Sam's Review Club

Dancers Lauren Stucko (senior) and Madison Brott (junior) beautifully dance the roles of Red Girl and Pink Girl in Lar Lubovich's  A Brahms Symphony. Photo by Tim Coburn George Mason University is a bit of a trek when discussing arts organizations in the DMV area. If Saturday night’s School of Dance Fête and Gala Concert is any indicator, then this trek is worth making. Celebrating the strides Mason’s (still young) dance program has made in recent years, the evening was a unique combination of educational panels and dance showcases. With four moving performances capping off the evening, Mason’s dance program cements itself as one to not be underestimated. Beginning the evening with the Dance Fête (meaning a celebration or festival) allowed the Mason faculty and students to better connect with their most ardent supporters. Multiple panel discussions were held to break down the upcoming performances on stage in a way which made those who may not have an extensive dance ...

Photo Credit: Christopher Banks The Women’s Voices Theatre Festival may be winding down in D.C. proper, but Alexandria’s MetroStage is looking to keep the focus on female-centered stories with their Spring Solo Series. The second of these one-woman shows, George—Don’t Do That: The Music and Magic of Joyce Grenfell, is a love-filled tribute to British comedienne Joyce Grenfell who became a global sensation in the mid-20th century thanks to her intellectual satire and good natured spirit. Despite clear adoration for the play’s subject, the work doesn’t properly explain who Ms. Grenfell is or why she became so famous, information which would be helpful for a modern American audience. British actor Catherine Flye (MetroStage’s Christmas at the Old Bull and Bush ) stars as Ms. Grenfell in this tribute which she has been performing throughout the British Isles since 2003. It’s surprising, then, that so much of this production feels incomplete. On many occasions, Ms. Flye referenc...