A fresh look at the musical Working enlivens the Asolo Repertory Theatre stage.   By Kay Kipling   Attending a matinee performance of the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Working, I couldn’t help but be struck by an irony: Virtually everyone in the audience was of retirement age, i.e., no longer “working,” as the characters in [...]

  The Golden Apple pays another visit to that wicked city, Chicago.   By Kay Kipling   The story of the merry murderesses of Chicago has had more lives than a cat, it seems. From 1920s silent film and stage versions to a 1940s film with Ginger Rogers to the award-winning 2002 movie musical version, [...]

  The Manatee Players mingle drama, music and history with a powerful Ragtime.   By Kay Kipling   Ragtime, adapted from the E.L. Doctorow book by writer Terrence McNally and the musical team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, is a show packed with characters, colors and emotions. So it’s quite a challenge for a [...]

  The Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Lady offers some topical drama in a play about friendships at a crossroads.   By Kay Kipling   From its opening moments, prefaced with a riff from a Dire Straits song, the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s production of Lady has great energy and some snapping dialogue, from playwright Craig Wright (who’s [...]

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Aunt Rudele’s Family Reunion offers some moments of truth and laughter.   By Kay Kipling   Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe founder Nate Jacobs has played many roles over the years, both for his own company and others. But perhaps his most effective work so far remains his turn as Aunt Rudele, [...]