This strangely titled play sets the atmosphere and eerie mood of post Salem Witch trials, set in 1702 and recalling the year ’92 when hysteria about the pervasive power of Satan was the rage, at least in Salem, Massachusetts with its infamous trials and executions.
Heartless by Sam Shepherd
Heartless, in many ways, is vintage Sam Shepard—a surreal, cubist kind of family drama with enigmatic characters, nods to iconic imagery and dialogue studded with non sequiturs that take the play into the realm of black comedy.
Gidion’s Knot at CATF
“This is the saddest play I’ve ever seen in my life,” a friend opined in the lobby of Shepherd University’s Frank Center. He is a theater professional, and has seen a lot of plays. But Gidion’s Knot, Johnna Adams’ stunning new play having its world premiere at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, is as sad […]
Barcelona at CATF
This year’s Contemporary American Theater Festival features two terrific world premieres, and when you go, you should make a point of sinking your teeth into each of them. Let us sink out teeth, now, into Barcelona.
Captors at CATF
The problem with history plays is one of time. In theatrical time, the greatest of problems are resolved in a hundred and fifty minutes or less. Across that tiny stretch of time we have conflict, rising acting, falling action, climax, catharsis, and all the other things Aristotle noted that we demand from our drama.
The Exceptionals at CATF
Attention, all ye parents of young children now pouring sweatily over your five-year-old child’s application to the day care center which will most help her get into the private school which will most help her get into the prep school which will most help her get into Harvard: Bob Clyman has your number.
In a Forest, Dark and Deep at CATF
In a forest dark and deep, lightning sunders nature’s sleep. The cabin lights flicker, and then go out – “why, it’s about us!” the audience doth shout. Could playwright Neil LaBute, whose plots are puzzlebook perfection, have written about us on the fly, in our heated lightless malefection?
The Insurgents
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 […]
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.
The Eelwax Jesus 3-D Pop Music Show
“Hey, Mr. Reviewer,” the elegantly-dressed woman in the row behind me shouts. I had explained why I was sitting in the press section to her, and was beginning to regret it. “When’s the show going to start?”