Early March Update

Over two months into 2009, and not much worthwhile to report on the theater scene, which thus far in '09 has been limited to Los Angeles for me. The most recent play I have seen - "A Skull in Connemara" at Theatre Tribe in NoHo was well done, but weakened by sub-par acting in a few lesser characters.

Although not without some serious flaws, on first viewing I enjoyed most of Deaf West's "Pippin" at the Taper, which had a few brilliant scenes. Then I saw this production a second time, and nearly everything clicked. While still not as good as Deaf West's "Big River," I thoroughly enjoyed this very creative take that updates an otherwise dated show.

The direction and acting of "Time Stands Still" at the Geffen is top-notch, but the play itself is one of the weaker efforts by a very good playwright (Donald Margulies). I thought "Battle Hymn" [insde] the Ford was creative, unique and well produced, but had a few cringe-inducing scenes that need to be excised if this play wants to find a life elsewhere.

The supposedly Broadway-bound "Minsky's" at the Ahmanson was not horrible, but simply mediocre. "Fata Morgana" at the Pacific Resident Theater did not work for me, and suffered from some very bad acting. Two shows that I would put on my "painful sit" list were "Taking Over" at the Taper and "Stormy Weather" at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Hopefully things will improve on my first trip of the year to New York next weekend. I hope I have some good things to report from that trip; I suspect I will. Until then....