Theatrical delights and astonishments

By Gwendolyn Rice, The Isthmus

’Tis the season for reflecting on the year, and that means looking back on all the great theater I’ve experienced — outdoors, in enormous auditoriums, in little black-box theaters, on Broadway and on very intimate local stages. These are moments that delighted and astonished me.

Best at capturing the political moment: Rhinoceros, by Strollers Theatre

While many theater companies opted for light and frothy entertainment to distract us from new political reality, Strollers dealt with the Trump era head-on with an impressive production of the Ionesco play about people being swallowed up by an evil and insidious government.

Most badass heroines: Lizzie, Music Theatre of Madison

Accused murderer Lizzie Borden seems like an unlikely subject for a punk-rock opera, but the all-female cast rocked hard, complete with punk ’dos, outrageous outfits and a whole lot of attitude. Led by MTM executive director Meghan Randolph, the show blended demanding vocals with feminist rage for an unforgettable, modern take on a historic crime.

Best spit-take: Pericles, American Players Theatre

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