Fly North’s Original Musical ‘Big Machine’ Displays Captivating Music, Crowded Narrative

Fly North’s Original Musical ‘Big Machine’ Displays Captivating Music, Crowded Narrative

By Lynn Venhaus ‘Sticking it to the man’ is a familiar theme in narrative and nonfiction works, but the Fly North Theatricals’ original musical “Big... Details
Contrived ‘It Ends With Us’ Fails to Connect In Any Meaningful Way

Contrived ‘It Ends With Us’ Fails to Connect In Any Meaningful Way

By Lynn VenhausAn important message about domestic violence in “It Ends with Us” is diluted by the film adaptation’s shallow, superficial trappings that favor a... Details
Merry Mayhem Marks Musical Spoof ‘Ruthless!’ at Stray Dog Theatre

Merry Mayhem Marks Musical Spoof ‘Ruthless!’ at Stray Dog Theatre

By Lynn Venhaus A pair of farce specialists aim for over-the-top in spectacular style in “Ruthless! The Musical,” a kitschy, campy stage mom-showbiz melodramatic throwdown... Details
Stages St. Louis’ Jaunty ‘Disney’s Newsies’ Pops with Personality

Stages St. Louis’ Jaunty ‘Disney’s Newsies’ Pops with Personality

By Lynn VenhausBrimming with vim and vigor, Stages St. Louis’ “Disney’s Newsies” pops with personality. Stressing unity in troubled times, it’s a modern message about... Details
Zesty ‘Waitress’ Serves Up Sisterhood and a Cozy, Savory Slice of Community

Zesty ‘Waitress’ Serves Up Sisterhood and a Cozy, Savory Slice of Community

By Lynn Venhaus I’ll take a big ol’ slice of Live Your Life pie, please and thank you. The winds of change were blowing at... Details
Union Avenue Opera’s Pared Down ‘Aida’ Soars on Vocal Performances

Union Avenue Opera’s Pared Down ‘Aida’ Soars on Vocal Performances

By CB Adams Union Avenue Opera’s concert version of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” seems to have taken its cue from George Bernard Shaw when he wrote:... Details
NJT’s Scintillating Drama ‘Red’ Vigorously Paints a Portrait of Artists and the Drive to Create

NJT’s Scintillating Drama ‘Red’ Vigorously Paints a Portrait of Artists and the Drive to Create

By Lynn Venhaus “What do you see?” The opening line of “Red” establishes the essence of this brilliant fact-based drama by John Logan. An invigorating... Details
Raunchy, Bloody, Funny – Two Stars’ Bromance in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Saves the World and MCU

Raunchy, Bloody, Funny – Two Stars’ Bromance in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Saves the World and MCU

By Lynn VenhausPropelled by personality and pizzazz, the very funny, very bloody and very meta “Deadpool & Wolverine” is an epic throwdown teaming two very... Details
The Muny’s Resplendent ‘Fiddler’ Laden with Happiness and Tears

The Muny’s Resplendent ‘Fiddler’ Laden with Happiness and Tears

By Lynn Venhaus The Muny’s warm, wondrous and deeply affecting production of “Fiddler on the Roof” grabs your heart from the moment you hear a... Details
Tesseract’s Impassioned ‘Cascade’s Fire’ Is Admirable for Its Youthful Energy But Needs Further Work

Tesseract’s Impassioned ‘Cascade’s Fire’ Is Admirable for Its Youthful Energy But Needs Further Work

By Lynn Venhaus With an urgency as a downward spiral sets in, the musical “Cascade’s Fire” focuses on a group of alienated, angry youth whose... Details