Voices of a Silent Stage After an absurd week, Cal Poly Humboldt’s production of Voices of a Silent Stage is food for a tired soul. The dichotomy of the entire piece creates the perfect balance of levity and depth, joy and mourning. It is a show where empty space feels full, so much is said […]
Tiggerbouncer Custodio
Posted inArts + Scene
NCRT’s Sweeney Todd Stays Sharp
Sometimes the uncanny ability that live theater has to evoke jouissance is more a product of the audience than the production. On the night I attended North Coast Repertory Theatre’s Sweeney Todd at the 5th and D Street Theatre, people clutching flowers waiting to reward months of their friend’s commitment to the show, new-to-theater locals […]
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Blithe Spirit‘s Cast Brings the Comedy to Life
Conflicting production designs are not enough to hinder interesting directorial choices and strong acting in Ferndale Repertory Theatre’s new production of Noel Coward’s classic Blithe Spirit. Originally a British farce in three acts, director Merrick D. Yra removes an act, relocates the show to America, mutes the setting to gray and sepia tones, and plays […]
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Raised Stakes at The Prom
As giggling teens heckled, “You’re GAY. We’re all GAY,” from an open second-story window, echoing off the buildings of downtown Ferndale, and an unfortunate side street detour led us to a church marquee reading, “Ferndale Reps The Prom is Anti Christ and Pro LGBTQ,” the importance of playing stakes in theater productions was solidified. Stakes […]
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A New Brain‘s Snappy Synapses
Director, actor, choreographer and wicked talent Alex Blouin let the new Redwood Curtain production of A New Brain marinate for years. Her persistence and ambition in getting this charming musical produced by Redwood Curtain Theatre finally comes to fruition in a spectacular way at 5th and D Street Theater. With star-studded local theater familiars, beautiful stage […]
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Albee at the EXIT
I have never liked Edward Albee’s The American Dream, not as a part of my script analysis classes, nor in the multiple productions that I’ve seen performed. I find it to be shrouded with intellectual commentary and unfollowable simile that leaves the audience wondering what the hell is actually happening. Yet, I am still drawn […]
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First Rate Twelfth Night
The sight of someone smoking a cigarette in costume is shocking to those of us who have been conditioned by every stage manager — some even threatening our lives should we disobey. My shock faded when I found out the man I saw outside the theater was not an actor, but 5th and D Street Theater’s […]
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Second Acts
The journey to try to find the Exit Theatre (890 G St., Arcata) is guided by a mischievous Google Maps and skeptical townspeople convinced we bought tickets online to a San Francisco theater by mistake. But Arcata’s newest theater venue exists, marked by a lone banner adorning the wall of the G Street side of […]
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Peter and the Starcatcher Shines at FRT
I wish more than a handful of people could have seen Jessie Gelormino as one of the best Cosettes I’ve had the pleasure to witness in Les Misérables. Her performance was inspiring, professional and sweet, but only performed in a rehearsal for understudies (as she was) to practice main roles should an actor not be able to […]
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The Life of Galileo in Epic Style
If one were to stage a Brechtian version of Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks would look directly into the camera and relinquish any evidence of his character to deliver the line, “Life is like a box of chocolates ….” There would be montages, live versions of the movie’s soundtrack and images of Trump with audio overlay […]
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Lysistrata‘s Raucous, Raunchy Rebellion at NCRT
It’s opening night of North Coast Repertory Theatre’s sex comedy Lysistrata. The excitement is palpable with bouquets in the hands of proud parents eager to support their kids, actors’ friends bursting with energy and support, not to mention the judging and roaming eyes of critics stashing observances for later. This raucous show dripping with penis […]
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The Timing’s the Thing
Timing and rhythm can turn a 90-minute masterpiece into a 120-minute dental experience. They make comedy gut-busting or obligatorily chuckling. They set up style, and era, and can even relate to culture. The context of what an audience experiences in a given day — the death of a political figure, the birthday of rock star, […]