“Smote This” at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
This one-person show by OSF veteran Rodney Gardiner is intense, personal, real, and not to be missed (and like all of the one-person shows the run is too short, so go now).
“Born with Teeth” at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
I am happy to have seen this theater-goers mental masturbation show which was well done but fails the “so what” test.
“Macbeth” at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
This production has characters, nuance, coherence, and still the amazing language and events. It is not a good Macbeth, it is a spectacular Macbeth.
“My Home on the Moon” at San Francisco Playhouse
"My Home on the Moon" makes its powerful, attention-grabbing world premiere at San Francisco Playhouse. On stage through February 24, 2024, it earns 4.5 stars!
“A Guide for the Homesick” at Theatre Rhinoceros
The overall quality of the play, the performances, and the production earns A Guide to the Homesick 5 stars. Go see it, now through March 19th.
“Once on This Island” at OSF
It was good to be back in the Bowmer Theater to for a fun evening that is full of energy, good singing, lively movement, and entertaining and meaningful music. Ozdachs' rating is 4 stars out of 5.
“unseen” at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
unseen has too many themes, too many possibilities, and too many symbols to be either fun or worthwhile. It's a well-meaning piece with two fine actors, and you will discuss your ideas about how to improve it. But, overall, it's only 2 stars out of 5.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
A Midsummer Night's Dream written by William Shakespearedirected by Joseph Haj Ashland, ORat the Oregon Shakespeare Festival A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2020): Jeremy Gallardo (Snug), K. T. Vogt (Robin Starveling), Cristofer Jean (Francis Flute), Ensemble. Photo by Jenny Graham, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Oh dear! I really didn't want my last comments on this COVID-19 affected season to be anything but positive. I had hoped that I would see more plays later in the year that I could sincerely applaud. Unfortunately the virus shut down all but two weeks of the season, and what I saw opening weekend is all that [...]
“Copper Children”
written by Karen Zacariasdirected by Shariffa Ali Ashland, ORat the Oregon Shakespeare Festival The Copper Children (2020): Ensemble. Photo by Jenny Graham, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Copper Children has much going for it: an under-told, important story, a talented playwright who entertained and educated us with Destiny of Desire, and an experienced and immensely talented cast. Unfortunately, this world premiere wasted its assets and delivers an evening that is a moralistic plod which fails to create drama or feelings. The play tells the story is of white Catholic orphans from New York who get sent out west for adoption by good [...]
“Peter and the Starcatcher”
story by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearsonadapted for theater by Rick Elicemusic by Wayne Barkerrdirected by Matt Goodrich Ashland, ORat the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Peter and the Starcatcher (2020): Preston Mead (Boy), Grace Chan Ng (Molly). Photo by Jenny Graham, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I didn't grow up watching, reading, or otherwise being infused with Peter Pan lore. Sure, I knew that there was a kids' story about him and fairy we clapped for named Tinkerbell. But, when I walked into the theater for Peter and the Starcatcher I didn't remember anything about lost boys, Mrs. Darling, or any plot. My [...]