The fall season for SDA was one filled with large projects and difficult plays. While there were moments in every show that worked and showed the kind of acting the School of Dramatic arts is teaching, the majority of shows struggled to capture and communicate a universal message. Men on Boats was a satire that did not know it, Amsterdam was performance art focused on … [Read more...] about An SDA Retrospective
Barbarians Review
The School of Dramatic Arts’ rendition of Gorky’s Barbarians was, on many levels, a failure. It is noteworthy that the play is not nearly Gorky’s best work to begin with, but even so, the production suffered form a myriad of other factors. The directorial vision for the show seemed confused, missing some key aspects of characters, and the actors struggled as a result. The … [Read more...] about Barbarians Review
Mad Forest Review
Focusing in on the Romanian revolution of 1989, Mad Forest brought together stories of people living through tumultuous times with corrupt and ever changing governments. Told in a sort of tableau form, actors would break off into smaller stories as the characters slowly came together to form a cohesive vision. These stories focused on anything from family relations … [Read more...] about Mad Forest Review
Amsterdam Review
The production of Amsterdam had numerous problems and some redeeming qualities. Overall, the show has a strange place at the School of Dramatic Arts as it is not so much theatre as performance art. As such, it is easy to wonder about the educational value of doing such plays at an educational institution. Aside from this, the play starts on a strange note when the voice … [Read more...] about Amsterdam Review
Trouble in Mind Review
Trouble in Mind is a play that focuses on a number of issues pertaining to race, set in a Broadway theatre during the civil rights movement. As the white director Mr. Manners directs a production of Chaos in Belleville, the largely African American cast starts to question the meanings and motivations of the play. Wiletta, an experienced actress, especially struggles … [Read more...] about Trouble in Mind Review