Robert Israel

Theater Review: A Powerful “Parade” — Witnessing a Dark Chapter in American History

March 14, 2025
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The sprawling cast — 30-plus players — under Michael Arden’s direction performs with verve; they deliver outstanding performances and have excellent singing chops.

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Theater Review: “Crumbs from the Table of Joy” — Lost in the Past

January 13, 2025
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At its best, this script offers an opportunity for audiences to cast a backward glance at the first stirrings of dramatist Lynn Nottage’s prolific canon.

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Television Review: “The Piano Lesson” — An Invaluable Tutorial

November 26, 2024
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Suffice it to say that this film version of “The Piano Lesson” does playwright August Wilson proud. 

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Theater Review: “Mindplay” Is Child’s Play

November 19, 2024
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Because this “play” relies on audience participation, Vinny DePonto selects inevitably befuddled men and women from the audience on which to demonstrate his mental prowess.

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Dance Interview: Janet Eilber on the Martha Graham Dance Company’s Return to Boston

November 16, 2024
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“Modern dance is not a secret club. Yes, we are presenting masterpieces by a visionary 20th century artist, but we are communicating that through the greatest dancers today, and showing how that work continues to evolve.”

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Theater Review: “Pru Payne” — Critical Condition

October 22, 2024
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This is a well-honed, mostly successful script about the difficulties of making human connections — a drama about seizing the day.

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Theater Review: “Nassim” — Word Play

October 11, 2024
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The script is an experiment, a (sometimes) witty lecture on language. But it doesn’t work dramatically.

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Theater Review: “Laughs in Spanish” — The Art of the Heart

September 17, 2024
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Is it possible for an outstanding actress to achieve similar heights as a playwright? The answer is yes, but with reservations.

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Theater Interview: Playwright and Director Lydia R. Diamond on “Toni Stone”

May 10, 2024
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“I believe folks coming to the theater will have a great time, they’ll learn about the Negro leagues and about a phenomenal woman.”

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Dance Interview: Matthew Rushing, Interim Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

April 28, 2024
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“We ask them to interpret the music through their own experiences, so they are connecting to and performing what Mr. Ailey called ‘blood memories’ on stage.”

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