Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow

Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow

The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space

August 15, 2019

Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

Playwright Halley Feiffer takes a highly effective look at Chekhov’s Three Sister in her unconventional adaptation.  Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow is dark, zany, and poignant.  The characters are truthful and clear mirrors of Chekhov’s characters.  Their yearning and despair is viewed through a lens of absurdity, which makes their loneliness and desperation that much clearer and more identifiable.  Through succinct timing and a heightened style, director Tripp Cullman skillfully unifies this magnificent cast of twelve to engage and enlighten the audience through laughter and self-contemplation.

Chris Perfetti, Tavi Gevinson, & Rebecca Henderson
Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

We are in a house on the Russian countryside in 1900.  Olga (played by Rebecca Henderson) goes on and on about how unattractive she is.  Irina (played by Tavi Gevinson) is selfishly focused on the fact that it is her birthday.  Masha (played by Chris Perfetti) is absorbed in her book.  They all long to return to Moscow, but can’t… but don’t know why… so they are unhappy.  Very unhappy.  Their brother Andrey (played by Greg Hildreth) plays the violin and aspires to study science and achieve greatness, but instead falls in love with a local girl, Natasha (played by Sas Goldberg), who the sisters consider to be a low-class whore.  Tuzenback (played by Steven Boyer) is madly in love with Irina, but she doesn’t give him the time of day.  He introduces the family to Veshinin (played by Alfredo Narciso), who becomes attracted to dark and brooding Masha.  She madly reciprocates, even though she is stuck in a loveless marriage with closeted Kulygin (played by Ryan Spahn).  They all want more out of life, but can’t get it… but don’t know why… so they are unhappy… but we see and understand, and laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Steven Boyer & Matthew Jeffers
Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

This entire cast is truly phenomenal.  Out of tightly timed high comedy scenes come genuine moments of hurt and sorrow, that are then topped off with a laugh.  Each character is truthfully drawn, carrying sincere hurt in their hearts.  These actors portray them in such a way that we distance ourselves from them in order to get a more precise view of who they are, which causes us to connect even stronger.  The humor is raucous.  The timing takes us out of the moment, then plunges us back into the darkness of their pain.  The play is skillfully written.  The production is masterfully conceived and directed.

Greg Hildreth & Sas Goldberg
Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

If you have not seen MCC’s new space on 53^rd St. and 10^th Ave, check it out as soon as you can.  The space is sharp, and offers a great opportunity for this company to step up and stand out.  This production is a sure sign that they will be doing just that.  Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow is playing at The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space through August 17.  Time is running out, so get your ticket before it’s too late.

Domenick Danza

School Girls; or, The African Mean Girl Play

School Girls;

or, The African Mean Girl Play

MCC Theater

Lucille Lortel Theatre

November 4, 2018

Photo courtesy of MCC THeater

Jealousy, vicious competitiveness, and petty territorialism seem to be world-wide values, or so one can conclude after watching MCC Theater’s production of School Gris; or, The African Mean Girl Play.  Playwright Jocelyn Bioh tells the story of a tight-knit group of high school girls attending a boarding school in central Ghana.  When a new girl is admitted into the school at the start of their senior year, the balance of power is thrown into a tailspin.  Rebecca Taichman directed this amazing group of actors, creating strong bonds in a well-timed, fast-paced, high stakes atmosphere.

Paulina (played by Maameyaa Boafo) is the leader of her small group of friends at Aburi Girls Boarding School.  The year is 1986, and they are all excited for the arrival of the recruiter for the Miss Ghana Pageant.  Paulina’s loyal followers tell her she is sure to be chosen, until Ericka (played by Joanna A. Jones) arrives.  She is a transfer student from the United States.  Her father is one of the richest men in Ghana.  Immediately, Paulina feels threatened and forces Nana (played by Abena Mensah-Bonsu) to steal Ericka’s file from the Headmistress’ office to gather the details she needs to ruin her.  All hell breaks loose when the recruiter arrives.  Tempers are lost, and deals are made, leaving the girls to wonder if it was all worth the trouble in the end.

