All posts by Spencer Nelson

The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence at Silver Spring Stage

Reviews April 20, 2018 Spencer Nelson

If you expect to see a pipe smoking, violin playing, deerstalker wearing detective Sherlock Holmes solving crimes you’ve come to the wrong show. This show is not about Holmes at all, it’s about his companion Dr. John Watson (and he does wear a deerstalker, fans of the iconic hat may rejoice!). Well, the play really isn’t about Dr. John Watson either. Actually it’s really very complicated and complex. The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence comes from the mind of award-winning playwright Madeline George and it won the Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Playwriting Award.

Frankenstein at Bowie Community Theatre

Reviews March 16, 2018 Spencer Nelson

Just the name alone brings an image to the mind, Frankenstein. What did you picture? A large green man with stitches covering him and bolts in his neck? While that is the general depiction of Frankenstein in our society today, the reality is that the name actually belongs to the doctor that gave life and not to his creation. Though it could be said that Doctor Frankenstein himself is the monster all along, a thought that drives the current production of Frankenstein at the Bowie Playhouse.

Noura at Shakespeare Theatre Company

Reviews February 16, 2018 Spencer Nelson

In 1879 when Henrik Ibsen premiered his play A Doll’s House he probably didn’t imagine that today, nearly 139 year later, it would be the inspiration for a new work about a modern Iraqi-American family who welcome an Iraqi refugee into their home for Christmas. But that is exactly what has happened, Heather Raffo has brought Ibsen’s work to new life with her play Noura, now playing at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Lansburgh Theatre as part of the Women’s Voices in Theater Festival.

Wit at Silver Spring Stage

Reviews January 19, 2018 Spencer Nelson

According to the Oxford Living Dictionary the meaning of Cancer is “A disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body”. Sounds so simple right? A nicely put definition for a disease that is anything but nice and simple. This is the backbone for Margaret Edson’s Wit, a dark comedy that won her the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1999, which is currently playing at Silver Spring Stage under the direction of Jeff Mikoni.

On Your Feet! at The Kennedy Center

Reviews January 18, 2018 Spencer Nelson

Cold winter blues got you down? Feeling the urge to “shake it” but don’t have a good beat? Would you like to experience a range of emotions, but ultimately leave happy and dancing your way to your car? Wonderful! The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has just the cure for you! Right now in their Opera House you can go feel the rhythm of On Your Feet! The Emilio and Gloria Estefan Broadway Musical.

A Christmas Carol at Annapolis Shakespeare Company

Reviews November 29, 2017 Spencer Nelson

It is the time of year for joy, love, and holiday traditions. One tradition that many people hold dear is a yearly outing to see A Christmas Carol, they pick from numerous theatres all playing the famous production and get their yearly fix of the British miser who changes his ways. It has been a long time since a new adaptation of the famous tale has come around, however at a small theatre in Annapolis that is exactly what has happened.

Nothing To Lose (But Our Chains) at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Reviews November 20, 2017 Spencer Nelson

Think about the story of your life, about how you came to be where you are and have the life you have. Got it? Are you ready to share that story in front of a live audience? For most people the answer is probably no and if the answer is anything that might be uncomfortable to audiences it is probably an even bigger no. But for comedian Felonious Munk, the answer is let’s go.

Into the Woods at Heritage Players

Reviews November 8, 2017 Spencer Nelson

Once upon a time at a theatre just outside Baltimore a director had a wish, to bring to life a production featuring some of the most beloved fairytale characters of our childhoods. His tale is one full of magic, woe, and cows. Does he succeed or is this just a moment better left in the woods? Well you will just have to read on as I share with you my journey at The Heritage Player’s performance of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapines’ Into the Woods Directed by TJ Lukacsina.

Omnium Gatherum at Silver Spring Stage

Reviews November 1, 2017 Spencer Nelson

Just another boring upscale dinner party-alcohol flowing freely, chatter, strong opinions, heated debates, and an almost Stepford hostess fluttering around her guests. Right? Well, if you consider helicopter noises, explosions, and fiery lighting boring and normal then absolutely! You will want to make your way to Silver Spring Stage right now to see their latest production led by Director Bill Hurlbut, Omnium Gatherum by Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros and Theresa Rebeck. It is a production that will make you laugh one moment,

33 Variations at Colonial Players

Reviews October 26, 2017 Spencer Nelson 1 Comment

Theme and Variations as defined by Merriam-Webster “a standard form of musical composition consisting of a simple usually harmonized melody presented first in its original unadorned form then repeated several or many times with varied treatment so based on the theme that at least some semblance of its general melodic or harmonic form is evident”. While the definition pertains to music it can also be thought that our lives are a variation on a theme or ideal of what we imagine and hope it will be.

Completely Hollywood at Off the Quill

Reviews September 21, 2017 Spencer Nelson

In a world where entertainment reigns supreme, one theatre troupe dares to do the impossible and take on America’s biggest export (after weapons that is) – Movies! There is nothing new happening under the Hollywood sign and Off the Quill is ready to prove it to you in their latest show Completely Hollywood (Abridged) written by Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor, with additional material by Dominic Conti. Movie lovers will get a kick out of this comedic journey through Hollywood from Director Leanne Dinverno.

Shiloh at Colonial Players of Annapolis

Reviews September 12, 2017 Spencer Nelson

We live in a time in history where it is almost impossible to find a new take or a new viewpoint on anything, especially something as talked about and scrutinized as the Civil War. But this is Shiloh and if you have the opportunity to head to downtown Annapolis this fall that is exactly what you will get and you will even get some laughs along the way! In a small 360° theater just off State Circle,