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REVIEW: A profound portrait of discovery and overcoming in Arts Emerson and Front Porch Arts Collective’s ‘In Old Age’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

 “I’m living big inside the right now.” Abasiama enthusiastically exclaims.

Abasiama has come a long way in the seven plays so far in the UFOT Family Cycle and we have now arrived at the penultimate production, In Old Age.  As with each of the previous productions, it is never without its surprises.

Profoundly directed by Dawn M. Simmons, Arts Emerson continues Front Porch Arts Collective’s world premiere of Mfoniso Udofia‘s In Old Age, the eighth production in the Ufot’s  nine-play family cycle which explores three Ufot Nigerian-American family generations, live and in person at Emerson Paramount Center in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, June 28.  This groundbreaking two hander bilingual and family friendly production in English and Ibibio runs 1 hour and 45 minutes with no intermission.  Having seen Ufot’s second production The Grove, the fourth production of Her Portmanteau, and the fifth production of Kufre and Quay, it was wonderful to see the progression in the Ufot Family, but you can witness and enjoy one without having seen the others.   Click here for more information and for tickets.

Abasiama (Ebony Marshall-Oliver) in the Front Porch Arts Collective’s production of IN OLD AGE. PHOTO by Nile Scott Studio

Ever wise and humorous, Ebony Marshall-Oliver is lovely as Abasiama Bassey who has now found herself a widow.  Her husband passes away prior to the events of In Old Age and proclaims, “She has no man and she needs no man.”  However, Abasiama is flabbergasted to learn that her daughter hires Marvin Bell as Azell Abernathy to renovate the family home as a surprise.  Toyoima encourages Abasiama to let Azell know how he can help, but that proves to be more complicated than it seems.

Marvin Bell as Azell Abernathy in the Front Porch Arts Collective production of IN OLD AGE. PHOTO Nile Scott Studios

Infused with a UFot personal touch, scenic designer Jeffrey Peterson emphasizes roots and foundation in Abasiama’s longtime family home in Worcester, Massachusetts.  Boasting an impressive towering wood frame and brick backdrop, this house is set on foundational brick blocks featuring remnants of past productions including a gold grandfather clock and an old wood burning stove.  Costumer Chloe Moore creates a variety of ensembles for Marshall-Oliver and Bell that reflect each of their distinct personalities and how radiantly their style changes as the production progresses.  Sound designer Arshan Gailus with lighting designer Eduardo Ramirez reflect a fluctuating peacefulness and sudden intensity through a variety of spontaneous instances over the course of a few days.

Marshall-Oliver as Abasiama Bassey and Bell as Azell Abernathy are quite a captivating pair to watch through their heated and humorous exchanges and candor and the way they observe each other.  In a plaid flannel shirt and work boots, Bell is a natural as seemingly charming, practical and enthusiastic chatterbox Azell while Marshall-Oliver is deeply relatable and endearing as a reserved and anxious widow who is coming into her own while attempting to overcome her insecurities and put aside her urge to remain set in her ways.  “What is outside should never enter inside” and “It is like everything has its own kind of beauty” is just a couple of the pearls of generational wisdom and observances reflected by Abasiama. 

Ebony Marshall-Oliver as Abasiama in the Front Porch Arts Collective production of IN OLD AGE.

Like in other UFot productions, In Old Age contains surprising and welcome elements of the spiritual and supernatural ingrained into this insightful and moving tale.  Though both characters have both lived through remarkable stories, In Old Age shows there is still so much more to tell.

Ebony Marshall-Oliver as Abasiama in the Front Porch Arts Collective production of IN OLD AGE. PHOTO Nile Scott Studios

Profoundly directed by Dawn M. Simmons, Arts Emerson continues Front Porch Arts Collective’s world premiere of Mfoniso Udofia‘s In Old Age, the eighth production in the Ufot’s  nine-play family cycle which explores three Ufot Nigerian-American family generations, live and in person at Emerson Paramount Center in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, June 28.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Actors’ Shakespeare Project and Theater Offensive stage bold classic ‘As You Like it’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

The name says so much.  Directed zealously by Harold Steward, Shakespeare’s As You like It is wide open to interpretation and Actors’ Shakespeare Project and the Theater Offensive take full advantage of Shakespeare’s broad title and sentiment with their production of As You Like It continuing live and in person at Tufts University’s Balch Arena Theatre in Medford, MA through June 25. The show has some mature themes. Click here for more information and tickets which includes pay what you can seats.

