SOME of my REVIEWS (or how to blow your own horn....)
ALL THE WAY -2016 --his performance is first rate. He delivers a nuanced LBJ, one who deftly pulls the levers of power, but suffers bouts of indecision and insecurity -Bill Wheeler Theatre Colorado Springs C. David Johnson’s portrayal of LBJ is terrific. He can be delightfully charming one moment, frightfully ruthless the next. --Tom Jones-Colorado Theater Review --delivers a riveting portrayal. Commanding, acerbic, cunning and, at times, full of self-doubt, Johnson the actor plays Johnson the president expertly. —Gary Zedner—Boulder Weekly The show stars C. David Johnson as a hard-driving, charismatic and profane LBJ. His performance alone is worth the price of a ticket. --David Marlowe—Musings Johnson’s dialogue is an engaging, expertly spit firestorm of brass and equanimity. He’s able to heatedly dispatch expletives at a rate that is only matched by his character’s ability to burn and rebuild bridges in his quest for social justice. --Quincy Snowden—Aurora Sentinel TRIBES -2016 Christopher is brilliantly played by Johnson who allows us sneak peeks into his actual heart every now and then. Johnson gives this man a strangely pathetic life on the stage. -J. Peter Berman—Berkshire Edge GREAT EXPECTATIONS-2013 -a superb C. David Johnson as Pip’s guardian, the formidable lawyer Jaggers, darts in and out of scenes with keen deliberation. Coldly scrupulous in all he says and does, his revelation of his other side—that of a compassionate do-gooder—is the more satisfying for the way Johnson delivers it in the man’s slyly circumspect fashion. Martin Morrow—The Globe and Mail THE LION IN WINTER -2013/14 C. David Johnson and Tod Randolph as Henry and Eleanor, come as close to besting this script as anyone we’ve seen. The crucial casting of the dueling couple is masterful. These two veteran actors bring decades of hard-won skill to their roles and then make it all seem effortlessly natural. Their facility with language especially should be seen by acting students. They invest their words with a fullness and musicality as rich as the brocaded clothes they wear. Johnson’s fulsome baritone embraces the marital banter and internal politics like someone savoring a fine wine. His speech disinheriting his sons, one of Goldman’s best, is superb. Bill Hirschman—On Stage C. David Johnson’s wily Henry is always one step ahead of his antagonists, but his pain is evident through the cracks in his well-worn armor. Jan Sjostrom—Palm Beach Daily News --two experienced Shakespearean actors, C. David Johnson and Tod Randolph…. their classical expertise makes their presence truly stately on stage. Theirs is a battle of wits and wills and Johnson and Randolph make excellent foils, yet easily fall into each other's arms, recalling their shared past. Lacunae Musing –arts blog THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE--2012 As the model of a modern Major General, C. David Johnson is dashing, and almost battled to the ground, the tongue-twisting song, “I am the very model of a modern major general” Lynn Slotkin—CIUT-FM PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT--2010-12 (Toronto/Broadway) One also must pause to praise C. David Johnson as Bob, the straightest of straight men who finds a way to accept and even love this strange trio. Johnson earned my undying respect when he calmly ad-libbed his way through a technical snafu on opening night by saying “They spent a lot on the bus,” to thunderous laughter and applause. Richard Ouzounian—Toronto Star JITTERS--2010
Opposite Jessica is the snarling, devious Patrick Flanagan (C. David Johnson), a big fish in the smaller pond of Canadian theatre, who has never dared to try his luck in the Big Apple. Robert Crew—Toronto Star D’Aquila, Johnson and Dennis anchor the show with priceless performances that locate the humour not in farcical action but within the characters’ human nature. Christopher Hoile—Stage Door.com Johnson brings pathos to his role as a successful, alcoholic, and arrogant actor who never left Canada to try for Broadway or London. Jeff Maus--Mondo TRYST--2009 From the moment Johnson opens his mouth, we sense the evil beneath the charm; he is brilliant at blending humour with emotional cruelty. Alidore Aucoin—The Metropolitain Johnson succeeds in making a callous, conniving, double-crossing cad into someone who’s even likeable for a while. Toula Foscolos—West Island Chronicle In the role of George Love, C. David Johnson is riveting… he manages here to earn deep sympathy while perpetrating grave, multiple crimes. Claire Holden Rothman--Rover |
