Review by Jeanne Kinley Deller:

Frivolity! Foolishness! Fanfare! All the aforementioned in abundance for those 5th Avenue Theatre-goers who partake of “Something Rotten!“ It’s easy to understand why this outrageous play about the “world’s first musical,” directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, earned 10 Tony Award Nominations, including Best Musical.

The loud, boisterous, enormously talented cast members had command of the stage and the audience from the start with  “Welcome to the Renaissance.” The most outstanding crowd pleaser, “A Musical,” delivered hilarious tidbits of song and dance from a plethora of musicals we theatre goers know and love. For those Shakespearean buffs in the audience, references to the Bard’s works, throughout, delightedly added yet another layer of insight and sophisticated humor.

The dynamic Bottom brothers, played by Rob McClure and Josh Grisetti, delivered with tremendous strength and vocal range. Nostradamus, played by Blake Hammond, stole the show repeatedly with his wry humor and wacky predictions of all things musical to come in Renaissance theatre. Don’t miss this show, on now through October 1 at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Tickets here and check out the video on The 5th Avenue Theatre’s website.

Photos by Jeremy Daniel

Review by Jeanne Kinley Deller of “The Who and the What” (by Ayad Akhtar) production at ArtsWest:

“The Who and the What” deals with a Pakistani family’s conflicted cultural experiences in America. This struggling family provides a painfully (oft times humorous) intimate glimpse into misunderstandings and divisiveness encountered by many who strive to smoothly transition into foreign territory.

The amazing foursome cast in this play was totally plausible, incredibly strong, and equally talented. Hats off to Monika Jolly, Haley Alaji, Abhijeet Rane, and Andre Nelson.

This intro into the 2017-2018 ArtsWest season runs now through October 1, 2017, with a most promising lineup of productions to follow. Contemporary technical theatre at its best!

Tickets and more info here.

Video from ArtsWest about the show:

Review by Jeanne Kinley Deller:

Based on a 2003 best-selling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, the current play at The Paramount Theatre provides an unforgettable experience.

Adam Langdon’s portrayal of Christopher, a fifteen-year-old mathematical genius struggling with autism, is phenomenal in every way. Effortlessly, or so it seems, his ability to pull the audience into the frenetic existence of one plagued with the terror of being touched, loud noises, and other ghastly triggers is astounding. Langdon’s agility, flexibility, and brilliance in this role are a must see—he truly carries the show to unimaginable heights.

A shout out to Amelia White for strengths in her delightful role as Mrs. Alexander—her elocution was perfection.

Choreography by Scott Graham & Steven Hoggett is fantastical and astounding. Ingenious scenic designs by Bunny Christie, in addition to innovative lighting designs by Paule Constable, transport the audience into Christopher’s frightening, autistic world. Never have we experienced theatre more mesmerizing.

This five-time 2015 Tony Award winner, including the award for “Best Play,” is at The Paramount in Seattle now through July 30. Tickets here.

Photos by Joan Marcus.

Guest review by Molly Fortin:

Yes, it’s got “fun” in the name, but when you learn that “Fun Home” is short for funeral home, the family business of protagonist Alison Bechdel, and that the musical explores her family tragedy, you might think it’s an ironic title. Admittedly, after reading Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir which the show is based on, I was expecting intelligent, complex, and moving. I wasn’t expecting “fun.”

That’s why the eruptions of laughter at The 5th Avenue Theatre on opening night came as such a welcome surprise. Lisa Kron’s book and lyrics, Jeanine Tesori’s music, and Sam Gold’s direction wring this family tragicomic for every emotion – with three humorous moments to offset every poignant one.

I love a show that makes me laugh, and one that moves along quickly. With a 1 hour 40 minute running time and no intermission, “Fun Home“ hums along as quickly as the pages of a good graphic novel.

I had wondered how the musical´s creators would solve the problem of integrating Alison´s stories at many different points throughout her life, and so I was delighted with the inventive staging. Three actors play Alison throughout the musical, often all on stage at once, but Abby Corrigan as the adolescent Medium Alison steals the show. She immediately wins over the audience with her painfully sincere, awkward interactions with university co-eds as she comes into her own as a lesbian. She’s so cute and funny as she prances around the dorm room in boyish tighty whities singing “I’m changing my major to Joan.”

Lately, I’ve been loving WNYC’s Nancy, frank conversations about the LGBTQ experience (“because everyone’s a little bit gay…”). The podcast featured one woman who was suddenly transported back to her own childhood while listening to Fun Home’s “Ring of Keys,” Small Alison’s ballad about recognizing herself in a butch delivery woman.

It’s so refreshing to hear diverse stories and experiences and to see them come alive on the musical theater stage in new, inventive ways.

“Fun Home” plays The 5th Avenue Theatre in downtown Seattle now through July 30. Tickets here.