My primary goal as a theater reviewer is to write an honest critique of a play that promotes interest in the production and/or theater company, and prompts conversation about the play's core themes. My approach is respectful, compassionate, and constructive. I try to be insightful and look for nuance. I do not believe in tearing down artists. I see theater critics as a bridge between artists and their potential audience. I want to encourage engagement between theater makers and theater goers. I want you to love theater as much as I do.
I have been reviewing plays for the Theater Mirror since 2019. Below is a catalog of those reviews. You may also find my reviews on Instagram: @ReviewsByJulie
Imaginary Beasts Offers Fanciful Family Fun with ‘Hansel & Gretel’ Panto
Imaginary Beasts’ winter panto, Hansel & Gretel, loosely follows the German fairy tale with a few amusing alterations.
Huntington’s ‘Sweat’ Shows The Dark Side of American Dream
Director Kimberly Senior masterfully builds, suspends, and expands the tension throughout the play with moments of stillness and breathlessness followed by rapid action and rampant activity.
It’s a Mad Victorian World in URT’s ‘Vanity Fair’
Vanity Fair tells the story of two young women who are thrown into a mad, unforgiving world full of scoundrels, villains, and thieves; people who are selfish, jealous, money-grubbing and power-hungry– a world not so different from our own.
‘Bright Half Life’ Shines A Light on Queer Love
Director Megan Sandberg-Zakian manages the lightning-fast scene changes with the finesse of a world-class choreographer. Her dance-like staging is beautiful to watch; every turn into another time and every step into another place is done with intention, emotion, and clarity.
Fresh Ink’s ‘Last Catastrophist’ Looks for Answers in Bleak Future
Set on the coast of Iceland, Fresh Ink Theatre’s production of Last Catastrophist offers a chilling glimpse into a not-so-distant future in which climatologists are being threatened into silence while the world and its inhabitants are suffering from the disastrous effects of global climate change.
Lyric Stage Serves Delicious Fare With ‘The Cake’
It takes an actor of Karen MacDonald’s caliber to add complexity and depth to an often insufferable protagonist. MacDonald’s performance is filled with such warmth, humor, and tenderness that you cannot help but sympathize with Della’s internal struggle.
Moonbox productions’ ‘Parade’ is an Ugly Tale, Beautifully Told
Steve Shack’s lighting design plays with the emotional effects of light and dark, spreading shadows of branches and staircases and cell bars throughout the space, emphasizing the mystery and suspense at the core of the play.
BLO’s ‘Fellow Travelers’ is An Opera For Today
With the help of librettist Greg Pierce, Spears’ intuitive storytelling continues with Fuller’s Act II solo, “Our Very Own Home,” which starts with a single, repeated melody on the piano, emphasizing Fuller’s new lonely state, having cast off his friends and betrayed the man he loves.
Arlekin Players’ ‘The Seagull’ is Extraordinary
Igor Golyak’s inventive staging leaves a lot of room for the actors to play. Watching this ensemble use the small studio space is like watching a group of kids on a playground.