Dare to tread where death abounds? The Blighted Heart surely killed the critic as he wrote his front row review of this 9-act torchy blunder. The farce it’s part of, Stiff, is simply to die for. Laughing, that is. Find this frenzied, farcical delite at The Barrow Group Theatre (TBG Theatre) through March 3, 2018 … Continue reading
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Dynamic Dame Creates World of Wonderful
When William Moulton Marston created the fictional Amazonian character Wonder Woman for DC Comics (first appeared in 1941), he probably had no clue of the paradigm shifting, multi-generational impact and popularity she would have. Nor could he have imagined the impact one creative, intelligent, impassioned producer/advocate, a veritable Wonder Woman in her own right, could … Continue reading
WHAT THE DEUCE! A Dreamy Double-Dose of Drama
Double your pleasure, double your fun. Double your impact? With the NEA, NEH and PBS funding at risk under a wildcat Republican administration in DC, it’s hard not to worry how the arts will survive and thrive. Two Best of the Region theatre companies have linked resources to offer audiences a special two-fer deal this … Continue reading
Step Up to The Basement: Our Future, Performing Today
Just don’t call them “kids” in the theatre…. When they walk into a rehearsal or performance setting, these artists are as professional as they come in our arts community. They are the creative engines, the future visionary drivers emerging from Jeff Swearingen’s Fun House Theatre and Film. And they are stepping out in style in … Continue reading
A Rabe Rave & Rant: STICKS AND BONES at Fun House Theatre
Sticks and Bones, David Rabe’s 1972 Tony Award-winning play, is the second part of a trilogy dealing with the Vietnam War, following The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel and preceding Streamers. It is, without a doubt, one of the hardest stage dramas to sit through I have ever experienced. Partway through the first scene it’s … Continue reading
Proscenium Politics: Fun House Theatre and Film 2016 Season
“Art is a powerful tool for social change; performing is a responsibility with genuine impact that’s important for youth actors to experience as well as see as audience members.” Jeff Swearingen, Artistic Director, Fun House Theatre and Film The start of a new year finds many theatre companies across the region revving up to announce … Continue reading
Criticalrant’s Final “First Choices” of 2015
2015 unfolded as a stunner of a thespian year, from classics to new work, dynamic paradigm-shifters to re-invigorated audience favorites, ensemble achievements to compelling solo work. Youth to senior artists. And music? Glorious music! Performance art in our region thrives with energy, respect, initiative and genuine variety. Dedicated, impassioned creative people form the backbone … Continue reading
Making the Hard Sell: Fun House Theatre’s “Death of A Salesman”
Fun House Theatre and Film. Would Willy Loman approve? I should hope so. Anybody who mounts a production of a prestigious, iconic three-act drama like Arthur Miller’s Death of A Salesman takes on a sales job of imposing proportion. “The play’s a downer.” “It goes on FOREVER.” “Why can’t we see something funny?” Sometimes you … Continue reading
Get on the BUS: Fun House Theatre’s A SCHOOL BUS NAMED DESIRE
NEWSFLASH: A SCHOOL BUS NAMED DESIRE extended through Sunday 8/23 at 7pm. Go online to gets seats to this final, final performance! http://www.funhousetheatreandfilm.com Over the past few years it’s been highly entertaining to watch the clutch of young actors at Jeff Swearingen’s Fun House Theatre grow from tentative, aspiring thespians to bold, confident actors with … Continue reading
Speed-dating at Fun House: A Shakespearean Debacle
Huge disappointment alert. Nobody in this arts community has been a more enthusiastic advocate of the productions mounted by Fun House Theatre in Plano than me. I knew they would eventually open a show that I could not give a positive review to in good conscience. Here it is, based on Romeo and Juliet‘s opening night performance. … Continue reading
criticalrant.com Alexandra Bonifield 