Boston Lyric Opera tries its hand at ‘bread and circuses’
The Boston Lyric Opera opens the season with its take on an “immersive” ‘Pagliacci’, a play-within-a-play centered on a love triangle between members of a commedia dell’arte troupe. The result: a bite-size opera with a festive preamble that makes up in spirit what it lacks in substance.
The Urban Outfitters of restaurants
Shojo puts an interesting and modern twist on traditional Asian menu. The stellar food combined with the moody ambiance make Shojo a hip place everyone should try at least once.
First loves can be fun and crazy, and so is ‘First Love’
Director Takashi Miike truly goes all out here. Though ‘First Love’ dips into cliches on occasion, as a whole, it embodies that crazy, disordered, fast-paced fun of a great action movie.
A concert for the soul
Sam Trump and Harold Green make for a surprisingly remarkable duo in concert. Alternating between Trump’s music and Green’s poetry created a show of positivity and community.
The true price of chocolate
We visited the Chocolonely Chocotruck to taste some chocolates, but what we got instead was a whirlwind tour of dark practices in something so seemingly wholesome that we rarely ever think twice about it — chocolate production and the use of slavery in it.
Beautiful footprints
With “Love is Calling,” Yayoi stamps another beautiful footprint into the sandy beach of her oeuvre. The exhibit is a piece of environmental art that attempts to immerse viewers, who enter a room that contains only three things: spotless mirrors on every surface, tentacle-like sculptures that dance with neon gradients, and themselves.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s opening night was a rollercoaster of varied enjoyability
The Boston Symphony Orchestra opened its 139th season with dynamic and expressive performances of works by Poulenc and Beethoven, as well as the world premiere of Eric Nathan's Concerto for Orchestra. Joining the BSO were pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen, vocal soloists Nicole Cabell, Alexandra Smither, Paulina Swierczek, Katherine Maysek, Chance Jonas-O'Toole, Eric Finbarr Carey, and William Socolof, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.
Grace VanderWaal headlines ‘Ur So Beautiful’ tour
Her soft fingerpicking and raspy voice, perfect for long car rides and lazy afternoons, doesn’t quite translate to a stage replete with neon spotlights and crescendo after crescendo.
‘Abominable’ plays it safe
The film has stunning animation and endearing characters, which is enough to keep the movie chugging along to its unsurprising, but heartwarming conclusion.
‘Cleave to no faith when faith brings blood’
"The Crucible" is a poignant reminder that the villains are not only those who yell the loudest, but those who bestow their sanction on the accusers. Bedlam makes this play shine through its thoughtful, textured realization of the characters, its sustained suspense, and its intimate engagement with the audience.
‘The Goldfinch’ moves little more than a still picture
The length of 'The Goldfinch' — two-and-a-half hours — drags the talented cast down, but it’s not that long movies are necessarily bad. The problem is that it does not have enough redeeming qualities or any reason to be that long, so you’re left wondering, “When is this going to end?”
‘Ad Astra:' Into the stars but not interstellar
As Astronaut McBride goes against all odds to journey into space to see his father one more time, the film accurately characterizes the bond between a parent and a child and how far we are willing to go for those that we love. Brad Pitt’s new space movie presents a not-so-distant future with stunning cinematography that leaves you excited for the future of space travel.
The power of fear
URB: One of the most notable things in IT (2017) was its focus on the kids and their development throughout the story as they faced Pennywise’s scares. IT Chapter Two follows this trend as we follow the now grown up Losers’ Club, still the same but also slightly different as a result of their years in adulthood spent away from the ominous Derry.
Syzygies, capybaras, and catterjunes
In the program for MTG’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the director’s note mentions, “‘Spelling Bee’ knows exactly what it is like to have a weird hobby and celebrates that,” and I couldn’t agree with her more. SOCIAL MEDIA BLURB: MTG presents a musical about spelling and delivers a story of identity and growing up.
Beware of the Shape
The missions involved vary wildly and allow players to explore the different sections of the map, from sneaking into people’s houses to creeping through the underground tunnels winding deep below.
The zebra did it
From ‘Marley & Me’ to ‘A Dog’s Purpose,’ we’ve come to know what to expect with movies about man’s best friend: wholesomeness, innocent perspectives, and tears. ‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’ follows these trends while also introducing a dose of pensiveness via Enzo, sagely voiced by Kevin Costner.
Spooky times await
The things that go bump in the night is a phrase that brings us back to our childhood days of fear. It makes us think of the creepy creatures hiding just beyond our periphery, waiting to sneak out from the back of our minds to confront us in the dark. ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ tries to capture the essence of this childhood fear.
What is left unsaid
‘The Farewell’ provides a nuanced take on Chinese and American cultures and family dynamics. With an outstanding cast and beautiful cinematography, the film is emotional and personal in a way that reveals love and strength within a family despite tension and cultural differences.
Here Be Draugens
While aesthetically striking, the short and ultimately lackluster gameplay of 'Draugen' falls into the category of games worth playing once (or thereabouts).
If only ‘Yesterday’ could feel like Now
'Yesterday' delivered on the marketed Beatles humor, but there wasn’t anything else under the surface.