Category Archives: Reviews

Tess Talbot as Joyce Billings | “Miss Spidra”. Photo by Dan R. Winters Photography.

SHOCK! The Spine-Tingling Tale of Miss Spidra presented by Know Theatre of Cincinnati through Oct. 24. I attended the opening night performance.

Know Theatre returns to in-person performances by celebrating a slice of Americana perfect for the Halloween season: the costumed hosts of locally-produced late night television B-horror movie shows.

The script by Joseph Zettelmaier is smart, laugh-out-loud funny and does a great job of capturing the time period. The scenes from the ’50s are intercut with video interview segments where an older “Miss Spidra” reminisces about her career as a horror host. Director Andrew Hungerford shows a deft hand in the tone and pacing of the production. A couple moments of blocking pulled me out of the moment, but this would be a very minor complaint.

Paul Riopelle as Ray Coslaw & Tess Talbot as Joyce Billings | “Miss Spidra”. Photo by Dan R. Winters Photography.

Paul Riopelle is pitch-perfect as Ray Coslaw, the beleaguered local TV executive working to mimic the late-night success of other cities that have hopped on the horror-host craze. Tess Talbot shines as Joyce Billings, aspiring actress (and Ray’s sister-in-law) who reluctantly signs on as the hostess, fighting to make her character more than another vamp of the night. The chemistry between these two actors is central to the success of the production.

Brianna Bernard rounds out the on-stage cast as Lucy Lupnicki, the young sidekick brought in to keep the show “fresh.” She handles the arc of the character very well as Lucy learns the ropes of the local TV industry. Talbot’s real-life mother, Terry Neumann, does a nice job as the older Joyce in the video segments. Also Daniel Winters has a fun video cameo as local politician Oglesby.

Paul Riopelle as Ray Coslaw, Brianna Bernard as Lucy Lupnicki & Tess Talbot as Joyce Billings | “Miss Spidra”. Photo by Dan R. Winters Photography.

The technical aspects of the show worked well. The video was enjoyably produced and felt like a modern-day documentary thanks to director of photography Ryan Lewis. Resident costume designer Noelle-Wedig-Johnston did a great job of capturing the look of the ’50s and in the creation of Miss Spidra’s look. The set and props design by Kayla Williams define the two performances spaces well. I did feel the bookcases looked a bit unadorned for the TV set and I couldn’t find the gargoyles mentioned during the interview. Speaking of things mentioned in the script, it would have been fun to see the dry ice fog roll in for Miss Spidra’s debut. [Director Andrew Hungerford kindly informed me that, as with many things, there is currently a dry ice shortage, so kindly ignore my last sentence. –Rob] Again, I’m just being picky. 🙂

Overall a wonderful return to live performances and a very enjoyable, nostalgic look back to the early days of local television.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.

FANNIE LOU HAMER, SPEAK ON IT! presented by Know Theatre of Cincinnati through Oct. 4. I attended the opening Thursday performance.

             Nathan Singer as Music Man. Elizabeth Leigh Taylor as Fannie.

At one point in the performance, Fannie makes the observation that she isn’t sure if she has traveled to the future or if we, the audience, have traveled to the past. Just one of many gut punches of truth contained in this excellent 40-ish minute production.

Elizabeth Leigh Taylor as Fannie.

Elizabeth Leigh Taylor impresses as the titular character. Part call to action and part revival, Taylor is captivating in her performance (and vocals) as the civil rights activist, bringing Hamer’s passion, dignity, hard-earned wisdom, and faith to the forefront. Nathan Singer in the supporting role of Music Man provides the perfect combination of  musical and vocal support.

Adapted by playwright Cheryl L. West from her play, Fannie, the script focuses on the heart-wrenching and dangerous struggles of Black voters to simply register to vote in the South during the Jim Crow era.

Nathan Singer as Music Man. Elizabeth Leigh Taylor as Fannie.

Director Derek Snow does an excellent job of creating the atmosphere of the work. Even though the performance is “confined” to the bed of a pickup truck, the blocking feels completely natural. 

Congratulations to the entire technical team for their hard work in making this show the traveling success that it is.

Pay-what-you-can performances continue through Sunday evening. The Saturday evening performance will be live-streamed. You can even register to vote at the performances. 

My rating: 5 out of 5.

Click here for more information on the production.