-

 Welcome to the Critical Review blog site! We will be publishing reviews that show exemplary eye for critique. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Some Like It Hot: A True Tip-Tap Treasure - by Sarah Zyskowski

-
One of the better screen-to-stage adaptations of its time, Some Like It Hot is a must-see performance that recently danced its way to the Orpheum Theatre. Sending the audience back in time to the infamous Prohibition, Some Like It Hot follows two musicians on the lam who disguise themselves as ladies and join an all-female band. Based on the classic 1959 film, this show brings its audience on a chaotic musical odyssey across the country filled with dazzling choreography, sharp humor, expressive costumes, and a deeper dive into gender identity. What stood out to me right away was the sheer talent these actors expressed through the power of dance. The “Tip-Tap Twins” Joe and Jerry swept the audience off their feet almost immediately with the intricate tap number “You Can’t Have Me (If You Don’t Have Him)” bursting with energy and excitement. Perfectly in unison, the satisfyingly crisp sounds of Matt Loehr and Tavis Kordell’s outstanding tapping talent set the stage for this dance-heavy ...
Read more

Les Misérables Is a Classic For a Reason by Katelyn Keyes

-
If I had to pick one word to encapsulate the current National Tour  of Les Misérables , it would be “art”. The lighting, designed by Paule Constable, transformed every scene into a painting, I could almost feel the sunlight on my face. The darkness was also used to the show’s advantage, leading to a shadowed opening; Prologue , where the low, rhythmic chorus deeply communicates the tragic circumstances the main character finds himself under. Imprisoned for simply stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, Jean Valjean (Nick Cartell) breaks his parole and flees, leaving him to be chased by a relentless Inspector Javert (Nick Rehberger). Along the way, we meet Fantine (Lindsay Heather Pierce), her daughter Cosette (Emerson Mae Chen, Greta Scheafer, and Delaney Guyer in various ages), and others fighting for France in the Paris Uprising of 1832.  The story is told mainly through song, which, while it does demand more of the audience’s attention to follow the story, really h...
Read more

Les Misérables: The Story We’ll Always Need - Peyton Webb

-
Image
“Prologue” - Nick Cartell as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables . Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmeran While wandering through the Orpheum crowd on the opening night of Les Misérables , I stood for a moment and listened. Friends reminisced about the first time they saw the show. Parents told their children how it made them fall in love with theater decades ago. I couldn’t help but smile at how generations connected over this timeless story of resilience. One of the most acclaimed musicals in the world, Les Miz needs no introduction. Directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, the North American Broadway tour is in Minneapolis for a two-week run. Whether you’ve seen it a dozen times or never before, it’s more than worth a few hours of your time. Les Miz effortlessly transports its audience to 19th century Paris, catapulting them into the most exhilarating moments of the characters’ lives. While all technical aspects were phenomenal, the light and sound design completed this tra...
Read more