Actor's Studio Newburyport-Collaboration: Weekend Writers

Tonight was a fine evening to go out and see a number of new, original, short plays presented at the Actors Studio of Newburyport. All under the name, "Collaboration." The evening was compiled of seven short plays, each written (and sometimes directed) by members of a local group of talented in playwrights in the Newburyport area known as, "The Weekend Writers." Each play had it's twists and turns and had fun with it's subtle comedy. Each one baring a unique twist on certain characters. Proving once again that the Actor's Studio never fails to deliver a great piece of live theater. This review will be spoiler free for all pieces.
The first play, "Pregnant Pause," written by Nadia Schmidkas, directed by Jack Rushton and staring Josh Paradis and Alexa Crawford, is about a couple, Frank and Suzie, dealing (strangely positively) with pregnancy.
The second play, "Bastille Day," written and directed by Jack Rushton and staring Sherry Bonder, is about a french woman writing on the back of old family photographs to her sister, Tildie, recounting their childhood and her relationship with her husband, Frank.
The third play, "It's Not You," written by Dina Crawford, directed by Sherry Bonder, and staring Julie McConchie and Steve Saks, is about a "couple" giving a living and humorous example of the phrase, "It's not you, it's me."
The fourth play, "Dinner Theater," written and directed by Charles Bradley and staring Scott Sullivan, Astrid Lorentzson, and Sarah Gibby, is about a playwright, Timothy, eating dinner with his wife, Tamara, in celebration to the opening of his new play, while also discussing his next play and puting the moves on his leading lady, Lilith.
The fifth play, "Generation Huck," written by Scott Sullivan, directed by Kim Holliday, and stars Alan Hulsman and Josh Paradis, is about the relationship between two different generations. Even though they may not be so different after all.
The sixth play, "Spice," written by David Susman, directed by Charles Van Eman, and staring Kari Cretella-Nickou and Sanford Farrier, is about a middle-aged married couple attempting to make a sex tape to help save their marriage, and how far they are willing to go to do so.
The seventh and final play, "Acceptance," written by Lawrence Hennessy, directed by David Houlden, and staring Kathleen Henderson and Nicole Blackwood, is about a grandmother and her granddaughter saying their emotional and powerful final farewell to each other.
This new works event comes highly recommended, not for the originality and humor but for the order in which these pieces were presented in and what the concepts are about. The true meanings of these pieces are based off of emotions and situations that may seem outrageous at first but in the end are very much human, and believable. What is more meaningful is what they chose for the first play and what was chosen to be the last play. With these two pieces opening and closing the line-up, it brings the flow of these stories full circle.
Collaboration continues this weekend at the Newburyport Actor's Studio, February 28th at 8pm and March 1st at 6pm. I recommend seeing this new creative anthology. If you are looking to watch a number of new original pieces that are funny, creative, smart, and meaningful, then spending an evening with the weekend writers is one night you will not want to miss.        

Salem Theater Company - Crime and Punishment

On Thursday, January 22nd, Crime and Punishment, the first show of 2015 at Salem Theater Company opened. Crime and Punishment is a stage adaptation, of the 1866 novel by Fyodor Dorstoyevsky, under the same name. It was adapted for the stage, by authors Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus, is a 90 minute three person play directed by Cathrine Bertrand. The ensemble for this production consisted of Alexander Castillo-Nunez, Alexis Jade, and Robert Cope, with Jade and Cope playing more than one role.
As in the Dorstoyevsky novel, the story revolves around the mental breakdown of ex-student/teacher, Raskolnikov, who is disillusioned by the way the current world is, believing that it is filled with injustice towards poverty, believing that he can be the next Napoleon who can cleans the world of such "insects," as he refers to the people. Believing that he is helping out his neighbor, Sonia and her poverty stricken family, Raskolnikov robs and kills and old pawn broker and likewise to her younger sister, who witnesses the murder. He is then questioned by the detective Porfiry about his possible as well as his current mental state and both his political and social views of the world.
The play is told through nonlinear storytelling, with flashbacks of Raskolnikov conversing with Sonia as well as her drunken father, the old pawn broker, and her younger sister Lizaveta. As the play progresses, we see Raskolnikof slowly slipping into paranoid madness. What makes this play unique, is the acting from the performers. Jade plays the roles of Sonia, The Pawn Broker, Lizaveta, and Roskolnikov's mother. Through these multiple characters, she expresses young innocents through Lizaveta, miserable business planning through the pawn broker, and perseverance out of tragedy through Sonia. Cope plays the roles of Detective Porfiry and Sonia's alcoholic father, whom Roskolnikov meets and learns about Sonia's life style choices. But the stand out performance in this ensemble is Nunez as Raskolnikov. He plays the murderous insanity perfectly and allows the character to seem multidimensional. We don't sympathize with him due to his actions, but we are meant to understand what drives a man to commit a crime such as murder. The production, itself, is performed in a minimalistic way, mirroring the poverty stricken environment that the characters live in,  through the direction of Catherine Bertrand. 
If you are a fan of the original Dorstoyevsky novel, or interested in crime dramas, or character studies on how the mind of a killer works, then SalemTheater Company's new production of Crime and Punishment comes highly recommended. The show runs from January 22nd through February 14th.

Player's Ring - Rush

In Portsmouth, NH, on Macy Street, turning it's back to the waterfront, lies a small brick playhouse, known as, "The Players Ring." Tonight, "Rush," the first show of the new year opened for the Players Ring. Rush, is an original play written by Callie Kimball, directed by Jasmin Hunter, and stars Kate Kilbert, Kyle Milner, Whitney Smith, Liz Locke, Todd Hunter, Michael Towle, Grady O'Neil, And Linda Chase. The play takes place between the year 1899 and 1900, where two siblings, Belinda and Frank played by Kate Kilbert and Kyle Milner, have journeyed from Chicago to Dawson City, Yukon. They find refuge in the company of two owners of a local whorehouse, Alice and Rosie played by Whitney Smith and Liz Locke.
This story is told in a nonlinear narrative to tell the story of Belinda and Frank's journey, and though this method of story telling is not told often in stage productions, it is what makes the performance work. Right from the first scene, introducing us to these characters, we the audience are left with questions as to, "What are they looking for?" "Where do they come from?" "Are they running from something?" As each scene segues through time, a new piece of evidence is discovered. Presenting new pieces to the puzzle for the audience to fit together and discover the big picture in the end. The characters were very well written, and likewise to the performances of each actor in the ensemble. None of the characters end up being the ones they begin as in their introductions.
What amazed me the most, was the nonlinear storytelling and likewise to the time period and location where the story took place. Like the flow of the story, not many old western stories have been presented in this way. Likewise to how this nonlinear western was told in such a small space with very little props and set pieces, allowing the audience to pay more attention to the story and characters. As I said, every performance in this ensemble was equally great, with the exception of two; Kate Gilbert and Kyle Milner. Their chemistry as brother and sister is fully realized and completely believable. Both full flesh out their characters and bring to life who their characters are and what things either of them are capable of doing for each others own safety. Especially in a time (and place) where people discover things about themselves they never knew existed. And that is how a great play is written, produced, and performed.
This show runs from January 2nd to January 18th. If you live in the Portsmouth or New Hampshire area and are looking to treat yourself to a fine piece of theater, to kick off the new year, then I highly recommend going to see and support The Players' Ring's new original production of "Rush."