<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;">What’s happening on Broadway?</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;"> </span></font></p><font size="2">
</font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;">Roy Berko <br>
</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;">(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;">--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino-Italic;">Lorain
County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times</span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;"><span> </span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;">--Cool Cleveland.com—</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">In spite of the
recession, New York City, in general, and Broadway theatre, specifically, is
booming.<span> </span>Many shows, such as THE
LION KING, WICKED and MAMMA MIA are in long term runs.<span> </span>Some shows have just opened and others
are in preview.<span> </span>My recent trip to
the Big Apple allowed for seeing some of the newest shows.<span> </span>Here are my quick observations.<span> </span>If you want to read the complete
reviews go to <a href="http://www.royberko.info">http://www.royberko.info</a></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><b>A hilarious THE
BOOK OF MORMON</b><br>
<br>
THE BOOK OF MORMON is an irreverent look at all things holy. </font>
<font size="2"><span> </span>The plot centers on the story of two
young Mormon missionaries who are complete opposites. The boys are sent
to a remote village in northern Uganda, where a brutal warlord is threatening
the local population.<span> </span>So the stage
is set for some of funniest songs since MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><br>
If you are going to see THE BOOK OF MORMON there are some givens: (a) if
you are an uptight religious zealot, you are probably going to be driven right
out of the theatre, (b) if four letter words make you nutsy, you are probably
going to go totally bonkers, (c) if you have a sense of humor, you may lose
control of your bladder from laughing, and (d) if you love delightful music you
are going to dig the score.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><br>
<i>Capsule judgement: THE BOOK OF MORMON is one fun ride that takes on
religion, the Broadway musical, life and strife, and comes out the
winner. It’s a precious laugh delight.</i></font>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Mesmerizing WARHORSE brings new
dimensions to the stage</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;"></span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">WARHORSE is the story of the bond between Albert, a British
farm boy, and Joey, his magnificent horse.<span> </span>The plot</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> travels from the English
countryside to the fields of France and Germany. <span> </span>Joey, a colt, which was bought by Albert’s father in a
drunken bidding contest, has developed into a prized horse.<span> </span>At the start of the war, the father,
enticed by money, sells the animal to the British military.<span> </span>Distraught, underage Albert enlists in
an attempt to search out and save his steed.<span> </span>Through a series of searing battles we see how horse and boy
eventually are reunited. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">The visual elements of the production are finely
honed.<span> </span>The battle scenes are
realistic.<span> </span>Nothing is more
impressive than the life-sized puppet horses.<span> </span>They are magnificent creatures which are ridden, change in
physical size as they become malnourished, whinny, display unique personalities,
and become living creatures before our eyes. </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">The audience appreciation was evident by the
resounding curtain call.<span> </span>The human
actors were applauded, the horses got an extended standing ovation, and<span> </span>even the goose got screams of approval.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Capsule judgement: </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Filled with amazing puppetry, stirring music, a riveting story,
compelling graphics, and fine acting, WARHORSE is mesmerizing theatre.<span> </span>It is a once in a lifetime theatrical
experience.</span></i></font></p>
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<font size="2"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"></span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino; text-transform: uppercase;">Ch’ing•lish</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> delights while probing cultural
differences</span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Chinglish</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> refers to spoken or written English that is influenced by the Chinese language<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a>.<span> </span>It is commonly applied to ungrammatical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammar"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a>or nonsensical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonsense"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a>English in
Chinese contexts</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;">. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;">“</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;">False Alarm!” becomes “The Siren Lies!” and “quiet please“ is translated
as “no noising!” </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">In the play’s opening scene, Cleveland
businessman, Daniel Cavanaugh (Gary Wilmes) is giving a presentation to fellow Ohio
entrepreneurs about his experiences in obtaining a contract in a small Chinese
city.<span> </span>As we observe, a series of
scenes portray the difficulty of overcoming the Chinese-English language
barrier and customs.</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Capsule judgement:<span> </span><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Ch’iNg•lish</span> is a fascinating and
delightful study of the clash of cultures based on the languages we use.<span> <br>
</span></span></i></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<font size="2"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"></span></i></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino; text-transform: uppercase;">THE
MOUNTAINTOP</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> opens questions about Martin Luther
King, Jr.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;"></span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">What was Martin Luther King, Jr. like as a
person?<span> </span>With all the death threats
that King received, what was his last night alive like?<span> </span>What did he believe was going to be his
ultimate role in the Black rights movement?<span> </span>THE MOUNTAINTOP attempts to answer these questions .</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">The play takes place </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;">on April 3, 1968.<span> </span>It is a “what/if”
reimagining </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span> </span>of the
night before King’s assassination.<span>
</span>As the one-act play unfolds, through humor and drama, King is forced to
confront his destiny and his legacy.<span>
</span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">The show stars Samuel L. Jackson and
Angela Bassett.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Capsule judgement: </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">THE MOUTAINTOP is not an easy play to watch, especially since we know
what is going to happen the next day on the balcony outside that room.<span> </span>That is not to say the play is
depressing. It’s not.<span> </span>It is filled
with vivid imagery, humor and some preposterous ideas.<span> </span>It is well worth seeing.</span></i></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino; text-transform: uppercase;">FREUD’S LAST
SESSION </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;">a fascinating look at belief or lack of belief</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;"></span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Sigmund
Freud, an atheist, </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span> </span>founded the discipline of psychoanalysis<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoanalysis"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a>.<span> </span><span>C. S. Lewis,
a firm believer in God,</span> was a novelist, academic, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_studies"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a>literary
critic, essayist,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theologian"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a> and Christian apologist<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_apologetics"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a>, wrote <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">The Chronicles of Narnia</span></a></i>.<span> </span>What would have happened if these two
men had met to discuss their conflicting ideas?<span> </span>To find out you need to see FREUD’S LAST SESSION, a </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;">two-character "what-if" <span>play</span></span><span style="font-family: Palatino;">.<span> </span></span></font></p>
<font size="2"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Capsule judgement:<span> </span>FREUD’S
LAST SESSION is fascinating theatre for anyone who is interested in a
philosophical thought laced drama with laughter and fine acting.</span></i></font>