Recent Articles
We Recommend
Christian Carvajal on April 29th, 2013
N. Richard Nash's Rainmaker is just shy of 60 years old, but is it dated? Not a bit. It's the story of a young woman who sees herself as plain, a gruff deputy who wishes he could hold her attention, and a charismatic stranger who promises rain
Stage & Visual Reviews
Christian Carvajal on April 23rd, 2013
I hope Lakewood Playhouse Artistic Director John Munn won't mind me telling you this, but a week before his company's production of The Rainmaker opened, we had an earnest conversation about "dated" play scripts. John lamented the fact that critics are often dismissive of 20th-century scripts audiences know and love.
Stage & Visual Reviews
Christian Carvajal on April 17th, 2013
In 2010, Shakespeare expert Brean Hammond of Nottingham University declared that the 1727 Lewis Theobald play Double Falsehood was, as Theobald claimed, a reboot of an earlier play called Cardenio. What's the big deal, you ask? Cardenio is one of a handful of plays co-written by William Shakespeare but since
We Recommend
Christian Carvajal on April 11th, 2013
Ordinarily, writing a short play takes weeks or even months. As it moves into production, everyone from the cast to the director to the guy who delivers sandwiches has editorial input. What began with a clear authorial vision might veer off in any number of unexpected directions. The Double
We Recommend
Christian Carvajal on April 11th, 2013
On the off chance you've never seen the movie, here's the gist: a crime boss named Joe Cabot and his adult son, "Nice Guy Eddie," hire six thugs under pseudonyms to pull a diamond heist. The heist, which we never see, goes utterly sideways, and the thieves reassemble at their
Stage & Visual Reviews
Christian Carvajal on April 10th, 2013
When Quentin Tarantino's first directing effort, Reservoir Dogs, landed in 1992, I'd never seen anything like it. That's not to say there'd never been anything like it. No, Tarantino came of age as a video clerk, and as I dug deeper into Netflix, I found similarities to any number of
Stage & Visual Reviews
Christian Carvajal on April 9th, 2013
Ordinarily, writing a short play takes weeks or even months. As it moves into production, everyone from the cast to the director to the guy who delivers sandwiches has editorial input. What began with a clear authorial vision might veer off in any number of unexpected directions. The Double Shot
We Recommend
Christian Carvajal on March 20th, 2013
As ostensible comedies go, The Philadelphia Story is only marginally funnier than Philadelphia. Barry drops dozens of 1930s references you'll need the glossary in the program to understand, but not many jokes. It's one of those plays where people take a magic narcotic that makes them blab
We Recommend
Christian Carvajal on March 20th, 2013
It seems to me that 1960's Oliver!, adapted and composed by Lionel Bart, set the very model for a modern Broadway musical. It has all the elements we associate with the form. Its protagonist is a scrappy orphan (cf. Annie, Gavroche in Les Misérables) who uses his
Stage & Visual Reviews
Christian Carvajal on March 20th, 2013
It seems to me that 1960's Oliver!, adapted and composed by Lionel Bart, set the very model for a modern Broadway musical. It has all the elements we associate with the form. Its protagonist is a scrappy orphan (cf. Annie, Gavroche in Les Misérables) who uses his first solo number
View All Articles
Recent Blog Posts
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on November 15th, 2012
REVIEW OF HUMP! FILM FESTIVAL >>>
If there's any lingering doubt about the mainstreaming of porn, even low-fi amateur porn, reflect that it launched the highly lucrative careers of a whole coven of Kardashians. We love porn. So while there were some timid faces in the crowd at Olympia's first-ever screening
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on July 20th, 2012
If, thanks to youth or agoraphobia, you've never seen the 1982 musical stage version of Little Shop of Horrors, you've missed something special. Strange story short, nebbishy Seymour Krelborn tries to escape Skid Row by raising a bloodthirsty plant. He names the diabolical alien flytrap Audrey II (Audrey Junior in
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on May 5th, 2012
After months of worsening conflicts between the board and staff of Olympia Film Society, volunteers Lisa Hurwitz and Marcy LaViollette petitioned the board to hold a special public meeting April 14. The meeting's purpose was to discuss these conflicts with OFS members, who would then vote on three proposals. First,
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on April 30th, 2012
And we're back! Nerd Alert is the Spew blog's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak. After a slow start, this week will kick you squarely
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on April 23rd, 2012
THE WEEK IN GEEK IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>
And we're back! Nerd Alert is the Spew blog's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak. As a
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on April 16th, 2012
THE WEEK IN GEEK IN THE SOUTH SOUND ... AND BEYOND >>>
And we're back! Nerd Alert is the Spew blog's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on April 9th, 2012
And we're back! Nerd Alert is the Spew blog's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak.
Monday, April 9
A week before two headline gigs at Coachella, Thom
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on April 2nd, 2012
Welcome to the first in a semi-recurring series of Spew blog entries devoted to all things nerdly. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak.
Monday, April 2
Westeros hangover. Take it easy and drink plenty of
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on March 20th, 2012
APPLAUSE >>>
As part of its drive to recruit new subscribers (and repay $75,000 to the IRS), Capital Playhouse announced its 2012-2013 season via curtain speeches for Hello, Dolly! "Season in a Box" will host five shows, plus additional projects to be named down the road. While it's unlikely an "Act
Walkie Talkie Blog
Christian Carvajal on March 14th, 2012
CHANNELING CHANNING >>>
The musical Hello, Dolly! has always seemed somewhat old-fashioned, despite the fact that it hit Broadway in the mid-'60s. It's set in the early 20th century, granted, and brassy original lead Carol Channing will never be confused with Selena Gomez.
But would you be more excited if we
View All Blog Posts
Recently Reviewed Movies
This author hasn't reviewed any movies.
Recently Reviewed Restaurants
This author hasn't reviewed any restaurants.
