Fresh Ink’s ‘Last Catastrophist’ Looks for Answers in Bleak Future

January 26, 2020January 30, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

*Evelyn Holley as Marina and Shanelle Chloe Villegas as Lucia in Fresh Ink’s ‘Last Catastrophist’ Photos by Paul Fox*

By Julie-Anne Whitney

‘Last Catastrophist’ – Written by David Valdes; Directed by Sarah Gazdowicz; Sound Design by Vinny Laino; Lighting Design by Read Davidson; Costume Design by Erica Desautels; Scenic Design by Andrew Kolifrath; Dramaturgy by Sarah Schnebly; Fight Choreography by Marge Dunn; Stage Managed by Sam O’Brien. Presented by Fresh Ink Theatre, this world premiere production runs through February 8, 2020 at the Plaza Black Box Theatre, Boston Center for the Arts.

According to National Geographic, Climatology is “the study of climate and how/why it changes over time.” Climatologists – not to be confused with meteorologists (who study the weather and weather forecasting) – study the Earth’s climate by collecting and analyzing data from sources such as ice, soil, water, air, and plants to find patterns in weather and understand how those patterns affect the environment.

ArtsEmerson’s ‘Shadow’ is Deceptively Profound

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

*The cast of* *ArtsEmerson’s* *‘The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes’* *Photo: Jeff Busby*

By Mike Hoban

‘The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes’ – Director: Bruce Gladwin; Creative Development Artists: Bruce Gladwin, Mark Deans, Sarah Mainwaring, Scott Price, Simon Laherty, Sonia Teuben & Victoria Marshall (This show was developed, in part, at the 2019 Sundance Theatre Lab at MASS MoCA). Presented by Back to Back Theatre in conjunction with ArtsEmerson at the Emerson Paramount Center, Jackie Liebergott Black Box, 559 Washington St. Boston through January 26.

It wasn’t until the final moments of The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes, the import to the ArtsEmerson stages from Australia’s Back to Back Theatre, that the meaning of the title of the production dawned on me – and then it was as startling clear as a slap to the face. To explain why would be to give away too much about this deceptively profound theater experience, but it’s in the telling of the story by performers that you don’t usually see on stage that makes Shadow such an unpredictable gem of a piece. Written and performed by a cast of “neuro-diverse” actors with intellectual disabilities, it is at various times educational, jolting, hilarious and thought-provoking – while never taking itself too serious, despite some tough subject matter.

Wellesley Rep’s ‘boom’ Takes Comic Look at Post- Apocalyptic World

January 22, 2020January 23, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Nicholas Yenson, Stephanie Clayman and Chloe Nosan in Wellesley Repertory Theatre’s ‘boom’.
Photos by Maggie Hall

By Mike Hoban

‘boom’ – Written by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb; Directed by Marta Rainer; Set Design by David Towlun; Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl; Lighting Design by Emily Bearce & Graham Edmonson; Sound Design by George Cooke. Presented by Wellesley Repertory Theatre, Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre, 106 Central St. Wellesley through February 9

There’s a meteor hurtling toward Earth, and the denizens of the planet are blissfully unaware of the imminent apocalyptic devastation that will follow. All except nerdy marine biologist Jules that is, and he’s hatched a plot to save humanity, himself and his pet fish Dorothy from extinction. That’s the premise of boom, the absurd but engaging comedy now being mounted by Wellesley Rep. Skillfully directed by Marta Rainer, boom borrows elements from sources as diverse as Mystery Science Theater 3000, a ton of end-of-the-world dramas and Adam & Eve, producing a kind of rom-com with decidedly higher stakes.

