Lyric stage company of boston
The Lyric Stage is presenting a moving production of Lynn Nottage’s cautionary tale about strength of character tragically misdirected.
The Lyric Stage Company’s thoroughly enjoyable production more than does “Into the Woods,” Stephen Sondheim’s un-Disneyfied version of fairy tales, justice.
A lack of dramatic combustion sometimes makes the Lyric Stage Company production, despite its intelligent detail, more staidly melodramatic than it should be.
“Becky’s New Car” turns out to be a ride worth taking, especially if we suspend our disbelief long enough to embrace the notion that malice is not necessarily aforethought even though our actions might be construed to suggest otherwise.
Director Spiro Veloudos keeps the clockwork running smoothly, not just ensuring that that the actors keep the rhythm, but making use of a skilled backstage crew who engineer (miraculously and on time) scenery and costume changes.
The Lyric Stage Company of Boston’s production can’t quite get its arms around all of the varied elements in this exhilarating musical, but some terrific performances make up for other weaknesses.
Liz Duffy Adams’ affectionate look at Aphra Behn’s rise to public prominence, despite prejudice against her gender, comes off as a sort of farcical love letter to an ink-stained ancestor that at times suggests a Shavian talk fest in a minor key.
The impressive cast and lovely, atmospheric design of the Lyric Stage production cannot completely overcome the flaws of “Big River,” but they make the trip a scenic, often amusing, and enjoyable theatrical journey.
William King is a loving, self-sacrificing, salt-of-the-earth character mooning over the vanished past; Sonia is a saintly wife yearning for hubby to join her in Heaven; the sons care for each other and for their father—time to pull out your hankies. Broke-ology by Nathan Louis Jackson. Directed by Benny Sato Ambush. Staged by the Lyric…
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