Feb 16

Here There Be Dragonnes: “The Moderate”

Celeste Oliva and Nael Nacer in The Moderate. Photo: Nile Scott Studios.

Presented by Central Square Theater
A Catalyst Collaborative@MIT Production
By Ken Urban
Directed by Jared Mezzocchi

February 5 – March 1, 2026
Central Square Theater
450 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

Strobe and flashing lighting effects are used in this production.

Using the Motion Picture Association rating system, this production lands between R and NC-17 ratings for sexual content, violence, and mature themes including political terrorism and child abuse. 

Article by Kitty Drexel

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Let’s begin with the end. In an interview with Playwright Ken Urban and Director and Multimedia Designer Jared Mezzocchi, I asked the duo what they hoped audiences would take away from their production of The Moderate (now playing at Central Square Theater). Urban said the play is a human story about a man struggling with his past. In doing so, he helps someone in the present. This is possible through Frank’s interactions online

Mezzocchi said he hopes audiences consider how their own internet use could be harmful and instead take a moment to reflect and look within themselves to find hope. 

Hold on to Mezzocchi’s message of hope. You’ll need it.  Continue reading

Oct 25

New House, New Problems: “Someone Else’s House”

Official screen shot of Mezzocchi. No photos or recordings of the performance are allowed.

Presented by TheatreWorks Hartford and Virtual Design Collective 
Written & performed by Jared Mezzocchi 
Directed by Margot Bordelon 
Playbill

TheatreWorks on Facebook  
October 21-31, 2021
TICKETS
A Live Virtual Performance: Performed over Zoom, watch live from your home or at the TheatreWorks theater

HAUNTED VIEWING from home* – Showtimes
Tuesday through Sunday at 8 pm
Saturdays at 8 pm and 12 Midnight

HAUNTED VIEWING in the theater – Showtimes 
Oct. 22, 23, & 24 and Oct. 29, 30 & 31 at 8 pm
IN-THEATER STREAMING watch parties @ 233 Pearl Street, Hartford, CT 06103

Review by Kitty Drexel

ZOOM/Hartford, CT — The new house/new problems horror movie trope follows a naive (usually white) family moving into their dream home. Strange, spooky things happen and the idiot family stays until the bodies are piled up.  Blood can hemorrhage from the walls and this family thinks it’s a tax write-off. 

A dank meme; Hooray, we’re going to die!

Speaking of obtuse families, Jared Mezzocchi’s lovely family moved into a 200-year-old house in Enfield, New Hampshire in 1977. TheaterWorks Hartford’s production of Someone Else’s House tracks the Mezzocchis move into a gorgeous mansion in Enfield. Mom and Dad had new jobs teaching at the elementary school. The kids had a pastoral town to grow up in. It should have been perfect. Continue reading

Mar 05

It’s Time to Talk About White on White Crime: “Ripe Frenzy”

 

Left to right: Veronika Duerr, Stacy Fischer, Samantha Richert. Photo by Kalman Zabarsky. It’s a strange cruelty to photograph actors from below.

Presented by NewRep Theatre and Boston University College of Fine Arts
By Jennifer Barclay
Directed by Bridget Kathleen O’Leary

Feb. 24 – March 11, 2018
BU College of Fine Arts
Studio ONE
Boston, MA
NewRep on Facebook

Review by Kitty Drexel

Trigger warnings: references to gun violence, references to animal abuse, references to violent behavior, references to suicide, stalking. NewRep/BCAP don’t include trigger warnings and they should. 

(Boston, MA) The people who commit monstrous wrongs are still people. The man who murdered 17 in the recent Florida tragedy took an Uber to get to the school. After, he went to Walmart, bought a drink at Subway and ate at McDonald’s. He was arrested as he walked out on his own (a common occurrence for white shooters). In Ripe Frenzy, a similar tragedy is told from the perspective of a mother who lived through the event. It is possible to cherish a monster even as he commits horrendous acts. Continue reading