Mishka Yarovoy and Fady Demian in Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s As You Like It (2023). Photo by Nile Scott Studios.

As You Like It has a modern spirit in its colorful and unique two story setting by Ben Lieberson of pastel hued Arden complete with textured trees.  Greatly considered a musical comedy, Harold Steward navigates its contemporary sound design filled with club and classic love songs as well as rich harmony such as Blow, Blow, thou winter wind sung live in the forest.  Even love struck Mishka Yarovoy as Orlando hums a classic Annie Lennox tune and a shimmering chime can be heard between scenes.   Steward’s dynamic costumes have a certain edge and whimsy, but the play itself is traditional Shakespeare in its text and Balch’s beautiful and traditional Shakespeare staging in the round is framed in alternating neon pinks, greens and blues by Amanda E. Fallon.

Gabriel Graetz, Bobbie Steinbach, and Lindsay Eagle in Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s As You Like It (2023). Photo by Nile Scott Studios.

As the story goes, As You Like it focuses on family rivalry as well as forbidden love and the lengths in which one must go in the name of it.  As one who has depicted Shakespeare’s Henry V onstage, As You Like It features swapped gender roles popular in many of Shakespeare’s productions.  Bobbie Steinbach delivers a standout performance as Jaques who declares the classic monologue, ‘All the World’s A Stage’ with depth and contemplation as only a sage storyteller can.  Steinbach has charisma, stature and is a bit of a scene stealer expressing all of Jacques’ melancholy and musings.  Fady Demian in one of three roles is memorable as old shepherd Corin as he delivers some zingers petering around Arden.  Lindsay Eagle delights as the ruthless Charles and the infatuated Phoebe as Nathan Malin’ s poor shepherd Silvius, in hopeless love with Phoebe, gazes on.  Malin and Eagle have quite a few awkwardly amusing moments, but Malin’s sheer enthusiasm, goofy charm, and sharp comic timing bring lighthearted cheer to the production, breaking any tense moment.

Nathan Malin and Lindsay Eagle in Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s As You Like It (2023). Photo by Nile Scott Studios.

Mishka Yarovou portrays reserved, shy, and unassuming Orlando who falls for the absolutely glowing Rosalind, portrayed by Genevieve Simon.  Simon shares a playful and exuberant chemistry and equally charming is the camaraderie and love between Simon and Regine Vital as Rosalind’s witty and beautiful cousin Celia.  They are inseparable and Vitale shines as Celia who spends much of the production a spectator of love.  Vitale’s reactions throughout the show are relatable, humorous, and express much of what the audience is thinking.

Regine Vital and Genevieve Simon in Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s As You Like It (2023). Photo by Nile Scott Studios.

Love games, familial love, love notes, love in disguise, love triangles, love lessons, love schemes, fool’s love, silliness, unpredictable matches, ideas on wives versus maids, and many other amusing high jinx dwell in the Forest of Arden lit by a series of multicolored lamps.  Much of Shakespeare’s wisdom is entwined about love and life, but personal favorites include that love is to be made up of sighs and tears as well as all adoration, duty, and observance.  While Shakespeare explores idealistic and romantic love, it also examines the solid foundation of true love, one full of duty and grace which cannot easily be broken.

Genevieve Simon and Mishka Yarovoy in Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s As You Like It (2023). Photo by Nile Scott Studios.

Actors’ Shakespeare Project and the Theater Offensive take full advantage of Shakespeare’s broad title and sentiment with their production of As You Like It continuing live and in person at Tufts University’s Balch Arena Theatre in Medford, MA through June 25. The show has some mature themes. Click here for more information and tickets which includes pay what you can seats.