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REVIEW: Retail therapy takes on new meaning in Hub Theatre Company of Boston’s lighthearted comedy ‘Buyer and Cellar’

Posted on July 29 by The Sleepless Critic

“Well, hello gorgeous.”

What does an unemployed and rather desperate actor and a wealthy multi-talented celebrity have in common?

They share a kit kat bar and a dream.

Exploring the psyche of the have and have nots, Jonathan Tolins’s fictional one man comedy, Buyer and Cellar brings to light the weighty and wild world of excess on the journey of discovering what is truly important.

Victor L. Shopov in Hub Theatre Company of Boston’s ‘Buyer and Cellar’ Photo credit Lauren Elias

With lighthearted direction by Daniel Bourque, Hub Theatre Company of Boston continues Buyer and Cellar live and in person at Club Café in Boston, Massachusetts through Saturday, August 1. The action is not limited to the stage and runs approximately 100 minutes with no intermission. Pay-what-you-can tickets are available. The production occasionally contains adult and unfiltered language. Purchase a drink during this show and Club Café offers a full menu. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Victor L, Shopov in Hub Theatre Company of Boston’s ‘Buyer and Cellar’ Photo by Lauren Elias

Buyer and Cellar is a fictional tale, but is based on real life aspects of Barbara Streisand’s life drawn from Streisand’s book, My Passion for Design which sits on a lighted pedestal. Streisand’s book offers insight into her legacy and the story behind building her dream home. While the show revolves around Barbara Streisand, you do not necessarily need to be a fan to appreciate this production.

From Funny Girl to Yentl, sound designer Gage Baker weaves inflections of Streisand’s most memorable film theme songs into the playful and whimsical sound design. Under a sparkling disco ball, Club Café always offers a little extra in its vibrant space and Justin Lahue takes full advantage of that space through the tiered set and surrounding projections scattered throughout Club Café’s back room. A variety of projections include some of Streisand’s most coveted and iconic ensembles, store fronts, book racks and a peek into the architecture from the book. Two vintage wardrobe stands ostentatiously adorned and topped off with a pink feather boa situated side by side for colorful ambiance and a sophisticated chair and ottoman is a wink to Barbara’s style.

One of the most fascinating aspects and the center of this production is that Barbara Streisand built a shopping mall in the cellar of her Malibu mansion in the late 2000s.

Yes, really. It’s mindboggling to think Streisand has that many possessions and all the more intriguing are the eccentric stories behind them. With a wealth of pop culture references and self aware humor, Victor L. Shopov amicably portrays down-on-his-luck California actor Alex More who has had just about enough working for Disneyland and is looking for his big break. Central Casting arranges a bizarre new opportunity in which Alex is tapped by gravelly throated estate manager Sharon to become the shopping mall’s very first employee. Confusion, havoc, mystery and even monotony ensue on the job before Alex is face-to-face with Streisand herself.

Shopov is a candid and engaging storyteller infusing animated and eccentric voices emphasizing various mannerisms and avoiding impressions. He perfects a mix of imaginative and real life voices with flair including a humorous and exacting take on Barbara delicately sampling a morsel of food with her incomparably long nails. Navigating between awestruck, sarcastic, earnest and dubious, Shopov’s Alex takes this amusing and outrageous journey through Streisand’s wonderland through panic and in stride. However, nothing beats Shopov’s hilarious talent for narrating and delivering commentary on one particular film that won’t be revealed here.

Victor L. Shopov and Barbara in Hub Theatre Company of Boston’s ‘Buyer and Cellar’ Photo by Lauren Elias

Buyer and Cellar is a funny tale about another side of a legend. One may long to be rich. However, not everything is what is seems, even for someone who seems to have it all.

Hub Theatre Company of Boston continues Buyer and Cellar live and in person at Club Café in Boston, Massachusetts through Saturday, August 1. Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW: The secret is in the sting in Theater Uncorked’s ‘As Bees in Honey Drown’

Posted on May 22, 2025 by The Sleepless Critic

The future looks bright for Evan Wyler. Fame couldn’t be this easy…could it?

Theater Uncorked’s unconventional satire As Bees in Honey Drown examines art, materialism, sensationalism and celebrity as debut writer Evan Wyler, depicted with wide eyed credulity by Michael Mazzone, dives into an alluring deal that promises fame and fortune, but the price of this ticket could be more than he bargained for.

