Results tagged “allisonnarver”

Orange Flower Water (at ACT Theatre through July 20; tix $25) is the second play by hot local theatre group New Century Theatre Company (the first was last December's much-lauded The Adding Machine). With two shows under their belts, a pattern is emerging: For the second time, the company has worked wonders with an inherently weak script, on the strength of innovative design and powerhouse performances. There is a glaring difference, though. Whereas Elmer Rice's 1929 play aimed for the moon by tackling a host of complex issues, Craig Wright's Orange Flower Water aims far lower and still comes up wanting, and, in fact, manages to be offensive in the process. We can wholeheartedly recommend this production for showcasing four extremely talented actors, but the choice of play is extremely disappointing.

We were really looking forward to seeing Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice (at ACT through October 5, tickets $10-$55). Ruhl's a Pulitzer prize finalist and a MacArthur "genius" grant winner, and we've long been fascinated by the Greek tale of not counting your dead chicks before they're hatched. Maybe we'd love it; maybe we'd hate it. We didn't expect boredom. But that's what we got.

Yes, a real pie is baked onstage during the performance. We'd call it a gimmick, but the theatre was crammed with moms and daughters for whom pie-making, apparently, inspired the same kind of emotion as going for it on 4th and 2 with 1:12 left to play. The flour-sifting, butter-chopping, dough-rolling, and pan-trimming met with hoots, gasps, sighs, and chuckles.