All posts by Erin Tarpley

The cast of Chesapeake Shakespeare Company's The Tale of Cymbeline 📷 Kiirstn Pagan Photography

The Tale of Cymbeline at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

Reviews June 29, 2026 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“Love’s a reason without reason”

What is the first trope you think of when you think of Shakespeare? Star-crossed lovers? Mistaken identities? Cross-dressing? Tragic flaws? Dramatic irony? Do you tend to prefer his tragedies? Comedies? Romances?? Well, when it comes to The Tale of Cymbeline, this show feels like it is competing for a “Shakespeare-Trope” bingo game; and all the audience is a winner with this production!

Bounce at Strand Theater 📷 Shealyn Jae Photography

Bounce at Strand Theater Company

Reviews June 2, 2026 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“You’re my wife and I’ve grown to like you”

Relationships are complicated. Familial, romantic, religious, friendships, cultural, marital… you name it. Nothing is ever completely easy. But these different types of relationships have a way of further complicating things when they come together in a sort of spider’s web of rules and expectations that can both entwine and suffocate any individual. And in Somnia Mari Feral’s world premiere production of Bounce,

The Mannequin at We Happy Few

Reviews May 26, 2026 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“She has no ideas or wishes of her own at all: where you put her, there she stays”

I am remiss to admit, that before this weekend I had never heard of the brilliant Madame Germaine de Staël; but then, this was one of the objectives for the initiative “Expand the Cannon” as their {We Happy Few} mission “uncovers and uplifts classic plays by women & underrepresented genders – and is a call to action to produce them.”

Having experienced Parisian life both before and after the French Revolution,

The Long Christmas Ride Home at The Strand Theater

Reviews December 8, 2025 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“Well, what a lovely Christmas you’ve given me”

The weather outside is frightful, but inside The Stand Theater, tidings of comfort and joy are complex and raw (and theatric!) in their opening production of their 18th season.

Directed by Tessara Morgan Farley, Paula Vogel’s The Long Christmas Ride Home is not merely a play: it is a profound, breathtaking piece of theatrical artistry that transcends the familiar boundaries of the American family drama.

Super BROS Adventure VI: Garbage Quest DX at Baltimore Rock Opera Society (photo: David Iden)

Garbage Quest DX at Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS)

Reviews October 14, 2025 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“I love beets”

One of the joys about growing up across the last years of the 20th and beginning years of the 21st Centuries (or across multiple millennia, because a part of me finds that both mind-blowing and fun to say) is getting to grow up with video games. Some of my earliest memories involve playing games on the SNES, or getting to play Oregon Trail as a “school activity,” or getting my first GameBoy as a result of my parents’ divorce (hooray for buying a child’s love!) Like many my age and younger,

Julius Caesar at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

Reviews June 26, 2025 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once.”

As the sun begins to set behind the many hills of Historic Ellicott City, the air begins to cool. But tonight (or today, if you go on a Sunday), you are not in Historic Ellicott City. No, my friend. You have travelled back in time and space 2,000 years to the historic seven hills of Ancient Rome.

Brown Sugar Bake-Off at The Strand Theater

Reviews June 3, 2025 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

Why go out for a night of theatre to see one play when you can go out and see eight?! In this Co-Production between Strand Theater Company and Two Strikes Theatre Collective, Brown Sugar Bake-Off presents a night (or matinee) of eight 10-minute plays that focus on the theme of mental health, as told through the voices of Black women and non-binary playwrights.

This year’s 10-Minute Play Festival,

Rarefied Air at Strand Theater Company 📷Shealyn Jae Photography

Rarefied Air at The Strand

Reviews March 20, 2025 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

Definition of “Rarefied”: distant from the lives and concerns of ordinary people

It is sometimes hard to believe that this week marks the five-year anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 “lock-down.” That time in our all too recent history where we were told that for the benefit of public health and safety, all stores, businesses, and schools would close their doors and everyone (except “essential workers”) were expected to shelter in place and wait for this new novel virus to pass.

Jake Odmark (left) as Beau and Danielle Wade (right) as Maizy in Shucked 📷Matthew Murphy

Shucked at The National

Reviews February 27, 2025 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“From Farm to Fable”

What did the corn say when it received a compliment?

“Aw, shucks!”

And there are so, so many compliments to shuck around this a-maize-ing show that one could say is outstanding in its field with its whirlwind of corny puns and jokes which is simply named: Shucked.

In case you have never heard of this show,

& Juliet at The Kennedy Center

Reviews December 23, 2024 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“Are you a strong enough man to write a strong woman?”

Ah, Shakespeare. The Bard. The Playwright. The bane of every 9th grade English student. With as famous as his works are, it should come as no surprise that his most famous romantic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet would be turned into a musical at varying times throughout history. It is also not too surprising that someone would come along and attempt to rewrite The Bard’s work into something different,

Karin Rosnizeck as Marlene 📷 Teresa Castracane Photography

Marlene at ExPats Theatre

Reviews October 1, 2024 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

Marlene Dietrich was a legend of the Silver Screen, but she was by no means a monolith.

