Red Herring

This is a play about secrets. Big secrets. O.K., I can say this much - playwright Michael Hollinger (Opus)? He’s the real deal. And director Jessica Lefkow (Honey Brown Eyes)? She’s the real deal, too. And this company, 1^st Stage? They are the real deal, for real. For shizzle, baby. Read more

Pig Farm

Pig Farm
By Greg Kotis
Directed by Mark Kirkstan
Produced by 1^st Stage
Reviewed by Tim Treanor

When Pig Farm showed at the Contemporary American Theater Festival last year, you couldn’t tell that it was a comedy until people started getting killed. Not so for 1^st Stage’s riotous staging of the latest from the creator of Urinetown. 1^st Stage hits the laugh lines early and hard, and by the time the blood is shed - or, rather, spurted - we’re all in on the joke. Read more

The Violet Hour

The Violet Hour
By Richard Greenberg
Directed by Mark Krikstan
Produced by 1^st Stage
Reviewed by Tim Treanor

I want to talk to you about something very serious. But because you have engaged me here to review theater, and not to discuss cultural problems generally, I must save these remarks until later, and first tell you about what I have just seen. What I have just seen is very good - a sizzling, thoughtful, provocative drama by the prolific author of Bal Masque. Read more

The Suicide

The Suicide
by Nicolai Erdman, translated and adapted by John Freedman
produced by 1st Stage
directed by Mark Krikstan
reviewed by Tim Treanor

Pity poor Semyón Semyónovich (Lucas Beck). He lives in a glorious worker’s republic, and yet he has no job! His most recent scheme - to win untold riches, and to thus be able to drink all the eggnog he wants, by becoming a world-class tuba player - has fallen apart. In deepest despair, he acquries a gun and contemplates bringing it all to an end. And then his troubles begin. Read more

A New Professional Theatre Comes to McLean

by Lorraine Treanor

1st Stage, a new professional theatre company has debuted in the Spring Hill/Tysons area and in its own brand new theatre space. Had they consulted economists, the 1st Stage group of friends might not have proceeded with plans to take on the responsibility of building a new theater space in a climate of economic downturn. Read more