THREE IN THE BACK TWO IN THE HEAD --2004 CDJ soars in Sherman mystery....the most harrowing, gripping moment is when the father, passionately and powerfully played by C. David Johnson, claws at the earth of a grave as he grapples with who he is, what he has done, and what he should do. The scientist is the emotional flashpoint of the play, and a highly memorable, convincing character in the brief time Johnson has to craft him. Elissa Barnard--Chronicle Herald ART--2002 C. David Johnson ... makes Marc into a knot of barely controlled anger and frustration. I particularly admired the venom he inserts into the phrase "the artist".... THE SOUND OF MUSIC--2001 “The part of Captain Von Trapp is played by C. David Johnson; unfortunately it is sung by him, too.” Richard Ouzounian—Toronto Star ETHAN CLAYMORE--2000 Martin (played brilliantly by C. David Johnson)......Johnson's Martin Claymore is a superlative performance: saturnine, skeptical, and expertly timed, his cynical car salesman is a wonderful foil to the sentimental direction the plot drives us in. ..........Those of us who think that even a rough and unpolished live production like this is a better way to spend an evening than at any canned (dead) entertainment on TV or at the movies, will go, and enjoy brilliant moments like those engineered by C. David Johnson. Russell Hunt--St. Thomas University  click image
MACBETH--1979
(pictured left) This is, without a doubt, my favourite review. It was written on a matchbook cover and left under the windshield wiper of the company van during a tour of "Macbeth" in 1979. THE PLAY'S THE THING--1999/2003 "There is gorgeous compensation from C. David Johnson as Almady, her overweening paramour, an ageing matinee idol forced mercilessly into acting out his own follies......the text and the actor keep uncovering new abysses, new reserves." Robert Cushman--National Post "--thanks to the performers the likes of..Johnson (who comes close to stealing the show in the second act)". John Coulbourn--Toronto Sun "For the big laughs, look to Johnson as the philandering Almady, his male pride amusingly deflated in the play Turai forces him to perform." Kate Taylor--Globe and Maii (READ MORE) PETER PAN--1998 "Clearly the most striking performance was by C. David Johnson........displayed his well-rounded experience by his excellent performance and a humourous portrayal of the everlasting classic loser, Hook". Maryem Mubareka--The Brunswickan "Director Walter Learning wisely let seasoned actors like C. David Johnson have their heads. Johnson has a wonderful time playing the dastardly pirate king. His campy Hook is a cross between an overblown Shakespearean actor and a trendy fashion designer". Anne Ingram--Daily Gleaner "C. David Johnson is just the Captain Hook all male children always dreamed of being, with a wonderful Shakespearean boom and a silent film-villain dark malevolence that scared everyone half to death...." Russell Hunt--Telegraph Journal SLEUTH--1998 "--The award for best performance goes to C. David Johnson, who has matured considerably as an actor over the past few years....Johnson's outstanding work in this play shows show's he is definitely more than a handsome television star." Anne Ingram--Daily Gleaner MISERY-1997 "Thanks to an absolutely riveting performance by C. David Johnson, this TNB production keeps you on the edge of your seat for two hours. I have never seen him do better work..." Anne Ingram--Daily Gleaner "--remarkably played by C. David Johnson (as Paul Sheldon)..." Douglas Hughes--Times Globe "--It's clear he's matured as a stage actor.....he managed to make the fairly monotonous role engaging, even exciting.....In the second act he was often captivating." Russell Hunt--Telegraph Journal |
