Category Archives: Reviews

October 4, 2018 · 2:48 pm

YANKEE TAVERN Review

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Becca Howell, Ted J. Weil and Kyle Parker Daniels. Photo by Kristy Rucker

YANKEE TAVERN presented by the Falcon Theatre through Oct. 13. Click here for a synopsis and more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Falcon Theatre kicks off its 2018-19 season with Steven Deitz’s 9/11 conspiracy thriller, YANKEE TAVERN.

The set, designed by director Tracy M. Schoster, immediately places the audience in a small, hole-in-the-wall bar in New York City. The design works well for the space and I was surprised to find that the floor had been painted rather than tiled.

Producing Artistic Director Ted Weil turns in a strong performance as Ray, the mostly homeless friend of the owner and avid conspiracy theorist. Disheveled, bushy, and bug-eyed, Weil handles the dense dialogue well and even surprises himself with his dart throwing skills.

As Janet, the fiancee to inherited bar owner Adam, Becca Howell brings a natural, almost nurturing quality to the role. Her relationships with the three men in the bar are believable and her affection for both Ray and Adam is nicely played.

Kyle Parker Daniels does well as Adam. Physically I’d like to see a bit more energy brought to the character. Since he understandably spends much stage time behind the bar he tends disappear into the set periodically.

In the pivotal role of Palmer, I would like to see Terry Gosdin make some stronger character choices overall and specifically a bigger turn in the character from Act I to Act 2. There just isn’t an edge to Palmer that is needed to sell the confrontation with Janet.

The only issue I had with the costuming has to do with Ray. Suit aside, his clothing doesn’t read as used/thread bare/mis-matched as one might expect. The sound effects of the outside world worked well when the door to the tavern was opened, but seemed to completely disappear when the door was shut. A passing siren or some other loud, brief noise from outside a few times during the acts may have helped keep that atmosphere alive.

Overall, a solid production that is smartly directed, but a bit uneven in its performances.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5.

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October 3, 2018 · 3:32 pm

BIG FISH Review

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Charlie Lindeman as Young Will & Collin Newton as Edward Bloom. Photo by Philip Krinsky Productions.

BIG FISH presented by the Northern Kentucky University through Oct. 7. Click here for a synopsis and more information on the production. I attended the opening Sunday matinee.

Northern Kentucky University kicks off its 2018-19 season with the musical BIG FISH, based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and John August’s Columbia Motion Picture screenplay which was directed by Tim Burton.

The show, directed by Jamey Strawn, was well-paced with strong stage pictures and some nicely handled intimate moments. Also well staged was the choreography by Tracey Bonner.

Adria Whitfill impresses as wife and mother Sandra Bloom. The actress found a great balance in dealing with the two headstrong men in her life. Also up to the challenge of their leading roles were Collin Newton as Edward Bloom and Matthew Nassida as son Will. I did feel that Will came off a bit too harsh in the first scene with his father. The performance also included solid work by Sara Cox, Charlie Lindeman, Chloe Price, Sam Johnson, and Ben Cohen in their supporting roles and across the board by the remainder of the cast.

Under the music direction of Damon Stevens, the show sounded great in both its orchestration and vocal performances. Jeremiah Kearns’ sound design was balanced throughout the performance.

Ronald A. Shaw’s simple set design, complemented by several set pieces, was effective for this production. The way the field of daffodils was portrayed was clever, but I wish there had been some way to “flow them forward” or surround the characters on stage to display the sheer volume of flowers.

The costumes, designed by Elizabeth Joos with assistance from Lizzzie Lotterer and Rachel Alford, worked well in bringing the myriad of characters to life that inhabit Edward Bloom’s stories. That being said, I was a bit unclear about the intent of the costumes for the witch and her “minions.” For me, the design and color choices didn’t seem to define the characters or their environment.

Overall, a strong production of this charming and heartfelt musical.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.

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October 2, 2018 · 3:36 pm

THE ROOMMATE Review

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Margaret Daly as Sharon & Mary Jo Mecca as Robyn. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

THE ROOMMATE presented by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park through Oct. 21. Click here for a synopsis and more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park kicks off its Shelterhouse Theatre season with the two-woman dark comedy, THE ROOMMATE. Described as a “The Odd Couple meets Breaking Bad”, the Playhouse’s production seems to lean more toward to the former at the expense of the latter.

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Margaret Daly as Sharon & Mary Jo Mecca as Robyn. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The humor of the first half of the performance relies heavily on the old city mouse vs. country mouse stereotypes. While the script does generate some good laughs, it doesn’t really cover any new territory. It also, for me at least, tends to skew the time period of the show a bit older than present day.

