Charles McNulty, Theater Critic


The Latest

Review: 'Winter' at Culver Studios
THEATER REVIEW

Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse's chilly but invigorating play is being given its...



Simon Gray, the English playwright whose work gave voice to the caustic wit of bookish curmudgeons,...



Theater: 'The Spin Cycle'
THEATER REVIEW

Sibling rivalries get a fresh airing when baby boomers have to care for their...



Heath Ledger in 'Dark Knight': Bravo!
CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK | THE ART OF PERFORMANCE

Ledger's turn as the Joker shows how rare and fine a talent his was.



'Gulls'
THEATER REVIEW

A musical adaptation of Chekhov's 'The Seagull' struggles for altitude at the...



'Body Politic'
THEATER REVIEW

A battle between a screenwriter and an Army captain over entry to a military...



'Accomplices' by Bernard Weinraub
THEATER REVIEW

The former New York Times reporter has done his homework, but that doesn't...



Peters writes a new role for herself She has earned seven Tony nominations and a rapt fan base. Rebounding from...



'Looped' at the Pasadena Playhouse
THEATER REVIEW

Valerie Harper brings Tallulah Bankhead's outrageousness and glamour to life.



'Of Equal Measure' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
THEATER REVIEW

This ambitious tale of the Wilson presidency is well acted, but the plot...



The drama after deadline
ON SECOND THOUGHT

Everyone has had the experience of disagreeing with a critic, but do critics...



'All's Well That Ends Well' at the Old Globe
THEATER REVIEW

One of Shakespeare's 'problem plays' gets a superior staging.



Reviews are in: B'Way cast recordings
CD REVIEWS

'In the Heights,' 'Passing Strange,' 'South Pacific,' 'Xanadu' and 'A Catered...



Highs, if not heights at the Tony Awards
CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK

A spirited race for best musical brings a season of progress -- and backward...



Team effort helps position for the Tony Awards
CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK

Casts come together and shine in 'August: Osage County,' 'The Seafarer,' 'Rock...



Stephen Belber's 'Finally' at Black Dahlia
THEATER REVIEW

Morlan Higgins delivers a tour de force playing four characters who have...



It's all in a farcical day's work in SCR's 'Taking Steps'
THEATER REVIEW

The 1979 Alan Ayckbourn work gets a stylish if sluggish revival.



'Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet'
THEATER REVIEW

Mamet showcases his breadth in 'The Duck Variations' and 'Keep Your Pantheon' at...



'South Pacific'
THEATER REVIEW

The Broadway revival's songs still enchant even though the musical is dated by...



'Avenue Q' can really grow on you
THEATER REVIEW

The Tony-winning musical lends a new twist to the familiar “Sesame Street”...



'ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway'
MOVIE REVIEW

The documentary 'Show Business' is a tribute to New York theater and those who...



Attention must be paid
THEATER REVIEW

Lisa Loomer paints a family portrait of ADD in "Distracted," but it’s a bit...



'Wicked' is almost sure to be evergreen
THEATER REVIEW

The hit musical makes L.A. its new Oz, with terrific lead performers who enhance...



Straight into the face of war
THEATER REVIEW

How do men and women psychologically cope with their transformation into...



Chalk one up for candor
THEATER REVIEW

Carrie Fisher may be better on the page than on the stage but when it's her...



'Piazza's' dramatic light grows sharper
THEATER REVIEW

Actors' portrayals bolster the cumulative power of the story and Adam Guettel'...



'Wrestling With Angels'
MOVIE REVIEW

A documentary about outspoken playwright Tony Kushner is too reverent to dig...



If it only had a heart
THEATER REVIEW

Des McAnuff’s dazzling update of "The Wiz" emphasizes electronics over emotions.



One-man show
CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK

Michael Ritchie’s first year guiding Center Theatre Group reflects an eye for...



Equal-opportunity love
THEATER REVIEW

There's a California spin to the jaunty "As You Like It," which tweaks identity.


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