Joanna A. Jones & Maameyaa Boafo
Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

Maameyaa Boafo portrays Paulina with forceful swagger and sass, masking insurmountable insecurity.  When her truth is revealed, you cannot help but feel for her, even though she exhibited cruel and heartless behavior toward her friends.  Joanna A. Jones is sweet, kind, and likeable as Ericka.  Her generous spirit hides her secrets, yet her actions in the end reveal her true self.

Abena Mensah-Bonsu, Mirirai Sithole, & Page Guilbert
Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

The ensemble cast has an amazing chemistry. The school girl characters created by Latoya Edwards (Anne), Paige Gilbert (Gifty), Abena Mensah-Bonsu (Nana), and Mirirai Sithole (Mercy) are distinct, sincere, relatable, and each flawed in their own way.  Myra Lucretia Taylor is loving and firm as Headmistress Frances.  She is duly matched by Zenzi Williams as Eloise Amponsah, the Miss Ghana Pageant recruiter, who puts everyone’s integrity to the test.

MCC Theater remounted this production due to its tremendous success last season.  There is still time to see it.  School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play is playing at the Lucille Lortel theatre through December 9.

Domenick Danza

Charm

Charm

MCC Theater

Lucille Lortel Theatre

September 9, 2017

 

Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

Philip Dawkins’ Charm tells a heartwarming and universal story about building community through genuine care, mutual consideration, and yes, proper manners.  The MCC Theater production at the Lucille Lortel Theatre is of high quality.  The cast is superb, building true characters with clear objectives that drive the story forward and engage the audience.  Director Will Davis’ passion for these characters rings brilliantly.  He gives space for each actor to honestly reveal the inner truth of their character.  He unites them in their need for one another in Mr. Dawkins’ life affirming conclusion.

Mama Darleena Andrews (played by Sandra Caldwell), a 67 year old black transgender woman, volunteers to teach a class on charm at the LGBTQ Center in Chicago.  D, the program director (played by Kelli Simpkins), welcomes her with a warning that the youth at the center are homeless and street-wise, and might be resistant to Emily Post’s rules of etiquette.  Darleena faces the challenge with optimistic determination as her students openly talk about their fears and obstacles, sometimes with vicious aggression.  It is when she is honest about herself and opens to receive their love and respect in return that a true sense of community is verified. 

Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

Mr. Dawkins based his main character, Mama Darleena Andrews, on Miss Gloria Allen, who volunteered for years to teach transgender and gender nonconforming youths how to survive and believe in themselves.  She is considered an icon by many in her community.  Sandra Caldwell portrays this character with the grace, poise, and self-respect this role requires.  She reveals the character’s many layers so the audience understands her motivations and deeper, personal needs.  She connects with each cast member, creating relationships that blossom in the story’s conclusion.   Creating the bureaucratic conflict for Mama Darleena to achieve her goals, Kelli Simpkins develops the character of D with truthful intensions and a deeply rooted emotional connection to her work.

The cast & creative team of Charm
Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

The cast takes every opportunity with Mr. Dawkins' skillfully crafted dialogue to develop moments that draw the audience into the deep secrets of their personal lives and their emotional struggle with identity and acceptance. Each story is riveting and raw.  Haile Sahar portrays Ariela as an open book who erupts with deep-seeded anger when her affection for Mama Darleena is not reciprocated.  Marquise Vilson unpeels Beta’s forceful exterior when Mama Darleena looks beyond his protective demeanor.  Michael Lorz (Logan) and Jojo Brown (Jonelle) have a magical chemistry and generate a strong bond that reaches beyond their diverse backgrounds.  Lauren R. Walker is fierce as Victoria.  When her softer side is exposed, she is genuine and empathetic.  Michael David Baldwin plays her husband, Donnie.  Together their characters courageously grow and change with sincere fortitude.  Marky Irene Diven shines as Lady.  The character is drowning in fear and self-doubt due to physical and emotional victimization and gender confusion.  The arc of this character’s catharsis during the course of the play is stunningly interpreted.    

