Book reviews from various blogs I’ve written for over the years compiled at Goodreads (I’m working on getting the reviews all in one place over there…bear with me in the meantime)
Guest posts at Lahikmajoe Drinks Tea
…a hundred visions and revisions, before the taking of toast and tea
We’ve no time to wash the things between whiles
North Country Writer’s Festival 2015 (First Place, Poetry)
Watertown Daily Times, Page A2
Two poems – Ex-Pats and Black Pond
A ‘wickedly’ entertaining musical
Durang’s farce both moving and hilarious
‘Gutenberg’ silly and irreverent, yet enjoyable
Shakespeare & Company play is an absolute dream
‘The God Game’ at Capital Repertory a stunning work
‘Flashdance’ evokes nostalgia, and that’s enough
Despite slow start, ‘Gypsy’ succeeds
Home Made Theater’s tame version of Christie play worth seeing
‘SantaLand Diaries’ generates some serious laughs for SCP
Iranian playwright’s ‘White Rabbit’ is raw and compelling
Cap Rep production portrays gripping struggle for power
C-R Productions’ ‘Les Mis’ has merits, issues to iron out
Technology takes the life out of ‘Ghost: The Musical’
Exuberant ‘Anything Goes’ treat for both eyes and ears
‘Les Miserables’ is a feast for the eyes and ears
‘Leading Ladies’ lingers too long
SCP gets in spirit of Coward comedy
Cohoes’ ‘Dolly’ gets sterling treatment
Whitton shines in one-man ‘SantaLand’
‘Drawer Boy’: Strong performances make play on friendship compelling
Uneven “Chorus Line” still fun
Potter spoof gets everyone laughing
Gritty realism: Green Day show ‘American Idiot’ has one more show at Proctors
Jane Austen tale gets musical, pleasing adaptation at Cap Rep
Rigby’s ‘Peter Pan’ proves magical for children and adults alike
Classic drama of family intrigue gets royal treatment in the Berkshires
Nostalgic ‘Animal Crackers’ funny, yet feels dated
‘On the Town’ is perky love letter to 1940s NYC
Flawless ‘Heroes’ not to be missed
SLOC production of ‘Sweet Charity’ ambitious but uneven
Woman goes from victim to victimizer in mesmerizing play
‘Spamalot’ is frenetic fun at Park Playhouse
Classic whodunit tale gets stellar, innovative update at Berkshire
Players offer fine addition to resurgence of Holmes
Hilarious ‘Spelling Bee’ a must-see at SLOC
Barrington’s ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ pure inspiration
Strong cast propels ‘Young Frankenstein’
Performers shackled by dated, offensive ‘Rat Pack’
Story about making the movie ‘Gone with the Wind’ makes engaging play
Cast can’t save outdated ‘Morning’s at Seven’
Shaq survives ‘Running Wild’ in Adirondacks
Last-minute gift idea: The arts!
