When Lilacs Last

By Monikha Reyes

Set in South Philadelphia in 1955, When Lilacs Last is a coming-of-age tale of two boys struggling with their sexuality and the bigotry in society. The naming of the Walt Whitman Bridge has created a revolt in the community due to the poet’s “revolting homosexual imagery.” At the same time, Brendan, the jock, needs to understand the poetry of Walt Whitman in order to pass English. He seeks the help of Jackie, the smartest kid in school, who gets bullied for his interest in literature. Linked by poetry, the boys must suffer through their fathers’ abuse while trying to understand their own feelings.

The acting overall is unsatisfying. The actors seem more concerned with being onstage than with the play itself. They don’t listen to each other or allow another person’s lines to affect them. The movement seems rehearsed and it is distracting to watch the actors give way to their arbitrary movement. The fourth wall is often broken by the actors, which becomes uncomfortable to watch at times because it is clear how nervous the actors are onstage – some avoid eye contact and fiddle with their costumes, while others play with their nails or fingers.

In between scenes, the actors seated in the front row recite Whitman’s poetry. However, more often than not, the lines come out forced, making it seem as though the actors do not know the meaning behind them.

At times, the play itself is unbearable. The relationship between the two boys and their fathers is a bit over-the-top, and the scenes that are not as intolerable are too long, repeating the same pushing and pulling between the actors.

I would not recommend this play. By the end, I felt unmoved by the performance; it left me hanging, and not in a good way. As an audience member, the time invested did not match the return in the slightest.

Schedule and ticket information here.

BUNKED! A New Musical

By Monikha Reyes

To top off my FringeNYC experience this year, I went to see BUNKED! A New Musical. Allow me to review this show in two words: PURE FUN.

For five camp counselors at Lake Timberlake, this summer will be the last hoorah before having to face their first steps towards adulthood. Oliver, openly gay and with a fierce wit and big dreams to match, and Anabel, the “hot-mess” sister who is just aching to break out of her prim and proper shell, are the first to arrive. The two then meet Stewart, who is tired of following his parents’ wishes, Carmen, who, underneath her touch exterior and resistant behavior is struggling with herself and an all too recent misfortunate event. Last to be introduced is Max, who has nothing but warm thoughts when it comes to camp. Each character has a unique back-story, allowing the audience to truly care.

This musical has the whole package – the songs are creative and catchy, the storyline is entertaining, and the actors are outstanding. BUNKED! is a worthwhile show – you’ll be sorry if you miss it.

*Plog Pick

Schedule and ticket information here.

In Loco Parentis

By Monikha Reyes

Fringe NYC is like a basket of apples: Some may be sour and bitter, while others may be sweet and ripe. You never know what you’re truly going to get. Luckily, In Loco Parentis is a sweet pick.

When a teacher is forced to help a student after-school due to an uncomfortable subject brought up during class, they become closer, inciting rumors that may or may not be true. Even before the play was over, I knew it was excellent.

The lines are quirky and funny at some points, and meaningful the next. The conversation between characters are true to the play and the time - so much so that I can picture people I know saying the same thing. For example, one of my favorite characters, the teacher, Mr. Browning, is definitely a cross between the TV character House and my own English teacher. The characters have their own personality - they aren't two-dimension - and the acting is a treat to watch.

The plot is refreshing. How many plays do you know show the taboo of a teacher-student relationship circled around college, death and Hamlet? Whether you like the play or not, by the end, you will step out of the theatre with a better knowledge of Hamlet.

In Loco Parentis is a must-see, two-thumbs-up show. Every second is worth watching.

*Plog Pick

Schedule and ticket information here.

Our Town

by Monikha Reyes

Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, has been performed time by many theatre companies and schools alike. This play is a classic, known for its slice of life of the early twentieth century. Depending on the performers, it can either be a thrill to watch or an unbearable experience. Luckily, this production of Our Town was absolute fun.

In three acts, the audience gets a view of the everyday lives of the townspeople, focusing in on George Gibbs (the son of the town’s doctor), and Emily Webb (the daughter of the newspaper editor), and their families. We see the milkman and his heifer, the newspaper boy, the drunken choir director, and the other townspeople who make this play colorful. Our narrator, the Stage Manager, guides the play along, pointing out facts and observations about the world of the play that we might overlook.

The play is always done with the minimum of props. That means that all the plates, cupboards, and food are all not there - that is, unless you’re really into the play. However, this version had a surprising twist in the end that was something I have never seen before - it took me aback.

The beginning of the first act can be a bit tedious, if only for the language (keep in mind the play takes place at the start of the 1900's). And though the speech is old, the wardrobe is modern-day.

