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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14pt"><b><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"><br></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14pt;color:rgb(153,51,153)"><b><span style="font-family:Palatino"><br>
</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14pt;color:rgb(153,51,153)"><b><span style="font-family:Palatino"><br>
</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14pt;color:rgb(153,51,153)"><b><span style="font-family:Palatino">VIBRATOR is stimulating on Cleveland Playhouses
Second Stage </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14pt;color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14pt;color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14pt;color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Palatino">(Member, American
Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">As reviewers and special guests came up to the
media table in the lobby of the Allen Theatre, before the opening night
performance of <i style>IN THE NEXT ROOM (or the
vibrator play)</i>, they were given a bag of goodies supplied by the shows
sponsor, Ambiance, which bills itself as the store for lovers.<span style> </span>Without going into detail about the
gifts, the contents were a perfect hint of what was to come once the lights
went up on CPHs Second Stage.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">During the late nineteenth century, terms like
hysteria and frigidity were used to describe maladies associated with the
weaker sex.<span style> </span>Everyone, from
Thomas Edison to Sigmund Freud to the medical profession, jumped into the fray
trying to get women to transform into their finer selves.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Without knowing it, the men were acknowledging
puritanical attitudes, which deemed that women were to be subservient to their
husbands, and their duty was to make sure their husbands were satisfied.<span style> </span>Male controlled views of life resulted
in females not reaching emotional or sexual climax and, therefore, were in a
state of constant frustration.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">It is ironic that now, in the twenty-first century,
women are still being controlled and demonized by a political system in which
respect for the female body and the ability to control their own destinies are
being subjugated by religious groups and a political party.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Sarah Ruhls <i style>IN
THE NEXT ROOM (or the vibrator play)</i> is an often funny, emotional and
revealing tale which examines female sexual desire, motherhood, breastfeeding,
jealousy, personal discovery and the rigidities of society.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The setting is a prosperous town outside of New
York City in the 1880s.<span style> </span>Dr.
Givings is a young doctor who has a fascination with technology and believes
through physical and mechanical vaginal manipulation he can cure women of their
moodiness, hysteria and depression. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Catherine, Givings wife, has recently given
birth to a baby, but does not have enough natural milk supply to satisfy the
child.<span style> </span>A wet nurse is hired.<span style> </span>The baby bonds quickly with the caring,
emotionally and sexually satisfied, Elizabeth.<span style> </span>Catherine, not only is frustrated from a lack of attention from
her husband, but is now in a state of having no outlet for her satisfaction of
emotional and female needs.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">In the meantime, Sabrina Daldry comes to Dr.
Givings for help.<span style> </span>She transforms
under the care of the doctor and Annie, a nurse-midwife.<span style> </span>Sabrina and Catherine soon form
an alliance to discover why their lives have been so angst filled.<span style> </span>Part of the reason, they believe,
includes that their husbands creep quietly into their beds at night and only use
the missionary position, thus satisfying themselves but leaving their wives
unfulfilled.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">A free love painter, snow (the symbol of love),
making snow angels, some level of awareness on the part of men of the needs of
women, the binding restrictions of the female clothing of the era, use of the electronic
device on a male, sage advice from a wet nurse, and a piano interlude, all come
together to provide<span style> </span>heightened
awareness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Though the play is a little too long, especially
the protracted second act, and the staging of the ending is a big over the top,
CPHs production, under the direction of Laura Kepley is well done.<span style> </span>The show is well-paced, the acting is
top notch, the stage set by Michael Raiford is visually stimulating, Michael
Bolls lighting creates the proper moods, and David Kay Mickelsens costume
designs, especially the womens clothing, are era-correct and breathtaking. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Nisi Sturgis walks the fine line between angst
and giddy with precision as Catherine Givings.<span style> </span>Jeremiah Wiggins, as the educated yet clueless Dr. Givings,
is excellent.<span style> </span>Gail Rastorfer makes
the uptight nurse, Annie, a symbol for the need for women to act on their
impulses.<span style> </span>Birgit Huppuch is
delightful as Sabrina Daldry, transitioning perfectly from hysterical to
freed from frustration.<span style> </span>Donald
Carrier is so very proper as Mr. Daldry.<span style> </span>Rachel Leslie, as the Black wet nurse, Elizabeth, develops a
character that clearly displays a satisfied woman who, relieved of the
Victorian white persons attitudes, responds to life on a real level.<span style> </span>Zac Hoogendyk gives the right
free-spirited attitude to painter Leo Irving.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Be aware that the play contains sexual
reenactments, full male nudity, and explicit language.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">CAPSULE
JUDGMENT:<span style> </span>IN THE NEXT ROOM (or the
vibrator play) is filled with laughter, views of the needs of women, naοve
treatment of the weaker sex by men, excellent acting, and a beautiful set and
costumes.<span style> </span>This is a production
well worth seeing!!!</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><span style="font-family:Palatino">IN THE NEXT ROOM (or the vibrator play) runs through May 13
at the Brooks Theatre in the Second Stage of the CPHs Allen Theatre.<span style> </span>For tickets call 216-241-6000 or go to
<a href="http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com">www.clevelandplayhouse.com</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)"><br><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color:rgb(153,51,153)">
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</p><p style="color:rgb(153,51,153)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Lucida Console"">Roy
Berko's commentaries and reviews appear on
<a href="http://coolcleveland.com">coolcleveland.com</a>,<a href="http://neohiopal.com">neohiopal.com</a>,<a href="http://artsamerica.com">artsamerica.com</a>,</span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(153,51,153)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Lucida Console"">and
<a href="http://broadwaynews.com">broadwaynews.com</a>.<span style> </span>His blog is:
<a href="http://www.royberko.info">www.royberko.info</a></span></p><p style="color:rgb(153,51,153)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Lucida Console""></span></p>
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