BILL O'NEILL

• Curtain Up: Strong close to a strong season for Players, TheatreZone Published 05/10/2012 at 9:53 a.m.

  Two of our local theater companies filled out their 2011-2012 season with charming low-key ensemble pieces. Both close their runs this weekend. “Steel Magnolias” — the title itself has become famous for its association with Roslyn Carter, and the story ...

• Curtain Up: ‘Streetcar’ casts a spell to make one believe, for a little while Published 04/11/2012 at 10:03 a.m.

  There is much to admire of Gulfshore Playhouse’s very professional production of Tennessee Williams’s classic “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The physical aspects of the production are all excellent — the evocative set, the lighting, the period costumes, the sound, not ...

• Curtain Up: ‘A Picasso’ works quite well, while ‘Little Women’ falls a little flat Published 03/28/2012 at 9:59 a.m.

  The Naples Players and TheatreZone have lately presented two interesting plays outside the usual tried and true offerings. One is a pleasantly successful surprise, the other a well-produced effort that nevertheless disappointed this viewer.

• Curtain Up: Despite some minor faults, ‘Hello, Dolly!’ a success at Naples Players Published 03/06/2012 at 5:16 p.m.

  Can “Dolly” survive without “Hello, Dolly”? This musical is perhaps the best star vehicle ever written, and the title number the best production number. It is in some ways the heart of the show.

• Curtain Up: ‘Race’ and ‘Doubt’ show power of professional and community theaters Published 02/08/2012 at 9:48 a.m.

  Now to Naples come two well-presented serious dramas which, though very different superficially, thematically have much in common. David Mamet’s “Race” at Gulfshore Playhouse is a taut, profane chamber piece, focusing sharply on the issue of race relations, with uncertainty ...

• Curtain Up: ‘Moonlight and Magnolias’ makes for an entertaining evening Published 01/25/2012 at 10:35 a.m.

  The Naples Players presents “Moonlight and Magnolias,” a good production of a pretty good play, which adds up to an entertaining evening, especially for a fan of old movies.

• Curtain Up: Solid cast makes ‘Company’ a great production Published 01/10/2012 at 12:48 p.m.

  “Company,” now being presented by TheatreZone, is Stephen Sondheim’s breakout play, where he found his voice as a composer and lyricist. When first produced, in the cynical 70’s, it spoke to the zeitgeist and was a hit among the cognoscenti.

• Curtain Up: ‘Spelling Bee’ production not too s-h-a-b-b-y at all Published 12/14/2011 at 9:42 a.m. 1 Comment

  TheatreZone started its season strong with a fine production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” I was interested to see this hit show, having only heard some of the music before. Music and lyrics are by William Finn ...

• Curtain Up: Sugden productions continue to improve, but ‘Sherlock Holmes’ lacking that extra something Published 11/29/2011 at 4:58 p.m.

  The continuing popularity of Sherlock Holmes is a phenomenon as remarkable as its early success. Virtually countless plays, movies and television shows have been made from the stories. The written texts appear near the top in the mystery category of ...

• Curtain Up: Kudos to Gulfshore Playhouse for bringing ‘Handle With Care’ to our little town Published 10/31/2011 at 9:39 a.m.

  Gulfshore Playhouse opened its season with the world premier of “Handle With Care” by Jason Odell Williams. Starring Odell’s real-life spouse Christine Cohn, the play tells the story of a small group of people who by chance find themselves in ...

• BILL O'NEIL: On the Town - Looking beyond season for performing arts Published 05/12/2010 at 4:42 p.m.

  It’s time to get in the last licks on the busy performing arts season and start thinking about venues that don’t shut down for the summer. The Sunday Times had its annual supplement describing summer festivals and special events nationwide, ...

• Mercato’s ‘First Friday’ is fab Published 01/06/2010 at 10:20 a.m.

  Mercato hosts a monthly “First Friday” event, featuring specials and outdoor entertainment. This hopping new downtown, with popular retail stores, restaurants and watering holes, turned out to be the place to be on Friday night.

• LaMancha delivers the dream Published 12/09/2009 at 2:48 p.m.

  It’s hard to put your finger on what went wrong with The Naples Players’ production of “Crimes of the Heart.” The play won a Pulitzer prize. The set is just about perfect. The performances - although there is some distracting ...

• BILL O'NEILL: Phil's 'Giovanni’ short of greatness Published 11/24/2009 at 3:11 p.m.

  Don Giovanni” is often said to be Mozart’s greatest opera, perhaps the greatest opera of all time. Its themes of justice and retribution, its gorgeous music, its compelling characters – not only the title character, but also some of the ...

• BILL O'NEILL: Treat yourself to Silverspot Published 09/30/2009 at 11:05 a.m.

  once had the privilege of seeing and hearing the great Bobby Short at his Manhattan haunt, the Cafe Carlyle. After his opening number, Short greeted the audience, saying, “It is so good to be here among all you r-r-r-rich people.” ...

• BILL O'NEILL: Cahlua & Cream fresh as ever Published 08/19/2009 at 4:49 p.m.

  It may still be August, but there are hints that the season will be upon us before too long. The brochures have been arriving for next year’s offerings at the Phil and other local venues and Cahlua and Cream are ...

• BILL O'NEILL: Wrapping up a successful season Published 08/05/2009 at 3:19 p.m.

  It’s that time of year - okay, maybe it’s a little late - to do seasonal wrap-ups and send kudos to the best events I’ve seen around town, with a little preview of next season. In no particular order, then: ...

• BILL O'NEIL: From Broadway to Naples, musical revivals abound Published 07/08/2009 at 12:27 p.m.

  We had the good fortune to catch four plays in four days in New York last week, and from what we saw, I can confirm that the “eternal invalid” of the theater is alive and kicking. “The Fantasticks” has been ...

• Rain: A tribute to the Beatles Published 01/14/2009 at 6:30 p.m.

  Now comes “Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles,” the latest in a series of packaged entertainments that have visited our area. (See “Barrage,” “Stomp!,” “Riverdance”). What these shows have in common are non-stop action, fast pacing, slick production values, shameless ...

• Curtain Up: Six Dances’ delights despite minor pitfalls Published 05/07/2008 at 4:10 p.m.

  Let us now offer up praise to The Naples Players for presenting, in “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,”

View all stories for this staff member.