Category Archives: Reviews

May 28, 2015 · 2:56 pm

HEARD Review

CFF_HeardLinks to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

HEARD presented by Queen City Queer Theatre Collective as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

The Queen City Queer Theatre Collective has been staging impressive monthly readings since November of last year. I was excited to hear that they were presenting a fully-staged performance at this year’s Fringe, and they didn’t disappoint.

This original work is smartly-written by QCQTC co-founder Linnea Bond. The structure of the show works well, giving the audience enough information about the central character to keep us fully-engaged as her story unfolds.

QCQTC’s other co-founder, Lindsey Augusta Mercer, directs. She has quickly become one of my favorite directors whose local credits include THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED at New Edgecliff Theatre and DEATH AND THE MAIDEN for Diogenes Theatre Company. The blocking was natural and worked well within the found space. It was nicely-paced with solid performances from a strong ensemble.

Kaleigh-Brooke Dillingham brings a nice balance to the role of Esther. She has a natural chemistry with Helen, played with believable ease by Mia Vera. Vera does double duty as Janice, bringing a nice contrast and complimentary-tone to the role. One of my favorite scenes of the play takes place about midway, when Esther visits Dr. Taylor, played pitch-perfectly by Tracy Schoster.

I enjoyed seeing Cal Harris on stage in the role of Dave. I liked the attitude and the physicality of the character, and his “relationship” with Esther was very believable. I would have liked to have seen his energy level raise slighty to match Dillngham. Zach Robinson has a good characterization as more-than-slightly, drunk and obnoxious Ben, but his connection to the other characters in the scene was lacking.

The acoustics in the venue are a bit hinky, so I would encourage the performers to keep their volume up, as I did lose lines in some of the quieter moments.

Overall a very well-done production and one that I’m sure will be a personal favorite of this year’s Fringe. Four performances remain through June 4.

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.

1 Comment

Filed under Cincy Fringe Festival, Reviews

Tagged as

May 28, 2015 · 1:45 pm

CATHEDRAL CITY Review

CFF_Cathedral CityLinks to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

CATHEDRAL CITY presented by Kurt Fitzpatrick as part of the 2015 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

You can read the show description here.

Kurt Fitzpatrick showcases his wide-range and versatility in this 60-minute solo show.

Funny and tightly-written, what appears to be a random stream of consciousness, (with characters that include a time-traveling Englishman, a young black girl and Fitzpatrick himself), over the course of an hour solidifies into an interconnected set of stories around a central personal event.

Overall a fun and entertaining pop-cultured-filled show. Four performances remain through June 4.

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.

1 Comment

Filed under Cincy Fringe Festival, Reviews

Tagged as

May 14, 2015 · 4:38 pm

CRAZY FOR YOU Review

Links to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

Kaitlin Lory as Polly Baker and John Woll as Bobby Child.

Kaitlin Lory as Polly Baker and John Woll as Bobby Child.

CRAZY FOR YOU presented by Cincinnati Music Theatre through May 16. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening Saturday performance.

Cincinnati Music Theatre ambitiously tackles the dance-heavy musical comedy CRAZY FOR YOU as their season closer.

Leads Kaitlin Lory as Polly Baker and John Woll as Bobby Child give solid performances and have a cute chemistry together. I would have liked to see a bit more of an emotional connection between the two since their relationship comes together so quickly.

Rick Kramer is spot-on and fun as (the real) Bella Zangler and his duet, “What Causes That,” with doppelganger Woll is a highlight of the show. Also fun were Jen Drake and Gregory Good in “Naughty Baby.” Allison Hinkel does well as Tess, but I think she could have been used more in supporting Bobby and Polly.

The cast.

The cast.

At the performance I attended, the cast seemed to struggle with maintaining their energy throughout the show. Several times (once due to a costume change delay) the momentum of the show dropped out almost completely.

The choreography suffered a bit from the same problem. There were times when the dancers’ faces dropped to concentrate on the choreography. The priority has to be convincing the audience that you are having fun. I’m not sure if this is an option, but a couple of the longer dance sequences could have used a bit of editing. That being said, the ensemble should be commended for the hard work that shows in the dance numbers, especially “I Got Rhythm.”

Jen Drake as Irene Roth & Gregory Good as Link.

Jen Drake as Irene Roth & Gregory Good as Link.

Director Sarah C. Mizelle creates some really nice stage pictures in her blocking. There were a few times where scenes with much of the ensemble on stage could have used a bit more focus on the leads.

The orchestra, under the direction of Charles Wilhelm sounded strong and it was very nice to hear the score played live by a talented ensemble of musicians.

On the technical side, Rick Kramer was also responsible for the smart set design. Also well done was the costuming work by Elaine Michael. I can’t recall any sound issues of note for the leads, but there were several instances where mics were not live for ensemble solo lines.

Overall a light-hearted and fun musical comedy. A bit uneven, easily rectified by the cast maintaining its focus, energy and spontaneity throughout the performance. Enjoy the rest of your run.

