Enchanted April at Heights Players, Brooklyn.

An LTNY One-Minute Review by Roger Gonzalez, LocalTheatreNY.com of The Heights Players Enchanted April, written by Matthew Barber and directed by Susan Montez.

(All Photos by Gerald Newman)

The Show Plays from January 6 - 22, 2012 at the Brooklyn Heights Players. Go to www.HeightsPlayers.org or LocalTheatreNY.com for more information.

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It's 1920’s post World War I England in this adaptation of Elizabeth Von Arnim's novel of the same name, Enchanted April.

Drawn in by vivacious Mrs. Lotti Wilton, four disenchanted English women escape their dreary, rainy, damp lives and share an April trip to a stunning, sunny castle in Italy.

The Heights Players have done this story great justice. This cast delivers determined and effective performances; The leading ladies are charming and poignant in this caterpillar to butterfly tale.

Sheila MacDougall, turns in a lovely and funny performance as the elderly and demanding Mrs. Graves.

Lucy Sheftall is mesmerizing! Her every movement is a dancelike gesture…at first an aloof and jaded socialite, with great depth she reveals a tender and endearing Lady Caroline. This young lady can act.

Ilana Labourene as Mrs. Arnott conveys a damaged wife with a painful secret and does so with skill and a pacing. This Rose blossoms. She’s wonderful!

Alexandra Drori is the spark that ignites the story. I loved this remarkable young actress, she has an engaging stage presence and is unforgetable! Her monologue at the end is sheer poetry. In fact, this whole play is poetic. You won’t forget it.

Bravo to this entire cast… All are directed with balance and clarity by veteran Heights director, Susan Montez and 1st time asst. director, Susan Groberg.

Perfect Sets again by Gerry Newman and Billy Woods, Lighting design by newcomer Leo Contrino, meshed with veteran sound design by Robert Waring and Broadway-worthy costume design by Gina Healy, help transport you. Head out to Brooklyn Heights, park your car, and arrive in Italy!

Freckleface The Musical Review

LocalTheatreNY.com - with a little help from two budding theatre critics, reviews "FreckleFace The Musical."

"If energy and talent could be harnassed, this is the cast you want to harnass it from. Not one performer in this staged version of the Juliane Moore children's book series, "Freckleface Strawberry" is lacking on any level. They sing catchy tunes that kids will remember and do so with enormous heart and enthusiasm.  You will walk out of the theatre feeling bright and and optimisitic." - Roger Gonzalez, LocalTheatreNY.com

FRECKLEFACE THE MUSICAL, the off-Broadway family musical hit based on the best-selling children's book "Freckleface Strawberry" by Julianne Moore, continues off-Broadway at the MMAC (Manhattan Movement and Arts Center) THEATRE, 248 West 60th Street, with new block of tickets now available through April 1st.

Performances are Saturdays and Sundays at 1 pm and 3 pm (special added holiday performances in January and February-check the website www.frecklefacethemusical for dates and times). Tickets are priced at $45.00 and can be ordered through Telecharge.com at 212 239-6200.

Presented by MMAC Productions, FRECKLEFACE THE MUSICAL has music and lyrics by Gary Kupper with book by Kupper and Rose Caiola. Direction by Buddy Crutchfield with choreography by Gail Pennington Crutchfield.

(Production footage provided By MMAC Productions)

It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

After a couple of years of no reviews on LocalTheatreNY.com, we have read and listened to our readers and viewers and reinstated critical reviews of local theatre productions in the form of what we call the "60-Second Review." (Continued below)

The new "60-Second Review" is a simple concept in development that is being launched with the holiday production of "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" at Queens Theatre In The Park and running until December 24th, 2011.

(Photo Credits in Video: Carol Rosegg)