The dramatic retelling of the events of the Nickel Mines Shooting of 10 Amish children October 2, 2006 and the aftermath is a heart wrenching and complex story especially how the Lancaster, Pennsylvania Amish reacted. Told in an amazing tour de force performance by Sadieh Rifai, The Amish Project is a 70 minute drama that attempts to tell the shooting story and the effects on the Amish, the town’s folks and the shooter’s family.
What makes this play great – and what makes it a tragedy – is that each and every character wills for good. There exists no one with evil in their heart, a wish simply to harm out of malice. Each person wants what is best – for themselves, for the family, for the greater good. They seek what is just. But what is “best,” what is “just,” is not always – ever – agreed upon.
The moods, desires and angst of revolving relationships are nicely presented by the three cast members. Their energy, singing skills ans their ability to “sell” their songs in character give this revue a tone of sensuality and realism. Eugen Dizon musical direction helps create a worthy accompaniment. Catch Starting Here, Starting Now to discover new show and movie songs and to have fun meeting Boone, Herman and Patingre. They’ll entertain you.
There will always be the saying, “The best friends money can buy.” And of course that’s true – but money will always buy friends. So will fame. So will power and influence and any number of things. No one can deny that there are aspects of frat culture that are completely fucked up. But no one can deny that there is an upside, there is daylight, there is something that sustains these places, and it’s more than money and booze and sex – though that irrefutably plays a part.
Redtwist Theatre features their top actors- Peter Oyloe (Kjell), Andrew Jessop (Elling) and Brian Parry (Alfons) who are sporting their comedic skills in the winning stage production of the Norwegian film “Elling” deftly adapted by Simon Bent. This is a charming, warm comic drama about two seemingly mentally challenged men who struggle to make it on their own away from a mental institution.
Never mind the hype, it’s always bollocks.
These hapless losers and half-brothers screwed-up a robbery of a drug dealer that resulted in Torch being shot in the hand after he shot one during the sting. 20/20 Mike calls his old running buddy and cell mate- Tony Lee-the tiger (Eric Sherman-Christ) to help them escape NYC. The result is a fast paced, well acted emotionally packed crime drama.
And what songs they are: 28 drawn from 12 successful musicals – all written by Stephen Schwartz. The melodies are recognizable from many of these shows which include Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, The Magic Show, Rags, Personals, The Baker’s Wife, Enchanted, Captain Louie, Working, Reluctant Pilgrim and Children of Eden – but the lyrics have been rewritten to fit the new dramatic situation.
The Count is a noble man, learned, driven, excellent; he performs great deeds. And yet he has, at times, surrounded himself with unsavory characters. He is consumed by his desires, his drive; and yet, when they are consummated, what is left for him? Is revenge justice or pettiness? The story delves deeply into morality, and not in a simplistic way.
The three blues are studies in nuance and non-verbal communication – from the pertinent turn of a head to the gesture of a finger – everything becomes clear. The Blue Men can be slapstick or poignant; they capture and display emotion easily and with aplomb and wind us around their drumming fingers with each and every shtick. Their individual facial features may be blurred by the blue, but oh those speaking eyes!