Director Will Davis, Miss Gloria Allen,
& Playwright Philip Dawkins
Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

The MCC Theater production of Charm is running at the Lucille Lortel Theatre through October 8.  Philip Dawkins weaves these true to life characters, full of flaws, gusto, and grit, into a well-developed, heartwarming play that you MUST see. 

Domenick Danza

Ride the Cyclone

Ride the Cyclone

MCC Theater

Lucille Lortel Theatre

November 12, 2016

Photo courtesy fo MCC Theater

Riding the Cyclone is a haunting and thought-provoking musical directed and choreographed by Rachel Rockwell.  The MCC Theater production is sharp and spectacular with exceptional sound and lighting effects.  The music and lyrics by Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond are fun and energetic.  The skilled cast creates characters and moments that are true and touching.  Even with all of this in its favor, the show somehow falls short of building dramatic impact.

After performing at the fair, six members of the Saint Cassian High School Chamber Choir ride the roller coaster.  When an axel breaks in the front car, they are flown high in the air, then plunge to their deaths.  Before crossing to the other side, they review their short lives, hopes, and dreams in an effort to win the chance to go back, which can only be awarded to one of them.

Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

The production elements are amazing and perfectly delivered.   The set design by Scott Davis is spooky, vast, and spectacular.  It fills the Lucille Lortel Theatre with an atmosphere that sets the imagination on fire.  Lighting design by Greg Hofmann take everything on stage a step further by adding depth and illusion that captivates and draws you in.  The projections, designed by Mike Tutaj, are emotionally stimulating and show up in the most unexpected of places.  Unfortunately, these production elements far exceed the journey of the characters and arc of the action of the play.  Although there are poignant moments and a strong thematic finale song, the play is structured with mostly direct address and solos for the purpose of character development.  The relationships are not developed enough to create an emotional connection, and the theme is more stated than viscerally understood.

MCC's Riding the Cyclone is playing at the Lucille Lortel Theater through December 18. See it for yourself and add your comments here. 

Domenick Danza

All the Ways to Say I Love You

MCC Theater

Lucille Lortel Theatre

September 11, 2016

Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

What is the weight of a lie?  That is the questions asked in Neil LaBute’s new play All the Ways to Say I Love You presently playing at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.  This sixty minute, one woman piece is produced by MCC Theater and directed by Leigh Silverman.  The play is mesmerizing, tender, and shocking.  Judith Light excels as a school teacher with a deep secret that she has kept hidden for sixteen years.

Ms. Johnson (played by Judith Light) has been teaching high school English and Drama for thirty or so years.  When a student asks on one of the first days of school, “What is the weight of a lie?” she has no answer.  This prods her to open up about an encounter that once took place between her and a male student.  She gradually peels back the layers of her passion, deceit, marriage, and underlying motivations until she is able to define the weight of her own lie.

Playwright Neil LaBute
Photo courtesy of MCC Theater

Neil LaBute has magnificently woven a story where every word and phrase is valuable to understanding the main character.  As you intellectually piece the story together, you are viscerally drawn into the emotional complexity and depth of the action.  Ms. Light is brilliant in creating sincere moments that bond the audience to her.  Her character physically eases into a trusting relationship with each individual in front of her as she opens up with genuinely honest confessions.  As shocking as some of her revelations are, you understand and support her.  She confides in you as she would a trusted and intimate friend.  Director Leigh Silverman found the perfect perspective for this piece by having Ms. Light create this personal one-on-one relationship with the audience.  It is absorbing and moving. 

  

Photo courtesy of MCC Theaater

All the Ways to Say I Love You is a unique and remarkable piece of theatre.  Due to demand, MCC has already extended the run through October 16.  Go on line and get your ticket NOW!

Domenick Danza