Author Archives

University administrator and teacher by day, theater and arts critic by night.

REVIEW: Dreaming a World: Joyce DiDonato in Recital (for Parterre Box)

Fueled by a fierce intelligence, deep earnestness, exceptional eloquence, and social media savvy, Joyce DiDonato is a presence and a power.

The candor of some aspects of this Bette Davis classic is truly startling.

This lovely program of arias, duets and songs reveals an entrepreneurial spirit and undaunted good humor.

Two films 50 years apart prove that Bette Davis is always—gloriously—Bette Davis.

The delightfully subversive Western features one of Joan Crawford’s most iconic performances.

As Blanche Hudson might have said, “It’s still a pretty good picture”… and then some!

Another installment in our series on Bette Davis brings us to the second thriller in the famous Robert Aldrich diptych.

Jeanne Eagels and Siobhan McKenna show that there are many ways to write The Letter.

Bette Davis dazzles in one of her early signature films.

Peter Shaffer’s play is seen here for what it’s always been: a piece of lowbrow camp masquerading as highbrow art.