Broome Arts Mirror – Local Theatre Reviews
The Broome Arts Mirror is a group of volunteers affiliated with the Broome County Arts Council who write previews and reviews about local performances and arts shows. For inquiries, including having someone review your local production, please contact us at bamirror@broomearts.org.
KNOW Theatre gives an intriguing look at early Tennessee Williams
Reviewed by George Basler Based on a production that opened this past weekend (June 15-17) at Binghamton’s KNOW Theatre, Tennessee Williams wasn’t reluctant to cannibalize ideas. But that’s OK, because Williams was cannibalizing himself. The three one-act plays, which will be performed through July 1, are early versions of [...]
Memorial set for artist Wang
Ruby Wang visiting BCAC in 2011 We've received word that artist Ruby Wang passed away in her home in Torrance, Calif., on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, after more than two years of medical treatment for pancreatic cancer. The traditional Chinese watercolorist formerly lived and taught in Broome [...]
What did you do in the arts this week?
Theater companies have been winding up their 2017-18 seasons. Choral groups have held spring concerts. Solo performers have visited Broome County. How were the arts part of your weekend?
Ti-Ahwaga wraps season with fun-filled 'Heaven Can Wait'
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri The Ti-Ahwaga Community Players are closing out out their 2017-2018 season with Heaven Can Wait, a three-act play about the afterlife, and what might happen if you get there too soon. Harry Segall’s comedy is a lot of fun, despite death being its main plot [...]
Clocktower serves up steamy 'Cat' at Cider Mill
EDITOR'S NOTE: Because he had social commitments out of town, the Broome Arts Mirror reviewer attended a final dress rehearsal of the play rather than a scheduled performance. Clocktower Theater Company was kind enough to agree to this arrangement. By George Basler Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is [...]
CRT opens season with poignant dramedy featuring two superb actresses
Reviewed by Lee Shepherd Funny, poignant, engaging, outrageous, riveting, both predictable and not predictable -- all describe the highly entertaining Ripcord, a great choice for the season-opening play at Chenango River Theatre in Greene. The play hinges on a bet made by two roommates at an assisted living facility: [...]
BU's 'Castle' shines a compelling light
Reviewed by George Basler Watching Castle on the Hill, which opened this past weekend (April 27-29) at Binghamton University’s Watters Theater, is like watching a parade of ghosts. These ghosts aren’t figments of someone’s imagination. They’re flesh and blood people who lived, worked and, yes, even died at the [...]
Were you art-full this week?
I believe that variety is the spice of life, so my forays into culture and entertainment this past weekend -- Avengers: Infinity War, TCO's The Tragedy of Carmen and a rehearsal for the Downtown Singers' upcoming all-Brahms concert -- didn't have a lot in common. How about you? How were the [...]
TCO's stripped-down 'Carmen' seems vocally miscast
Reviewed by Sherri Strichman It was a painful night at the opera Friday (April 27) as Tri-Cities Opera opened its end-of-season production, The Tragedy of Carmen. Peter Brook’s reduction of the opera into 90 minutes features the four main characters and an eviscerated version of Georges Bizet’s score. The original [...]
KNOW actors excel in play that puts provocative spin on 9/11
Reviewed by George Basler In a Playbill interview about The Mercy Seat, playwright Neil LaBute said the title is a Biblical reference that pertains to mercy seat on the top of the Ark of the Covenant that was the one place where God could come and man could speak before [...]
SRO show is a love letter to, and from, Patsy Cline
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri There’s something delightful about jukebox musicals, even small ones. I’m not 100% sure if Always … Patsy Cline strictly qualifies, but it does have a real jukebox,and a live honky-tonk band. And -- hell, yeah -- that’s reason enough to go see it, but there’s more. [...]
Seasoned actors give boost to Cider Mill's sweet but predictable 'Somersaults'
Reviewed by George Basler When you think of the old Soviet Union, the word romance doesn’t come immediately to mind. But that’s what’s on display in Do You Turn Somersaults?, which opened this past weekend (April 12-16) at the Cider Mill Stage in Endicott and will run through April [...]
2018 Emerging Artists Competition & Exhibition
2018 Emerging Artists Competition & Exhibition The Broome County Arts Council held the Broome High School Emerging Artist Competition Award Recognition & Ceremony on Friday, April 6th to celebrate the artistic talents of the 53 students from 6 Broome County High Schools with 65 works of art on display. [...]
Savoyards' 'Arsenic and Old Lace' makes murder fun at Bundy Museum
Reviewed by George Basler On paper, Arsenic and Old Lace is a weird play. The two major characters are lovely old ladies whose only fault is that they’re serial killers. Other characters have more than a few screws loose themselves. On the stage, though, the play is one of [...]
TCO 2018-19 season features Puccini, Heggie and G&S
By George Basler One of Gilbert & Sullivan’s most popular operettas and one of Giacomo Puccini’s most beloved operas will highlight Tri-Cities Opera’s 2018-2019 season. Also featured will be a TCO premiere and the debut of a new venue for the company, General Director Susan S. Ashbaker said today [...]
