one act

REVIEW: Kevin T. Durfee’s ‘Scenes of (Dis)Connections’ at NYC’s The Chain Theatre One Act Winter Festival

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Oh, what might have been….

Don’t let the upbeat opening music fool you.  This is one intense table.

Three individuals arrive at a poker game.  One individual is earnestly present in spite of her current circumstances and two cannot escape their immediate pressures and distractions even though they all share a common goal – to be present together. 

Mary McCarthy, Griffin Garnett and Hannah Wu in Kevin T. Durfee’s ‘Scenes of (Dis)connections’ Photo by Shannon Adams Creative

Written and directed thoughtfully by Kevin T. Durfee, Chain Theatre presented Scenes of (Dis) Connections as part of Chain Theatre’s One Act Winter Festival #27 which took place virtually and in person at Chain Theatre in New York City.  Due to a blizzard, this program had to be delayed a week.  Click here for more information about the production and here for more information about Chain Theatre, which presents over 90 one act productions during its annual winter festival.

Mary McCarthy in Kevin T. Durfee’s ‘Scenes of (Dis)connections’ Photo by Shannon Adams Creative

A small, floral covered table should bring friends together, but they cannot help but misunderstand each other.  In their own way, they all secretly plead for help, but cannot be heard.  Durfee uses communication breakdown in a clever way to depict each individual’s perspective through Mary McCarthy as struggling mother One, Griffin Garnett portrays struggling worker Another, and Hannah Wu depicts unemployed Alternative.  Athleisure, a business suit, and casually dressed respectively fittingly reflect their distinctive life perspectives.   They all aptly underline their distress as they long for the comfort of each other’s company, but cannot escape their various individual pressures.  

Griffin Garnett in Kevin T. Durfee’s ‘Scenes of (Dis)connections’ Photo by Shannon Adams Creative

Confiding and connecting are so important.  Durfee was inspired to write this work through his own experiences meeting up with friends and everyone is so engulfed in their current circumstances, they catch up, but may lack genuine connection.  Durfee uses potentially life altering circumstances, but lack of connection is so easy to do in friendship or in any relationship, especially when even the lure of a cell phone is enough of a distraction from making a genuine human connection.  Listening, connection and confiding can lighten anyone’s struggles even when things happen.   

Hannah Wu in Kevin T. Durfee’s ‘Scenes of (Dis)connections’ Photo by Shannon Adams Creative

Scenes of (Dis) Connections provide just a snapshot of a friendship without a background story, but could be the foundation of a larger narrative.  In its brief time, it begs a few questions about these three interesting characters.  How they became friends, how they found themselves in these circumstances and how their friendship progresses would make for an excellent larger production. 

Mary McCarthy, Griffin Garnett and Hannah Wu in Kevin T. Durfee’s ‘Scenes of (Dis)connections’ Photo by Ryan Blaise and Shannon Adams Creative

Chain Theatre presented Scenes of (Dis) Connections as part of Chain Theatre’s One Act Winter Festival #27 which took place virtually and in person at Chain Theatre in New York City.  Click here for more information about the production and here for more information about Chain Theatre.

REVIEW:  From comedy to complication in Erin Moughon’s ‘Escape (The Pina Colada Song), Kevin Cheng’s ‘Dear Diary,’ Pascal Phoa’s ‘Last Train to Nevada’ and Kevin T. Durfee’s ‘Between the Wired Fence’ at NYC’s The Chain Theatre One Act Winter Festival

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

From traumatic to comical to poignant, Program #9 explores a variety of struggles among two people from strangers to spouses including grief, circumstances or growing apart.

Chain Theatre’s One Act Winter Festival continues both live stream and in person at the Chain Theatre in New York, New York through March 2. Erin Moughon’s Escape (The Pina Colada Song), Kevin Cheng’s Dear Diary and Pascal Phoa’s Last Train to Nevada are 15 minute One Act productions Kevin T. Durfee’s Between the Wired Fence runs 45 minutes. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Aren’t most breakups complicated?  However, this particular one is on another level.

Claire Shiell and Matthew Menendez in Erin Moughon’s Escape (The Pina Colada Song) Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

Candidly directed by Perryn Pomatto, Erin Moughon’s Escape (The Pina Colada Song) shares too small a snapshot into a relationship with quickly building tension as a woman breaks the news to her boyfriend that she wants to break up with him.  What ensues is outside the expected as Claire Shiell and Matthew Menendez share some humorous moments unleashing frank relationship truths along the way building to a fascinating revelation.  Escape leaves more questions that beg for a prequel or a sequel to this one act.

