Oct 13

Murder Has Never Been so Adorable: “Senseless! A Brick Foley Adventure”

Photo Credit: Aurora Broadcasting Network

written and directed by Elizabeth Hara
October 12-13, 2012 @8pm
Puppet Showpace Theatre
32 Station St
Brookline, MA

Puppet Showplace Theatre Facebook Page

Review by Kitty Drexel

(Brookline) Someone has been murdering the blind/deaf students of the Helen Keller School of Music and Brick Foley, blind detective, is on the job to find out who. Was it the gentle and sweet teacher, Jane Allgood? Was it Chancellor Daniels or his nemesis Dr. Children? Could it even have been sexy vixen Bea Baxter? With his sidekick, Office Murphy, Detective Foley navigates the in’s and out’s of this puppet show/radio play and finds out who done it! (Brought to you by Price’s Powdered Ham.)

This short noir radio play cum puppetry show SHOULD NOT be missed! The Aurora Broadcasting Network has created an adult comedy that will melt the hearts of even the most cynical of theater goers. The troupe exudes a light jovial atmosphere that is founded on a sincere love of their craft. The 5 member team moves as one like a seemingly effortless machine. Although they do not use traditional puppets (a la Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood perhaps) their creative use of props and physical comedy leaves nothing to be desired. In fact, it’s a damn shame that the show isn’t longer than the allocated hour.

This show has it all: it’s a little naughty and is not appropriate for young children, the troupe employs character voices and perfected noir archetypes, minty fresh musical stylings begin and end the show, there’s a speedy and engaging plot and, best of all, the audience is encouraged to participate!

Please be advised that there is a 2 row splash zone. If flying meat products alarm you, it may be best to stand in the back.

There is an after-show with the ravishing Ruby Rose Fox, drinks and dancing.

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Elizabeth Hara has worked as a puppet builder for the Jim Henson Company, Sesame Street, and Avenue Q. She has also built costumes for The Lion King, Shrek the Musical, and most recently, Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark. She is a Vassar graduate, and has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Puppeteers of America National Festival.

‘Senseless’ features the performing talents of Brendan Yi-Fu Tay (The Puppet Kitchen,) Sarah Lafferty (Castleton Opera Festival,) Katrina Denney (Fundamental Theatre Group), Emmy Award-winner Michael Schupbach (Sesame Street, Johnny and the Sprites) Eric Wright (The Puppet Kitchen, The Metropolitan Opera, The Public Theatre) and David Brown (poorbutsexydc.combit.ly/ufofactory)

Sep 17

“No Room for Wishing” Makes Room for All

No Room for Wishing
Performed and written by Danny Bryck.

Photo credit: “No Room for Wishing”

Directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian.

Co-produced by Company One and Central Square Theater, supported in part by a Boston Playwrights’ Theatre Black Box Fellowship.

Playing at the Boston Center for Arts, 9/13 – 9/22
Playing at Central Square Theater, 9/30 – 10/9

No Room for Wishing Facebook Page
No Room for Wishing Website

Review by Kitty Drexel

“But I hear the boys the boys and girls are coming up up up from the underground… You can find ‘em there, they’re all fired up in Dewey Square… you can call them what you want, you can call them what you need, you can call them what you want but there’s no room for wishing in revolution.”  – Ruby Rose Fox, “Dewey Square”

(Boston) No Room for Wishing is a compilation of interviews and live recordings from the Occupy Boston Movement. The production was written and performed by local actor, Danny Bryck. It is directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian.

Bryck’s tour de force performance is a must see for Occupy Movement supporters and sympathizers. It offers a personal perspective of Occupy Boston that was not captured by local media during 2011. It is also a must see for those who opposed the movement.  This bare bones production lionizes the individual reasons for protesting while disassembling the stereotypes associated with the majority of activists. Bryck’s characterizations personalize the movement and the many people that the media had neglected; the moderate and the revolutionized. Continue reading

Jul 22

1001: Do we make the stories or do the stories make us?

1001 by Jason Grote, Company One, Boston Center for the Arts, 7/15/11- 8/13/11,  http://www.companyone.org/Season12/1001/synopsis.shtml.

Reviewed by Becca Kidwell

Clockwise from left: Ruby Rose Fox, Ben Gracia, Hampton Fluker, Lonnie McAdoo, Lauren Eicher, Nael Nacer

Scheherazade is back with new tales to tell. Based on 1001 Arabian Nights, Jason Grote takes the ancient tales and reworks them within a twenty-first century context.  The frame story and first inner story remain close to the time and arrangement of the original tales, but the further Scheherazade takes us in, the closer we get to our own reality.  Stories make up a large part of our lives from the fairy tales of childhood to the novels of our adulthood.  Is it what we bring to them that gives them life or what they bring to us that give us life? Company One’s 1001 attempts to answer these questions. Continue reading