by Seth Rogovoy For the vast majority of listeners, Warren Zevon will be forever known for his freak hit, “Werewolves of London.” While in some ways the song is quintessential Zevon — a multilayered number that functions on a literal level as a comic-horror story and on another level as a social critique (the “werewolves”…
By Seth Rogovoy How is it possible that the 1976 movie The Missouri Breaks was such a critical and commercial failure that most people have never seen or heard of it? After all, rarely has more talent been assembled on a single project than for this movie; the film stars Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson…
Shakespeare & Company Satchmo at the Waldorf Written by Terry Teachout Starring John Douglas Thompson Directed by Gordon Edelstein Review by Seth Rogovoy (LENOX, Mass., August 17, 2012) – There is nary a wrong nor a false note played in Terry Teachout’s Satchmo at the Waldorf, starring John Douglas Thompson as Louis Armstrong, directed by…
Kris Perry Basilica Hudson Kris Perry’s MACHINES Friday, August 10, 2012 Review by Seth Rogovoy (HUDSON, N.Y.) – The sounds of machinery and industry returned to Basilica Hudson, on Friday night. But this time around, the sounds – part of the kickoff of the Basilica Music Festival, in conjuction with Hudson MusicFest — were organized…
Sandra Bernhard at Club Helsinki Hudson (photo Seth Rogovoy) Club Helsinki Hudson Sandra Bernhard Saturday, August 4, 2012 Review by Seth Rogovoy (HUDSON, N.Y.) – Sandra Bernhard demonstrated that she is still at the top of her game as a comedian, singer, actress and political commentator in a generous, nearly two-hour performance at Club Helsinki…
Jacob’s Pillow Jonah Bokaer Doris Duke Theatre August 1-5, 2012 U.S. Premiere “Curtain” Review by Seth Rogovoy (BECKET, Mass., Wednesday, August 1, 2012) – “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” But what if you don’t know who is behind the curtain and who is in front? Or where the curtain even is?…
by Seth Rogovoy From children’s songs like “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” to blues like “Freight Train Blues” to the Clash’s “Train in Vain,” the relentless, repetitive rhythms of the railroad have inspired countless songs that recapitulate those rhythms musically while making overt reference to them textually. But perhaps no music has ever made…
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Vertigo Dance Company Ted Shawn Theatre July 4-8, 2012 Review by Seth Rogovoy (BECKET, Mass., July 7, 2012) – Vertigo Dance Company’s Mana, a 50-minute non-stop performance that concludes its five-day run at Jacob’s Pillow today, is simply perfect and that to which all modern dance should aspire. It is complete, whole,…
Fiddler on the Roof Barrington Stage Company Pittsfield, Mass. Running through 7.14.12 Review by Seth Rogovoy (PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – If the measure of a good production of Fiddler on the Roof is loyalty to the original, then Barrington Stage Company’s current production of this beloved, iconic, nearly perfect musical, running in Pittsfield through July 14,…
by Seth Rogovoy (WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.) – Archeology. Northern Chinese art. Medieval Chinese history. None of these are things in which, at least on paper, I am remotely interested. And if a trio of exhibitions concerning Northern Chinese archeological discoveries of items from about 1,500 years ago weren’t at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute,…
