Stage Write

 Don’t let the comically large nose fool you, this one is a heartbreaker. The Indiana Repertory Theatre’s minimalist production of the classic Cyrano features just three actors. It’s a quiet romance about Cyrano (Ryan Artzberger) and his unspoken love for Roxane. There are a few sword fights, coordinated by Jeb Burris who pulls double duty playing six different characters in the show. Jo Roets’ adaptation clocks in at just 1 hour and 20 minutes, with no intermission. Melisa Pereyra truly shines as Roxane. Despite the hurdles of a virtual viewing, her passion, fear, and grief radiate off the screen. Her real-life spouse, Jeb Burris, makes for a convincing partner in their scenes together. Linda Pisano's lovely work on costume design allows believability as Burris navigates between all of his roles. Russell Metheny’s set design is functional but sparse, lacking the usual detail of an IRT production.  A note on the streaming experience. The show is $30 and you have a week to watc...

"The middle takes guts. The middle is where you go to sit down with monsters." The Indiana Repertory Theatre's current Upperstage production, The Originalist, explores that middle, introducing us to a fictional relationship between Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and a liberal law clerk. The play is about the absolutely essential nature of debate. Having the freedom to openly discuss political issues is something we often take for granted in our country as we get lost in the fight. We forget that the person you disagree with doesn't have to be the enemy.  The play features two incredibly charismatic leads. Henry Woronicz is Scalia, the conservative judge famous for his love of opera and passionate dissents. Woronicz revels in the role. He is combative and playful, even when the discussion is heated he doesn't lose his wry sense of humor. Ayanna Bria Bakari is his counterpart Cat, whose desire to better understand the other end of the political spectrum open...

The world undoubtedly needs a bit more swashbuckling. The Indiana Repertory Theatre opens its 45th season with the classic tale of The Three Musketeers. The show is adventurous and hilarious. It never takes itself too seriously, especially in the first act, and it's incredibly fun because of that.   Jeb Burris plays D’Artagnan with an unending stream of earnestness. He's captivating as a young man devoted to king, country, and the woman he loves. Milady de Winter (Elizabeth Laidlaw) is a classic femme fatale. She is haughty and dangerous, and completely enthralling. Ryan Artzberger, David Folsom, and Nathan Hosner play the title musketeers as Athos, Porthos, and Aramis respectively. They are moody, reflective or jovial in all the right measures. In one scene Artzberger makes a murder feel almost like a prayer. The show is directed by Henry Woronicz, who starred in the one-man show An Iliad in 2013 . This is his first time directing at the IRT and it's not a di...