Kaaterskill Basin Literary Journal
The Museum of Americana: A Literary Review
Real Live Girls with Scales and Tails
Gingerbread House Literary Magazine
It’s dysfunction junction at Albany Civic’s Wonderful World
HMT’s ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ is a hot ticket in chilly weather
Into the Woods: Songcraft, steampunk and arts and crafts
Albany Civic Theater’s soup kitchen for the soul
Jack Hanna’s boundless energy and passion for animals cheer Proctors
A reimagined Sherlock Holmes dazzles at Home Made Theater
Third time, still charming: Wicked at Proctors
A contemporary Dorian Gray that maintains the classic Wildean values
SLOC’s Sondheim production goes into the weeds
The Foreigner at Home Made Theater will make you think
A Shot in the Dark at Albany Civic Theater struggles to find its way
Risk pays off for Confetti Stage with Mary Kate Olsen is in Love
The Curious Savage stands the test of time
True West needs a bit of calibrating
The brilliance of “Dog Sees God”
“They’re all going to laugh at you!” Carrie at The Barn
“Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat” is electric
“Rich” production buttresses heavy “Marigolds” at Bridge Street Theatre
Ragtime at Park Playhouse is a triumph
Skeleton Crew captures real life struggle
“Mamma Mia!” at Cap Rep is enjoyable fluff
Intimate Apparel is “theater at its most powerful”
At Home at the Zoo is explosive
Sweeney Todd in the round at Mac-Haydn Theatre
Despite talented cast, “This” isn’t quite it
“Every Brilliant Thing” tells deep truths
“Actually” finds power in its realism
“Guys and Dolls” is an end-of-summer delight
“The Pillowman” at Albany Barn explores dark spaces
“Peter and the Starcatcher” a joyful season opener for Albany Civic Theater
“How to Pray” is a challenging, worthwhile watch
A “stellar” production of Cabaret at SLOC
“In the Heat of the Night” is a timely production
“Lost Lake” is a hushed masterpiece
“Fifth of July” a bold choice for Schenectady Civic Players
Skidmore Theater’s adaptation of “Let the Right One In” has teeth
“I Love You Because” is funny and touching
“Fun Home” explores time, memory, and loss
Strong work in “Redwood Curtain” at Bridge Street Theatre
“Row After Row” jam packed with thought-provoking material
“Dead Man’s Cell Phone” tackles our symbiotic relationship with tech
You won’t leave “The Wolves” unmoved
“Arcadia” by RPI Players is uneven but moving
“She Loves Me” will get you into the holiday spirit
“A Christmas Carol” at Sage is beautifully done
Performances shine through in “As Bees in Honey Drown”
“Finding Neverland” production at Proctors is “stunning”
The heart of HMT’s “A Christmas Carol” shines through despite missteps
Alabama Story’s rabbits and racists
Jesus Christ Superstar at SLOC is “amazing”
History and theater successfully wed in The Tarnation of Russell Colvin
Clever Little Lies at Ghent Playhouse struggles with difficult source material
Schenectady Civic Players’ An Inspector Calls is a work of art
‘Paris Time’ takes risks but needs work
‘Private Fears in Public Places’ explores isolation
‘The Giver’ delivers a dystopian future for all ages
‘Inspecting Carol’ pulls together the laughs
“The Velocity of Autumn” at Hubbard Hall is a powerful reflection on aging
Skidmore’s ‘Everything You Touch’ is gold
‘Spelling Bee’ at Cohoes Music Hall is fun, frenetic
‘The Humans’ at Proctors brings you home
Classic Theater Guild’s production ‘Of Mice and Men’ is powerful but flawed
‘Curtains’ is a good production of the wrong musical
“Other Desert Cities” by Schenectady Civic Players is “masterfully directed”
Circle Theatre Players deliver an emotional, solid version of ‘The Crucible’
Challenging ‘The Boys in the Band’ shows strength despite production hiccups
Patrick White is all about action
“Chasing Charles” is full of heart
‘A Lesson Before Dying’ incredibly moving, and hard-hitting
‘Blithe Spirit’ ends The Rep’s season with a bang
‘Tribes’ spotlights student talent
‘Molly Sweeney’ in Troy is powerful, moody
Creative License’s “Mine” is a twisted horror gem
‘A Little Night Music’ a brave choice by RPI Players
Everyone involved in HMT’s ‘Technicolor Dreamcoat’ has reason to celebrate
Confetti Stage delivers ‘King Lear’ with care
‘Appropriate’ at Albany Civic Theater is worth experiencing
‘School for Lies’ at Schenectady Civic a showcase of great theater
‘Happy Birthday, Wanda June’ is sharper in the age of MAGA
Mabee Farm lends magic to “The Seagull”
“Leni” explores the relationship between a disgraced artist and their influential work
“Our Town” at Ghent Playhouse contains calm, quiet lessons
