It’s not made it to the website quite yet, but Elizabeth Pandolfi’s review of Vaud Rats claims that it’s a must-see. She loved K. Brian Neel’s performance:
Vaud Rats, Neel’s one-man ukelele operetta which he wrote and stars in, is dynamic, engrossing, funny, heartbreaking, poignant, unique — all those things that make a night at the theater the thrillingly consuming experience that only a couple shows in a hundred can create.
Pretty big endorsement. I’ve had this one on my list of one to see as soon I saw the words “ukelele operetta.”
Another review that should make it to the website soon is Kevin Murphy’s take on Matt and Ben, which is playing at the American Theater. Murphy wasn’t so enamored of this show:
When it premiered Off-Broadway in 2003, the script for Matt and Ben — thanks mainly to Affleck’s much scrutinized romance with Jennifer Lopez — had the wet dazzle and slow pomp of celebrity folly. Five years later, it retains as much juicy relevance as an old sewer-drowned copy of Us Weekly.
Ouch. He gives it a D (our first of the festival). You can check out all the recent reviews every day here. You can RSS it too. Love Best of Charleston? Help the Charleston City Paper keep Best of Charleston going every year with a donation. Or sign up to become a member of the Charleston City Paper club.