Tony Frankel

A PRODUCTION FOR TUTTE TO COSíŒ UP TO For those who think that the “semi-staging” for Così fan tutte, which opens on Friday at Disney Hall, is simply a world-class orchestra accompanying opera singers holding a libretto in their hands, you are in for a surprise. Fully staged, fully memorized, and beautifully designed, the operas…

IF YOU GUILD IT, THEY WILL COME There is an outstanding music outfit which offers a series of chamber music concerts, introducing world renowned artists to Los Angeles audiences. Having seen some of its recent presentations of repertoire played at its premier level by sparkling chamber musicians, including the Borromeo and Avalon String Quartets (review),…

a poem about a play This critic, this poet this pinch faced sailor Blueblack eyes like wet rocks icy sharp nose like a dagger screams I AM A PLAGIARIST this poem MY poem paraphrased from actual script of different words for the same thing The same thing by Kimber Lee The same thing Playing at…

THE OLD SONG-AND-DANCE Full of vitality, eagerness, and joie de vivre, the indefatigable, cheerful, and fast-talkin’ showman Maurice Hines is offering a walk-down-memory-lane with song, big band, and a few special dance guests. For the nostalgia-starved and their parents, Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life at the Wallis is just the ticket. Basically an “And…

A PROGRAM WHICH IS AN ARGUMENT FOR LIVE CONCERTS LA Phil’s concert last night offered more than enough reasons to validate why live music is far preferable to recordings. The evening’s centerpiece, pianist Lang Lang’s buttery and strong interpretation of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, was a sight to see. Prokofiev trademarks’”bursts of mischievous jocularity,…

GOING WHERE NO FESTIVAL HAS GONE BEFORE Writer and actor David Dean Bottrell came up with a swell idea for Los Angeles’”a science fiction theater festival. Consisting of two different programs, the event known as SCI-FEST opened at the ACME Theatre last Tuesday with Program A, consisting of four one-act plays from the genre (Evening…

INTO THE WORDS For his production of Into the Woods, director T.J. Dawson notes that Stephen Sondheim’s score is often revered as genius. “However, many of his incredible lyrics rush by most of us before we can fully take them in.” Unfortunately, this accurately describes the experience watching 3-D Theatricals’ version of the popular 1987…

29 IS THE NEW 19 “If you ever feel stuck in your life,” Broadway, TV, and film heartthrob Jeremy Jordan told the adoring throng at his L.A. debut last night, “go back to your childhood and remember your dream.” The 29-year old was near the tail end of his 85-minute cabaret act, basically a travelogue…

OOPSY DAISY With enough comic personality to rival Fanny Brice, the droll, deft, dirty, daffy, derisive, delirious, and delightful Daisy Eagan, best-known for being the youngest female Tony Winner (The Secret Garden, 1991), has created a new solo show which I caught at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Angeles. Having already played San Francisco,…

NOT PREMEDITATED ENOUGH Despite playwright Evelina Fernández’ ability to take clichéd problems about marriage and turn them into humorous complaints about men tossing underwear on the floor and women nagging, her divertingly silly but disappointingly trite Premeditation doesn’t elevate past the conceit: A woman hires a hit man to off her husband of 25 years….

WHAT DO YOU HAVE A TASTE FOR? Six weeks before the opening of Sacred Fools’ cannibal play, one of Stage and Cinema’s writers (to whom I will assign the alias “Ethel”) asked if she could review Taste. I had not received a press release and knew nothing about it, so I let her have the…