Curtain Going Up

CURTAIN GOING UP
Theatre Reviews
Jason, an Iraq War veteran turned author, has married an Arab girl named Madeeha (likely a reference to Jason and Medea from Jason & The Argonauts), whom he rescued in the war, while his childhood friend Lynn, an artist, is married to Arab-American poet Amir, who strongly decries the US's invasion of Iraq. As the plot twists and turns, the cracks in their relationships show, tempers flare, allegations of literary fraud and adultery are exchanged, and political views clash, though they manage to work out their differences in the end. As Jason, Quinlan Corbett portrays a frighteningly accurate depiction of a shell-shocked veteran, complete with a PTSD nightmare scene. Sydney Andrews, who plays Lynn, has matured significantly since I last saw her on stage (at least three years ago), but still maintains her ingenuous qualities. Monika Jolly, as Madeeha, has similar charm, but with a darker and slightly sinister vibe. Being a preview, there were still a few kinks to iron out. I give this production 4 stars out of 5.
Peter Wolfram-Aduan
Violet's Attic: A Grand Ball for Wicked Dolls is Cafe Nordo's obligatory horror comedy for the Halloween season. Director Erin Brindley cites The Twilight Zone as a major inspiration, but the story also alludes heavily to The Wizard of Oz, with an ordinary person being transported to a strange world and seeking to return home, in this case a problem child counselor shrunk to doll size by a magic Jack-in-the-box in a toy-filled attic, as well as Alice in Wonderland with the tea party motif. Opal Peachey (a founding member who I've known since before the foundation of the company) and Maddie Brantz (Nordo's dining room manager, who has previously acted at the Seattle Shakespeare Company and in Pullman Vs. Paxton's Heathers: The Musical) were the perfect pair for the lead roles of the twin doll sisters, beautiful as ever in spite of their uncanny valley-ish doll makeup. Filipina multi-discipline actress Christi Cruz splendidly executes the role of the shrunken Counselor Osmund. The other doll characters include a Ronald McDonald-esque mommy and daddy clown, an aspiring sailor who frequently pulls out his stuffing, and a wind-up ballet dancer, who is also the main singer for the musical numbers.  As the plot progresses, we find that the dolls are more human than we thought. The cuisine was appropriately themed after doll party food items, such as oversized Ritz crackers, candy button spreads and savory bonbons, "saltwater taffy" pork medallion, and cream cheese & jelly tea sandwiches. If you haven't been to Cafe Nordo before, this is an excellent introduction.
Peter Wolfram-Aduan

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