Gamm Theatre’s ‘Admissions’ Brilliantly Examines Ongoing Controversy

January 22, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Jim O’Brien, Jacob Osborne, and Deb Martin in GAMM Theatre’s ‘Admissions’

by Tony Annicone

GAMM Theatre’s 35th season continues with their first show of 2020 which is the off-Broadway hit play “Admissions” by Joshua Harmon. He won the 2018 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for best play. His other plays are “Significant Other” and “Bad Jews.” Harmon’s newest comedy/drama explores white privilege in attending prestigious institutions of higher learning. It could reflect as a show torn from the headlines of the current college admissions scandals of 2019, but was actually written before it took place. In this piece, set just before Christmas of 2015 to Easter of 2016, Sherri, the mother, is the head of an admissions department at Hillcrest, a New England prep school in New Hampshire who wants to diversify the student body. Her husband is the school’s headmaster and they have been quite successful with her initiatives. However when their son, Charlie wants to attend an Ivy League university, Yale University, their progressive values and ideas collide with their own self-interests with dramatic and shocking results that leave the audience on the edge of their seats. Bryn Boice casts these five roles splendidly and elicits strong performances from each of them. The kitchen set with staircase to a second floor is hidden by a brick wall that ascends when the scene changes from the school to the home is designed by Patrick Lynch. It is outstanding as are the lovely costumes by Amanda Downing Carney.

Speakeasy Stage’s ‘Pass Over’ Packs a Timely Wallop

January 21, 2020January 21, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

“Mister (Lewis D. Wheeler), Moses (Kadahj Bennett), and Kitch (Hubens “Bobby” Cius) in Speakeasy Stage’s ‘Pass Over’ – Photos by Nile Scott Studios

By Shelley A. Sackett

‘Pass Over’ – Written by Antoinette Nwandu; Directed by Monica White Ndounou; Scenic Design by Baron E. Pugh; Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl; Lighting Design by Kathy A. Perkins; Sound Design by Anna Drummond. Presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company and Front Porch Arts Collective at Roberts Studio Theatre, Calderwood Pavilion through February 2.

Even before ‘Pass Over’ begins, as theatergoers blithely check emails and jockey for their seats, the actors make clear theirs is a production that will claim one’s full attention and engagement. Two young scruffy black men, dressed in hoodies, oversized footwear and hats, prowl around the sparse stage, demanding eye contact and flirting with the women in the front row. By the time the house lights go down and the stage lights go up, these two have established an uneasy arms-length rapport with the audience.

Merrimack Rep Gives Us a Quiet Romance with ‘Maytag Virgin’

January 21, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Kati Brazda and David Adkins in MRT’s ‘Maytag Virgin’. Photos by Meghan Moore)

Review by James Wilkinson

‘Maytag Virgin’ – Written by Audrey Cefaly. Directed by Eleanor Holdridge. Scenic Designer: Kris Stone. Costume Designer: Charlene Alexis Gross. Lighting Design: Karen Perlow. Sound Designer: Scott Stauffer. Presented by Merrimack Repertory Theatre through February 2, 2020

The emotional effect of Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s production of Maytag Virgin is a peculiar one. I’m hard pressed to think of a scene where I was able to stop poking holes in what I was seeing. The continuity between two scenes didn’t seem to quite match up. Motivations for certain character elements were questionable. Deep in Act Two, as the play’s action begins to pick up, the thought crossed my mind that entire scenes from Act One could have and perhaps should have been cut. And yet, by the end, none of this seemed to matter. As I was driving away from the theater, all of the “problems” I had with the production melted away in my mind, leaving me with only a lovely feeling of serenity. The production’s high points had stuck. I don’t think that the play is especially notable (like it or not, those story issues are still there), but I don’t say that as a reason to keep you from seeing the production. Sometimes it’s enough for a show to be pleasant and enjoyable the way that this one is. I had a good time without feeling emotionally manipulated the way I often do at plays aiming for the kind of feelings that this one invokes. There’s a warmth and generosity that the audience members bring to the play, allowing them to fill in any gaps and by some churning internal force, the elements pull together.

Lyric Stage Serves Delicious Fare With ‘The Cake’

January 18, 2020January 18, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(*Karen MacDonald, Chelsea Diehl, and Kris Sidberry in ‘The Cake’ at Lyric Stage*
*PHOTO: Mark S. Howard*)

by Julie-Anne Whitney

‘The Cake’ – Written by Bekah Brunstetter; Directed by Courtney O’Connor; Scenic Design by Matt Whiton; Costume Design by Charles Schoonmaker; Lighting Design by Aja Jackson; Original Music/Sound Design by Arshan Gailus; Intimacy Direction by Ted Hewlett; Stage Managed by Diane McClean. Presented by the Lyric Stage Company of Boston through February 9.

