Reviews by Carol Moore

**** Recommended  "1776" is one of my least favorite musicals, so I wasn’t looking forward to seeing this musical about the founding fathers again. However, I did like the  Marriott Theatre production which is so timely in light of these stressful times.  Marriott’s in-the-round staging brought everything closer to the audience making viewers feel more involved. Their non-traditional casting (black actors and female actors – both of whom would have been excluded in 1776) was also spot on. If you’re interested in history, you’ll enjoy "1776," especially the solemn role call as they sign the Declaration of Independence.  4 Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended "BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical" is just awesome! I was more than a bit skeptical going in – how would they, could they, possibly turn a classic adventure movie into a musical? Well, they did, and "BACK TO THE FUTURE" blew me away! The special effects are, as my friend Al Bresloff says, mindboggling! Hurry, hurry, hurry and get your tickets! 4 Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended The Copley Theatre’s production of "Peter and the Starcatcher", a tongue-in-cheek prequel to Peter Pan, is totally demented!  Well, maybe I meant insane, or twisted, or hysterical.  I might even call it a melo-dramedy!  The entire cast totally embraced the essential zaniness of the play, and thanks to some very clever staging with ladders and planks, the campiness factor has gone off the charts.  Peter and the Star Catcher is awesome! 4 BIG Spotlights

**** Recommended Dunes Summer Theater’s production of "The Bridges of Madison County", is a beautiful show, a love story that will move you to tears.  Don’t that worry you though, it’s not at all a cloyingly schmaltzy chick-flick kind of musical.  I can’t quite figure out why it wasn’t more successful on Broadway (only 137 performances). The score is magnificent, with elements of the blues, folk, twangy bluegrass, country, pop and opera.  The talented cast, particularly the leads, Kristianna Dilworth and Max DeTogne, does full justice to the amazing score. 4 Spotlights