I would encourage play-lovers to see this classic - it’s entertaining, fun, sad and happy -everything you need in a great play.

TICKETS: THRU SEPTEMBER 12th ONLY! $20 student rush • Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St.

Fences

By Monikha Reyes

For me, Fences can be summarized simply—a father doesn’t approve of his son’s interest in football. Denzel Washington plays that father, Troy Maxson, who is a garbage collector in Pittsburgh in the 1950’s. He once dreamed of having a career in baseball, but by the time black players were admitted into the major leagues, he was too old to join. In order to “protect” his son from disappointment, he attempts to prevent him from following a similar path.

Family is a crucial part of Troy’s life. However, finding a balance between his home life and job causes him grief—so much so that he begins to stray from his path as the perfect husband and father. He is the type of man who wants to fence in his family, which only backfire.

When intermission came, I blinked in surprise, realizing that the world on stage wasn’t real. The actors stay true to their roles in the play and the dialogue flows naturally.

If you can handle rough language, you will enjoy Fences. 

TICKETS: thru 7/11, $26.50 standing room only • Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th Street

The Understudy

By Monikha Reyes

What if...you were always second best? 

When I received a call from a distressed editor who needed a replacement to see a show at the last minute, I was hesitant; it was my day off and all I wanted to do was rest. However, by 1:42 PM I was at the theatre, and as Harry (played by Justin Kirk) began to speak, my other thoughts disappeared. That’s when I knew that this play was going to be good. 

The Understudy follows Harry, the struggling actor; Jake, the movie star; and Roxanne, the stage manager. When Harry arrives for his first rehearsal as Jake’s understudy, no one is more shocked than Roxanne and with good reason—she and Harry were once engaged, until he left without a word two weeks before the wedding! Add a stoned techie (whom we never see) and a bit of Kafka, and you’ve got a recipe for a delicious disaster.

The relationships between the three very different characters unfold right before your eyes. The “mistakes” of the lights (including a blackout) and sound only add to the mix—the more mess-ups there are, the more you laugh.

The Understudy is a joy to watch and leaves you satisfied. Even though I began as an “understudy critic,” I felt an ache in my chest as I left the theatre because I wanted to watch the whole thing again!

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: thru Jan. 17 • 1/2 price student rush • Roundabout Theatre, Laura Pels Theatre, 111 W. 46th St.

County of Kings

by Monikha Reyes

The audience speaks in high murmurs, excited about the show that has yet to begin. Suddenly, to our right, Lemon Anderson silences the crowd, spitting out the first lyrics to the show. All eyes are on him as he makes his way to the stage, demanding attention as he begins the tale of his childhood.

 
County of Kings is a one-man, hip-hop, coming-of-age memoir. Lemon Anderson describes growing up with his family, the gossiping old women on his block, having sex and selling drugs. He brings close to home how easy it is to fall from the straight path when growing up with negative influences. By the end, we realized that a lesson was learned through every bad decision, and that every ordeal led to the man we saw before us. Without all of his experiences, whether harsh or tender, Lemon Anderson would never have entered the Def Poetry Jam, which started his career as a poet.

The music has a great beat that made many people bob their head in unison. It’s a treat to hear blasts from the pasts as familiar songs flood from the speakers, reinforcing the decade onstage. Quick narration keeps things moving, leaving not even a yawn to be stifled.

County of Kings is definitely a show worth seeing. It will leave you with a new outlook on life.

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: $25 tickets, Culture Project, Public Theater, 425 Lafayette.

Penumbra

by Monikha Reyes

The lights dims as the audience hears the voice of a little girl announcing the show and smiles echo through the crowd. A telephone rings and is answered by a woman who tells her son to take it, and that it is his father. Anthony Fascious Martinez runs onstage, acting like a child, excited to finally speak to his father. And as he rushes through the details of his day at school, the line is cut. And so begins Penumbra.

A one-man Hip Hop musical, Fascious takes you through his childhood. Raised by his mother alone in the Bronx, he deals with death and pain. Through his music and acting, he translates to the audience the ache and the hurt he feels for his grandfather, for his father, and for everyone and everything else he has lost.

Through rap, though hardly ever rhyming, the beats that resonate from the speakers fill the theatre. The songs blend with his words perfectly and the lighting and sound effects only add to the atmosphere. I felt drawn into the story, sitting at the edge of my seat waiting for the next word.

I recommend this show to anyone who would like to see something new and different. I guarantee that this show is unlike anything that is out there and that you will be able to relate to at least one part. There is swearing and some sexual behavior, but rather than hinder the show, it only strengthens the performance.

