Reviews

Anne Washburn’s thesis in her play is that in a post-catastrophe future, what people will hang onto and comfort themselves with will be their memories of television shows – or movies, or operetta or maybe theatre.  Not books.  Not even, from the evidence of this play, people’s own stories, the memories of their own lives, transmuted into ‘stories’.  Maybe that’s an argument worth considering, but must it be considered at such inordinate length? 

A phenomenally talented (and tireless) cast of five performers - backed by a flexible and powerful trio of musicians - go a long way toward making up for a less-than-impressive script, overcoming/transforming so-so material to make Judge Jackie into a largely pleasing musical theatre experience.

Fortified is a powerful, ‘wakeup call’ piece of theatre. Amity Dry does not disappoint in her latest theatre offering. Raw and open hearted, she bravely touches the audience’s souls with her exposé on divorce and the fallout from “blowing shit up” in your life. Her vocals are strong and the songs, most of which she has written, come from the heart-a broken one at that. She has a stunning voice and the messages in the songs will remain with you well after the show is over.

A man arrives at a woman’s door. He is familiar, but not expected. He is wet from the rain. He has been away a long time. She is older than he thought she would be. This gripping and intriguing play untangles their relationship, and how they have come to arrive at this point. Dark and moving, this thriller of sorts keeps the audience emotionally enmeshed throughout.