Theatrical delights and astonishments

Posted December 21, 2017

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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