Effectively directed by David Miller, Theater Uncorked presented Douglas Carter Beane’s As Bees in Honey Drown for one weekend only at BCA Plaza Box Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, May 18. This darkly satirical production contained adult themes and ran approximately 2 hours with an intermission. Click here for more information and what is next in store for Theater Uncorked.

Sehnaz Dirik and Michael Mazzone in Theater Uncorked’s ‘As Bees in Honey Drown’ Photos credit: Gary NG

Douglas Carter Beane creates a hard and fast world full of movers and shakers from Wyler’s perspective as he is suddenly thrust into the fame game and uncomfortably participates in an awkward magazine photo shoot with a disdainful London photographer, played to perfection by Benedict Dawn-Cross, alongside Isabel Ginsberg as his humorously apathetic assistant, Amber. However, this preamble is just making room for Sehnaz Dirik as fast talking and polished celebrity agent Alexa Vere de Vere who is about to up the ante on Wyler’s celebrity status.

The cast of Theater Uncorked’s ‘As Bees in Honey Drown’ Photos credit: Gary NG

Director David Miller and Leonard Chasse’s rolling set design alludes to the art of observation as cameras and studio lights accompany a raised platform with a crowd backdrop. Some of the furnishings evoke an Andy Warhol and 90s flair which include white sculpted chairs and colorful furnishings. However, what is most prominent is the eye catching orange and white beehive images on the wall. Tim Rose’s awesome sound design combines fitting hits of the 70s and 80s while occasionally alluding to the hum and buzz of the bees.

Michael Mazzone and Sehnaz Dirik in Theater Uncorked’s ‘As Bees in Honey Drown’ Photos credit: Gary NG

As Honey in Bees Drown is not just a metaphor and is referenced forebodingly a number of times during this production. It lures Wyler in with talk of grandeur and achievement, but be aware of the sting. Dirik’s notable delivery somewhat resembles the comic genius of Absolutely Fabulous as Alexa Vere de Vere, a grandiose PR enigma with a glamorous British accent in sparkling black speaking as if money is no object. Impressionable and hungry for success, Wyler shares some unforeseen moments with Alexa who navigates from hardnosed agent to slick charmer to vulnerable victim in quick succession. Recalling comical quips, quotes and candid monologues about her personal history, Dirik offers quite the layered performance in a wide array of stylish costumes by Anna Silva from furs and pearls to sleek business suits. Manipulative, clever, and often shooting from the hip, Dirik’s Alexa’s rapid fire musings can spin a tale without restraint and it is no accident that Alexa occasionally refers to Wyler as ‘lamb.’ Mazzone also makes no bones about being molded while Dirik takes the reins.

Bradley Belanger and Sehnaz Dirik in Theater Uncorked’s ‘As Bees in Honey Drown’ Photos credit: Gary NG

With the exception of Mazzone and Dirik, the cast portrays a number of enhanced stereotypes that offer some comic relief. Isabela Ginsberg infuses likability and humor into an array of sarcastic, self important and airy characters inconvenienced by the work that they are doing. Lauren Elias juggles a self absorbed actress, partygoer and socialite breezily.

Bradley Belanger is in his element portraying your best friend and your worst enemy. What makes Belanger’s delivery so intriguing is a shared crazed expression that works for both characters with separate motivations.

Bradley Belanger and Michael Mazzone in Theatre Uncorked’s ‘As Bees in Honey Drown’ Photos credit: Gary NG

As Bees in Honey Drown presents an interesting concept and an engaging comedy, but the real kicker lies in its sting. As soon as you think this show is heading in one direction, the production turns the narration on its head. Part character study and part morality play, As Bees in Honey Drown is an actor’s showcase for Dirik luring everyone into her world and begs the question of what constitutes real success and authentic art. Is it creating for the sake of creating or does everything go for the highest bidder?

Theater Uncorked presented Douglas Carter Beane’s As Bees in Honey Drown for one weekend only at BCA Plaza Box Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, May 18. Click here for more information and what is next in store for Theater Uncorked.

REVIEW: Boasting a heartwarming and zippy soundtrack, a marvelous ‘Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical’ revels in the wonders of the beloved book

Posted on December 18, 2024 by The Sleepless Critic

Whether you like the Grinch or not, be sure to witness this remarkable version of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. It is a humorous and dazzling way to spend 85 minutes taking in the holiday spirit with the family.

