Anthony is back from the west coast having attended The American Theatre Critics Association annual conference where much of the cocktail conversation was about critic Hedy Weiss whose recent reviews in the Chicago Sun Times created controversy. The kerfluffle began with an unfavorable review of PASS OVER, a contemporary riff on Samuel Beckett's WAITING FOR GODOT. By coincidence, Buffalo Writers' Theatre is presenting "GODOT RODEO: Lassoing Beckett's WAITING FOR GODOT in 6 Riffs" at Rust Belt Books, with only two presentations of the "rodeo" of six short plays left this weekend. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR opened last night at Shakespeare in Delaware Park with an all-female cast and runs every night except Mondays through July 15. And The Stratford Festivalagain offers a wide variety, not just Shakespeare, including a play by Jacobean playwright Thomas Middleton, THE CHANGELING, which has a subplot created by co-writer William Rowley. On the same stage, The Tom Patterson Theatre (formerly "The Third Stage" which is where, coincidentally Peter first "got" WAITING FOR GODOT) there is an equally edgy play by Shakespeare, TIMON OF ATHENS, which, coincidentally had a second writer: Thomas Middleton! Connections abound.
OPENING
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, a comedy by William Shakespeare presented by Shakespeare in Delaware Park, directed by Eileen Dugan, starring Pamela Rose Mangus as Falstaff, along with Kate Conigisor, Priscilla Young Anker, Victoria Perez, Charmagne Chi, Julia Register, Caitlin Baeumler Coleman, Darleen Pickering Hummert, Diane DiBernardo, Josie DiVincenzo. Jun 22-Jul 15, Tue-Sun at 7:30. Shakespeare Hill in Delaware Park (856-4533). www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org
RADIUM GIRLS, a play by D.W. Gregory presented by The Subversive Theatre Collective Youth Series, directed by Kelly Beuth. Jun 23-Jul 1, Thu-Sat at 8. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor (408-0499). www.subversivetheatre.org
CLOSING
GODOT RODEO, six one-act plays by Matt Boyle, Frank Canino, John Elston, Mark Lloyd and Mike Fanelli, presented by Buffalo Writers' Theater, starring John Profeta, Leon Copeland, Brittany Germano, Becky Globus, Darryl Hart. Through Jun 25, Sat at 7 & Sun at 2. Rust Belt Books, 415 Grant St. (652-6719).
HAY FEVER, a comedy by Noel Coward presented by the Irish Classical Theatre Company, directed by Gordon McCall, starring Josephine Hogan, David Oliver, Marisa Caruso, Jordan Levin, Hillary Walker, David Lundy, Melissa Levin. Jacob Albarella, Andrea Gollhardt. Through Jun 25 Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St. (853-ICTC). www.irishclassicaltheatre.com
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
PROPOSALS, a play by Neil Simon presented by Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre, directed by Jay Desiderio, starring Sandra Gilliam, David Marciniak, Chrissy Vogric-Hunnell, Jeremy Kreuzer, Lisa Hinca, Alex Hunnell, Alex King, Michelle Meer, Kinzy Brown. Through Jul 16, evening shows arrival at 6, show at 7:30; matinee shows arrival at 1, show at 2:30. Bobby J’s Italian American Grille, 204 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga (395-3207). www.mybobbyjs.com
UPCOMING
NOISES OFF, a comedy by Michael Frayn presented by Chautauqua Theater Company, directed by Andrew Borba. Jun 30-Jul 16. Bratton Theater, Chautauqua Institution (357-6250). www.ciweb.org/chautauqua-theater-company
PRETTY FUNNY, a world premiere of a musical by Marisa Guida and Philip Farugia, directed by Randall Kramer, starring Arin Dandes, Amy Jakiel, Lou Colaiacovo, Nicole Cimato, Marc Sacco, Dan Urtz, Brittney Basset, Bethany Burrows, Michael Wakowiak, Camryn Clune. Jul 12-Aug 13, Wed & Thu at 7, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2. MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540). www.musicalfare.com
THE SHAW FESTIVAL at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario centers on plays by George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries and branches out from there, continuing all summer into the fall. Visit www.shawfest.com to find out about SAINT JOAN, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III, ME AND MY GIRL, and more.
THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL in Stratford, Ontario centers on plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries and branches out from there, continuing all summer into the fall. Visit www.stratfordfestival.ca to find out about THE CHANGELING, TIMON OF ATHENS, THE BAKKHAI, ROMEO AND JULIET, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, TWELFTH NIGHT, and more.
Adapted from "On the Boards" as appearing in Artvoice June 20, 2017