Inspired by the 2015 Craig v. Masterpiece Cakeshop lawsuit, Bekah Brunstetter’s play, The Cake, centers on a conservative Christian bakery owner, Della (Karen MacDonald), who is asked by her late friend’s daughter, Jen (Chelsea Diehl), to make a wedding cake. When Jen reveals that her future spouse is a black woman named Macy (Kris Sidberry), Della clumsily claims that she’s simply “too busy” to accommodate their request.

BEASTS Providence College Theatre

January 16, 2020February 15, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Providence College Theatre’s current show is “Beasts”, an original play written by current PC senior Thomas Edwards and directed by John Garrity, associate professor of theatre. This is the first time an original student written work will be presented as a mainstage production. According to the writer and director, “Beasts” tells the story of corruption in a small town in America called Ouranos and is fueled by Jason Anderson. He has the desire for power to control those around him including his wife and political assistant. Loyalty is everything and the truth is feared. There is no good and evil, only humanity. It is definitely a cautionary tale for our times At first glance you might think this was ripped out of headlines of our contemporary society but it flashes back and forth from 1945 to 1948. The show is narrated by Left Samael, the Angel of Death and Right Samael, the Demon of Temptation who appear at the start of each scene of the show. John Garrity casts eight strong college performers in these intense and gripping roles. The song “You Are My Sunshine” plays on the radio during the show. The set has chairs, tables, desks and other assorted furniture strewn about the stage and even some of them floating above the stage. It looks like a tornado hit the town as the audience witnesses the battle between good and evil and discovers the deadly sins that are committed including Envy, Pride, Greed and Wrath. Voices are heard by Jason but are they for vices or virtue? Secret relationships are revealed and one of the lessons learned is when you destroy love, life is meaningless.

Burbage Theatre Company’s ‘EDWARD II’

January 15, 2020February 6, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Burbage Theatre Company’s third show of their ninth season continues with “Edward II” by Christopher Marlowe. It’s their first show in 2020. Although it was written back in 1594, the show still has relevance today with Edward II who is a flawed leader at the helm of the country who gives favored positions to people who are not worthy or deserving of them. He also has many unsavory sexual escapades that his father and the nobility frowned upon. Edward I banishes Piers Gaveston to France to end his unnatural relationship between the man and his son. However upon the death of his father in 1307, Gaveston was welcomed back to England by Edward II. Edward bestows a high political title to him as governor of Ireland but rouses the wrath of the nobles because Gaveston was a commoner by birth. In the meantime, Edward married Isabel and they have a son who grows up to be Edward III. Mortimer who is the leader of the nobles rebels against the King’s shoddy treatment. Civil war ensues when Edward II decides to retaliate against the nobles. The play highlights the political machinations and power struggles of the past and how they influence all people whether they be Kings, nobles or common people. Director Jeff Church modernizes the casting by giving the theatre’s female actresses 15 of the 18 pivotal roles in the show reversing the tradition of the past when men were cast in female roles in Shakespeare and Marlowe’s time. He also obtains powerful performances from his talented cast and once again brings out the best in them.

Umbrella Stage Company Delights with a Mind-Blowing “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 michaelhobanLeave a comment

*Kirk Vanda as Hedwig in* *The Umbrella Stage Company*‘s *“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”* – *Photo by Briana Gately*

By Michele Markarian

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”. Text by John Cameron Mitchell. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask. Directed by Julia Deter. Presented by The Umbrella Stage Company, 40 Stow Street, Concord, through January 12.

I had no idea what to expect from “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”, running four days this weekend at the newly revamped theater space of Concord’s Umbrella Stage Company. I bought the soundtrack when it was released in the late 90s; the music was fun and unlike any musical theater I’d heard. My only frame of reference for the show was watching Neil Patrick Harris perform the role at the Tonys. A friend of mine called me up sputtering during that performance, right after Neil Patrick stepped from the stage mid song to kiss his husband on the mouth. “Hedwig would never do that! It is not in character!” hissed my friend.