THE BEST OF SHOWS ON BETTER LEMONS IN 2019

January 7th, 2020

Featured

Enci Box

Editor in Chief, Administrator

Better Lemons had a fantastic year and we couldn’t have done it without the fantastic critics, publicists, and audience members who share their love of Los Angeles theater, by posting on Better Lemons and sharing their favorite shows and their reviews on social media.

We are especially grateful for all the Registered Critics who took their time this past year to rate shows they have reviewed to be included in our LemonMeter.

There were 1200 productions registered on Better Lemons in 2019! Out of those registered shows, over 600 received at least one review from a Critic and 201 were reviewed by Audience members. Out of these shows, we selected the winners that were most favored by Critics and/or Audiences.

Here is a list with all the Better Lemons SWEET productions of 2019:

The Better Lemons DoubleSWEET #LemonMeter Choice Awards for 2019
are going to the following productions:

(33 shows out of 1200 productions received
a DoubleSWEET #LemonMeter rating
from audience and critics)

TALES FROM THE POWDER ROOM at the Whitefire Theatre
41 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

IF WE RUN at the Lounge Theatre
32 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

RAISED BY WOLVES at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre
32 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TO DAD WITH LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO BUDDY EBSEN at Theatre West
30 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
14 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

FERTILE: A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EXPECTATION OF PROCREATION currently at the Whitefire Theatre
27 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
8 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

HOLLYWOODN’T at the Santa Monica Playhouse
20 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

THE BULLY PROBLEM at the Arena Theatre – Theatre of Arts
17 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
9 Critics reviews – 94% Sweet

THE NARCISSIST NEXT DOOR at the Complex Theatre
15 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 75% Sweet

THE ELEPHANT MAN at the El Portal Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 96% Sweet
7 Critics reviews – 93% Sweet

MONO/POLY at the Odyssey Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

MASTERS OF THE DARK REALM at the Actors Workout Studio
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

BUNNY THE ELF LIVE! currently at the Stages in Fullerton
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

CRACK WHORE, BULIMIC, GIRL-NEXT-DOOR at the Complex Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 96% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

A BIT MUCH at the Lounge Theatre
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

(IM)PERFEKT at the Santa Monica Playhouse
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

BLACKBOXING at the Complex Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

MIL GRUS at the McCadden Place Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TRANSFERENCE at The Broadwater
9 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
6 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

SCRAPS at the Matrix Theatre
8 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
15 Critics reviews – 87% Sweet

SUPPORTIVE WHITE PARENTS at The Broadwater
8 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

NEIL SIMON’S MUSICAL FOOLS by the Open Fist Theatre Company
7 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
13 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

ROMEO AND JULIET IN HELL at the Actors Workout Studio
7 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
8 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

FALLEN SAINTS: SALEM at the Actors Workout Studio
7 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
7 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

SAVING CAIN at the Hudson Theatres
6 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
5 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

THE LAST CROISSANT at The Broadwater
5 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
6 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TREYA’S LAST DANCE at the Hudson Theatres
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

OLIVIA WILDE DOES NOT SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE at the Complex Theatre
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
6 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

CLARISSANT at the Atwater Village Theatre
4 Audience reviews – 88% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

CIRQUE DU GISELLE at the Assistance League Theater
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

BATTER UP: MY BRAIN ON BASEBALL at studio/stage
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
4 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

JOAN AND WHAT DID THEY SAY – AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS at Theatre Unlimited (T.U. Studios)
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TREASON at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre
4 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

45 MILLIGRAMS at The Broadwater
3 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet
3 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

The Better Lemons Audience #LemonMeter Choice Awards for 2019
are going to the following productions:

(32 shows out of 1200 productions received
a minimum of 10 audience reviews
and have received a SWEET #LemonMeter rating by the Audience)

TALES FROM THE POWDER ROOM at the Whitefire Theatre
41 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

IF WE RUN at the Lounge Theatre
32 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

RAISED BY WOLVES at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre
32 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

TO DAD WITH LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO BUDDY EBSEN at Theatre West
30 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

FERTILE: A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EXPECTATION OF PROCREATION currently at the Whitefire Theatre
27 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

AN EXCUSE TO BEHAVE BADLY at the Lounge Theatre
22 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

HOLLYWOODN’T at the Santa Monica Playhouse
20 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

THE BULLY PROBLEM at the Arena Theatre – Theatre of Arts
17 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

TELENOVELA at the Actors Workout Studio
16 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

AMERICAN STRANGER THE MUSICAL at Studio C
16 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

