Homebound’s episode nine “Refuge” begins with poetry. And dance—the hazy figure of a woman in her living room moving to the sound of her own voice as the camera cuts to Maboud pulling an old poem, titled the “The Convergence of Sweet Things,” from a box and reading. With subtle joy. “Because, perhaps, this thing […]

Craig (Craig Wallace) has found his feet in this week’s episode, “Community,” by Agyeiwaa Asante. He’s been able to run 2.23 miles to honor Ahmaud Arbery, and now he can’t stop running. And, while he’s pounding the pavement in a very purple t-shirt (Prince, always close to his heart), Chinna, his glorious niece, is pounding […]

If any of Homebound’s episodes have been pure joy, it is episode 7, “The Date,” written by Dani Stoller, who finally finds Maboud (Maboud Ebrahimzadeh) a match in the charming pixie-ish Lynette (Lynette Rathnam, who is delightful). A match that melts his reserved, halting, and oft-nervous demeanor. How can he move to Minneapolis now (assuming Lynette […]

Sometimes it snows in April Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad Sometimes I wish life was never ending And all good things, they say, never last  Prince wrote that in 1985 on the song “Sometimes It Snows in April” for his 1986 studio album Parade. Never released as a single, it drifted into obscurity. Until […]

Homebound’s episode 5 finds us once again with Craig (Craig Wallace), who has become somewhat of an avuncular safe haven for the various souls of Homebound. It’s easy to understand why: his kind eyes and smooth voice, which waxes both authoritative and understanding, and willingness to listen without judgment. “Double Entendre,” written by Psalmayene 24, introduces […]

Homebound’s episode 4 shifts back to Maboud (Maboud Ebrahimzadeh), who’s hanging in his sweat pants, rocking a Smashing Pumpkins T-shirt (long live Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness), desperately trying to file for unemployment. He’s no longer doing temperature checks, but the madness of a truly isolated and directionless life is taking its toll. “Together […]

Here is the episode that elevates Homebound, taking us out of this moment for 11 minutes virtually to show us how this moment fits into life’s larger narratives. It also takes us beyond Zoom, expanding technically, which opens the series up artistically as well. “We Wear the Mask,” written by Farah Lawal Harris, focuses on Craig, the comical potato who […]

If Alexandra Petri’s “Connect!” – which opened Round House Theatre’s weekly web series Homebound – was a prologue, then Karen Zacarías’  “Human Resource” offers some rising action, ratcheting the series way up with sweet notes and a laughable setup for next week’s show that makes me ready to come back for more. Warning: Spoilers ahead. […]

The first episode of Round House Theatre’s new weekly webseries Homebound is a quick, slick, fluid slice of life in the pandemic. The opening sequence—a close-up of hand washing as if it’s an extreme sport followed by the required forehead temperature check—encapsulates the reality of America these last six-ish weeks. Then, flashes of the quarantine […]