Play: Politics on the Edge
Reviewer: Shelley
4 Stars
I recommend this play strongly if only for the middle of the 3 short pieces.
Set in a taxi cab with 4 actors, the piece is fluid, fascinating and utterly
gripping with some compelling performances. It makes a refreshing change
from one person shows and highlights a wonderful writer.
Go see this.
Play: Politics on the Edge
Reviewer: Chris
3 Stars
The middle piece of the three, November 2001, really stood out as the piece
to see. Excellent acting and writing. The other two, Chop and Geography
Lesson, were pretty tedious.
Play: politics on the edge
Reviewer: xtian
4 Stars
These 4 Stars go to Jon Brooks' segment, an intriguing NYC cab ride involving
three passengers and their cabbie, mere weeks after 9/11. Fears, doubts,
and the coping mechanisms all involved are exposed. An unexpected ending
offers hope for the future.
Play: Politics on the Edge
Reviewer: Jason Wong
5 Stars
Very clever!! I loved the analogies of all three to current events and the
attitudes of many people. I really got into the stories, Chop seemed to
offer an everyone for themself mentality with the poor third character being
beat up (life's never fair), November 2001 was a clevery written, directed
and performed piece which highlighted the audaciousness and presumptuous
attitudes of two Americans, while Geography Lesson portrayed a representation
of different mother/daughter scenes from around the world that we just seem
to clump up into one big headline instead of separating their circumstances
like well informed adults. I saw this opening night, and thoroughly enjoyed
the intellectual development and performance of all the pieces. Well Recommended!!
Play: Politics on the Edge
Reviewer: Claudia Barr
5 Stars
I saw Politics on the Edge opening night. Its a good solid hour of
insightful writing and sharp performances. For me, the highlight was Jon
Brooks play November 2001. I had heard the play read (were both
playwrights with Theatre Artists Conspiracy) while Jon was developing
it. Seeing it staged is a real treat. For a short play set in a taxiwhich
you would think would be static-- it had an amazing sense of movement. The
characters are stuck in a claustrophobic ride in NYC after 9/11 with the
very relatives that drive them most nuts. Josh (played to perfection by
Dan Wilson) is stuck in a cab ride with his father and unclewho bicker
incessantly and cluelessly insult their Iranian cabby, Kazem. Fred Pitts,
who played Kazem is distractingly handsome and gave a flawless performance.
All four actors, especially George McRae, who had the wordiest part, gave
spirited and nuanced performances. They were directed by Ellen Koivisto,
who is a hell of a good director. Chop and Geography Lesson (which bookend
November 2001) were both written by Koivisto. Chop is the shortest piece
and is performed first. Its a witty and very visual play; you have
to see it to get it, the dialogue is absurd and almost incidental to the
action. The dialogue is all in Geography Lesson, which is a beautifully
written piece of world theater made personal by the two actresses (Rachel
Garza and Adel Miller) that play a variety of mother and daughter scenes
set in dangerous political climes over the recent past. Taking world headlines
and making them personal is the challenge and Koivistos brilliant
dialogue draws you in and makes you care. See Politics on the Edge; its
thought provoking, really well written, and entertaining.
Play: politics on the edge
Reviewer: roberta rosen
4 Stars
I liked all 3 plays but particularly enjoyed Nov. 2001. I thought the writing
was excellent, using dialogue to develop characters that were touching,
somewhat recognizable and very funny.
I thought the acting and writing in all 3 plays quite accomplished. |