Tag Archives: The Clifton Players

September 18, 2014 · 10:32 pm

THE RIVERSIDE Earns LCT 4 Star Recommendation

Clifton Player’s THE RIVERSIDE Earns LCT Recommendation
Panelists for the League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) have awarded Clifton Player’s production of The Riverside with a 4 star recommendation.

Mike Dennis as Broken Record, Daniel C. Britt as Meat & Reggie Willis as Jim.

Mike Dennis as Broken Record, Daniel C. Britt as Meat & Reggie Willis as Jim.

THE RIVERSIDE is a new play by Kevin Crowley, that takes place in Cincinnati in 1989. That year was a seminal year: Tiananmen Square, the fall of the Berlin Wall and, in Cincinnati, icon Pete Rose was permanently banned from the game of baseball. As the denizens of the Riverside bar in Cincinnati closely follow the Rose saga, other big changes are afoot and decisions regarding the future of this family owned bar will irrevocably change the family and its patrons.

Panelists called THE RIVERSIDE “a lively and ambitious new play…an exciting work, balancing a kind of magical realism, black comedy, and suspense in a historical era rich in ironic undercuttings of generational American ideals of family, sports, and localized notions of success.” The entire ensemble showed “deep engagement with the characters…they worked so well together and seemed entirely natural in their portrayals of the characters.” Buz Davis’s scenic design was praised, “The staging of the bar rose to the challenge inherent at Clifton’s Theater with beautiful creativity and an invitation to the audience members to feel a part of the play itself…the set decor seemed completely authentic to 1989.”

Clifton Player’s The Riverside runs through September 27th. Tickets can be purchased at http://cliftonplayers.wordpress.com/tickets.

Nominations for LCT awards will be determined and announced at the end of the season and winners awarded at the annual LCT party in the summer.

The League of Cincinnati Theatres was founded in 1999 to strengthen, nurture and promote Cincinnati’s theatre community. LCT provides its member companies and individual members with education, resources and services to enhance the quality and exposure of the theatre community in Cincinnati and increase community awareness, attendance and involvement. More information about the League can be found at www.leagueofcincytheatres.info.

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September 15, 2014 · 10:43 am

THE RIVERSIDE 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.

THE RIVERSIDE presented by The Clifton Players through Sept. 27. Click here for more information on the production.

“What’s up, niggah’!”

I am writing this review under the assumption that this is a final draft of Kevin Crowley’s play.  I also assume that he has hopes to see this play produced elsewhere in the future. 

“What’s up, my niggah’!”

There is alot of strong, local talent on stage in this production. And I believe that buried in this cornucopia of ideas and characters is the backbone of a strong script. This, I only determined by working my way backwards from the ending. I have spent hours thinking about the production and trying to figure out ways to articulate my thoughts. The production left me with so many question about directing choices, technical choices, character motivations and the script itself.

“What’s up, my niggah’!”

I usually try not to give away specifics, but from this point on, the review does contain spoilers.

“What’s up, niggah’!”

CP_The Riverside1

Daniel C. Britt as Meat.

The strongest character on stage was Daniel C. Britt as bartender Meat. Always in character, always involved in the scene, yet still taking care of all his stage business naturally. He was as solid as the bar itself. Britt’s confrontation with Mike (Michael Shooner), the older son of the bar-owner, was pitch perfect. I would have liked to seen something Meat said actually cut Mike and bring out a hint of  his hidden anger.

“What’s up, niggah’!”

“What’s up, my niggah’!”

I believe Gary McGurk may soon end up with a few “Drunk Guy” roles on his resume. His rye whiskey-swilling Slug was the perfect comic drunk. His level of inebriation varied and progressed throughout the scenes which helped the believably. His character was also always in the moment. His drunken tirade at Mike also played very well.

“What’s up, niggah’!”

Both Mindy Heithaus as Flopsey and Reggie Willis as Jim do nice work. The character of Flopsey though is a bit cliched. The struggling, single mother who works hard, enjoys a good time, and tends to make bad choices after a few drinks, but all her problems would be solved by a good man. The, just when she thinks she has found the one, her bad choices come back to ruin her chance at happiness.

“What’s up, my niggah’!”

Mike Dennis as Broken Record, Daniel C. Britt as Meat & Reggie Willis as Jim.

Mike Dennis as Broken Record, Daniel C. Britt as Meat & Reggie Willis as Jim.

Mike Dennis does well as Broken Record (he has a stutter…get it?). But aside from a few lines, the character is unnecessary to the story. He’s nothing but a sustained bit until miraculously cured of his life-long stuttering by shaking hands with Pete Rose. Come on, this is “Jesus appears in mold on a piece of bread” silliness. If you are going to do a farce, then do a farce.

“What’s up, my niggah’!”

“What’s up, my niggah’!”

Now let’s talk about Buz Davis as Foul Ball and Paul Morris as T-Bone. Performance-wise I have no complaints. As a pair of loathsome, petty criminal, river rats they are top notch. I did feel that the dumb and dumber take on the characters was not a very interesting choice from a writing standpoint. Foul Ball could have been the more cunning of the two, the one that is always watching and listening. The one that has a bit more knowledge than he should about you, and enjoys letting you (and by extension the audience) know he knows.

“What’s up, niggah’!”

What I cannot  understand is the writer’s decision to use racial slur over and over and over. The last time I heard that much excessive and gratuitous repetition was the movie Robocop  (1987) and George Harrison’s “Got My Mind Set on You.” Now, if Foul Ball and T-Bone were “white youth who adopts black youth culture by adopting its speech, wearing its clothes, and listening to its music,” the use would make sense in that context. But they are middle-aged white guys with beer bellies.

Aside from shock value, as far as I can tell, the words’ only purpose was to initiate the confrontation between Foul Ball and younger son Sean (played by Pete Wood). Since Sean doesn’t know the two hoodlums, Sean simply calling them out to calm it down would be enough to piss off Foul Ball. More appropriate to the time period would have Foul Ball call Sean a “faggot” to start the confrontation. Yes, this is a gay man telling you I would rather hear someone called a faggot on stage than to listen to a couple dozen variations of “What’s up, niggah’!”

There is no question that The Clifton Players is a group of talented actors. But the problem I’m seeing from the audience is that on stage are bunch of actors directed by an actor, not a bunch of actors directed by a director. The focus is so much on the scene and the character work that no one seems to be stepping back and looking at the overall production with a critical eye.

The script needs to give the audience a bit more exposition on the Pete Rose scandal. In SARGE, you were dealing with a recent scandal in the age of social media that involved the molestation of children. The Rose scandal took place 25 years ago. Most people 30 years old and younger have no recollection of it. If there are important elements of the scandal that you want to parallel in the play, the audience needs to be in the loop.

The events of the play take place between March 1989 and April 1990. Visually there are no clues for the audience to know how much time has passed between scenes or even what time of year it is. No calendar behind the bar. No holiday decorations come and go. One scene ends with a late night ominous phone call. The next begins with all the bar patrons coming back into the bar together. I thought several days had passed and they were returning from the bar owner’s funeral. Nope, it’s just the next day and they all just came in from saying goodbye to Pete Rose.

To be continued, if there in an interest (based on views of this part) and as time permits.

My rating: 2.5 out of 5

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August 29, 2014 · 9:55 am

THE RIVERSIDE Runs Sept. 11-27

CP_The Riverside_LOGOTHE RIVERSIDE
Presented by Clifton Players
Sept. 11-27
Clifton

Written by Kevin Crowley
Directed by Kevin Crowley with Carter Bratton

Cast: Pete Wood, Michael Shooner, Buz Davis, Christine Dye, Reggie Willis, Mike Dennis, Daniel Britt, Mindy Heithaus, Mark Bowen, MaryKate Moran, Paul Morris, Cathy Springfield and Gary McGurk

1989 was a seminal year: Tiananmen Square, the fall of the Berlin Wall and in Cincinnati, icon Pete Rose was permanently banned from the game of baseball. As the denizens of the Riverside bar in Cincinnati closely follow the Rose saga, other big changes are afoot and decisions regarding the future of this family owned bar will irrevocably change the family and its patrons.

  • Thu-Sat, Sept. 11-13 at 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 14 at 7pm
  • Thu-Sat, Sept. 18-20 at 8pm
  • Sun, Sept. 21 at 3pm
  • Mon, Sept. 22 at 8pm
  • Thu-Sat, Sept. 25-27 at 8pm

Official page |

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August 12, 2014 · 12:24 pm

CPT Announces 2014-2015 Season

CPT_seasonThe storefront Clifton Performance Theatre is quickly becoming known as a small theatre with BIG talent.  The intimate evolving stage at the CPT is home to the critically acclaimed Clifton Players and Untethered Theater. It has been a big year for CPT. Last season alone the CPT performances garnered 7 League of Cincinnati Theater Nominations and 3 honorable mentions.  Actor/writer Kevin Crowley’s play Sarge was the Critics Pick of the Fringe and the Cincinnati Fringe Festival.  A short written by Crowley and starring actors Carol Brammer and John Lawson won best film for the 48 Hour Disability Film Challenge Film Festival and has been selected for other film festivals. Clifton Players are currently in New York City performing Crowley’s original play, The Monkey’s Paw at the New York City Fringe Festival.

The 2014-2015 season opens with “The Riverside.”  It is a play by Kevin Crowley with a talented ensemble cast.

CPT MAIN STAGE SEASON

“The Riverside” written and directed by Kevin Crowley Thurs. Sept. 11  – Sat. Sept. 27, 2014

The play is set in Cincinnati in 1989.  It was a seminal year, Tiananmen Square, the fall of the Berlin Wall and in Cincinnati, icon Pete Rose was permanently banned from the game of baseball. As the denizens of the Riverside bar in Cincinnati closely follow the Rose saga, other big changes are afoot and decisions regarding the future of this family owned bar will irrevocably change the family and it’s patrons.

  • TH      11 – 8pm
  • F       12- 8pm
  • Sa     13 – 8pm
  • Su     14 – 7pm
  • TH      18 – 8pm
  • F       19 – 8pm
  • Sa     20 – 8pm
  • Su     21 – 3pm
  • M      22 – 8pm
  • TH     25 – 8pm
  • F      26 – 8pm
  • S      27 – 8pm

“All New People” by Zach Braff, directed by Jared Doren Fri. Nov. 7- Sun. Nov. 30

Charlie’s birthday first goes wrong when Emma stumbles in, disrupting his suicide attempt. Taking this as divine intervention, Emma demands that she, Milton — a firefighter with some interesting extra-curriculars — and the bubbly Kim throw Charlie a party to convince him to keep living. Throughout the course of the night, aided by flashbacks, the group learns that everyone is running from something, but in the end, life is what you make it.

  • F      7 – 8pm
  • Sa.   8 – 8pm
  • Su    9 – 7pm
  • TH   13 – 8pm
  • F      14 – 8pm
  • Sa    15 – 8pm
  • Su    16 – 3pm
  • M     17 – 8pm
  • TH   20 – 8pm
  • F      21 – 8pm
  • Sa    22 – 8pm
  • Su    23 – 3pm
  • F      28 – 8pm
  • Sa    29 – 8pm
  • Su    30 – 7pm

“August: Osage County” by Tracy Letts, directed by Buz Davis Winter 2015 dates TBA

The funeral of patriarch Beverly brings the large Weston family back to their   Oklahoman homestead. But what’s being buried is nothing compared to what’s dug up. Incendiary family secrets, generational conflict and repressed truths explode in this portrait one of the most dysfunctional families the stage has ever seen. Hilarious, taut and truthful.

“Three Days of Rain” by Richard Greenberg, directed by Leah Strasser    Fri. May 1 – Sun. May 24, 2015

How well can we ever know those around us? Even our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, are they who we think they are?

Walker, Nan and their childhood friend Pip meet for reading of their father’s will, where an unexpected bequeathment triggers a rift in their friendship. THREE DAYS OF RAIN takes us from the lives of these friends to the formative years of their parents, exposing secrets that would come to be buried under decades of expectation, estrangement, mental illness. A heartbreaking, unexpectedly romantic family story.

  • F       1 – 8pm
  • Sa     2 – 8pm
  • Su     3 – 7pm
  • TH     7 – 8pm
  • F        8 – 8pm
  • Sa      9 – 8pm
  • Su     10 – 3pm
  • M      11 – 8pm
  • TH     14 – 8pm
  • F        15 – 8pm
  • Sa      16 – 8pm
  • Su      17 – 3pm
  • TH      21 – 8pm
  • F         22 – 8pm
  • Sa       23 – 8pm
  • Su       24 – 7pm

Special Productions (not included with main stage season passes)

October

“Sarge & The Monkey’s Paw” written by Kevin Crowley Fri. Oct 10 – Sun. Oct. 19

  • F.      10 – 8pm
  • Sa     11- 8pm
  • Su     12 – 7pm
  • TH     16 – 8pm
  • F        17 – 8pm
  • Sa      18 – 8pm
  • Su      19 – 3pm

Sarge–This one-woman show was the critic’s pick in the 2014 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. David Lyman of the Cincinnati Enquirer described Christine Dye’s performance as “a solid, unflinching portrayal of a woman in a state of crisis, yet trying to hold her life together.” adding that after it’s sold out run in the festival, “I suspect that “Sarge” will be the show that people (will) still (be) talking about. It is that good.” CPT is proud to bring back this remarkable show for a very limited run.