By sticking to Dr Seuss’ imaginative vision, the beloved book springs to life onstage in a vibrant and thrilling way. Past film adaptations have been overdone and bogged down with side stories and imagined history, but not this musical. As an avid fan of the book and the famous 1966 animated TV special, I was thrilled to see this musical firmly faithful to Seuss’ literary vision. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical expands parts of Seuss’ vision that already exists in the book for a heartwarming and interactive experience about the value of love and camaraderie.

James Schultz as THE GRINCH and the Touring Company of Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The Musical. Credit_ Jeremy Daniel

With steadfast direction by co-directors Matt August and Bob Richard while Richard also navigates the musical’s energetic choreography, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical continues live and in person at Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts through Monday, December 23. Click here for more information and for tickets.

From the reflective perspective of Evan Blackwell as Old Max and Chamberlin Little as Young Max who both play their parts to perfection as Narrator and character respectively, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical is a musical comedy about a Grinch who claims to hate Christmas and feels he must stop Christmas from coming…but how?

W. Scott Stewart as Old Max and Xavier McKnight as Young Max in the Touring Company of Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The Musical. Credit_ Jeremy Daniel

Greeting the audience with a white wreath on a red Who populated backdrop, this cheerful and interactive musical is the perfect length at 85 minutes with no intermission and brings to life the book in a way the padded film adaptations never did. Featuring a number of catchy and heartfelt numbers weaved through its rhyming dialogue, enhancing this tale into a musical is hardly a stretch because the Whos love to sing.

Boasting three dimensional illustrated moving set pieces directly from the book, John Lee Beatty’s innovative set design include an enchanting illustrated three dimensional tree lit with glowing white and red bulbs, the Grinch’s illustrated snow covered cave and the drawn fireplace mantel with colored stockings. It also offers glimpses of the animated classic in red and gold bulbs hanging across the ceiling adding bursts of color.

Craig Stelzenmuller’s playful lighting often follows the action and brings sparkle to an already bright and cheerful set design. Blue and green lights flash, glitter and move along like its own character in this wonderful tale as it also creates brief and foreboding shadows as the Grinch makes his grand entrance.

The Touring Company of Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The Musical. Credit_ Jeremy Daniel

Boasting piled high hairdos, Sarah Smith’s festive, textured and Seuss-centric costumes in red, pink, white and green form wild shapes accessorized with oversized bows, bowties and elf shoes. However, the Grinch’s vivid green and furry costume with exacting makeup is ideal right down to his long and slender fingers.

James Schultz as THE GRINCH in the Touring Company of Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The Musical. Credit_ Jeremy Daniel

Occasionally frightful but more often comical with his deep and versatile baritone voice, Matt Forbes is excellent as the cool and temperamental Grinch sharing gripping and amusing scenes with Little as Max as well as endearing ones with Trinity Vittoria De Vito as angelic Cindy Lou Who. De Vito’s chiming vocals and captivating demeanor impressively deliver the gentle and touching ballad, Santa for a Day as she interacts with Forbes with blind adoration. Little as Young Max is devoted and lovable with an expectant grin to the Grinch’s perturbed scowl and dastardly smirk as they join together for I Hate Christmas Eve with the Whos and in a playful rendition of This Time of Year with Blackwell as Old Max.

James Schultz as THE GRINCH, Sofie Nesanelis as Cindy-Lou Who and the Touring Company of Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The Musical. Credit_ Jeremy Daniel.

Delivering the famous tunes you already know like Blackwell’s amazing rendition of You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch and Welcome Christmas, Mel Marvin also builds on famous excerpts from the book for original songs such as the warm Who Likes Christmas, thunderous I Hate Christmas Eve, and wild Whatamawho where the Grinch famously exclaims, ‘Oh, the noise, noise noise noise!’

With sing-along opportunities and thrilling special effects as Blackwell shares this classic children’s tale, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical holds its own to the book and the famous 1966 animated TV special live onstage reflecting on all the themes of the book such as materialism, bullying, and greed with a beautiful message and holiday treat fitting for the entire family.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical continues live and in person at Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts through Monday, December 23. Click here for more information and for tickets.