Tag Archives: The Clifton Players

THE DROWNING GIRLS Runs Oct. 27-Nov. 11

CPT_The Drowning Girls promo

Mindy Heithaus, Eileen Earnest & Carol Brammer.

THE DROWNING GIRLS
Clifton Players
Oct. 27-Nov. 11
Liberty Exhibition Hall [Northside]

Directed by Bridget Leak

Cast: Mindy Heithaus, Eileen Earnest & Carol Brammer

Bessie, Alice and Margaret have two things in common: they are married to George Joseph Smith, and they are dead.  Surfacing from the bathtubs they were drowned in, the three breathless brides gather evidence against their womanizing, murderous husband by reliving the shocking events leading up to their deaths.  Reflecting on the misconceptions of love, married life, and the not-so-happily ever after, The Drowning Girls is both a breathtaking fantasia and a social critique, full of rich images, a myriad of characters, and lyrical language.

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 27-28 at 8pm
  • Thu-Sat, Nov. 2-4 at 8pm
  • Sun, Nov. 5 at 3pm
  • Mon, Nov. 6 at 8pm
  • Thu-Sat, Nov. 9-11 at 8pm

Official page |

1 Comment

Filed under On Stage

SMALL ENGINE REPAIR Review

SMALL ENGINE REPAIR presented Untethered Theatre and the Clifton Players through April 15. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening Friday performance.

CP_Small Engine Repair2

Carter Bratton as Swaino, Nathan Neorr as Frank & Charlie Roetting as Packie. Photo by Kirk Sheppard.

The more I enjoy a show, the less I have to talk about in my review. This review for SMALL ENGINE REPAIR should be pretty brief.

The script is very well-written with believable characters and many laugh-out-loud moments. I enjoyed how the story unfolded, how it kept me guessing on where events were heading, and how it ended with a satisfying conclusion.

CP_Small Engine Repair3

Rupert Spraul as Chad. Photo by Kirk Sheppard.

Director Jared Doren has assembled a strong ensemble. The pacing is spot on. The blocking is natural, uses all available space, and offers good sight lines (especially considering the limitations of the venue).

I wouldn’t have pegged Nathan Neorr as a “father of the year” type, but he is completely believable as Frank and gives a strong, layered performance. Charlie Roetting gives Packie a lovable misfit quality and has great comic timing. As womanizing Swaino, Carter Bratton finds a perfect balance between the swagger and the heart hidden beneath. The three easily click as childhood friends. Rupert Spraul is equally strong as silver-spooned, college jock Chad.

CP_Small Engine Repair1

Nathan Neorr as Frank, Rupert Spraul as Chad, Carter Bratton as Swaino & Charlie Roetting as Packie. Photo by Kirk Sheppard.

Overall a well-written, dark comedy gem, very smartly directed and performed. Not only did the script take me to a place I didn’t expect, it was a hell of a ride getting there.

My rating: 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

Clifton Players and Untethered Theater Brings Manly Comedy to Clifton

SMALL ENGINE REPAIR Opens March 30 at Clifton Performance Theatre

CT_Small Engine Repair promo

CINCINNATI OHIO–MARCH 23, 2017– Opening March 30, 2017 a comedy, SMALL ENGINE REPAIR will run at Clifton Performance Theatre through April 16, 2017.

Producer and Actor Carter Bratton says about, SMALL ENGINE REPAIR: “It’s about life-long friendship and loyalty. What ultimately made me need to produce it is the question it raises about the difference between men and boys and how their actions butterfly effect this modern world… and it’s the funniest most thrilling piece of theatre I’ve read in a long time.”

“What begins as an impromptu reunion of three childhood friends quickly changes gears into a high-octane, edge of your seat roller-coaster of a play with an ending you have to see to believe!” said director, Jared Doren. “SMALL ENGINE REPAIR by John Pollono, is a hilariously crude and irreverent comedy-thriller about middle-aged men living in a fast-paced, social media world they don’t quite understand anymore.”

Featuring: Nathan Neorr, Charlie Roetting, Carter Bratton and Rupert Spraul. Directed by: Jared Doren. Produced by: Carter Bratton, Untethered Theatre, & Clifton Players.

