Complexities like this lead folks to think that seeing Pinter is something they ought to do, rather like eating their peas

Between each of the three hysterical, exhausting “acts,” the affable Canadian takes a short break on stage as himself to talk to the audience. And after the finale he once again steps out of character with a short epilogue explaining the genesis of the show and how he ultimately obtained permission from Lucasfilm to continue parodying their intellectual property.

After we polled the office, and collected all the latest information on shows, and announcements, we were a little bit surprised. What summer slow down?!

William Hodgson is a superb Cat-in-the-Hat. His lithe nimble moves leave no doubt that he’s the true authority on stage. Substituting the trademark hat for more sophisticated headwear, he’s a very adult Cat who marks new turf in this role.

Physically, both men were perfectly cast, with just enough girth in all the right places to give the naïve Siegfried a dollup of baby fat pudge.

I’d even wager that Pink Martini could have Bill Ayers and John Boehner doing a cheek-to-jowl conga out the door.

This scene is informed by understatement, both in the orchestra pit and on stage. The slightest hesitation of a hand on the door and the hint of drawn out strings convey more meaning than much of the bombast found in later sections.

Admittedly, Sir Elton John has composed some of the most memorable pop melodies of our time, but he fails to deliver a single one for this disappointing, albeit often entertaining, extravaganza.

We take our Wagner seriously in this town. Despite the 135 years since this was first performed as a cycle in Bayreuth Germany in 1876, the Ring is always new, always worth plumbing – and accordingly, we treat it with a combination of gravitas and hype not seen elsewhere.

"There's often a fine line between doing the stupidest thing, and doing the sexiest thing."