The Columbus Dispatch’s theatre critic liked a heck of a lot about our new production of Skyscrapers of the Midwest. Straight from his late-night review, here are his Top 10 Reasons to see the show.
1. Dinosaurs, robots and stuffed animals add to the fun.
(Two central performances help generate the emotional core so vital to such a clever and self-analytical work.)
2. Acacia Duncan brings out the vulnerability and imaginative inner consciousness of the young Josh Cotter.
3. Adorable, funny, sad, irrepressible and always convincingly childlike, Drew Eberly couldn’t be better as Jeffrey, Cotter’s tag-along younger brother.
(Of the 10 deft actors playing 22 characters human and animal, real and fantasy quite a few others register even under face-covering helmets or from within obscuring costumes.)
4. One of the most enjoyable: Jordan Fehr, who fulfills every boyhood dream of the near-perfect playmate as Rex, Jeffrey’s rambunctious but cuddly dinosaur doll.
5. The awkward self-consciousness of adolescence almost becomes the driving motif of Slaybaugh’s playful adaptation, which is at its best in its overall staging.
6. Ian Short, one of Available Light’s best actors.
7. The production wouldn’t work as well without Brant Jones’ video designs, which incorporate short films and many of Cotter’s cartoon panels. Some of the most dramatic and revealing moments arise when the videos comment on or add ironic contrast to the stage actions.
8. Tony Auseon’s creatures…
9. Eleni Papaleonardos’ [and Michelle Whited’s] costumes…
10. Dave Wallingford’s sound designs [Mr. G forgot to mention that Dave appears live on-stage. – Matt]
11. … and Carrie Cox’s dramatic lighting help bring Cotter’s troubled life and art to brilliant but erratic life.
Yes, that was 11. I just couldn’t stand to leave anyone out, he had so many nice things to say. Sure, Michael didn’t like everything about it, but the show is packed floor to ceiling with innovation and action, and we can hardly expect anyone to praise every minute of it. [Except me. I like all of it. – Matt]
We look forward to hearing about your favorite parts. Comment here or drop us a line on the Facebook.
See you at the show!