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Opening the Curtain
By KCRWArts
Opening the Curtain episodes
- Sometimes the past is more real than the presentWhat’s the difference between a play and a film? That’s one of the questions that Brazilian director Christiane Jatahy asks with her stunning piece “What if they went to Moscow?” How Ms. Jatahy poses that elegant question is a little complicated so stick with me.5 min
- A method to the political madnessThe Actors’ Gang has two things that run through their productions: style and politics. The style is a distant relative of Commedia Dell’Arte, the Italian comic tradition built around stock characters like Harlequin, Pantalone, the corrupt judge. Even if you’ve never seen a Commedia show, chances are the sitcoms of your youth were built on the same formula.5 min
- Questioning a fairy tale
Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” at the Ahmanson is fascinating as much for what it isn’t as for what it is.
5 min - Our inescapable past.For all it’s seeming simplicity, the Wooster Group’s latest show is complicated, dense experience. Let’s start with the title: “The B-Side: “Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons,” A Record Album Interpretation.” What’s a record album interpretation?5 min
- Fighting the patriarchy
In Taylor Mac’s play “Hir” (spelled H-I-R - more on that in a minute), the old order simply won’t stand.
5 min - Hidden classical treasuresOne of LA theatre’s hidden treasures is the theatre that happens at the Getty Villa. The Getty Villa’s latest production goes up this coming weekend with a site-specific show from Four Larks called “Katabasis.” Four Larks - like the Villa - is another hidden LA treasure.5 min
- Sleeping with your sonRemember that cool kid in high school? The one with the awesome jacket and that effortless edge. He was something of a rebel: used nasty language in just the right way. Made it all look so easy. Now remember that other kid who tried to copy him? Same jacket, same foul language but he couldn’t quite pull it off? Ghost Road company’s latest show is like that second kid: cool stuff but can’t really pull the whole thing off.5 min
- Theatre for a New Year
New Year - new theatre! Here’s my short list for the plays you shouldn’t miss this spring.
5 min - Best of 2018, part 2
Last week I started looking back at the theatre in LA that made a difference in 2018. This week I round out that list with the kind of work I hope fills theaters in 2019.
5 min - Best of 2018, part 1
Looking back at the best shows from a year of theatre is always a little strange. It’s not like KCRW’s list of best albums that you can instantly download and enjoy. Theatre is ephemeral - you can’t stream it or hit rewind. So reflecting on a year’s productions is less a guide to what you should see, and more an evaluation of where we are as an audience - and maybe a hint of where we’re going.
5 min
About Opening the Curtain
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Musings on what Los Angeles theater is - and can be. Want to know more? Subscribe to Anthony's weekly Theater newsletter.