Posts Tagged ‘katie leemon’

PPA Alumni Reflect, Ponder, and Educate in Engaging “As Told by Us”

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

As Told By Us
PPA Alumni Theatre Company
November 17, 2024

PPA Alumni Theatre Company recently came to Greenfinch Theater & Dive to tell their stories in the form of two intriguing and engaging one-act plays reflecting personal relationships and experiences. It was an entertaining and sometimes educational mix of comedy and drama, featuring some memorable performances.  Here are some brief thoughts:

“Go Before I Do”
by Hazel McIntire
Directed by Eric Satterfield

Katie Leemon
Photo by RayBay Creates
PPA Alumni Theatre Company

In this story, Katie Leemon as the bartender gives the audience thoughts about life and drink recipes before a Daughter (Jocelyn Padilla) and Father (David Nonemaker) enter the bar and engage in occasionally tense conversation about their views of life, relationships, city vs. small town living, and more. It’s an intriguing relationship, with the idea being that the daughter doesn’t necessarily realize what she can learn from her father until it may be too late, although the story is a bit talky.

All three players turn in engaging performances with Leemon’s Bartender being the obvious standout. The staging is simple, with a fairly basic set featuring the bar and a table and chairs that serve the story well, and good work from lighting and set designer Bess Moynihan in establishing and maintaining the mood of the production.

 

“Don’t Be a Hero, Thank You”
by Katie Leemon
Directed by Rachel Tibbetts

LaWanda Jackson
Photo by RayBay Creates
PPA Alumni Theatre Company

This play was the highlight of the production for me, dealing with the complex topic of re-entry into the outside world after release from prison with humor and occasional poignancy, and featuring a thoroughly winning performance by LaWanda Jackson as Kate, who is adjusting to her new life and reflecting on her time while incarcerated. There’s also fun use of projections by Eric Satterfield to illustrate Kate’s points that cover topics of maintaining friendships, dating, getting used to life on the “outside” and more. There’s fun recurring segment about “How to Make a Prison Christmas Tree” that runs throughout the play, as well. 

Jackson is excellent, plain and simple, with the right blend of comic timing and credibility in the more serious moments. There’s also a strong turn from Kristen Strom in a variety or roles, including one of Kate’s best friends from prison, Sara, who is struggling with her own unique issues after getting out. This is an engaging and educational show with a strong sense of pacing and excellent use of the set and props. It’s an enlightening look at the experience of incarceration for those who haven’t experienced it, and I imagine it would be especially relatable for those who have. 

Overall, As Told By Us was an engaging, memorable theatrical experience featuring memorable themes and performances, and working especially well at the Greenfinch venue. It offers insights into aspects of the human experience that not everyone may have lived, but that are important to know for purposes of empathy and understanding. 

 

 

 

 

 

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SATE’s Aphra Behn Festival is an Entertaining Showcase

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »

8th Annual Aphra Behn Festival
SATE Ensemble Theatre
April 4, 2024

Image: SATE Ensemble Theatre

SATE’s 8th Aphra Behn Festival ran at the Chapel this past weekend, and it was a lot of fun, with a large, enthusiastic audience and a slate of promising plays with strong casting and direction. Here are a few thoughts on this year’s featured shows:

“The The”
by Anne Valentino
Directed by Michelle Hand

This clever play has my vote for best of the evening, with an intriguing premise, compelling characters, and strong performances. Meghan Baker plays Allie, who works for a hotel chain’s corporate office in the “hotel naming” department. She’s been sent to investigate a West Virginia hotel, The Thisben, to get local reaction concerning whether or not the hotel should be able to keep the “The” in its name. Allie is also an aspiring photographer whose work her husband, Jason (David Cooperstein) often belittles. 

The performances are good here, with the star of the show being Keating in a variety of roles at The Thisben–including the desk clerk, the manager, the maid, and the daycare director–who may or may not all be the same person. Keating’s comic timing and versatility are impeccable, and the highlight of the show. Michelle Hand’s thoughtful direction is also a plus here, and the script is fun, although the pre-West Virginia moments lag a bit. 

“Left to Lose”
Written and Directed by Stella Plein

This one is more of a sci-fi offering, presented as a staged reading. The three performers do their best, led by Angela Chan as lead character Ezra and as “The Radio”, although the distinction between the two parts is not always clear. As Ezra deals with a personal loss involving a national tragedy, Deniel Lee as “The Public” interjects reactions to the events and Ivy Liao as Ezra’s husband, astronaut Hayou, provides moments of pathos. It’s a promising story, but I think more could be done in terms of clarity and definition of the characters.

“Run Run Run as Fast as You Can”
by Tessa Van Vlerah and Dylan Staudte
Directed by Katie Leemon

The writers of this play appear to have been influenced to some degree by Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, with its portrayal of super-villains in a comic way. The premise has said villains in a support group led by Limburger (Andre Eslamian), challenging them to examine their lives and reform. Sienna, the fox (Sam Hayes) is somewhat snarky, but Royal Pea (LaWanda Jackson) is even more surly, as well as being snooty and entitled. All three players give well-timed comic performances, and the staging is energetic and memorable. Kayla Lindsay’s costumes–strong throughout the various plays–are especially outstanding here.

“The Croning”
by Margeau Steinau
Directed by Abigail Greaser

It’s a party! Or is it a fight? Well, it’s kind of both, as three personifications of feminine archetypes–the Maiden (Anna Rimar), the Mother (Katie Puglisi), and the Crone (Jodi Stockton) engage in a struggle as the aging Crone tries to take stock in her life and integrate the three characters into one. This is the most symbolic of the plays at the festival, and it highlights Erik Kuhn’s lighting as well as featuring energetic staging by director Abigail Greaser and three fun performances, as well as good amount of confetti and glitter! It’s a memorable way to conclude the festival, which also incorporated readings of poems by writers associated with Prison Performing Arts.

Even though this is the 8th annual festival, it’s the first time I’ve attended, and I’m glad I did. It’s a compelling showcase for its playwrights, directors, and performers, and I look forward to seeing what the 9th festival has to offer. 

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