Amusing, powerful, and definitely memorable, if you’re looking for something refreshingly original, come see Penumbra.

http://www.fascious.com/

Shrek the Musical

By Monikha Reyes

Have you ever…felt like you weren’t normal?

Shrek the Musical brings out the child in all of us. Sticking closely to the popular book and movies, this modern fairytale shows the importance of never judging a human, animal or ogre by its exterior. Shrek is forced to rescue Princess Fiona in order to keep his swamp to himself and on his journey learns to accept himself and the creatures around him.

Princess Fiona, the alternative damsel in distress played by Sutton Foster, is quite a character. She tries to be the perfect princess by sitting still and looking pretty, but all she really wants to do is burp and fart. She feels comfortable and happy with Shrek, but these feels conflict with what she’s always believed.

Sutton Foster took a moment to talk to PxP about her role in the new musical.

What is the message of Shrek?

Shrek is about not judging a book by its cover. It’s all about misconceptions – the big bad wolf isn’t really bad, the wicked witch isn’t really wicked and the princess isn’t all she seems. It’s all about embracing who are you are on the inside and letting your freak flag fly!

How does Princess Fiona define beauty?

Fiona struggles with this. She’s raised as a princess and to believe all of the storybooks that she grows up reading in her tower. It’s confusing for her. She thinks that she has to be this one way, but yet constantly struggles with it. By meeting and falling in love with Shrek, she learns to truly accept who she is on the inside. Shrek says a beautiful line to her at the end of the show:

“Once upon a time to look like us would be a pity,
But now we know that beautiful ain’t always pretty.”

She finally realizes that to be truly beautiful, you don’t have to look a certain way. You can be beautiful in many ways.

Can you relate to Fiona in that way?

Absolutely! I think we all can. As women, we’re surrounded by magazines telling us what’s supposed to be beautiful or sexy or attractive or desirable, and we have to work very hard to find strength and our individuality and to be confident with who we are and what we look like.

Being an actor, people have preconceptions of what I’m supposed to look like or what I’m supposed to be like, and I’m all about just trying to be as authentic to myself as possible.

What is it like to burp and fart onstage?

It’s always been a dream of mine. My favorite part of it is the way that the audience responds. They often can’t believe that it’s happening! It’s really fun just to be able to tilt your butt.

I think that scene’s pretty ingenious. I just love that it becomes a fart-off. It begins as a challenge, but Shrek and Fiona realize what they have in common and fall in love with each other. It’s so ridiculous, but pretty great.

Did you see the movie before you started to work on Shrek?

I’ve only seen the first one.

Has that influenced your interpretation of Princess Fiona?

Definitely. I feel like these characters were created so iconically, so my job was to honor a character already created. At the same time, going from an animated film to a live theatrical production, we had a lot of creative license to really make the characters our own. It was nice to have a template to bounce off of while bringing the characters to physical life.

What do you think makes a hero?

I think a true hero is someone who’s true to themselves and true to their friends and is kind. That’s what Shrek is. It’s not about scaling tours or fighting dragons – it’s about trying and dreaming big and being authentic.

What advice do you have for young artists?

Take as many opportunities as you can. Never stop learning. Learn from your peers and also from your teachers. Be kind to the people you work with. Be open to new ideas, new ways of thinking. Always be really willing to learn.

How to see the show: $26.50 lottery rush at M&M’s World, 1600 Broadway; $36.50 student rush • Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway. For schedule and more information, visit www.shrekthemusical.com

Kindness

By Monikha Reyes

Have you ever...had to care for a caregiver?

Kindness begins with the backside of Dennis. He is watching porn and masturbating in a hotel room in midtown Manhattan. His mom, Maryanne, hears his screaming and runs in. Talk about awkward.

Maryanne has cancer and wants one last weekend of fun with Dennis. He is a bratty teenager and caring son—a very difficult combination. Maryanne leaves and Frances, a stranger from the hotel, sneaks in. She brings secrets and danger and weaves her way into Dennis and Maryanne’s lives.

Dennis is a disturbing yet vulnerable character. It was heartbreaking to watch him care for his mother. Dennis is responsible for a lot of Maryanne’s medical care. Their relationship is different from the traditional form of parent and child, but one that is pretty common today. Dennis has a strained relationship with his father, who is a gambler and doesn’t see Dennis frequently.

You don’t want to miss Kindness. I guarantee you that there will be at least one moment that shocks you.

Kindness by Adam Rapp at Playwrights Horizons.

$15 student rush tickets. Visit www.playwrightshorizons.com for schedule and more information.