Tag Archives: Essex Theatre Arts Studio

LOVE KNOTS Review

Rachel Mock as Florence & Nick Tsangaris as Herbert. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Links to all reviews can be found on the BTC REVIEWS page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my FaceBook fan page. You can receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

LOVE KNOTS presented by Essex Theatre Arts Studio as part of the 2012 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. You can read the show description here.

LOVE KNOTS is my first exposure to the ten-minute play format. This ambitious collection of five works by playwright Phillip Paradis aims high but doesn’t quite come together.

In “Whistle Stop Romance,” there isn’t much drama to be found when a formerly engaged couple meet for the first time after five years. And the play’s late ’20s setting didn’t add anything significant to the play. In a ten-minute play, I would think word choice would be a big consideration, but I heard much needless repetition in the script.

Barbara Manning as Mrs. Sarah Goldstein & Paul Eisenmann as Moise Schoenberg. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Repetition also derails “The Holy Swiss Duet.” The character of Mrs. Sarah Goldstein repeats “holes” and other phrases so often she seems doddered. For me, the play was about a deli owner dealing with the crazy customer who comes in to complain everyday. Not sure how the love theme ties in.

“The Next Table” is my least liked entry. I think eight characters in a ten-minute play is overly-ambitious. But it was the stereotypical gay couple that caused me to immediately lose any interest I had in the story.

I thought the main characters of Travis and Krystal had some potential in “Happy Family at Lui’s Golden Dragon.” The script, however, made them come across as “typical red-necks” and not real people.

Anne Wrider as Dolly Brady & Tom Manning as Seamus O’Malley in “Sunny Side Up.” Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The finale play, “Sunny Side Up” is the strongest of the five. While cute and charming, the story doesn’t distinguish itself from similar scenes in other works.

In watching the plays, I felt that the characters, the setting and the story hook were dots that weren’t well-connected, and when they were connected it was the path of least resistance. I just wanted a stronger story arc that says something new or takes a new approach to common themes.

I also didn’t get a good sense of collaboration between acting, directing and writing. Performances generally were good and the directing solid, but the words seemed to take dominance over other choices.

Click here for a complete list of show times, local media coverage and other reviews for LOVE KNOTS.

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

LOVE KNOTS

LOVE KNOTS
Presented as part of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival ’12
Emery Theatre
Over-the-Rhine 

Reviews: CityBeat | Behind the Curtain |

What love makes us do! We all know how love ties us up. To tie or untie. That is the question! How many love knots can you name? Romantic. Platonic. Self love. Unrequited. Brotherly…? Love Knots is five short comedy/dramas–OMG, it’s.a short play fest.a mini-play festival within a Festival! Love Knots stand alone — and together — Whistle Stop Romance. Happy Family at Lui’s Golden Dragon. The Next Table. Holey Swiss Duet. Sunny Side Up. Short plays about the ties that bind. Each short is ten to fifteen minutes long.

Written by Philip Paradis
Directed by Bob Allen

Cast: Paul Eisenman, Ryan Fissel, Mindy Heithaus, Marisa Holzman, Connor Lawrence, Barbara Manning, Tom Manning, Madeline McKenzie, Rachel Mock, Callie Schuttera, Nick Tsangaris, Sarah Vargo, Nathan Wallace, Anne Wrider & Trey Wright

  • Fri, June 1 at 8:45pm
  • Sun, June 3 at 7:15pm
  • Mon, June 4 at 8:30pm
  • Thu, June 7 at 9pm
  • Fri, June 8 at 7pm

Official page with online ticketing | FaceBook event |

Leave a comment

Filed under Cincy Fringe Festival

Director Names Cast of LOVE KNOTS

World Premiere June 1-8, 2012 at Cincinnati Fringe Festival

Co-Director of Essex Theatre Arts Studio (ETAS) Bob Allen has announced that he will direct a cast of fifteen tri-state actors to perform the world premiere of
LOVE KNOTS (a love-fest of short plays) by Kentucky playwright Philip Paradis

Cincinnati, OH (May 12, 2012) Co-Director of Essex Theatre Arts Studio (ETAS) Bob Allen has announced that he will direct a cast of fifteen tri-state actors to perform the world premiere of LOVE KNOTS (a love-fest of short plays) by Kentucky playwright Philip Paradis. The ninety-minute show LOVE KNOTS, which is a compilation of five short comedies dealing with love’s manifestations and complications, will be presented by Essex Theatre Arts Studio and the 2012 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. The five performances of Love Knots will be presented at the Emery Theatre, 1112 Walnut St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

“We have a tremendously talented cast,” says Allen. “In addition to nine local actors active in the area theatre scene, we have six students from The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Drama Department. I’m pleased to be working with all of them on this premier of LOVE KNOTS by Phil Paradis, who is a talented up-and-coming new playwright.”