My rating: 3.25 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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as

May 14, 2015 · 11:49 am

THREE DAYS OF RAIN Review

Links to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

MaryKate Moran as Nan, Carter Bratton as Pip & Adam Jones as Walker.

MaryKate Moran as Nan, Carter Bratton as Pip & Adam Jones as Walker.

THREE DAYS OF RAIN presented by Untethered Theater through May 23. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Newcomer Adam Jones does well as neurotic Walker in the first act. There were times when I felt his performance slipped into a gay stereotype, and perhaps a bit more could have been done to communicate his attraction to Pip. Carter Bratton turns in a strong performance as don’t-sweat-the-small-stuff, handsome actor Pip. I felt his character had a true affection for the siblings. As Walker’s sister Nan, MaryKate Moran gives a solid performance but there were times where I was unclear about her emotional connection to her brother and to Pip.

Carter Bratton as Theo & MaryKate Moran as Lina.

Carter Bratton as Theo & MaryKate Moran as Lina.

Perhaps the second act would have worked better for me if more emphasis had been given to some of the important plot points in both acts. A dramatic pause or a shift in tone or emotion may have given these moments a bit more weight. The second act could have used a bit more energy as Ned (Jones) and Nina’s (Moran) long scene seemed very conversational. I didn’t get a hint of Lina’s mental instability and the total disappearance of Ned’s stutter seemed incongruous. Much of Theo’s (Bratton) anxiety seemed to be a bit too internalized. Maybe a moment or two of it escaping in front of the others would have given a better sense of his emotional turmoil.

Designing a set in the intimate space is always a challenge. I like the concept of the set (designed by Buz Davis), but I felt the main playing area needed to be a bit bigger.There was a sense of confinement that worked against the staging.

Overall an interesting but uneven production, with fun and well-written dialogue, that needed to be a bit bigger in emotion and could have used more room to breathe.

My rating: 3.75 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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as

May 13, 2015 · 4:00 pm

OUTSIDE MULLIGNAR Review

Links to all reviews can be found using the REVIEWS link at the top of the page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my Facebook fan page. You can also receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

Dale Hodges as Aoife Muldoon & Joneal Joplin as Tony Reilly. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Dale Hodges as Aoife Muldoon & Joneal Joplin as Tony Reilly. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

OUTSIDE MULLIGNAR presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through May 30. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening performance.

For its final show of the season, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati welcomes Ed Stern back to the director’s chair for a charming and touching production of OUTSIDE MULLIGNAR.

Dale Hodges as Aoife Muldoon, Brian Isaac Phillips as Anthony Reilly & Joneal Joplin as Tony Reilly. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Dale Hodges as Aoife Muldoon, Brian Isaac Phillips as Anthony Reilly & Joneal Joplin as Tony Reilly. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The strong characterizations, the emotional tone, and the solid pacing of the production are excellent under Stern’s guidance.

Joneal Joplin doesn’t disappoint as stubborn and cantankerous Tom Reilly. In a way, Joplin brings a regal-ness to the role, as if Tom was an aging monarch worried about his kingdom’s future after his passing. Brian Isaac Phillips plays Anthony Reilly, the “unworthy” heir apparent to his father’s legacy. Phillips gives Anthony this great “odd duck” quality that is believable and endearing. In their opening scene together, it is easy to believe that this is only the latest in a series  of similar conversations between father and son. Their final scene together was incredibly honest and touching.

Jen Joplin as Rosemary Muldoon & Brian Isaac Phillips as Anthony Reilly. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Jen Joplin as Rosemary Muldoon & Brian Isaac Phillips as Anthony Reilly. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

From the farm next door we have Aoife Muldoon, who is, in her own way, just as as stubborn and cantankerous as Tony, played wonderfully by Dale Hodges. Aoife is quite the spitfire, despite the physical frailty of the character. Rounding out the cast is Jen Joplin as Aoife’s daughter, Rosemary, an odd duck in her own way. I really enjoyed how Joplin’s characterization of Rosemary shared similar traits with her mother, giving depth to their relationship, despite their lack of stage time together.

Brian Isaac Phillips as Anthony Reilly & Jen Joplin as Rosemary Muldoon. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Brian Isaac Phillips as Anthony Reilly & Jen Joplin as Rosemary Muldoon. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Jen Joplin and Phillips have great chemistry.  In their scenes together, there is this unspoken expectancy between the two characters, as if each one wants something more from the other, but is waiting for the other to “make the first move.” Stuck in this emotional stalemate, the two, at times, comically bicker like an old married couple. The ending is simple, sweet and emotionally satisfying.

The demands of the set design for OUTSIDE MULLINGAR were smartly handled by Joe Tilford. Also, special kudos for having it rain on stage.

Overall a simple, heartfelt, charming, and laugh-out-loud funny, romantic comedy. Very enjoyable.

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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Reviews

Tagged as