Despite the hit standards, the accomplished singer-actors and the dancers whose feats of terpsichorean athleticism embody the boldness of the big-band era, Marriott Theatre’s “Swing!” is likely to frustrate discerning theatergoers craving a little more than the old-fashioned revue. Blame shows like “Movin’ Out, ” but these days the “dansical” can have an emotional connection with its audiences despite the razzmatazz nature of its showmanship. To be fair, “Swing!” intends to be nothing but escapist entertainment and on this basic level it delivers. But director (and co-choreographer) Marc Robin’s uninspired attempts to lace these antiseptic musical numbers with thematic context and character motifs either falls flat, raises unmet dramatic expectations for the piece as a whole or brings the show’s dance momentum to a screeching halt. Ultimately, “Swing!” never lives up to the promise of its title’s self-assigned exclamation mark. (F.O. Almeida)
Let’s See Together: A Review of "Choir Boy" at Steppenwolf Theatre Among other compelling reasons to see "Choir Boy" is the power and musicianship on songs sung by the young men who play the students in the choir at the Black, Christian Charles R. Drew School for Boys.
