J. B. Priestly’s shallow characterizations keep his vision of moneyed skullduggery mundane rather than monstrous.
Theater Review: “The Little Foxes” — American Greed Triumphant
The Lyric Stage Company’s The Little Foxes is taut, tense, and eerily reflective of our own uneasy, pernicious times.
Visual Arts Review: “Graciela Iturbide’s Mexico” — Casting a Coolly Warm Eye on Life and Death
In Garciela Iturbide’s photographs, the living and the dying are often joined at the (exposed) skeletal hip.
Arts Remembrance: Poet Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver’s poetic vision reaches back to the American transcendentalists: it encourages us, by demanding that we pay attention to our now threatened natural world, to find a moral compass.
Book Review: Diane Williams, Flash Fiction, and the Shrinking Short Story
Diane Williams’s brusque vision of a perverse life force mesmerizes.
Poetry Review: Leonard Cohen’s “The Flame” — The Errant Canadian Comes Home
Leonard Cohen reinforces this dedication to lyricism with striking humility in his final book.
Theater Review: Not So “ExtraOrdinary”
This musical hodgepodge at the American Repertory Theater could be called ‘Let’s Sing About Me (and Me, and Then More About Me).’
Theater Commentary: Jukebox Musicals — The Trend Continues, Alas
Producers are tapping into a specific demographic: predominantly white audiences that are flush and who crave the thrill of hearing – and seeing – their favorite tunes performed live.
Theater Review: Tennessee Williams’ “Talisman Roses” — Early Healing
This is an opportunity to take in the early stirrings of Tennessee Williams’ talent as a playwright.
Book Review: “Flights” — Exploring the Delights of the Eccentric
Given what Olga Tokarczuk is curious about, it is not surprising that her book serves up its share of goofy humor.