Stage Write

  The American Player Theatre is just a quick drive north to Wisconsin. For 45 seasons APT has produced a wide range of shows each summer in both their large outdoor theatre and smaller indoor location. It is always worth the drive. Much Ado About Nothing is the classic enemies-to-lovers story that set the standard for all the thousands that followed it. Merciless barbs are tossed back and forth between Beatrice and Benedick before the pair realize they’re actually in love. This production is set in a seaside town, complete with a maritime theme. Beatrice (Jessica Ko) and Benedick spark like wildfire. Their chemistry is essential for the show to work, and their verbal sparring is a joy to watch. Marcus Truschinski wears his full heart on his sleeve even when jesting as the loveable Benedick. The gentle deception of their friends pushes Beatrice and Benedick together despite their stubborn natures. Not since the film “It Happened One Night” has a sheet and a clothesline been u...

Mark your calendars! The dates and locations of this year's Bard Fest have been announced. The annual festival brings together multiple theatre companies and this year, multiple locations, to present Shakespeare's work. This year's selection includes three popular plays produced by the founding companies, plus a new treat, a youth production. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet                     The Merchant of Venice Directed by Zach Stonerock                                Directed by Doug Powers Catalyst Repertory                                                First Folio Productions Much Ado About Nothing                                ...

You can’t beat Oscar Wilde when it comes to witty dialogue. The playwright mastered the art form of clever repartee and The Importance of Being Earnest is the best example of that talent. EclecticPond’s recent production of this fun comedy demonstrated this playful banter perfectly. The show is set in the 1990s instead of the 19th century and the modern take is a fun twist. Two bachelors, Jack and Algernon, both find themselves pretending to be someone they are not in order to get what they want. Their actions cause confusion and cat fights when two ladies, Gwendolen and Cecily find themselves falling for the fictional “Earnest.” The two women steal the show. Cecily Cardew is played by the sassy Jaddy Ciucci. She flirts and sighs as any good infatuated young lady should. Lisa Anderson’s fawning and shallow Gwendolen Fairfax is just as hilarious. Though Algernon Moncrieff (Patrick Mullen) and Jack Worthing (Carey Shea) are both fun, it’s the women’s performances that partic...