This review starts with the same disclaimer as my last Rustic Mechanicals review: I really like the project of a dedicated Shakespeare touring troupe for West Virginia. I find their mission basically admirable. Their performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night was better than their productions of The Tempest or Much Ado About Nothing, so I was …
Continue reading Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare–10 July 2016
Peter Tolan’s Pillow Talk is a fun little comedy that explores the contours of sexuality and anxiety in modern US culture. The play spends one night with Aaron (Sean Marko) and Doug (Mack Kale Jr.) as they share a bed on the first night of their cross-country road trip. While both men are heterosexual, their …
The MAC production of Joe Calarco’s Walter Cronkite is Dead was spectacular. The acting was superb, and the play shifted deftly between laugh out loud funny (and I rarely laugh in the theatre) and deep sadness. Directed by David Beach, the show was great. The play is about two women, Margaret (Cindy Ulrich) and Patty …
Continue reading Walter Cronkite is Dead, by Joe Calarco–1 May 2016
The Rustic Mechanicals' production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" was average overall, lacking standout excitement. The setting, post-WWI wine country, suited the park venue. Noteworthy performances were Doug Seckman's Borachio and Steve McElroy's Claudio, both embodying their roles convincingly. Aaron Harris' portrayal of Dogberry, initially jarring, grew more appealing with time.
Phillip Zapkin 