As Iowan divorcee Sharon, Margaret Daly handles the comedy of the role well. But as her character begins to explore the darker side of her personality, it seemed to be something that Sharon was more playing at then truly embracing.

Mary Jo Mecca’s portrayal of Robyn doesn’t have the edge to her personality that I would expect from a Brooklyn native. I understand the idea of pulling back a bit to give a good impression for her fresh start, but there is a lackadaisical quality to the character that doesn’t quite ring true to me.

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Mary Jo Mecca as Robyn & Margaret Daly as Sharon. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Since the characters don’t quite work individual, their relationship doesn’t seem to evolve too much as the story jumps forward in time. For me, this lessens the impact of the final scene.

Overall, on opening night, this production of THE ROOMMATE doesn’t have the bite it needs to meet the demands of the script.

My rating: 4 out of 5.

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September 21, 2018 · 3:08 pm

MARY’S MONSTER Review

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Maggie Lou Rader as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Photo by Dan R. Winters Photography.

MARY’S MONSTER presented by the Know Theatre of Cincinnati through Sept. 23. Click here for a synopsis and more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Know Theatre of Cincinnati continues their 21st season themed “Fear Itself” with an original work written and performed by Maggie Lou Rader. MARY’S MONSTER discusses the life of novelist Mary Shelley, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus. 

For her first solo script, Rader has chosen a daunting subject. While Shelley did not receive recognition for the bulk of her works while she was alive, today scholars have shown increasing interest in her complete body of literary output. Shelley’s personal life was as complicated as it was haunted by tragedy.

While I found the subject matter interesting, the script itself seemed to focus more heavily on her relationships than on her literary achievements. The complicated nature of these relationships caused some of the exposition to become heavy and confusing. Given the heaviness of the script, the lighter moments were few and far between, so even the addition of some gallows humor would be welcome. On a personal level, I didn’t find Shelley to be very likable

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Maggie Lou Rader as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Photo by Dan R. Winters Photography.

Director Jennifer Joplin makes good use of the set designed by Andrew J. Hungerford. They were times when it felt she had to work around the stage’s centerpiece as opposed to working with it. Even though the pacing was good, the show could use some editing, particularly as it builds to its conclusion. There were times when I felt Rader’s vocal delivery became a bit sing-songy and I would like to have heard a bit more emotion in her voice over the losses Shelley faced. A few of these tragic moments could have been given a bit more time and weight to them.

Overall, MARY’S MONSTER is an interesting, well-performed, but uneven portrait of a woman whose literary worth is still being explored and debated more than a century and a half later.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5.

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September 14, 2018 · 3:54 pm

A FEW GOOD MEN Review

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Photo by Tammy Cassesa.

A FEW GOOD MEN presented by the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts through Oct. 7. Click here for a synopsis and more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Covedale Center for the Performing Arts kicks off their 2018-2019 season with a sound and satisfying production of Aaron Sorkin‘s military drama, A FEW GOOD MEN.

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A.J. Ford as Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep. Photo by Tammy Cassesa.

Director Ed Cohen has a knack for casting that is very evident here, having put together a solid acting ensemble from top to bottom. The action is well-paced and the director smartly found ways to keep the action dynamic and interesting during the understandably static court room scenes.

The set design by Brett Bowling works well for the production, opting for a backdrop of a fence line with a giant re-creation of the US Marine Corps logo dominating the stage. Taking advantage of the Covedale’s wide proscenium, the smaller scenes are staged in lit areas stage right, center, and left. This also limits the time needed for scene changes as tables and chairs are simply re-positioned throughout the performance.

It is evident that Costumer Caren Brady worked hard to bring authenticity to the various military uniforms worn throughout the production. The cast also handled multiple quick costume changes well with no delays in returning to the stage.

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Eric Minion as Lt. Jonathan James Kendrick, A.J. Ford as Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep, Phineas Clark as Lt. Col. Matthew A. Markinson, Nathan Tubbs as Lt. Sam Weinberg, Rory Sheridan as Lt. J.G. Daniel A Kaffee & Erin Carr as Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway. Photo by Tammy Cassesa.

Being such a solid production, the few complaints I have are nitpicky. At the end of Act I, Kaffee’s final line seemed to break the fourth wall which felt out of place. Using military cadences to cover the scene changes worked up to a point. It does get a bit repetitive, so if any can be eliminated on the shorter changes I’d recommend considering it. Also when the cadences are used, it is very apparent when they are not in sync. Lastly, for Markinson’s final scene you may want to consider putting the sound effect after the blackout and choosing one that doesn’t sound as muffled.

Overall, A FEW GOOD MEN is a solidly performed, engrossing court room drama which naturally builds to a satisfying conclusion.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.

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