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.
What did you do in the arts this weekend?
Did you participate in the monthly art walk (as either a walker or an artist)? Were you in the audience for a high school musical? Did you, like me, try to catch up on Oscar winners that you hadn't seen yet? (First thought after finally seeing Argo: Christoph Waltz must have [...]
One night + three BU shows = Lots of feelings
Reviewed by Lory Martinez The graduate students of Binghamton University’s theater department presented their versions of Elizabeth Wray’s futurist parable, Forecast; Thornton Wilder’s 1930s comedy, The Happy Journey from Trenton to Camden, and Edward Allan Baker’s family drama, Up Down Strange Charmed Beauty and Truth yesterday (Feb. 28) in [...]
Salsa Libre es muy caliente!
Reviewed by Nancy McKenzie Oliveri According to its Facebook page, Salsa Libre, a Binghamton-based, eight-piece band with a Latin beat, was “formed in 1997 to give the Southern Tier spicy, sensual music for listening and dancing pleasure” The description continues that “the band has captured the sounds of the [...]
Were you art-full this past weekend?
Did the long weekend provide you with extra chances to immerse yourself in Broome County's lively arts scene? Then please tell us what you did.
‘Rock of Ages’ delivers nostalgia with a capital N
Reviewed by Nancy McKenzie Oliveri What was a girl to wear to a Broadway-caliber show, on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) no less, that promised to rock her and the rest of the audience right back to the wonderfully raunchy, tasteless decade of the ’80s? For this girl, in her mid 50s, [...]
Ti-Ahwaga finds right balance in challenging play
Reviewed by George Basler One thing can be said about the Ti-Ahwaga Community Players: They don’t shy away from taking risks. Having turned in a very solid effort last fall in staging Arthur Miller’s classic Death of a Salesman, the company is now tackling Edward Albee’s challenging A Delicate Balance, [...]
‘Circle Mirror Transformation’ reflects fine stagecraft
Reviewed by Lee Shepherd What a perfectly crafted and finely acted play! I’m talking about the Know Theatre’s production of Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker, directed by Tim Gleason and featuring Jason Hill, Ilana Lieberman, Jessica Nogaret, Susan Stevens and Jason Walsh. On Saturday (Feb. 9), Know fulfilled [...]
‘Trovatore’ returns triumphantly to TCO repertoire
Reviewed by Lee Shepherd You can see why there’s been so much fun made of Il Trovatore – even the Marx Brothers took a crack at it. It’s crazy plot, set in the mountains of Spain, includes a gypsy’s curse, a child tossed into a fire, switched identities, several vows [...]
New Orford scores big on Super Bowl Sunday
Reviewed by Lee Shepherd For most of the country, Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 3) was all about competition. For the select crowd at Binghamton University’s Anderson Center Chamber Hall for the “pregame show” on Sunday afternoon, it was all about collaboration. And what a fine demonstration of perfect coordination [...]
Musicals showcase student talent
By Barb Van Atta I said it last year; I’ll say it again: From February to May, there are no better places to get the most out of your entertainment buck than the auditoriums of local high schools. Despite budget cutbacks, talented students, dedicated teachers and hard-working volunteers in [...]
The pipes, the pipes were calling at BU
Reviewed by Nancy McKenzie Oliveri Last Thursday (Jan. 31), nearly 1,200 people came to Binghamton University to see the Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of the Black Watch 3rd Battalion, and the Band of the Scots Guards. Throughout the night, the crowd was brought to its feet, and to tears. Repeatedly. [...]
Did the arts warm up your week?
My son and I attended the final SRO Productions III performance of Godspell, a fabulous production that truly was SRO (“curtain” was delayed while more chairs were brought in). How did the arts add some warmth to your week ?
Cider Mill cast makes the most of humor in ‘Leading Ladies’
Reviewed by George Basler Even in an age of political correctness, a time-honored way to get laughs is to put a couple of guys in dresses and let the fun begin. The technique has been used, with varying degrees of success, in comedies from Some Like It Hot to [...]
Clarinet soloist teams with BPO for concert filled with serenity and joy
Reviewed by Lee Shepherd A funny thing happened at the Binghamton Philharmonic concert yesterday afternoon (Jan. 20). The clarinet soloist, Pascual Martinez Forteza, came out from behind the curtain at Binghamton University and almost turned left toward the woodwind section. He quickly turned right and took his rightful place in front [...]
SRO’s ‘Godspell’ mixes showmanship and faith
Reviewed by George Basler In staging Godspell, co-director Ann Szymaniak wanted to put forth a message of love, acceptance and hope that “our fast-paced cynical society needs to hear.” On a less spiritual level, the musical, which has been around for 42 years now, is an opportune chance for [...]