Before the curtain rises, the audience is presented with a loop of a 1930 screen-test the notorious star filmed for The Blue Angel: the film that would eventually launch her into international acclaim. While shown without sound, this three-minute loop gives the audience an accurate preview of the many faces of Marlene Dietrich.

Clue at The Kennedy Center

Reviews September 22, 2024 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“You can not make an omelet without breaking eggs, every cook will tell you that. But look what happened to the cook!”

A stormy night. A lone eerie mansion owned by one, Mr. Boddy. A mysterious party invitation sent to six unrelated party guests. An assortment of items that lead to a murder (or six). These are the initial ingredients for a night of mystery and fun at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House for the performance of the hit show: Clue.

Crocodile Fever at Strand Theater Company

Reviews June 17, 2024 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

“There nothing that a hundred men on Mars could ever do”

If you’re like me, then you have never heard of the play Crocodile Fever before. If you’re like me, you didn’t immediately see the connection between “crocodile” and Northern Ireland when you did get a brief whiff of where the story was set. If you’re like me, and you are ready to take a chance on the unknown but are ultimately looking for an evening of comedy and drama,

Dixie's Tupperware Party ???? The Overture Center

Dixie’s Tupperware Party at The Kennedy Center

Reviews May 10, 2024 Erin Tarpley

author: Erin Tarpley

You’ll sing, you’ll laugh, you’ll want to buy things!

Let’s play a little thought experiment. When I say the word “Tupperware,” what is the first thought that comes to mind?

Is it “bowls”? Is it “plastic food preservation”? Or is it “Party!”?

Ok, for a lot of men, the honest answer is probably “bowls;” but for so many others who had a more traditionally feminine upbringing in the later half of the American Twentieth Century,

Sam McLellan and company in “The Book of Mormon” North American tour. ???? Julieta Cervantes.

The Book of Mormon at The National Theatre

Reviews March 7, 2024 Erin Tarpley

“Tomorrow is a Latter Day”

Hello, my name is Elder Tarpley. And I would like to share with you the most amazing play now showing at The National Theatre!

Since its debut on Broadway way back in 2011, The Book of Mormon has been continuing to stun audiences all over the world with its funny, offensive, but surprisingly sweet story, and top-notch music sure to make the Musical Theatre Greats of the Twentieth Century proud… minus all the F-bombs… and the satirical sacrilegious look at organizational religion….

US premiere of Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur's performance of Acupunk

Acupunk at The Kennedy Center

News February 23, 2024 Erin Tarpley

On a chilly winter’s evening, a gathering took place at the Kennedy Center’s Reach Plaza this week. Bathed in darkness (but luckily not bathed in rain), the audience gathered with rapt attention focused on the two giant figures set off to the side of the Plaza grounds. But as the showtime began, these two 18-foot puppets sprang to life in movement, sound, smoke, and light to present the US premiere of Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur’s performance of Acupunk.

How I Learned To Drive at Vagabond Players

Reviews February 18, 2024 Erin Tarpley

One might think that a play with a title like How I Learned to Drive would depict a story that goes places; and by its own design, this is a play that goes many places and goes in circles (while in reverse) at the same time. But that being said, while funny and well told, Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize winning play How I Learned to Drive is not for the faint of heart.

The Book of Grace at Rapid Lemon Productions

Reviews January 16, 2024 Erin Tarpley

In a time in our history when yet again we are faced with a growing divide of “us” vs “them,” we are challenged to ask ourselves if the old proverb about how a “house divided against itself shall not stand” is indeed truth. Suzan-Lori Parks’ play The Book of Grace, making its Baltimore debut with Rapid Lemon Productions, tackles that notion.

Before continuing, a warning: this production contains depictions and descriptions of domestic violence,

The National Tour of Pretty Woman. ???? Matthew Murphy

Pretty Woman at The National Theatre

Reviews December 15, 2023 Erin Tarpley

“Everyone has a dream… you’ll get lost without one”

The classic “Cinderella” story is an oldie but a goodie. No, really. Like really old. Like Ancient Egypt old! Bet you didn’t think you’d get a history lesson from a theatre review, huh? Regardless, it is an enduring classic for a reason. The general theme of a protagonist going from rags to riches is one that resonates with people and really appeals to their inner-dreamers.

