Stage Write

A one-woman show starring two of Indy’s finest leading ladies, Wild Horses is a fascinating concept with a big payoff. Constance Macy and  Jen Johansen rotate nights for their performances in the coming-of-age story. T he one-act play flies by because it feels like chatting with an old friend who’s regaling you with stories from her past. From first crushes to alcohol concoctions only the underaged would dare to drink, the show captures the electric, reckless feel of youth. The night I attended, Johansen was in the driver's seat and she  kept up the break-neck pace for the entire 80-minute show. Solo shows rest entirely on the shoulders of the actor and  Johansen was perfect for the role. She imbued each scene with humor and heartbreak. She was full of energy and captured the emotional peaks and valleys of adolescence.   She skips easily between half a dozen impressions and voices as she tells the story of the summer when she was 13 and the world was both full of exc...

Three men claiming to be Sherlock Holmes are being held in an asylum on an island. The famous detective's trusty sidekick, Dr. Watson, must make his way to the remote isle to identify the true Sherlock. The Indiana Repertory Theatre's season opener is a twisty mystery that keeps you guessing until the final moments. It takes a minute for the show to hit its rhythm, but it's worth settling in to wait and see how the identities are revealed.   The set is one of the most extraordinary the IRT has created. Its gothic design layers stairs and ledges deep into the stage. There is even an aperture that opens and closes to reveal different characters and gives the audience the feeling of being inside of a camera at times. Kudos to Robert Mark Morgan for its creation.  Each of the three Sherlocks have a unique take on the role. One is classically clever, two is grief-stricken and emotional, and the third is literally catatonic. The seven-person cast keeps the show hummi...

"Womanhood shouldn't always mean motherhood." The line from Tom Horan's new play about the invention of the birth control pill is sure to start some interesting conversations. Horan is the Phoenix Theatre's playwright-in-residence and this is the world premiere of The Pill. The show is performed by an all-female quintet of characters, including the infamous Margaret Sanger. The play packs a powerful punch and I was left reeling with the realization of just how far we've come. With the invention of birth control, women truly gained control of their own lives. I loved seeing the messiness of the process. Horan doesn't present it as an easy, quick path to success. Instead it's a fight with red-tape issues, funding problems and FDA hoops that must be jumped through. These things aren't exhausting to watch though, because he tempers the hassles with humor, sprinkling in clever lines. It's obviously well-researched, but instead of overwhelmin...

In a post-electric world with no television, smartphones or computers, what does a group of survivors talk about? They rehash old plots of Simpsons’ episodes of course! This comedy tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world through the eyes of a small traveling band of people. It’s a strange show, unlike anything else you’ll probably see this year. It provides a surreal mix of humor and poignant reflection.  The group, huddled around a campfire, finds a sense of connectivity in their shared memories of pop culture. They also try to keep the semblance of normalcy in the formality of simple tasks. By doing things “properly” there’s the illusion of calm in the chaos. The cast is so in synch. They convey an instant sense of comradery when you first meet them. Eric Olsen, Jen Johansen, Eryn Bowser, Paul Collier Hansen, Paeton Chavis, Rob Johansen, and Ryan O’Shea work so well together. They provide our only view into this brand new world, but through their interactions we...