You'll want to make this trip 'Around the World in 80 Days' by David C. Nichols

Rampant theatricality and audience regard traverses "Around the World in 80 Days" at the Actors Co-op.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 6:00pm on May 14, 2015☆⚑

'Anarchist's' artful words don't make satisfying drama by David C. Nichols

"Words not meant to misdirect are wasted," says one of the combatants in "The Anarchist," and at certain levels that might describe the whole thing.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:00pm on April 30, 2015☆⚑

Loads of dark satire in 'Occupation,' but little dramatic coherence by David C. Nichols

"Occupation," now receiving its West Coast premiere at Sacred Fools Theater, explores the ramifications of globalization and imperialism with considerable ambition and erratic dramaturgy,…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:00pm on April 9, 2015☆⚑

With 'Carrie: The Musical,' you can't say they haven't tried by David C. Nichols

Revised 'Carrie: The Musical' gets spectacular show at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 3:30pm on March 20, 2015☆⚑

With 'Carrie: The Musical,' you can't say they haven't tried by David C. Nichols

Never underestimate the power of stagecraft. Case in point: "Carrie: The Musical," now receiving a mind-blowing immersive production at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 9:00pm on March 19, 2015☆⚑

A 'Figaro' that crackles and pops at A Noise Within by David C. Nichols

Eighteenth century subversion meets Larry David lunacy in "Figaro" at A Noise Within. Ingenuity permeates this buoyant adaptation of Beaumarchais' classic account of one crazy day at the Alm…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:00pm on March 16, 2015☆⚑

'Washer/Dryer' needs less softener, more starch by David C. Nichols

The fluff and fold of old-school boulevard comedy typifies "Washer/Dryer" at East West Players. Indeed, playwright Nandita Shenoy's study of intercultural newlyweds attempting to co-habit in…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:00pm on February 19, 2015☆⚑

'She Loves Me,' though scaled back at Chance Theater, still charming by David C. Nichols

The three essential qualities invoked in "She Loves Me" -- attractive to the eye, pleasing to the ear and functional -- generally emerge at Chance Theater in Anaheim. Though not without some…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 6:00pm on December 18, 2014☆⚑

'Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin' at the Geffen Playhouse by David C. Nichols

"I wrote for love. I wrote for my country. I wrote for you."

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 6:00pm on November 26, 2014☆⚑

Mourning and resilience made 'Magical' by David C. Nichols

"Life changes in an instant. The ordinary instant." And so it did for Joan Didion in 2003, when her husband John Gregory Dunne succumbed to cardiac arrest in their New York apartment.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:00pm on October 16, 2014☆⚑

Taking liberties with 'Earnest' at A Noise Within by David C. Nichols

The unparalleled sardonic wit of Oscar Wilde sustains "The Importance of Being Earnest" at A Noise Within, where it will doubtless be a crowd-pleasing hit, despite (or because of) its distin…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:00pm on October 2, 2014☆⚑

A provocative 'Kingdom City' at La Jolla Playhouse by David C. Nichols

There is one week remaining to catch "Kingdom City" at La Jolla Playhouse, and anyone who values the power of theater to stimulate meaningful dialogue about significant issues dare not miss …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:00pm on September 29, 2014☆⚑

'Good People' a rock-solid portrayal of struggle at La Mirada by David C. Nichols

The dilemmas facing the life-battered protagonist of "Good People" are perhaps strategically manipulated, but that doesn't make them any less relevant, humorous or dramatically engrossing.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 3:55pm on September 25, 2014☆⚑

Wicked fun with 'The Behavior of Broadus' at Sacred Fools Theater by David C. Nichols

Controversial psychology and show-biz moxie commingle in "The Behavior of Broadus," with triumphant results.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:00pm on September 18, 2014☆⚑

Review: 'Animals Out of Paper' at David Henry Hwang Theater is touching by David C. Nichols

The delicate art of origami provides both metaphor and motor for "Animals Out of Paper" at the David Henry Hwang Theater, and it enfolds the viewer with deceptive simplicity and considerable…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 6:30pm on September 11, 2014☆⚑

Review: 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' at Theatre of NOTE shows potential by David C. Nichols

"Coincidences are the universe's way of being lazy" is one recurring motif in "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" at Theatre of NOTE, though it's hardly the only metaphor. Erik Patterson's promising dr…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:30pm on August 14, 2014☆⚑

Offbeat 'Sordid Lives' at the Westchester Playhouse is warm-hearted by David C. Nichols

Pity the survivors of the late Peggy Ingram, whose bizarre demise is the talk of Winters, Texas. Elder daughter Latrelle drowns her mortification by fighting wildcat sister La Vonda over bur…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:31pm on July 17, 2014☆⚑

'Stoneface' grows in scope, gains punch at Pasadena Playhouse by David C. Nichols

More than one legend gets their due in "Stoneface," which is only as it should be. In a felicitous transfer from the Sacred Fools Theater Company, Vanessa Claire Stewart's surreal smash abou…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 5:05pm on June 13, 2014☆⚑

Fidelity, friendship make up Road on Magnolia's 'Flower Duet' by David C. Nichols

The title of "Flower Duet," in its West Coast premiere at the Road Theatre on Magnolia, refers to Leo Delibes' celebrated "Lakmé" air for soprano and mezzo.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:55pm on June 13, 2014☆⚑

'Ajax in Iraq' at Miles Memorial Playhouse by David C. Nichols

Sophocles and post-traumatic stress disorder commingle in "Ajax in Iraq" at the Miles Memorial Playhouse, to dazzling, disturbing effect.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:45pm on May 22, 2014☆⚑

Stars elevate 'Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks' at Laguna Playhouse by David C. Nichols

An inordinate degree of audience-savvy skill and no small amount of personal charm distinguishes "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks" at the Laguna Playhouse. By embracing rather than avoiding t…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 5:35pm on May 12, 2014☆⚑

Review: 'Pray to Ball' an inventive take on a little-explored topic by David C. Nichols

Highly promising talent bounces through “Pray to Ball” at the Skylight Theatre. Amir Abdullah’s tersely entertaining examination of Islam, college basketball and friendship…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:30pm on May 1, 2014☆⚑

Review: 'The Lion in Winter' at the Colony Theatre by David C. Nichols

It’s Christmas in Chinon, France, circa AD 1183, and yuletide is anything but harmonious at the Plantagenet homestead.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:00pm on April 25, 2014☆⚑

Review: Life's clock is wondrously reset in 'Time and the Conways' by David C. Nichols

SAN DIEGO -- Social commentary, familial relationships and quantum theory collide in “Time and the Conways” at the Old Globe, and the results are as formidable as they are engros…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:30am on April 11, 2014☆⚑

Review: 'Macbeth' at A Noise Within intriguing yet rocky by David C. Nichols

Fair is foul and foul is fair in “Macbeth” at A Noise Within. William Shakespeare’s Scottish tragedy of lethal ambition receives an emphatically respectable albeit uneven p…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:00pm on March 20, 2014☆⚑