Elizabeth McBryde and Kevin Cheung in Kevin Cheng’s ‘Dear Diary’ Photo by Genda Lin @gendalin

With ruminating direction by Emily M. White, the cherry blossoms are in bloom as Elizabeth McBryde as reserved Josie settles on a Central Park bench to verbalize her thoughts in her daily journal entry in Kevin Cheng’s Dear Diary.  However, her sensible thoughts are interrupted by an encounter with Kevin Cheng who is memorable as optimistic and cheerful Pablo practicing a speech. Dear Diary is poignant and funny with more to the story that Josie can reveal as disarming Pablo charms her into helping him out and they discover more about one another.

Elizabeth McBryde and Kevin Cheng in Kevin Cheng’s ‘Dear Diary’ Photo by Genda Lin @gendalin

What if escape is your last hope?

Pascal Phoa’s Last Train to Nevada focuses on a couple who are running out of options in 1942.  Their only hope of being together requires a drastic change that is sure to change both their lives.  With stirring direction by Yibin Wang, Pascal Phoa portrays an uncertain Freddy and Gwyneth Benitez-Graham as a despairing Ida from different countries in a dangerous and intolerant climate.  Phoa and Graham bring complexity to their character’s motivations as time is running out and they are in urgent need of an answer.

Pascal Phoa and Gwyneth Benitez-Graham in Pascal Phoa’s ‘Last Train to Nevada’ Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

At some point, something has to give.

Written and directed by Kevin T. Durfee, Between the Wired Fence reflects on timing and aspiration as a couple metaphorically stares at one another from two sides of a figurative fence.

Elisa Falanga and Shannon Adams-Gray in Kevin T. Durfee’s ‘Between the Wired Fence’ Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

Shannon Adams-Gray offers a thought provoking performance as overwhelmed but successful financial adviser Sawyer who was once an aspiring actress.  Daniel Bishop portrays Odie, Sawyer’s spontaneous and intuitive husband who tries to help her cope as he pursues a career in performance art.  Bishop as Odie’s outlandish and over the top persona is a seeming contrast to Adams-Gray as Sawyer’s forced sensibilities, but there lies an underlying charm and clear bond in their brief stage time together.

Daniel Bishop Kevin T. Durfee’s ‘Between the Wired Fence’ Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

When Elisa Falanga delivers a mysterious package, it springs forth an eye opening reckoning for Sawyer and a new understanding on how they can both move forward.

Between the Wired Fence offers humor and insight on both sides of the fence into life’s delicate timing while touching upon the anxieties and pressures of the world and what it means to succeed.

Chain Theatre’s One Act Winter Festival continues both live stream and in person at the Chain Theatre in New York, New York through March 2.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW: Chain Theatre’s Winter One Act Festival presents Sarah Hoogenraad’s dark comedy ‘Celebrity Crush’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Who’s on the celebrity list?

Some couples have a ‘pass’ from their partners when fantasying about celebrities.  One person might get a pass from the other if by some possibility one gets a chance to meet or even date a famous celebrity and Lizzie Nguyen as Shannon never dreamed that this might actually happen.  Self absorbed, giddy, and giggly, Shannon and her roommate Amy, depicted by Sarah Hoogenraad who is also the playwright, will find out dreams might not live up to reality and that over sharing can be more than dangerous.

Photo credit to Chain Theatre

With careful direction by Rebecca Wilson and co-produced by Chandler Holloway, Sarah Hoogenraad’s dark comedy Celebrity Crush (#15) was part of Chain Theatre’s Winter ’24 One Act Festival took place from February 8 through March 3 virtually as well as live and in person at The Chain Theatre, 312 West 36th Street in New York, New York.  Click here for more information.

Set in Los Angeles, Celebrity Crush’s dark humor and zippy storytelling keeps things light even when Shannon and Amy realize that the celebrity scene can be less than glamorous. With a fitting music soundtrack which includes perfectly appropriate Crush by Jennifer Paige, Celebrity Crush has a modestly colorful set and humorous props to add lightness to the progressive intensity of the production.  Hoogenraad and Nguyen share some wild moments and they have a natural rapport together.  Miciah Wallace, in a dual role, is especially engaging as Kyle boasting that snappy catchphrase, ‘Smile because you’re with Kyle.’