Synopsis: Former high school buddies Frank, Swaino and Packie—now past their prime—meet off-hours one night in Frank’s out-of-the-way repair shop under cloudy circumstances that only Frank seems to have a handle on. Enter Chad, a plugged-in, preppy college jock, whose arrival ignites a long-simmering resentment that sets this taut, twisty, comic thriller on its breathless course.

Show runs March 30 – April 16, 2017 at Clifton Performance Theatre, 404 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220. Performances Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm: March 30, 31, April 1, 3 (Industry Night), 6, 7 , 8, 13, 14, 15 with Sunday Matinees at 2pm: April 2, 9 & 15.

Tickets are $25. Seniors are $20, and students with ID are $15. There is also a special buy-one-get-one offer upon request via phone. Tickets are available via phone at: 513.813.7469 or online on the Clifton Performance Theatre’s website at: www.cliftonperformancetheatre.com.

###

About the Clifton Players:
The Clifton Players, founded in 2007, are a collective of actors committed to presenting the best local talent performing the funniest, most challenging and irreverent material they can find. The Clifton Players is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

About the Clifton Performance Theatre:
The Clifton Performance Theatre opened its doors in 2007, as the home for the Clifton Players, and other theatre groups. The theatre also hosts youth camps, workshops, classes, as well as rentals for parties, and for like-minded group performances.

Leave a comment

Filed under Press Releases

SMALL ENGINE REPAIR Runs March 30-April 15

UTC_Small Engine Repair logoSMALL ENGINE REPAIR
Untethered Theatre and Clifton Players
March 30-April 15
Clifton Performance Theatre

Directed by Jared Doren

Cast: Nathan Neorr, Charlie Roetting, Carter Bratton & Rupert Spraul

A casual reunion of three longtime buddies, slouching unprofitably through their 30’s, ultimately betrays a darker purpose.

  • Thu-Sat, March 30-April 1 at 8pm
  • Sun, April 2 at 2pm
  • Mon, April 3 at 8pm
  • Thu-Sat, April 6-8 at 8pm
  • Sun, April 7 at 2pm
  • Thu-Sat, April 13-15 at 8pm

Official page |

1 Comment

Filed under On Stage

THIS WIDE NIGHT Review

THIS WIDE NIGHT presented by The Clifton Players through March 4. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

cp_this-wide-night1

Miranda McGee as Marie & Dale Hodges as Lorraine.

Can dreams of the future made by cellmates survive the reality of life outside of prison? That possibility is explored in Clifton Players’ production of the two-person play, THIS WIDE NIGHT.

Miranda McGee, perhaps more known for her comedic turns, shines in the challenging role of Marie. Throughout the performance, I was struck how the emotional swings of her character emanated from the actress and always rang true.

As Lorraine, Dale Hodges enters as an adrift soul trying to find solace with the only “family” she has known during her long incarceration. She brings a great vulnerability to the role but there are these great moments of seemingly innocent manipulation that remind the audience she’s not as innocent as she appears.

cp_this-wide-night2

Miranda McGee as Marie & Dale Hodges as Lorraine.

Faults aside, I was surprised how invested I had become in these two ladies. True to its source material (interviews from recently released inmates) the script doesn’t answer all questions or provide a happy ending.

Director Kevin Crowley keeps the movement within the confirmed space of the studio apartment natural and motivated. There are several great stage pictures created in response to lines in the script that could easily be missed by a less experienced director.

Re-configuring the play space worked well to create Marie’s below street level apartment. I would encourage the covering of the windows above the apartment door as the foot traffic outside was a bit distracting at times.

One element that was unclear to me was how much time had passed between the various scenes. The dialogue in the scenes doesn’t always help. A bit of period underscoring during the scene changes might have helped define the time period. Speaking of the time period, the use of a CD and a shopping bag printed with a web site address were a bit anachronistic. One of the downsides of such an intimate venue. 🙂

Overall, a smartly directed production with strong, emotional true performances.

My rating: 4.25 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