There could be a novel written about every element that works beautiful and seamlessly in Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore’s production of Smokey Joe’s Café.
Toby’s The King and I is definitely worth seeing, if, for nothing else, the ballet alone. Of course, the ballet is not alone, and there are many other great moments and strong performances that carry this show from beginning to end.
Despite the flaws, it is key to remember that this is an extremely difficult piece and this is volunteer, community theatre. With that in mind, Tidewater Players really achieved something significant.
For older audiences, especially those that have no preconceived notions about Rent, are interested in seeing a different take on the material, or really love a great dance performance, there is definitely something here worth giving a shot.
In this busy holiday season, January 8th might come faster than you know, and you do not want to miss this production. It is a perfectly delightful reminder of everything wonderful about this time of the year and an absolute must-see.
This production was certainly a valiant experiment that seemed to be embraced by everyone involved; unfortunately, it was just not a successful one.
If you are looking for a strong production of a feel-good holiday show with a few extraordinary elements to set it apart, then Toby’s White Christmas: The Musical is an excellent choice for audiences of all ages.
If you are looking for an over-the-top, parody-like, tribute to the great shows of musical theatre, then this is the production for you. If you are looking for the heart of the Gospel that is the story of Godspell, it is better to look elsewhere.
There are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe Toby Dinner Theatre of Baltimore’s practically flawless production of Dreamgirls.
There are a lot of things that need work in this production, but, in context of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival, it is the closest so far to what you would expect from a production in the actual theatre season.