The Cast of ‘Celebrity Crush’ Lizzie Nguyan, Sarah Hoogenraad, Miciah Wallace, and Matthew Sheaffer Photo credit to Sarah Hoogenraad

It would have been nice to have known what led to Shannon’s date and to get to know the cast better to be more invested in its outcome, but perhaps Celebrity Crush could expand its storyline or become a series in the future.

Sarah Hoogenraad’s dark comedy Celebrity Crush (#15) was part of Chain Theatre’s Winter ’24 One Act Festival took place from February 8 through March 3 virtually as well as live and in person at The Chain Theatre, 312 West 36th Street in New York, New York.  Click here for more information.

REVIEW: Boston Lyric Opera’s season opener ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ a passionate and magnificent affair

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Not even Easter Sunday can stop a scandal in the Sicilian countryside.

Featuring distinct, eye-popping costumes, a glorious Opera Chorus led Brett Hodgdon, and a full orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) opened their season on a grand scale with the renowned one act Italian libretto, Cavalleria Rusticana for just two performances on October 1 and 3.  Boston Lyric Opera was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd anticipating BLO’s return to a live venue for 18 months.  Delivered on a concert scale, Cavalleria Rusticana was presented under Leader Bank Pavilion’s open air tent in the Seaport District in Boston, Massachusetts.  It ran for 1 hour and 10 minutes with no intermission.

JAVIER ARREY AS ALFIO WITH DANCERS VICTORIA L. AWKWARD, MICHAYLA KELLY, AND MARISSA MOLINAR Photo by Liza Voll/Boston Lyric Opera

Loyalty, love, honor, and faith are tested among this group of passionate players.  Led by Music Director David Angus, the seemingly joyous overture delivers an exciting rush woven into a sense of foreboding, hinting at turmoil among still waters on the holiest of days, Easter Sunday.  Introducing the libretto is an interactive and unparalleled performance of Pagliacci’s Prologue by Javier Arrey.  Taking a reflective, humorous, and philosophical tone addressing the audience over what they are about to see, Cavalleria Rusticana becomes a passionate and cautionary tale, pleading about the affects of love and the human spirit.

Julia Noulin-Merat’s standalone set pieces, including overturned chairs piled high in pale pink as well as bright yellow chairs lining the stage, pop as does Gail Astrid Buckley’s distinct, vivid costumes with blooming flowers set against the orchestral backdrop depicting the emergence of a Sicilian spring. 

CHELSEA BASLER AS LOLA WITH DANCER MICHAYLA KELLY Photo by Liza Voll/Boston Lyric Opera

It is easy to get invested in these headstrong characters and Cavalleria Rusticana hits the ground running steeped in a complex love affair as the sacredness of Easter surrounds them, emphasized by ethereal dancers Victoria Awkward, Michayla Kelly, and Marissa Molinar and the swelling of the Boston Lyric Chorus’s powerful and spiritual lyrics.

Michelle Johnson as conflicted Santuzza leads this magnificent cast, delivering a splendid, heartrending performance.  Filled with sorrow and longing, Johnson’s tremendous vocals and her searing confrontation with Turiddo, portrayed with a charismatic yet manipulative mystique by Adam Diegel, show Johnson is a force to be reckoned with.  Chelsea Basler depicts alluring and complicated Lola with infuriating and masterful charm and the heart of the show lies with loyal and compassionate Nina Yoshida Nelsen as Mamma Lucia who observes it all much like the audience, with bated breath.

  • MICHELLE JOHNSON AS SANTUZZA AND NINA YOSHIDA NELSEN AS MAMMA LUCIA
    Photo by Liza Voll
  • ADAM DIEGEL AS TURRIDU WITH NINA YOSHIDA NELSEN AS MAMMA LUCIA
    Photo by Liza Voll

The show is delivered entirely in Italian and with subtitles at significant parts of the production.  However, for someone who does not know Italian and with a production so captivating, it is difficult having to forego not knowing every single word spoken from this enthralling cast.

Cavallaria Rusticana takes place in 1900’s Sicily and yet this opera is as timeless as any contemporary story told today and a perfect choice to open Boston Lyric Opera’s new season which includes virtual and live and in-person performances including jazz-themed opera Champion and Svadba through operabox.tv.  Click here for more information and a closer look at BLO’s new season.