Comments on: Stunning

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:58:43 +0000

this play has been picked up by lincoln center!! huge coup for wooly and congrat to the artists involved!

By: Mary LOu Falkenstein

Mary LOu Falkenstein — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:59:21 +0000

“The Girls”, mygranddaughter age 16,my daughter age 48 and I age 80 recently were in DC for spring break from COlorado. We saw “Stunning” one night and were impressed. We talked about it over and over. The sets, music, pace were great. The actors were impressive. So, we didn’t find out every detail of their past – I think I got a good picture of who they were.How could all of that be included? I think it would be boring and not necessary. We found it very funny and very sad.

By: Wylie

Wylie — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:50:38 +0000

Saw the final show last night. the audience was on its feet. This is the finest show i have seen at the woolly mammoth. Period. Tore my heart out. Spoke to one of the actors after the show who said there is serious talk of it moving to New York.

By: Anonamiss

Anonamiss — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:18:09 +0000

Saw it last night and loved it. The characters begin as caricatures, but even as broad stereotypes they are interesting. And every single one develops.

The plot is not Crash or Magnolia or one of these cheesy story lines where everything is neatly woven together in the end. There are a lot of unanswered questions. It left me turning scenes over in my head again and again and trying to make sense of what had happened. I like when something provokes questions.

By: John B

John B — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:38:12 +0000

O MAN O MAN SLIP SLAP JEHOVAH FAT

By: Sage F.

Sage F. — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:09:57 +0000

It seemed pretty clear to me that Rich (Rick??) was Blanche’s stepfather who abused her pretty bad — this was made mention of in the play several times. We don’t know what Blanche went to jail for – it was never made clear. I think the author left some of the details purposefully unclear, because it isn’t really important what Blanche did; it doesn’t affect the basic story that this person has been through hell, and is trying to reinvent her life but can’t do it anymore. Her history is too screwed up to fix or change (my favorite line in the play “history repeats like a bad case of reflux”).

I caught the play last Sunday night and it is one of the best things I have seen in DC, and I’ve lived here for six years. May not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I found it scary and hilarious and brilliant.

By: Paula Y. Bickham

Paula Y. Bickham — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:48:28 +0000

I would recommend others go see “Stunning.” Parts were funny, serious, and sad. There was nothing “edgy” or “provocative” or any of those other blah, blah descriptions. Stunning it wasn’t, but it was some good drama with a little history, interspersed with typical human nastiness. Miss Bernstine did a good take on the “Blanche” intellectual funny lady-deep lady-tormented lady. Miss Heisler did some good teenage babble, and made it annoying, as most teenage babble is. And yet I could feel her sense of having been betrayed as she “grew up.” I could see her eyes well up with pain. I felt sorry for the girl. Mr Goodfriend’s “Ike” went from comical antics in trying to be street hip when talking to Blanche, and yelling “Step away from the bowl!” to menacing yelling at everybody, to baffling himself after his physical row with Blanche. However, either I missed some things, or the author didn’t connect the dots. For example, Blanche was in jail? For what? Fraud? Blanche tells Lily she got most of the money back (eight grand). Back from whom? Some unsavory person in her past? Blanche is confronted by Ike who accuses her of never completing high school. What was Blanche up to all this time? Doing time? Conning? Ike accuses Blanche of causing him to lose his job. She replies she has only been to his office once. For what? What was Blanche’s connection to “Rick?” Rick was obviously dodgy, but we don’t know any more than that,or her connection to him.

The sound and lighting design for “Stunning”? Now THAT was stunning!

By: patty

patty — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:44:15 +0000

What I love about this play is how much it stirs up people’s emotions…no one seems to be indifferent to it. Isn’t that what great art does? I saw the play last night and CAN NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT.

In terms of the credentials of the reviewer: come on people, it is an internet site, not the New York Times!!! Anyone can start a website like this. Is it a poorly written review? Yes. But what do you expect?

By: don r.

don r. — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:53:39 +0000

the review was very kind. five minutes into the play the author had no idea where it was going. the only thing demonstrated was the author’s hostility to the subject.

By: Kathleen A.

Kathleen A. — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:25:28 +0000

Well, OK, I question her review because:
1. it originally contained an incredibly inappropriate comment calling an actor “eye candy” and lumping that praise of him in with the general laud for the acting. That got cut early on, which clouds our debate a bit (not knowing who cut it), but to me it undercuts her credibility.
2. the criticism about not getting enough backstory and (apparently) finding subsequent conflicts and plot points ineffective is a shaky criticism at best (Harold Pinter gives the lie to it being a statement of theatrical fact) and for me a particularly suspect one coming from a playwright. If I wrote a review of someone else’s direction I would consider myself subject to a higher standard of objectivity even than the norm to make sure that I wasn’t falling into a “how I would have done it.” I suppose this might be why the critics don’t work in theatrical production.
Much as we would enjoy that! [grin]

By: Sanford Eisner

Sanford Eisner — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:26:01 +0000

It seems this is one case where this reviewer misses the mark about the play. I saw the play last week and was pretty dazzled. So were most other crtics. I guess it is all subjective, but I can’t say I am terribly impressed by the quality of the writing of this review, however. As for arguing with Ms. Jones, there is little point to that as she speaks in muddy generalities, or as another respondant put it ‘cooking metaphors’. Just my honest opinion. In an event, this is an important new play by an important young American playwright; that seems clear.

By: John B

John B — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:01:41 +0000

OOOOOOO SLAM slippidy Shim shap sizzle

By: lorraine

lorraine — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:24:34 +0000

‘More Voices. More Choices’ is more than a slogan to me. It is my opinion that DCTS is doing a service to our readers when we ask people to give their perspective on a piece of work.

It is one thing to disagree with the opinions of the reviewer. We encourage that from anyone who has actually seen the play. Shared opinions lend themselves to a helpful dialogue.

But that isn’t what we have here. Instead we have had a litany of guesses – bad ones at that – about the integrity of the reviewer and her writing credentials.

Joy Jones is a respected author. Her plays have been produced. Her books have been published. Her writing ability is above question. We have been pleased to have her as a guest reviewer.

If you have seen Stunning, and agree or disagree with her conclusions, let’s discuss.

Lorraine Treanor, Editor

By: Tonto Silverstein

Tonto Silverstein — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:39:20 +0000

In seach of tonto GOLDSTEIN?!?! WTF? Why are you reviewing plays?

By: Unica319

Unica319 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:23:26 +0000

Seems to me reviewers oftimes provide unflattering reviews because controversy sells much more than glowing accolades. Thus explains the reason for the harsh nature of this review. I just hope the venom you use to describe your colleage’s (Mr. Adjmi) work hasn’t spilled over into your personal life. Otherwise, I feel more sorry for you than I did for Blanche. Ciao.

By: gollygee

gollygee — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:49:53 +0000

So, um…. Go watch lifetime or a friends re-run. Do u even like theater? Or maybe you’re a failed actress. Cause u sure are bitter.

By: John B

John B — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:10:34 +0000

OOOOOO Snipidy Snap!

By: Sandra Phalon

Sandra Phalon — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:14:46 +0000

Wow, you are really into cooking metaphors.

Maybe in your next review you might serve up a dish that is a little less overcooked and a little better written/thought out?