Brother, Sister Plays Part 2 - The Brothers Size and Marcus or the Secret of Sweet - Portland Playhouse

Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Directed by Victor Mack
Cast:  Shun, Shunta Iyun - Lava Alapa
          Ogun - Bobby Bermea
          Elegva, Legva, Marcus - Brian Demar Jones
          Aunt Elegua, Shun - Jennifer Lanier
          Oya, Osha - Ramona Lisa
          Man from state, O Li Roon - Jonah Weston
          Shango, Oshoosi, Terrell - Damian Thompson
          Egungun, Shua - Salim Sanchez
          Momma Moja, the woman who reminds you, Oba - Jocelyn Seid

Brothers one hard working the other has a dream of owning a car.  This is about what is it to be a brother; how many ways is love demonstrated; what kind of sacrifices are required within that love. Beautifully performed; magnificently presented - walked out crying.

The Brother Sister Plays Part 1 In the Red and Brown Water- Portland Playhouse

Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Directed by Victor Mack
Cast:  Shun, Shunta Iyun - Lava Alapa
          Ogun - Bobby Bermea
          Elegva, Legva, Marcus - Brian Demar Jones
          Aunt Elegua, Shun - Jennifer Lanier
          Oya, Osha - Ramona Lisa
          Man from state, O Li Roon - Jonah Weston
          Shango, Oshoosi, Terrell - Damian Thompson
          Egungun, Shua - Salim Sanchez
          Momma Moja, the woman who reminds you, Oba - Jocelyn Seid

Young woman's dreams of being a runner are deferred to help her mother; dreams which are not available when you look for them later.  Pursued by young men: one who offers stability; one who offers sexual attraction.  No good or easy choices; protagonist wants a child but is barren.  Stunning performance; the reason we go to theater is to discover plays like this.

Red - Portland Center Stage

Written  by John Logan; directed by Rose Riordan
Cast:  Mark Rothko - Daniel Benzali
          Ken - Patrick Alparone

Clever staging; great text.  Explores the nature of the relationship of art and philosophy and ego.  Acting was Ok but one craved to see a real powerhouse actor engage the text.

A Lesson Before Dying - Profile Theater

Written by Romulus Linney (from a novel by Earnest J Gaines); directed by Kevin E Jones
Cast:  Paul Bonin - Dennis Kelly
          Emma Glenn - Brenda Phillips
          Grant Wiggins - Carl Kennedy
          Sam Guidry - Stephan Henry
          Jefferson - Harold Warren
          Vivian Baptiste - Andrea White
          Rev Moses Ambrose - Jerry Foster

Black man accused of a crime is called a pig and condemned to death.  He responds by saying that if is called a pig he should act like a pig.  His family and community fight to convince him that no one should be defined by someone else and he must act like a man not a pig before he dies.  Nicely done!

Penelope - Third Rail Theater

Written by Enda Walsh; directed by Philip Cuomo
Cast:  Burns - Christopher David Murray
          Quinn - Michael O'Connell
          Dunn - Tim True
          Fitz - Bruce Burkhartsmeier
          Penelope - Britt Harris

What a great play!  Well done and well staged.  It was nice to have the old Third Rail company back!  It is a take on the Illiad from the perspective of the Penelope's (Odysseus's wife) suitors.  Penelope representing a future worth living and all the heart is called to but is also ever elusive and the competition among men in the pursuit of the unattainable.

Hard Times - CoHo Theater

Adapted from The Charles Dickens novel by Stephen Jeffreys; directed by Michael Gerber
Cast:  Camille Cettina; Ted de Chatelet; David Janovik; McKenna Twedt

Every member of the cast played multiple parts.  Interesting staging; good costumes but we weren't sufficiently caught up in the play to endure the dreadful seating.  The seats are too low to sit in comfortably for the duration.

Next to Normal - Artists Repertory Theater

Play by Brian Yorkey; Directed by Jon Kretzu
Cast:  Diana - Susannah Mars
          Dan - William Wadhams
          Gabe - John Debkowski
          Natalie - Meghan McCandless
          Henry - Todd Tschida
          The Doctor - Jared Q Miller

Mom's fighting mental illness while family struggles to take care of her and themselves; no easy chore.  Done as a musical.  Too bad cast wasn't up to the task.  Good try production.

The New Electric Ballroom - CoHo Theater

Reading play by Enda Walsh
Cast:  Breda - Jacklyn Maddux
          Clara - Beth Harper
          Ada - Stephanie Gaslin
          Patsy - Isaac Lamb

Sisters remember pivotal day from their youth.  Would be fun to see a full production with all the costume changes and make up as described.