Kelson Reviews Theater

A path though bare, leafless trees at night. One of the tress is lit up bright blue. Others are silhouettes. The path is lit with low, squarish pillar-like lamps, each casting several rays of cheery yellow light on the ground, cuving off into the distance.

★★★★★ Nighttime walk through botanical gardens and a series of immersive light-and-music shows that you can take at your own pace. Definitely worth it!

Beauty and the Beast (2010 Tour) ★★★☆☆ San Diego, 2012
The simpler staging & costumes work well enough, but the big numbers suffer from the smaller cast.

Beauty and the Beast (3D Theatricals) ★★★★★ Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 2016
An elaborate production by a local company with great performances from the leads, and a surprise understudy.

Belle’s Dreams of Adventure I never thought Belle gave up her dreams of adventure. I figured she had one, and gained the opportunity to have more. That’s why I hate the song ‘A Change in Me.’

Chess in Concert: Post-Cold War Edition

Close-up of a chess board from right next to one of the pawns.

★★★★☆ Claire Trevor School of the Arts, 2017
The cold-war musical Chess works surprisingly well set in the present day.

Cirque du Soleil: Iris ★★★★★ Cirque’s acrobatics are always impressive, but IRIS’ focus on early cinema makes the clowns’ story is just as enjoyable, and video effects give it an entirely new look.

Cirque du Soleil: Kooza ★★★★★ Impressive acrobatics as always, contortionists, extra clowns, a rainstorm and the Wheel of Death (really).

Equivocation Geffen Playhouse, 2009
Can Shakespeare discover the truth about the Gunpowder Plot? And if so, can he afford to tell it? Political intrigue, terrorism and torture (plus plain old personal conflicts) make for a compelling story.

Frost/Nixon ★★★★★ Ahmanson Theater, 2009
Gripping play about the negotiations behind David Frost’s famous TV interviews with ex-President Richard Nixon.

The Glass Mendacity

Looking along a hallway with a long geometric carpet over a wood floor, arches and columns spaced every so often, a few decorative columns against the walls, all dimly lit by yellowish, dish-shaped lamps hanging from the ceiling.

Ark Theater, 2010
This spoof of Tennessee Williams’ most famous plays is funny on its own, but even funnier if you know the source material.

Ordinary Days

A wide, low building with an overhang lit up by *lots* of lights, against a dark blue sky. Two taller glass-walled office buildings are visible behind it, as is the bright splotch of the moon. Silhouetts of trees and a spiky hedge frame the sides and bottom of the frame. The words SOUTH COAST can be seen running along the overhang.

South Coast Repertory, 2010
A slice-of-life musical about four people living in New York, their paths intersecting.

Ragtime

Silhouettes of people in old-time suits and dresses dancing across the frame.

★★★★★ Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 2014
Ragtime has even more emotional impact on stage than the songs do alone, and the historical themes resonate strongly with the present day.

Xanadu (Stage Musical) ★☆☆☆☆ Segerstrom Center, 2009
The stage musical of Xanadu is a silly, self-aware parody that revels in its camp. I really liked about 10% of it. The rest, not so much.