The Arts

  By Carol Davis LA JOLLA, California—–The old proverb that states ‘laughter is the best medicine’ couldn’t be truer than in this, the latest incarnation of Culture Clash’s variation on the theme of immigration. The subject matter is both tragic and perverse. To get the conversation moving and out into the open and to showcase […]

By Carol Davis LA JOLLA,  California — The  San Diego Theatre Critics Circle threw a huge party Feb. 6 for the theatre community to celebrate and acknowledge the accomplishments of San Diego County’s  local theatre heroes. This is the tenth year we have been at it and every year it gets better and better. Named for his powerhouse

 By Carol Davis   SAN DIEGO–Donald Margulies’ Brooklyn Boy is one of my favorite plays by one of my favorite playwrights. First seen at The South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa in its premiere production in 2004, Margulies was approaching his 50th year; a time for self-reflection. His other works include Dinner With Friends, Sight

By Carol Davis   SAN DIEGO—The next time you ask someone for a recommendation, you’d better ask the right person; one whose connected, is dependable and knows almost everything about you. Asking one who is connected can open doors. Asking one who is dependable will assure you get the recommendation. Asking one who knows almost

By Carol Davis ESCONDIDO, CA—It’s a pretty timely event, the dual openings of the Broadway hit, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Lawrence Welk Theatre in Escondido recently opened the award-winning musical by Frank Loesser (music and lyrics), Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willy Gilbert (book) while the revival is presently being played

By Carol Davis VISTA, California–Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap began as a radio play in 1947. In 1952 the play opened in the West End in London and never really closed. 25,000 performances later it’s made it’s way across the ocean, across the continent to Vista where the Avo Theatre, with director Jason Heil at the

By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO–When it comes to dividing up the family estate between brothers and sisters, any amount of civility goes unnoticed in playwright Horton Foote’s last comedy/drama. In Dividing the Estate the three adult Gordon siblings (Lucille, Lewis, called Brother and Mary Jo) who assemble at their childhood home, for a supposed dinner

   By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO—Ion theatre company is reprising Franz Xavier Kroetz’ one-woman show, Request Programme. In 2008 Ion mounted this piece in their little theatre adjacent to the Trolley stop in Allied Gardens. Now in their new space on 6th Avenue with the stage much closer to the audience, Linda Libby reenacts a

By Carol Davis CHULA VISTA, California —One of the very first plays I saw at the old Lyceum Theatre downtown (just before it came under the wrecking ball to make way for Horton Plaza, was Bernard Pomerance’s 1977 play, The Elephant Man. Later in 1998 The North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach mounted it.