Reviews

Mammoths is an ambitious comedy that has twists on academic politics, the worthiness of a small museum as well as romantic relationships with a middle aged woman and a much younger woman. This sex comedy has unique twists that emerge when a 20something Andromeda- a New Age advocate – loves a pure academic and now is thrust into living with a dying doctor of philosophy. These exchanges are witty and quite funny. In act two,as Greer is growing sicker, the tone shifts as Andromeda becomes the main caregiver to Greer as Wreen is bogged down with campus business.

The main problem is John Weidman’s book. that quite superficially presents the Mizner brothers with a too broad a scope. The brothers, as presented, are two con men out to fleece the public on their way to pursuing the American Dream. Addison is presented, despite terrific work by Michael Aaron Lindner, a weak personality who is a failure as a con man completely subservient to his younger brother.. Wilson, played nicely by Andrew Rothenberg, is presented as a shiftless, ruthless and charming entrepreneurial con man whose addiction to cocaine and gambling made him always in need of cash.

This ambitious adventure, The Killing of Michael X, now in a world premiere, utilizes nice film work by Alex Hand with video projections by Neil Pandya with technical direction by Andrew Swanson and stage direction by Kaiser Ahmed. These artists did their best to breath life into Cory Hinkle’s awful script

The early scenes are filled with awkward humor, razor-sharp quips , and subtle sensuality. Vanda’s black leather dominatrix outfit suggests she is ready to do whatever it takes to get the role. Thomas resists her at first. But during this 95 minute one act, a semi-erotic power play emerges between the two

Brandon Hardy (Will Kiley) is the brilliant, popular, good looking jock who is one of the elite seniors at St. Joe’s Prep school where the upper class boys prepare for the Ivy League and a life as part of the ruling class in Washington, D. C. Brandon’s future is threatened by a videotape found on the campus

Rent was conceived in the hay day of the prevalence of AIDS, but with the strides made in medicine and now laws regarding Gay marriage, Rent seems a bit outdated. But, today’s audiences may relate to the many similarities seen recently from the “Occupy Wall Street” movement that occurred in September 2011. “Rent’s” opening-night audience responded positively, perhaps because the young people were unaware of the 1980s-1990s when AIDS was at the forefront of political action. Or, they may have enjoyed the shock and novelty found in the play, or they agreed with the references to many political points.

Interspersed, are the four members of an online support group of crack cocaine addicts as each struggle daily with their addiction. We see Haikumon lead the group and be its censor for foul language. She can lead the group yet she can’t seem to handle her life off line. The Internet becomes a place of safety and understanding for these addicts. We see their struggles for redemption from their constant personal failings due to their drug use.