Little Women at Strand Theater Company

Reviews December 4, 2023 Erin Tarpley

“That when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women”

Ever since its first publication in 1868, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women has captured the hearts of millions of readers all over the world. But considering at its face value the story of Little Women seems to be a mere fictional story focused on the 19th century domestic lives of four young American women living in genteel poverty,

Mecca Verdell, Keri Anderson, and Jordan Stanford as the Three Weird Sister in Macbeth ???? Kiirstn Pagan Photography

Macbeth at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

Reviews June 22, 2023 Erin Tarpley

“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes”

“Now is the Winter of our discontent”…. No wait, nevermind. That’s a different Shakespeare show, and a different season entirely. But Summer is here in Maryland and when it comes to the Macbeths, “discontent” is an apropos word to define their predicament, but the exact opposite to describe how you will feel as you enjoy this timeless production of the Scottish Play;

Hadestown North American Tour ???? Charles Erickson

Hadestown at The National Theater DC

Reviews June 9, 2023 Erin Tarpley

“It’s an old tale from way back when,

And we’re gonna sing it again and again.”

I’ve heard it said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. But in the world of Hadestown, when you live near the train tracks to Hell, naivety seems to set up shop there as well. Set in a world of Gods and a world of Men, the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice takes centerstage in this soulful,

The Lady Was A Gentleman at The Strand Theater

Reviews May 8, 2023 Erin Tarpley

From the very first millisecond of Barbara Khan’s The Lady was a Gentleman, I knew I was in for a wonderful treat! In an instant, the production begins and the audience is swept into an aura of light, and energy, and laughter. Led by a brief dumb show that allows the characters to take the stage and give a silent, yet physically over exaggerated sense of who they are, the production immediately becomes alive and allows for a fantastic transposition from the mundane world into the world of a St.

Open at Nu Sass Productions

Reviews May 1, 2023 Erin Tarpley

“Magic only fades when it is forgotten.”

Magic has a special place in all of our hearts. It evokes wonder, awe, and a sense that even what should be logically impossible, can be possible. In a sense love is the same. It too evokes wonder, awe, and the sense that anything can be possible (even magical) with the power of love. But magic in the real world, at least the magic performed by real world stage magicians,

Crisis Mode: Living Pilipino in America at The Strand Theater

Reviews March 20, 2023 Erin Tarpley

Crisis Mode: Living Pilipino in America at the Strand Theater

“If every Filipino lit a candle at the same time, we would light up the world”

The popular American narrative is one based around how this nation was built on people immigrating to these shores from a variety of other lands in search of work, opportunity, or security (whether by choice or by force). Additionally, the brutal historic reality is that this narrative has always been carefully focused on specific populations at specific points in time,

Heidi Blickenstaff (left) with Allison Sheppard (center) and Jena VanEslander (right) in Jagged Little Pill. ????Matthew Murphy, Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Jagged Little Pill at The National Theater

Reviews March 17, 2023 Erin Tarpley

“You, you, you oughta know”

Typically with “jukebox musicals” we see the use of an album, or collection of songs associated with a band or musical artist, to tell their life story. However, in Jagged Little Pill’s case, Alanis Morissette’s 1995 album of the same name is used to tell not her story, nor even a story set in the same time frame as the album’s release, but rather a modern-day tale of themes that still ring true almost 30 years after the songs were written.

Michael Hegarty (center) as Alfred P. Doolittle and the company of My Fair Lady. ???? Jeremy Daniel

My Fair Lady at The Hippodrome Theatre

Reviews January 11, 2023 Erin Tarpley 2 Comments

“Loverly”

Ain’t it hard to earn an ‘onest livin’ these days? Well, in Edwardian London add in factors like being a woman and being a woman with a thick cockney accent and ‘eaven ‘elp you, guv’nor, but you’re all but done for! OOOOOOOOOOOOooooh, it’s no wonder t’at a character meeting these factors and one t‘at has ‘alf a brain would leap at the opportunity to better ‘er phonetics and elocution ‘if’n it meant she could land a career real proper like,

A Soldier’s Play at The Kennedy Center

Reviews December 17, 2022 Erin Tarpley

“Any man ain’t sure where he belongs must be in a whole lotta pain.”

“War! Huh, (good God), What is it good for?” Well, that’s a loaded question for another day. But back in 1944 on a segregated southern Louisiana Army Base, the promise of deployment to the battle front is a dream for many of our young characters of color that yearn for a chance of serving their country, and perhaps getting the chance to see a part of the world that doesn’t follow Jim Crow laws.

A Christmas Carol at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews December 11, 2022 Erin Tarpley

“God bless us, every one”

Tis the season for holly, mulled wine, and curing any case of “Bah humbug.” Returning for the second year in a row (and deservedly so!), this one-man show, adapted and edited by Sherrionne Brown and Phil Gallagher returns to Baltimore’s own Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre through December 18th to reprise this wonderful rendition of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic: A Christmas Carol.

It is difficult to find anyone in the English-speaking regions of the world who are not,

The Day You Begin at The Kennedy Center

Reviews November 22, 2022 Erin Tarpley

“There will be times when you walk into a room, and no one there is quite like you, until the day you begin to share your stories”

It is difficult at any age to enter a new space. There are different sights, unfamiliar sounds, and usually, new faces who have different experiences than you. Sometimes these new spaces take time to become familiar, and sometimes it takes courage within ourselves to open up to these new experiences to create our own place within this space.