Falls for Jodie is an intense, intimate play set entirely in a hotel room, featuring strong performances by Boone Sommers and Harry Thornton. The evolving relationship between the characters explores themes of love, obsession, and loneliness with a simple but effective stage design. This immersive experience offers a powerful look at the emotional depths driving the characters, making it a compelling watch at The Tank.
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Arias with a Twist at HERE Arts Center is a dazzling mix of puppetry, drag, comedy, and music that fully immerses the audience in its eccentric world. Joey Arias commands the intimate space with energetic performances and clever staging, bringing dynamic scale shifts and bold humor. This extravagant, lovingly crafted show celebrates the art of performance with both wild joy and touching moments.
Very Blue Light explores acceptance and trans rights with strong performances from Dom Martello and the cast. A standout alien-search sequence and clever lighting added memorable moments. But the static staging and long speeches sometimes kept us more like listeners than viewers, leaving us wanting more connection and everyday life.
Safe House presents an intimate family drama set in a basement before an election, exploring political divides and personal dynamics. Marc Kudisch shines as Rock, evolving from a forceful conservative to a vulnerable father, supported by a strong cast including Julianna Layne and Tony winner Karen Ziemba. The clever staging with memories and overlapping conversations adds depth, making the close, realistic portrayal resonate beyond politics.
Melissa Maney's Hungry Women starts strong with four women around a tea table as men are dying and women survive. The first part features controlled, powerful performances and clever monologues revealing private thoughts. However, later sections become increasingly noisy and chaotic, making it harder for us to stay connected.
Lunaticus introduces a compelling story about epilepsy and missing time through Danielle Allen's one-woman monologue, blending humor with unsettling experiences. The opening's inventive use of sound and light creates a strong atmospheric start, though much of the performance settles into straightforward storytelling. It's a promising work in progress with a script and story that invite curiosity about its future stage potential.
Benevolent immerses audiences in a 1917 laundry room at the Inwood Benevolent Home, vividly conveying the harsh realities and judgment faced by four girls. The authentic setting, strong performances, and nuanced portrayal of growing friendship balance the play’s tough themes with humor and hope. It's a powerful, well-crafted production that deeply engaged us and promises a compelling future.