Results tagged “hansaltwies”

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.

Conor McPherson's redeeming characteristic is their balls-to-the-walls alcoholism. And redemption is precisely what they need, seeing as how the Devil himself has come to collect his due, which merely adds another layer of contradiction, as McPherson's also a non-believer.

    

There's a rotting foot at the heart of The Cure at Troy (through May 3 at the Rep, tickets: $10-$59); you can almost hear Philoctetes's leg oozing as he walks. The stench is described well enough to draw flies to the theatre. And when he loses his mind with pain, screaming about his wound cracking open, blood everywhere, you'd really like to be elsewhere, and maybe less nauseous.

Thurs - Sun, through April 8

It's a sad thing, but even narcissists die. They don't like to admit it, but they do. When other people die on them, it's almost worse, losing their attention.

Romeo and Juliet is one of those tales everybody knows, whether or not they've read it, seen it performed live, or watched one of the many film adaptations. So Seattlest kinda knew what to expect when we descended deep into the bowels of Center House for the play's opening night performance by the Seattle Shakespeare Company. We got the standard star-crossed lovers stuff, but director John Langs included a few modern updates, some of which we liked, and some...not so much.