Intrigued by the cultural and racial issues in several productions in this year’s Contemporary American Theater Festival, I found my way back to Shepherdstown, WV for a thought provoking weekend of theatre. Although the notoriously good though uncomfortable and unsettling Race by David Mamet is sold out, Insurgents could be worth a final weekend trip […]
Opening weekend at the Contemporary American Theater Festival
Traveling to Shepherdstown, WV to cover the Contemporary American Theater Festival is the most sought-after assignment among DCTS writers.
Ages of the Moon
Sometimes, you are in one of those Peggy Lee “Is That All There Is?” states of mind and then you see a play that reminds you why you still go to the theater.
Race
You gotta wonder what women did to David Mamet to deserve such misogynist treatment in the play Oleanna and now with Race. Playwright Edward Albee has addressed his thorny relationship with his mother in many of his works with elegance, wit and sophistication, while conversely Mr. Mamet is ham-fisted in his obvious hatred of the female […]
We Are Here
How does an enviably perfect, fortunate family cope with senseless tragedy? The Nash clan takes a rather curious route — song.
From Prague
Although seemingly a tortured treatise on reconciling faith and forgiveness, From Prague by Kyle Bradstreet actually comes off more as a travelogue about the charms of Czechoslovakia.
CATF Coverage
Contemporary American Theater Festival July 8 – August 2 Only 90 minutes from Washington, in charming Shepherdstown, WV, a festival is going on which presents five new plays in rep – you can see them all in two days, as we will
The Overwhelming
The Overwhelming By J.T. Rogers Produced at the Contemporary American Theater Festival Directed by Ed Herendeen Reviewed by Tim Treanor “When, in the history of the world,” the cynical American bureaucrat Woolsey (Michael Goodwin) asks Professor Exley, (Lee Sellars), new to Rwanda, “has there been a country with a foreign policy based on ‘It’s the […]
A View of the Harbor
A View of the Harbor By Richard Dresser Directed by Charles Towers Produced by the Contemporary American Theater Festival Reviewed by Tim Treanor “The rich are different from you and me,” F. Scott Fitzgerald once told Ernest Hemingway. “Yes,” Hemingway growled back. “They have more money.”
Stick Fly
Stick Fly By Lydia R. Diamond Directed by Liesl Tommy Produced at the Contemporary American Theater Festival Reviewed by Tim Treanor Atop a stack of books in the summer home living room of the übersuccessful Levay family is The Audacity of Hope by Sen. Barak Obama (D. Ill.) The choice is significant:
Wrecks
Wrecks By Neil LaBute Directed by Ed Herendeen Produced by the Contemporary American Theater Festival Reviewed by Tim Treanor Edward Carr (Kurt Zische) is a Chicago businessman who has lost his wife. Wrecks is Carr’s preparation for the eulogy he will utter for his beloved Mary Jo, who rests in the featureless wooden casket behind him.
Pig Farm
Pig Farm By Greg Kotis Directed by Ed Herendeen Produced at the Contemporary American Theater Festival Reviewed by Tim Treanor Ultimately, I guess, this is a comedy. I can tell from the death scene. Pig Farm, though, looks for all the world like a modern Steinbeck story.
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