Review

Dining: It’s All Fresh at Vientiane
Dining

It’s All Fresh at Vientiane

No-frills restaurant on National Ave. offers tasty Thai, Laotian, and Vietnamese fare.

Theater: “Annie Jump” Is a Technical Triumph
Theater

“Annie Jump” Is a Technical Triumph

New play premiered by Renaissance has great atmosphere, but mawkish scenarios.

Dining: Crawdaddy’s Is Real Cajun
Dining

Crawdaddy’s Is Real Cajun

West Allis restaurant has plenty of tasty dishes flavored with holy trinity.

Classical: Sex in the Roman Empire, Well Sung
Classical

Sex in the Roman Empire, Well Sung

Florentine’s ‘Poppea’ offers lust and neuroses, well staged with big juicy voices.

Semi-Twang, Then and Now

Semi-Twang, Then and Now

Spoiler alert: now is much better. John Sieger’s new album is a stunner.

Classical: About Those “Dueling” Lutists
Classical

About Those “Dueling” Lutists

Paul O’Dette and Ronn McFarlane were wonderful in Early Music Now concert. And yet they never soared.

Theater: Skylight’s ‘Carmina Burana’ Will Wow You
Theater

Skylight’s ‘Carmina Burana’ Will Wow You

The most original and mesmerizing production I’ve seen this season.

Dining: Blue Star Cafe Is a Star
Dining

Blue Star Cafe Is a Star

Simple, fresh, colorful, inexpensive fare in a modest little restaurant. Lovely.

Theater: Mother Knows Best
Theater

Mother Knows Best

Rep’s family play ‘Things I Know to Be True’ is uneven, but audience seems captivated.

Theater: In Tandem’s Two Hander A Treat
Theater

In Tandem’s Two Hander A Treat

In 'Velocity', aging mother and estranged son fight over her independence, with dramatic, witty results.

Theater: ‘Strange Snow’ Probes Vietnam War Wounds
Theater

‘Strange Snow’ Probes Vietnam War Wounds

Chamber Theatre production is uneven but packs a punch.

Classical: Oh, Those Rhapsodic Russians
Classical

Oh, Those Rhapsodic Russians

Milwaukee Symphony and guest pianist Simon Trpčeski soar in works by Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev.