Not even four inches of snow or a low temperature of 28 degrees in Philadelphia can deter the determination of 65 theater critics during their five-day convention. Besides parliamentary procedures, five new plays were reviewed by members of the American Theatre Critics Association.
Two Trains Running features an all-black cast relating woes and successes in the early 1960s. Action is in a local restaurant. While it is clear that all the patrons are subjugated in one form or another, no one takes a firm stance on surmounting them.
An Octoroon takes place in the ante-bellum South. An expansive stage and large cast recreate lives of the slaves. The octoroon is a fair-skinned lass with one drop of black blood along with seven drops of white blood—she is still considered a negro. A melodrama ensues with the octoroon going “on the block” to be sold.
He Who Gets Slapped is produced in conjunction with a local circus school. The lead is a wealthy man who tries to escape his purposeless life by joining the circus as a clown whose only shtick is to be slapped. He becomes a sensation. With tumbling, clowning, juggling and a good story line, this is the best of the five shows.
The Nether is a sci-fi experience that ventures into a virtual life where personal dreams are fulfilled. Toss in an avatar or two and you have an interesting premise. The pedophile slant turned me off, but this play fulfills its mission of stirring things up. Thumbs down!
Sex With Strangers finds a successful author, Ethan, snowbound with an older woman, Olivia, who is on the threshold of writing some good works herself. “Sex with Strangers” is a ledger of Ethan’s escapades where he sleeps with a different woman for 52 consecutive weeks…a best seller. While they bed together well, they literally cannot tie their two literary careers together. The actor playing Ethan is too young for this part.
Coming up next is “Once Upon a Mattress” now playing at the Bay Street Theater in Eustis.
Jack Petro reviews theater for Villages-News.com.
