A DUAL CRITICS DOUGLAS ANDERSON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS REVIEW Jacksonville’s Douglas Anderson School of the Arts staged the English farce Black Comedy, the last main stage play of the current season, in the Dubow Theatre during April 10 – 13, 2019.  The play was written in 1965 by British playwright Peter Shaffer, who is deservedly well-known as the Tony award-winning author of “Amadeus” and “Equus.” The play was directed by Theater Faculty Member Joseph Kemper who apparently chose it to ensure the student actors and crew had demanding challenging material. They were equal to the task, which required British …

A DUAL CRITICS PHASE EIGHT THEATRE COMPANY REVIEW For those hungry for interesting theatre, the in is the place to have been on April 5th, where Food of Love, ’s latest play, was staged in , the on-site cafe. A second (sold-out) performance is scheduled for April 11th. Founder and director of the Phase Eight Theatre, , has produced many provocative and interesting plays, but Food of Love is unique; it’s the first time food has been a major component. Playwright Kelby is a full-time educator who finds time in private life to become involved in many theatre projects. She is …

A JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY LINDA BERRY STEIN COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS THEATRE DUAL CRITICS REVIEW  Jacksonville University opened Legally Blonde – The Musical at Swisher Theatre on their Arlington campus (at 2800 University Boulevard North) on March 28, 2019. Additional evening performances are scheduled during March 29 – 31 at 7:30 pm; followed by a concluding matinee on March 31 at 3:00 pm. Legally Blonde began as a novel based on the real-life experiences of author Amanda Brown, was adapted as a film starring Reese Witherspoon in 2001 which became a blockbuster, and transformed into a musical in 2007 which also …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW The All Beaches Experimental Theatre is staging a play (March 17 – 31, 2019) with an unusual name which was written by Lee Blessing in 1985. “Eleemosynary” means “of or relating to charity” and is of special importance to the narrative, as that’s the word that Echo, the youngest of the characters, spells correctly to win the National Spelling Bee Competition. This thought-provoking script explores the vicissitudes of mother-daughter bonds among three generations of women. It is an intriguing study of the ties that bind mothers despite their strong personality differences. The action takes place on …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW  Jacksonville Beach’s Players by the Sea opened True West, the fifth play of the current season, on March 15, 2019, which runs through March 31. The production is staged in the intimate Studio Stage theatre. The theatre is located at 106 6th Street North in . For reservations call 904-249-0289 or visit playersbythesea.   Playwright Sam Shepard (1943  – 2017) was notably successful as both a writer and actor; he received a Pultitzer for Buried Child in 1979. True West debuted in 1980, and was nominated for the Pulitzer in 1983. Many well-known actors have appeared in the …

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Theatre Jacksonville opened the North Florida debut of Old Love on March 1st, 2019. This romantic comedy runs through March 17th. The theatre is located at 2032 San Marco Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida. Visit theatrejax.com for additional information or call 904-396-4425 for reservations. The play was written by Norm Foster, who has written over fifty plays since 1983 and is Canada’s most-produced playwright. He is a fine actor as well, and is the only nationally known playwright to have appeared on stage at . He wrote and played the lead to acclaim in On A First Name …

A Dual Critics Review The 5 & Dime, Jacksonville’s theatre company, has opened Sam Shepard’s “The God of Hell,” which remains onstage through March 10, 2019. Of note, the theatre is now celebrating a third year at its permanent location at 112 East Adams Street. Additional information is available on the company’s Facebook page. For reservations, call (904) 637-5100 or visit www.The5andDime.org. The late Sam Shepard (1943 – 2017) was both an accomplished actor and acclaimed playwright. His “Buried Child” won a Pulitzer Prize. He wrote “The God of Hell” in 2004 in based on his view of the political …

Jacksonville University student Christopher Mandel held his Senior Showcase in the Black Box Theatre on Saturday, February 16, 2019. Theatre majors are graded on their showcase performance, which is a final must-past test. Over the years, The Dual Critics of EU Jacksonville have attended and covered a number of showcase productions, but have also missed a number of them because we were reviewing stage plays, or just didn’t know about them. Of note, performances are free to students and the public. We have noted a recent twist: students are using Facebook to publicize their creation and announce time and place. …