[NEohioPAL] Berko review: THE ALICE SEED (Cleveland Public Theatre), preview: 'no CHILD' (CPT)

[Alison Garrigan]

I would respectfully like to offer the following correction:  The role of
Paul, the local law-enforcement officer in THE ALICE SEED, is actually
portrayed by Michael Andrews-Hinders, not Joseph Milan.  Joe is indeed in
the play, and is very good--but he is not in this role.

Thank you,
Ali Garrigan

On Sat, Oct 17, 2009 at 10:26 AM, Roy Berko <royberko at yahoo.com> wrote:

> ‘THE ALICE SEED’ at CPT, a conjure-wives tale; ‘no Child’ returns
>
> Roy Berko
>
> (Member, American Theatre Critics Association)
>
> --THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
>
> Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview
> Times
>
> --cool cleveland.com—
>
> ‘THE ALICE SEED,’ now in a world premiere production at Cleveland Public
> Theatre, is a perfect offering for the Halloween season.  On the surface, as
> explained by local playwright Michael Sepesy, “the play is about the
> ferocity of a mother’s love for her child. On another level, it’s about the
> acceptance of loss and mortality.”  In addition, there is a spooky element
> to the goings on.
>
> It is a tale of loss and the powerful desire to hold on to our most
> cherished ones.   In this case, a child who has died of cancer.  A child who
> died in a hospital alone as her exhausted parents had gone home, after a
> long vigil, to get some rest.  The feelings of guilt for abandoning the
> youngster weighs heavily on their hearts.
> To gain a full understanding there are some factors that must be explored.
>  The play takes place in the south.  Some people of that section of the
> country, believe supernatural events affect the lives of real people.  The
> term for these events is laid in the tradition of “conjure-wife” tales.
> Or, as it would be termed in other environs, “old wives tales.”
>
> Questions arise.  Can someone come back from the dead?  What would drive a
> person to make a pact with the devil?  Is the mother delusional?   Can these
> people ever gain internal peace?
>
> Sepesy has said, with a view to potential audience members, “If people like
> suspense, there’s suspense. If they like horror, there are elements of
> horror. If people like lyricalplays and metaphors, or weird, or humor, or
> family dramas, or philosophy, or emotional works — there’s something in the
> play for everyone.”
>
> The CPT production, which is directed by Alison Garrigan, fulfills the
> requirements of the play.  The acting is strong and the production well
> paced.
>
> Jackie Cummins shows the right maniacal focus as the grief and guilt-ridden
> mother.  Mark Mayo, as her husband, stays on course.  Joseph Milan, the
> local law-enforcement officer, who has endured the death of his wife,
> develops a clear characterization.
>
> Trad Burns’ set design sometimes gets in the way of the action.  Combining
> so many settings within a specific confine leads to some confusion.  Maybe
> having a blank stage, with some suggestive setting pieces would have worked
> better.
>
> Capsule judgement:  ‘THE ALICE SEED’ is an interesting piece of theatre
> which will appeal to audiences who are willing to stretch their imaginations
> and accept the unexplainable.
>
> The show runs though October 24 in the James Levin Theatre.
>
> ‘no CHILD’ is back!
>
> Last season I praised ‘no CHILD,’ the one-woman play which captures the
> essence of what it is like to be in the public school system today.  I
> stated, “Nina Domingue so consumes the various roles that it is almost
> impossible to believe that only one, not fifteen performers appear on stage.
>  BRAVO!  BRAVO!  BRAVO!  Go see this show!!”  The over whelming response to
> the show encouraged CPT to revive it.  If you did not see it before, I urge
> you to go!  It is scheduled to run through October 24 in CPT’s intimate
> Bookstore Theatre.
>
> For tickets to CPT productions call 216-631-2727 or go on line to
> www.cptonline.org Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance
> reviews from 2001 through 2009, as well as his consulting and publications
> information, can be found at http://royberko.info
>
> His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to
> subscribe visit
> http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)
>
>
>
>
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-- 
"I'm not creepy...I'm precious.  Oh wait...I guess I AM creepy."
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