa's great achievement is joining the narrative portions with just the right song. An anecdote about encountering Florenz Ziegfeld having an office dalliance with a chorus girl is fo…
Darryl Reilly, Critic Looking back at the 128 performance reviews I wrote for Theaterscene.net in 2017, these shows were outstanding and quite memorable. My assignments rarely include Broadw…
Joni Mitchell's "River" was given a powerful rendition by guest artist Megan Hilty. The blonde and statuesque Ms. Hilty was a glorious vision wearing a luminous white wedding dress as sh…
Written by The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher, the show presents a stylized take on the couple's love at first sight meeting, the complications it caused with their partners at the time, their i…
Decked out in nerdy regalia of a yellow shirt, red tie and plaid pants with suspenders, Ethan Slater is terrific as SpongeBob. The immensely personable Mr. Slater wonderfully sings, dances a…
With expressive and limber physicality, animated facial features, piercing eyes, and a smoothly resonant voice, Mr. de la Fuente vividly depicts Mr. Hirabayashi from youth to old age. Ma…
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania, was raised by foster families, and learned about magic by reading books at the public library. These biographical details add depth to his shaded yet sunny …
David Gow is the show's producer and he also plays Tommy Flowers. Mr. Gow perhaps saw this showy role as a vehicle for him to shine in and he does up to a point. Gow is an appealing,…
Crumm and DeVito have a marvelous chemistry together and terrific mutual comic timing that make them seem like a real couple. Their compelling performances energize and elevate what could ha…
With his commanding and emotionally expressive baritone voice, the eternally boyish Holbrook wearing formal wear, vividly performs a program drawn from show tunes, Hollywood musicals, classi…
Darryl Reilly, Critic With his characteristic philosophical drollness, Quentin Crisp's posthumous, third volume of autobiography, The Last Word is not only an entertaining chronicle but a re…
"American Idol" winner Candice Glover, "The Voice"'s Josh Kaufman, "America's Got Talent"'s Bianca Ryan and the attractive, married couple Peter Hollens and Evynne Hollens, who are po…
After his teenaged son is called a "beaner" by one of his classmates at a WASPy private school, Leguizamo is inspired to educate the rest of the United States about the overlooked achievemen…
Ms. Bioh's snappy dialogue perfectly renders the rhythms of teenage lingo and the pain beneath the bravado, emitting the universality of adolescence. Bioh's construction is meticulous as…
Tunde Skovran as Shari and Julia Ubrankovics as Clara are sensational. The brunette Ms. Skovran and the blonde Ms. Ubrankovics are a dynamic team who each offer vivid portrayals with their p…
Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk's original book is filled with incidents, vignettes, reflections, observations, and flashbacks, but short on actual plot. There is deciding on which co…
The first 26 chapters are the original text of "Contradictions" with each followed by ""Reflections," where Prince variously corrects, expands upon and ruminates about that portion. Afte…
With her marvelously fluty voice, imperious bearing, expressive physicality and animated facial features, Maja Wampuszyc as the haughty Corrine recalls Geraldine Page in all her grand glory.…
It's New Mexico in 1881, and during a series of short scenes, Billy contemplates his life. His stern mother, rough father, stalwart girlfriend and his sly pursuer, Sheriff Pat Garrett, a…
Playwright Jonathan Leaf's prodigious research, accomplished dramatic construction and clever device of threading a mystery throughout the events make the play quite engrossing. There's …
Like the great comedy teams, Jos Houben and Marcello Magni are a study in contrasts. The Belgian Mr. Houben is tall, animated and relies on breezy patter. The Italian Mr. Magni is sh…
Complementing his gorgeous stage pictures, director Craig Smith's vibrant staging has the actors in constant motion on the small playing area. The cast precisely paces, dashes and undula…
