Big Fish Presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company, it plays at the Calderwood Pavilion, through April 11
You’ll likely remember this fish tale from the David Daniel Wallace novel and the 2003 Tim Burton film. It wades into deep waters as young journalist Will comes to terms with his fractured relationship with his father, Edward, as the latter nears the end of his life. A traveling salesman, Edward Bloom spent a lifetime unspooling tall tales of encounters with witches, giants and mermaids. Only too late does Will realize his father’s tales unlock his truth. After a brief Broadway run, the show’s creative team, including Andrew Lippa (music and lyrics) and John August (book), worked with SpeakEasy Stage Company to craft a more intimate piece to play in regional theaters. What they hook is a story that makes you think not about your place in life, but how you create it.
Shockheaded Peter Presented by Company One Theatre at the Modern Theatre at Suffolk University, through April 4
Company One Theatre continues its march toward groundbreaking excellence with the mesmerizing "Shockheaded Peter." Ingeniously staged by director Steven Bogart in the small confines of the Modern, "Shockheaded Peter" is a demented venture into Victorian cray. Based on Heinrich Hoffman’s 1845 children’s book Struwwelpeter, the show is a series of vignettes of misbehaving children finding their demise. Lesson to the wee ones: don’t play with matches, or suck your thumbs or fidget, or… With the musical stylings of Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys, this is a theatrical experience you won’t soon forget, not that you’d want to. Don’t have regrets—get your tickets now.
See scenes from "Shockheaded Peter," and get my and Jim Braude's initial thoughts on the musical:
Gardner Museum Theft The 25th anniversary of the notorious heist was Wednesday, March 18; Anthony Amore: 81 Minutes Thursday, March 26, 7:00 PM
This is my chance to make a plea. No doubt you’ve heard/seen/read the considerable coverage of the 25th anniversary of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist. By now, you’re well aware that in the early hours of March 18, 1990 thieves posing as Boston police officers gained entrance to the museum, and over the course of 81, minutes stole 13 pieces of art. It’s the biggest art theft in American history. Among the stolen works are one of only 36 Vermeers known to exist and Rembrandt’s only known seascape. It’s a tremendous loss. An epic one. So take a moment to look at the works online. Perhaps you have insight into where they reside today. Know that there’s a $5 million reward. Five million dollars for information leading to their recovery—that’s easy money. And since the statute of limitations has run out, know there’s a good possibility that whoever was/is responsible for the theft gets to skate free. There’s now an entire generation that has never had the opportunity to see some of the greatest pieces of art ever created. Be the hero. Be the one to give them back to the world.
Watch my interview with Anthony Amore at the Gardner Museum.
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