The Monkey’s Paw is a hilarious, surreal look at parenting and marriage. Mike and Tish’s son Tommy is missing. Tish can’t leave their home until he returns and Mike can’t ever get the house clean enough. This short play has been produced in London and NY and returns to Cincinnati for a limited run, in rep, with Sarge.

January

“She’s Crazy” (Mental Health and Other Myths)” written by Sherry McCamley and Cathy Springfield original music by Sherry McCamley

Thurs. Jan. 22 – Sun. Jan. 25

  • TH       22 – 8pm
  • F          23 – 8pm
  • Sa        24 – 8pm
  • Su        25 – 3pm

A cabaret-style program exploring how our society treats the subject of mental illness, with the goal of reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues.  Using our own stories, music, and interactive media, we hope to entertain as well as inform!

Made possible by a generous grant from the Cincinnati Recreation Commission.

March

“The Irish Curse” Gala fundraiser Weekend

The Boys are back and funnier than ever in this play about a support group for men with “body” issues.  The Irish Curse is funny, and endearing.

Fri., Mar 20 and Sat 21 at 8:00pm

  • F      20 – 8pm show
  • Sa.   21 – 8pm show, band and catered party to follow

Tickets may be purchased for the entire season or individually.  You can find out more at

www.cpt.tixato.com/buy/passes

www.cliftonperformancetheatre.com

www.untetheredtheater.com

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August 6, 2014 · 2:33 pm

Untethered and Clifton Players Announce 2014-2015 Season

Announcing the 2014-2015 season from Untethered Theater and The Clifton Players


THE RIVERSIDE
September 11-27
Written & directed by Kevin Crowley

Certainly, 1989 was a seminal year: Tiananmen Square, the fall of the Berlin Wall and, in Cincinnati, icon Pete Rose was permanently banned from the game of baseball. As the denizens of the Riverside bar in Cincinnati closely follow the Rose saga, other big changes are afoot and decisions regarding the future of this family owned bar will irrevocably change the family and its patrons. Featuring Michael Shooner, Mike Dennis, Christine Dye, Buz Davis, Daniel Britt, Mindy Heithaus and many more.

ALL NEW PEOPLE
November 7-30
Written by Zach Braff, directed by Jared Doren

Charlie’s birthday first goes wrong when Emma stumbles in, disrupting his suicide attempt. Taking this as divine intervention, Emma demands that she, Milton — a firefighter with some interesting extra-curriculars — and the bubbly Kim throw Charlie a party to convince him to keep living. Throughout the course of the night, aided by flashbacks, the group learns that everyone is running from something, but in the end, life is what you make it.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Winter 2015, dates TBA
Written by Tracy Letts, directed by Buz Davis

The funeral of patriarch Beverly brings the large Weston family back to their Oklahoman homestead. But what’s being buried is nothing compared to what’s dug up. Incendiary family secrets, generational conflict and repressed truths explode in this portrait one of the most dysfunctional families the stage has ever seen. Hilarious, taut and truthful.

THREE DAYS OF RAIN
May 1-24, 2015
Written by Richard Greenberg, directed by Leah Strasser

Walker, Nan and their childhood friend Pip meet for reading of their father’s will, where an unexpected bequeathment triggers a rift in their friendship. Three Days of Rain takes us from the lives of these friends to the formative years of their parents, exposing secrets that would come to be buried under decades of expectation, estrangement, mental illness. A heartbreaking, unexpectedly romantic family story.

Special Productions*
But there’s more! In addition to our mainstage shows, we’re bringing you special productions and encores of Fringe Festival shows!

SARGE and THE MONKEY’S PAW
Oct 10-19

SARGE was the critic’s pick in the 2014 Cincinnati Fringe Festival, hailed as “a solid, unflinching portrayal of a woman in a state of crisis, yet trying to hold her life together.”

THE MONKEY’S PAW is a hilarious, surreal look at parenting and marriage. Mike and Tish’s son is missing. Tish can’t leave home until he returns and Mike can’t ever get the house clean enough. This play has been produced in London and NY and will have a limited run with
Sarge. Both are written by Kevin Crowley.

SHE’S CRAZY (MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER MYTHS)
January 22-25

This cabaret-style piece explores how our society approaches mental illness, with the goal of reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Features music by Sherry McCamley, stories and interactive media.Written by Cathy Springfield and Sherry McCamley.

THE IRISH CURSE Gala Weekend
March 20-21
This audience and critic favorite returns for one weekend! THE IRISH CURSE chronicles five Irish-American men who meet in a Catholic Church basement at a self-help group for men with small penises, i.e, “The Irish Curse.” March 21st features a band and catered party after the show!

*Season passes cannot be used for special productions 

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