The tangy DC streets or a soulful bowl of NOLA. From Gumbo to Mumbo celebrates each from its first notes—for what writers and performers Drew Anderson and Dwayne Lawson-Brown do is something just shy of sing. This show is about their roots and life routes. Which, predictably, also include a lot of pain. From being […]
Review: The illusions we build for ourselves. Round House Theatre’s Homebound, Part 9, “Refuge”
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 […]
Review: Where are we headed? Round House Theatre’s Homebound, Part 8, “Community”
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 […]
Review: Could this be love? Round House Theatre’s Homebound, Part 7, “The Date”
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 […]
Review: On Prince, protests and the pandemic: Round House Theatre’s Homebound, Part 6 “Sometimes It Snows in April”
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 […]
Review: Pandemic life in 10 parts: Round House Theatre’s Homebound, Part 5 “Double Entendre”
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 […]
Review: Pandemic life in 10 parts: Round House Theatre’s Homebound, Part 4 “Together Alone”
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 […]
Review: Pandemic life in 10 parts: Round House Theatre’s Homebound, Part 3 “We Wear the Mask”
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 […]
Review: Pandemic life in 10 parts: Round House Theatre’s Homebound, Part 2.
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. […]
Review: Round House Theatre’s Homebound: Episode One, “Connect!”
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 […]
DCTS writer, an admitted introvert, debuts with Story District’s virtual “Acting the Fool”
After years of writing reviews for DCTS, I’m writing my first preview! The world is changing, and I’m rolling with the punches. And, it’s not for a musical or play, but for Story District—whose “True stories told live!” format is a kindred spirit to theatre. For those of you unfamiliar with Story District, it’s a local […]
Adult Fan Fiction World Championships from Flying V. Here’s what you missed.
For a brilliantly good time, call Flying V, who notched up the fun last Friday with The Adult Fan Fiction World Championships. So why are you reading about it here? Because this is a theatre site, and Flying V is a theatre group that produces way more than staged plays, so what the what? Well, […]
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