Thornton Wilder’s The Skin Of Our Teeth, despite having won a Pulitzer, is a play that’s hard to appreciate on anything more than an intellectual level. It’s clear the author’s intent (mostly a commentary on the devastation of war and how we’re destined to repeat our mistakes). There are more than a few clever literary allusions, many of them Biblical. The play’s dour, end-of-the-world message certainly resonates in contemporary times. And you have to give…
Shakespeare Theater’s Tamburlaine has a snazzy new venue, a gravitas-heavy star and some looming special effects. If only the play were a little more interesting. Maybe Rorschach Theater’s recent sexy treatment of Tamburlaine scribe Christopher Marlowe has heightened our expectations — how could a figure with such a dashing, myth-heavy past produce such a lumbering, monotonous work? Unfortunately, even the author’s more lyrical moments can’t hold our attention for this three hour-plus extravaganza….
Fascinating but frustrating. Those are the two words that most readily come to mind when describing David Grimm’s Kit Marlowe, Rorschach Theater’s latest production. The work’s plot is undeniably gripping, but the play is frequently hindered by a number of performances that, while certainly not poor, are strangely uneven. What results is too many moments where a scene builds in momentum and tension, but is ultimately derailed by a flat or off-beat line delivery. Some…
FRIDAY: >> Though perhaps not quite as high profile anymore as some other D.C. bands from the mid-1980s, the cryptically-named 9353 always had, and still maintains, a dedicated group of fans. You may never have heard of them, but in addition to playing with some of the biggest local names like Scream, G.I. and Iron Cross, they also shared bills with Public Image Ltd, Sisters of Mercy and the Butthole Surfers back in the day,…
Your mission, should you choose to accept: With only one week, adapt a randomly-chosen Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale into a compelling stage production. Such was the challenge for the team over at Rorschach Theater, which will premiere its season-opening stunt on Saturday. Last Sunday, 40 D.C. artists, many of them company members, were charged with the responsibility of turning tales like “Hansel & Gretel” into something we’d like to see on stage. Norman Allen, Randy…
One would easily peg Rhea, a looming, witch-like matriarch who can haunt both your dreams and reality, as the central villain of Birds, now being staged by Rorschach Theater. But the piece has another, more abstract source of fear and genuine creepiness — a haunted Manhattan itself, where magic makes an unwelcome appearance. In this New York, a vagrant can take your fortune along with your coat, and the loss of a lock of hair…
We all know the full moon can be a beautiful sight at night, but have you ever thought of making the moon your dance partner? In Rorschach Theater’s lovely, lyrical production of Jose Rivera’s References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, the cripplingly lonely Gabriela (Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey) does that and more, coming perilously close to making the moon her lover while her Army husband Benito (Andrew Price) is away. It’s hard to blame her, when…
Editorial Disclosure: DCist contributor Jason Linkins has a supporting role in this production Take a little Neil Gaiman, add a healthy dose of Jasper Fforde, infuse with a serious shot of Shakespeare and pepper with clever literary references throughout (and a refreshing amount of silliness), and you have Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s Rough Magic, now being showcased by Rorschach Theater as part of the Shakespeare in Washington festival. As a festival entry, this one’s a smart pick…
FRIDAY: >> From the amount of Evites and mass emails running around inviting folks to giant group outings to see Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, we’re guessing that’s what a lot of you are doing tonight. As of now, only the 5:15 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. showings at Gallery Place still have tickets available, but the Loews Georgetown has plenty more options. Jagshemash! >> Paging John Hodgman! Director…
Nationals Mascot Announced: In a surprising move, the Washington Nationals presented the team’s new mascot to reporters this morning. The choice? A giant walking bow tie. Meant to memorialize the efforts of D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams in bringing baseball back to the District after a three-decade absence, the “Nat Cravate,” as the mascot is to be known, will spin every time a National hits a home run and will loosen slightly during the seventh-inning stretch….
