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Artscope Magazine | May/June 2021

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musical

ISANGO ENSEMBLE PLAYS MOZART’S THE MAGIC FLUTE AT EMERSON

// Artscope Online, Music

by James Foritano

When Mozart composed The Magic Flute in Vienna in 1791, he hoped it would become as popular as he thought it should. It did. First it conquered Vienna, then the other great cities of Europe fell to its enchanting mix of singing, dancing and fairy-tale plot. Not long ago, a grade schooler in Cape Town, South Africa, returned home after having seen a student production and vented enthusiastically to his mother that her troupe Isango Ensemble should try it on. They did. And we were lucky enough to be at its performance at Emerson’s Cutler Majestic Theatre on opening night. Isango, an all-black troupe, has inherited tribal traditions rich in dancing, singing, magic and shrewd psychology that are more than a match to communicate the nuances of “The Magic Flute,” conceived in Europe of universals that strike the heart and mind globally. The costumes are minimal, richly African, and … [Read more...] about ISANGO ENSEMBLE PLAYS MOZART’S THE MAGIC FLUTE AT EMERSON

THEATER REVIEW: THE SEVEN FINGERS PRESENT PASSENGERS AT EMERSON CUTLER

// Artscope Online, Music, Theatre

by James Foritano

Once again, Arts Emerson has hosted “The Seven Fingers,” a perennial favorite from Canada, most recently for the United States premiere of “Passengers” at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre. The Seven Fingers troupe must be named for the acrobatic finesse with which they navigate the on-stage ropes, wires and poles which the contemporary circus movement summons for small stage presentations — small stage, that is, in comparison to the “death-defying” heights of the traditional ‘Big-Top” circus tents of my youth. I didn’t much miss the dizzying heights of those days, since these performers were able to demonstrate their breath-taking expertise at more accommodating distances — almost eye-level in some acts. Looking at the cover of “Passengers” program I see again but still don’t quite believe how Conor Wild uses the Chinese pole so deftly for his acrobatics — levitating and … [Read more...] about THEATER REVIEW: THE SEVEN FINGERS PRESENT PASSENGERS AT EMERSON CUTLER

THE BOSTON LYRIC OPERA PRESENTS PAGLIACCI

// Artscope Online, Exhibits, Music, Visual Arts

by James Foritano

Once again, the Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) has made a brilliant virtue of its present homeless state by choosing an unorthodox and roomy site in which they can design a stage that is more an invitation than the old-style elevated barrier. This stage was the DCR Memorial Steriti Skating Rink located on Commercial Street, just a short walk from North Station. We took advantage of the Green Line’s public transportation then climbed upstairs to enjoy an illuminated urban experience on Commercial Street as it circles a North End dotted with restaurants. Since we longed for the full immersive experience, we ignored the restaurants and headed for the advertised food trucks. I grabbed a heap of Indian food, then followed the signs to the back of the skating rink where we positioned ourselves on a picnic bench overlooking the Charles River as it flows towards the locks that lead into Boston … [Read more...] about THE BOSTON LYRIC OPERA PRESENTS PAGLIACCI

The Hub Theatre Company of Boston presents Israel Horowitz’s “6 Hotels” at Club Café in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Hub Theatre Company of Boston presents Israel Horowitz’s “6 Hotels” at Club Café

// Theatre

By James Foritano Boston, MA - I don’t remember seeing so many bodies strewn over a stage, in this case a small, intimate stage, unless, say, I was attending a Shakespearian tragedy — Hamlet comes bloodily to mind — as I recently saw at the Hub Theatre Company of Boston’s presentation of Israel Horowitz’s “6 Hotels” at Club Café. Perhaps more aptly, it seemed to reignite my own Cowboys and Indians fantasies from when, as a child of the 1950’s, I spotted a villain behind every bolster, slew them with arrow, bullet and war club, et al., only to resurrect them to tussle again. Such delicious slaughter I thought I had to put away with childish things, but now, as a man and roving critic, a little get-up-and-go and much good luck picked us off the sofa and transported myself and wife to a tight little production by the Hub Theater Company of six feisty playlets by Israel … [Read more...] about The Hub Theatre Company of Boston presents Israel Horowitz’s “6 Hotels” at Club Café