The Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Darwin in Malibu raises more questions than it answers.   By Kay Kipling   There’s something intriguingly odd about the concept of Crispin Whittell’s Darwin in Malibu, now showing in an Asolo Repertory Theatre production at the Cook Theatre.   The play places The Origin of Species [...]

Venice Little Theatre’s Over the Tavern scores laughs, if not emotions.   By Kay Kipling   Playwright Tom Dudzick’s Over the Tavern is a popular choice for community theaters, and it’s easy to see why: It’s a family-oriented comedy with loads of nostalgia on tap for anyone over 50 or so, especially those of us [...]

    The Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Ella tells the story behind the music of the legendary Ella Fitzgerald.   By Kay Kipling   Nowadays especially, we more or less expect the lives of our entertainers to be fraught with high drama. Whether it’s drug addictions and stints in rehab, multiple marriages, legal battles or just [...]

Westcoast Black Theater Troupe scores a hit with this colorful, engaging musical.   By Kay Kipling     Because of the recent film version, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s offering of Dreamgirls earlier this season may have gotten a lot of recognition (it doesn’t hurt that the WBTT’s star in that show, Teresa Stanley, recently moved [...]

Forrest Richards’ star turn makes this Golden Apple musical worthwhile.   By Kay Kipling     Some musicals are ensemble pieces from the start; others just demand a star at the center of it all. Irving Berlin’s Call Me Madam is definitely one of the latter; no matter who is cast in the other roles, [...]