THE NARCISSIST NEXT DOOR at the Complex Theatre
15 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

MONO/POLY at the Odyssey Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

MASTERS OF THE DARK REALM at the Actors Workout Studio
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

BUNNY THE ELF LIVE! currently at the Stages in Fullerton
14 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

CRACK WHORE, BULIMIC, GIRL-NEXT-DOOR Complex Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 96% Sweet

THE ELEPHANT MAN at the El Portal Theatre
14 Audience reviews – 96% Sweet

MANDY PICKS A HUSBAND at the Actors Company
13 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

A BIT MUCH at the Lounge Theatre
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

ASK A BLACK WOMAN at Studio C
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

BIRTHDAY at the Actors Company
12 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

(IM)PERFEKT at the Santa Monica Playhouse
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

LEAVING PRINCE CHARMING at the Lounge Theatre
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

ENERJOYCE…EVOLUTION OF A PISCES BABY BOOMER at the Santa Monica Playhouse
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

YES. NO. MAYBE. at the Complex Theatre
11 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

BECOMING PEACE: A ONE WOMAN DRAMEDY ABOUT POWER, CULTURE, VIOLENCE AND NONVIOLENCE at the Lounge Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

CAT SH!T CRAZY…FROM HOT MESS TO HOT MAMA IN FOUR SIMPLE CATS at the Whitefire Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

OCTOPI WALL STREET at the New American Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

EMBRACE LOVE FREE at the Santa Monica Playhouse
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

BLACKBOXING at the Santa Monica Playhouse
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

MIL GRUS at the McCadden Place Theatre
10 Audience reviews – 100% Sweet

The Better Lemons Critics #LemonMeter Choice Awards for 2019
are going to the following productions:

(92 shows out of 1200 productions received
a minimum of 10 critic reviews
and have received a SWEET #LemonMeter rating by the Critics)

DANIEL’S HUSBAND at The Fountain Theatre
26 Critics reviews – 96% Sweet

WITCH at the Geffen Playhouse
21 Critics reviews – 93% Sweet

HANDJOB by the Echo Theater Company
21 Critics reviews – 79% Sweet

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at the Ahmanson Theatre
21 Critics reviews – 76% Sweet

THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN by the Antaeus Theatre Company
20 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

SKINTIGHT at the Geffen Playhouse
19 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE by the Antaeus Theatre Company
19 Critics reviews – 97% Sweet

BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY at The Fountain Theatre
19 Critics reviews – 79% Sweet

LATIN HISTORY FOR MORONS at the Ahmanson Theatre
18 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE at the Ahmanson Theatre
18 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

1776 THE MUSICAL at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
18 Critics reviews – 94% Sweet

BRONCO BILLY – THE MUSICAL at the Skylight Theatre Company
18 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

AN INSPECTOR CALLS at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
18 Critics reviews – 81% Sweet

DEADLY at the Sacred Fools Theater Company
18 Critics reviews – 75% Sweet

ON BECKETT at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
17 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

HELLO DOLLY at the Pantages Theatre
17 Critics reviews – 97% Sweet

READY STEADY YETI GO at the Rogue Machine Theatre
17 Critics reviews – 82% Sweet

TOO MUCH SUN at the Odyssey Theatre
17 Critics reviews – 82% Sweet

SALVAGE at the Lounge Theatre
16 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

LOOT at the Odyssey Theatre
16 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

ANNE, A NEW PLAY at the Museum of Tolerance
16 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES at the Geffen Playhouse
16 Critics reviews – 84% Sweet

NICK DEAR’S FRANKENSTEIN at A Noise Within
16 Critics reviews – 78% Sweet

RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL at the Pasadena Playhouse
15 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

INDECENT at the Ahmanson Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
15 Critics reviews – 97% Sweet

DANA H. at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 97% Sweet

EIGHT NIGHTS by the Antaeus Theatre Company
15 Critics reviews – 93% Sweet

FALSETTOS at the Ahmanson Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

A KID LIKE JAKE by the IAMA Theatre Company
15 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

LACKAWANNA BLUES at the Mark Taper Forum
15 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

HYPE MAN at The Fountain Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

SCRAPS at the Matrix Theatre
15 critics reviews – 87% Sweet

OTHELLO at A Noise Within
15 Critics reviews – 80% Sweet

PARADISE at the Matrix Theatre
15 Critics reviews – 77% Sweet

LINDA VISTA at the Mark Taper Forum
15 Critics reviews – 77% Sweet

AUGUST WILSON’S JITNEY at the Mark Taper Forum
14 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TO DAD WITH LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO BUDDY EBSEN at Theatre West
14 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum
14 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