“Damn Yankees” at Mac-Haydn is a great summer kickoff
“Morning After Grace” at Shakespeare & Company a “beautiful vignette”
Young actors, new space shine in Young Dr. Jekyll at Proctors
“Typhoid Mary” at Barrington Stage features “stellar” performances
“The Royal Family of Broadway” is fun eye candy
“Church and State” makes a “powerful statement” about America
“The Cake” at Barrington Stage is timely and funny
“Cry It Out” a touching study of motherhood
‘The Nerd’ is hilarious, joyful
“A Doll’s House Part 2” is powerful, intelligent, striking
Performances make “The Mousetrap” at The Theater Barn
“The Whipping Man” at Oldcastle Theatre is a gem
“Ring of Fire” at The Rep is beautifully crafted
Chester Theatre Company’s “Disgraced” is deep and dark
“Damn Yankees” at Park Playhouse beats the heat
Matthew Broderick can’t save “The Closet”
“The Sound Inside” is beautifully written, powerfully acted
This “Hair” is cleaner than it should be
“Creditors” at Shakespeare & Co is “utterly inspired”
“Petrified Forest” a beautiful, heartbreaking slice of Americana
“Heathers: The Musical” is dark and subversive
Oldcastle gives “The Fourth Wall” their all
“The Wedding Singer” at Mac-Haydn is sweet and silly
Durant: “Dangerous House” is something “truly special”
“The Member of the Wedding” falls flat
“Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All for You” is a comedic powerhouse
The contagious joy of “Putnam County Spelling Bee”
“Pool (No Water)” a provocative production by Creative License
“Heisenberg” a remarkable accomplishment for all involved
“Mothers and Sons” tugs at the heartstrings
“Off the Shelf” column in the Watertown Daily Times
Book review: Joe Hill’s “Strange Weather” not as strong as other work, but still has punch
Book review: The dark fairy tale of Emily Fridlund’s ‘History of Wolves’
Book review: The echo of tragedy and strength of love in Alice McDermott’s ‘The Ninth Hour’
Book review: The twisted roots of so-called love in Gabriel Tallent’s ‘My Absolute Darling’
Book review: More realistic teens, a more mature John Green in ‘Turtles All the Way Down’
Book review: A heroine we can all root for in Gail Honeyman’s ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’
Book review: A clever mystery within a mystery in Anthony Horowitz’s ‘Magpie Murders’
Fifteen book-to-movie adaptations to get excited about in 2018
Mark your calendars! Fifteen interesting books being released in the next six months
There are so many options — so where do you get your books?
Paper or pixels: what do you prefer, e-readers or hard-copy books?
Can you — and should you — separate an author from their work?
Remembering a teacher whose love of words nurtured mine
‘Knowing I lov’d my books’: Current literary reimagining of Shakespeare’s work
The power of words: should schools avoid texts with racially charged language?
‘A poem should not mean, but be’: Celebrating National Poetry Month
Not every book can be the next ‘Gone Girl,’ but here are some thrillers that come close
PBS and the Great American Read — what do you think will be America’s best-loved book?
Book review: The secret to living forever in Chloe Benjamin’s ‘The Immortalists’
From page to screen: the slow erosion of rights in Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
From page to screen: the modernization of Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’
Book review: A miscarriage of justice scarier than the supernatural in Stephen King’s ‘The Outsider’
The lazy, hazy days of summer, and the perfect books to help you while them away
Casting a critical eye over the past: problematic language in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s work
Celebrity book clubs: using fame to build community and share the love of literature
Hulu’s ‘Castle Rock’ is a treasure trove for the Stephen King fan
Gillian Flynn and the art of adaptation: ‘Dark Places’ and ‘Sharp Objects’
Column in the Watertown Daily Times
A day to give thanks … that I’m not the one cooking the turkey
‘Tis the season for Grinches, cartoon penguins with wing envy and the richest man in Bedford Falls
Before you get excited about Facebook’s big announcement, think about what it really means
Pens, lighters and chips: just a few of the many things that don’t have to be reinvented ‘for her’
What’s the matter with kids today? Nothing. They’re amazing.
The loss of a journalist is a loss for us all
Too young for AARP, too old for live concerts: I guess this is middle age
You can have your sunny beaches; I’ll take rocky, mercurial Maine
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