Selected for the LOVE KNOTS cast are the following actors:

Paul Eisenman, of Cincinnati, OH, last month debuted his one-man show The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Enlightenment at the Westwood Town Hall Theater. Prior outings include the title role in Visiting Mr. Green, Brabantio in Othello, Aimable in The Baker’s Wife, and Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz.

Ryan Fissel, from Youngstown, OH, is completing a Master of Humanities degree with a concentration on literature and writing, from Tiffin University. Favorite roles include Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Show, Jimmy Curry in The Rainmaker, Linus in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Hero in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Eric Birling in An Inspector Calls, Charlie in Marvin’s Room, and Victor in Cabaret.

Mindy Heithaus, of Westchester, OH, is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University’s Theatre Program. She has appeared in Night of the Iguana, Darker, Singin’ in the Rain, Steel Magnolias, Crimes of the Heart, and Lend Me a Tenor. Recently she appeared in New Edgecliff Theatre’s Reasons To Be Pretty.

Marisa Holzman, of Highland Heights, KY, is a senior BFA Theatre major at Northern Kentucky University, graduating in December 2012. This is her second Fringe; last year she was in Body Speaks and was stage manager for Darker. She has worked with Clear Stage Cincinnati, Cincinnati Actor’s Studio, and New Edgecliff Theatre.

Connor Lawrence, of Bowling Green, KY, is a sophomore at The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music pursuing a BFA in dramatic performance. He was with the Public Theater of Kentucky and Fountain Square Players in To Kill a Mockingbird (Jem Finch), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), The Diary of Anne Frank (Peter Van Daan), and Death of a Salesman (Bernard).

Barbara Manning, of Florence, KY has been active in theater for many years. Her acting credits include Mrs. Peachum (Threepenny Opera), Maria Vasilyevna (Uncle Vanya), Reverend Mother (Nunsense). In readings with husband Tom, she has explored the love letters of John and Abigail Adams, and Abelard and Heloise.

Tom Manning, of Florence, KY has directed over ninety plays in university, summer stock and off-off-Broadway venues. Tom is a veteran actor and has performed various roles for Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, The Human Race Theatre, and Indianapolis Shakespeare Festival, The Drama Workshop, and Showboat Majestic, among others.

Madeline McKenzie, of Fort Collins, CO, is a junior in The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Drama Department. She was recently seen in Ulysses as the Irishman and in Transmigration 2012: Booth as Mary Surratt.

Rachel Mock, of Cincinnati, OH was recently seen in New Edgecliff Theatre’s Reasons to be Pretty (Steph), and The Children’s Theatre’s touring show City of Immigrants (Katerina). Other credits: Cinderella Waltz (Regan), Necessary Targets (Zlata), Whales! Save Us! (Zuzu), and Steel Magnolias (Clairee).

Callie Schuttera, of Landen, OH, is about to begin her senior year as a dramatic performance major at The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She was in Coram Boy and in Ulysses. In last year’s Cincinnati Fringe, Callie played Josephine in Opal Opus: Journey to Alakazoo, which was winner of the Audience Pick of the Fringe 2011.

Nick Tsangaris, a native of Indianapolis, IN, and recent Xavier University graduate, has played Joe Pitt in Angels in America, CB in Dog Sees God, Ted in Spooky Dog and the Teenage Gang Mysteries, and Sergeant of Police in Pirates of Penzance.

Sarah Vargo, of Mansfield, OH, is a junior at The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Drama Department. Some of her past credits include: Thomasina Coverly in Arcadia, CCM Drama; Miss Price in Coram Boy, CCM Drama; and Penny Sycamore in You Can’t Take it With You, Lexington Theatre.

Nathan Wallace, of Tupelo, MS, recently finished his first year at The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music studying dramatic performance. Some of his credits include: A Christmas Carol (Bob Cratchit), Once Upon a Mattress (King Sextimus), Lucky Stiff (Lugi de Gaudi), Gepetto and Son (Stromboli), The Drowsy Chaperone (Gangster), and Alice and Wonderland (Mad Hatter).

Anne Wrider, of Cincinnati, OH has been involved in community theater for the last fifteen years, mostly in Cincinnati. Her favorite roles have been Big Mama (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Kate Keller (All My Sons), Mary Pendarves (Joyful Noise) and Clairee Belcher (Steel Magnolias).

Trey Wright from Louisville, KY, a Freshman Drama Major at The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, has played Exeter in CCM’s The Civil War, Jim in Youth Performing Arts School’s Big River, Axel in The Nerd, and the Emperor in My Emperor’s New Clothes.

The 2012 Cincinnati Fringe Festival is a Know Theatre Production and runs from May 29-June 9th. All tickets are $12. For more information or tickets: www.cincyfringe.com/tickets/ or call 513.300.KNOW (5669).

For more details, contact:
Blueline Editorial LLC
407 Vine St. #298
Cincinnati, OH 45202
bizwriters@fuse.net

Leave a comment

Filed under Cincy Fringe Festival, Press Releases