DIANA OF DOBSON’S by the Antaeus Theatre Company
14 Critics reviews – 93% Sweet

MOBY DICK – REHEARSED at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum
14 Critics reviews – 89% Sweet

THE SOLID LIFE OF SUGAR WATER by Deaf West Theatre
14 Critics reviews – 89% Sweet

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the Pasadena Playhouse
14 Critics reviews – 75% Sweet

TWO TRAINS RUNNING AT MATRIX at the Matrix Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

IN CIRCLES at the Odyssey Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TWELFTH NIGHT at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
13 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

RAGTIME at the Chance Theater
13 Critics reviews – 96% Sweet

NEIL SIMON’S MUSICAL FOOLS by the Open Fist Theatre Company
13 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

WITNESS UGANDA at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
13 Critics reviews – 92% Sweet

THE JOY WHEEL at the Ruskin Group Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

THE WOLVES by the Echo Theater Company
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

FAITH HEALER at the Odyssey Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

THE NICETIES at the Geffen Playhouse
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

ARGONAUTIKA at A Noise Within
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

THE PRODUCERS at the Celebration Theatre @ The Lex
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

FEFU AND HER FRIENDS at the Odyssey Theatre
13 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

LIGHTS OUT: NAT “KING” COLE at the Geffen Playhouse
13 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
13 Critics reviews – 77% Sweet

HAPPY DAYS at the Mark Taper Forum
12 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

CANYON at theLos Angeles Theatre Center
12 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

THE VANDAL at the Chance Theater
12 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

DEATH OF A SALESMAN at the Ruskin Group Theatre
12 Critics reviews – 96% Sweet

NANCY F***ING REAGAN at the Secret Rose Theatre
12 Critics reviews – 88% Sweet

AMERICA ADJACENT at theSkylight Theatre Company
12 Critics reviews – 83% Sweet

DEFENDERS at The Broadwater
12 Critics reviews – 79% Sweet

ANASTASIA at the Pantages Theatre
12 Critics reviews – 75% Sweet

JULIUS WEEZER at the El Portal Theatre
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

ANDY WARHOL’S TOMATO at the Pacific Resident Theatre
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

BURIED CHILD at A Noise Within
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

HERSHEY FELDER: A PARIS LOVE STORY at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
11 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

ANNA IN THE TROPICS by the Open Fist Theatre Company
11 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

THE GLASS MENAGERIE at A Noise Within
11 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

AT THE TABLE at The Road Theatre Company
11 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

MISS LILLY GETS BONED at the Rogue Machine Theatre
11 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

SISTERS IN LAW at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
11 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

THE GREAT LEAP at the Pasadena Playhouse
11 Critics reviews – 91% Sweet

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at the Odyssey Theatre
11 Critics reviews – 86% Sweet

M. BUTTERFLY at the South Coast Repertory
11 Critics reviews – 77% Sweet

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER by The Group Rep/Lonny Chapman Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 100% Sweet

TREYA’S LAST DANCE at the Hudson Theatres
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

DAMES AT SEA by the Sierra Madre Playhouse
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

NEVER IS NOW at the Skylight Theatre Company
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

THE NEW ONE at the Ahmanson Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 95% Sweet

FRIENDS WITH GUNS at The Road Theatre Company
10 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL by 5 Star Theatricals
10 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

DISNEY’S FROZEN at the Pantages Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 90% Sweet

THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE by the 24th STreet Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

SPECIAL at the Theatre of Note
10 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

SWEENEY TODD – THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET at the South Coast Repertory
10 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

FIFTEEN MEN IN A SMOKE-FILLED ROOM at Theatre 40
10 Critics reviews – 85% Sweet

LOOSE KNIT by The Group Rep/Lonny Chapman Theatre
10 Critics reviews – 80% Sweet

ENCI is an actor and recently turned writer and director. She is an urban cyclist, passionate about living intentionally, about leaving less behind and about living healthy. Enci is a member of SAG and AFTRA and is on the board of the 501(c)4 Bikeside and is co-founder of the Bike Writers Collective. Enci teaches all over town about web etiquettes and social media and is involved with the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council where she serves on the Arts & Culture Committee. Enci is passionate about leaning new things and currently she is studying ASL. You can visit her at http://EnciPerforms.com or read about her adventures at http://illuminateLA.com

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