SOME ENCHANTED IVE’NING
An Evening of Short
Plays by David Ives
Directed by Eric Levy
and Kathleen Vaught
Produced by New
Voices DFW @ Cox Playhouse in Plano
New Voices, formed by Eric
Levy and Kathleen Vaught, presents Some
Enchanted Ive’ning as its debut production focused on creating a completely
different theatrical experience focused on the process, leading to performance
as a communal function of theatre. Kudos for an impressive start! Playwright,
screenwriter, and novelist David Ives was referred to as “the maestro of the
short form” in a New York Times article in 1997. New Voices has selected six of
his short plays for this production and assembled a talented company to present
them in various stages of production.
Act 1 opens with Time Flies, directed by Levy. Jake Shanahan (Horace)
and Sara Parisa (May) are a couple of mayflies flirting
with courtship. The future is buzzing with possibility until a poorly chosen
documentary starting David Attenborough
(Grant Palmore) is selected for
viewing. Clever costumes and the actors’ physical use of them add to the humor
of this very funny short play. Bolero,
directed by Vaught, follows. Molly Bower and Eric Levy play a sleeping couple awakened when the wife hears
noises. A familiar concept that goes in a totally different direction, Bolero is thought-provoking and
leaves the audience unsure exactly what happened. The final performance in Act
One is Variations on the Death of
Trotsky, directed by Levy.
Martin Mussey plays Trotsky, with Heather Shin playing Mrs.
Trotsky. Jake Shanahan plays Ramon, Trotsky’s assassin. Ives uses a repetitive scene with
multiple endings as Trotsky, as well
as the audience, explores his death.
Act 2 opens with Mere Mortals, directed by Vaught. On a very cleverly staged
skyscraper in the clouds Joe Barr (Joe), Martin Mussey (Charlie),
and Grant Palmore (Frank) are construction workers enjoying
their lunches and shooting the breeze. In Words, Words, Words, directed by Levy, three chimpanzees are caged with typewriters by an unseen
scientist who theorizes that if the chimps type for an extended period of time,
one of them will eventually write Hamlet.
The scientist has named the chimps for authors, so Kathleen Vaught is Milton,
Megan Tormey is Swift, and Sara Parisa
is Kafka. As in the opening Time Flies, clever costumes and
the physical comedy skills of the actors made this very funny. Act Two finishes
with Sure Thing, directed
by Vaught. Joe Barr (Bill) and Molly Bower (Betty) are a random couple who meet at a restaurant. Ives repeats the technique employed in Variations on the Death of Trotsky here
as we see a series of similar conversations between Bill and Betty that seem
to end and then rewind so the end can change. Sometimes funny, sometimes
awkward, but with the needed happy ending, Sure Thing was a good choice for the end of the production.
Join the cast and crew of Some
Enchanted Ive’ning this weekend to enjoy being part of this new venture.
Actors, designers, and audience members will feel part of this communal theater
experience, and will want to be part of future ventures with New Voices.
The show continues through April 22 at the Cox Playhouse, 1517 H Avenue Plano,
Tx 75074. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm, with a matinee
on Saturday at 3 pm. Tickets are $15, and are available at the door. Contact NewVoicesDFW@gmail.com
for more information.
Audience Rating: PG-13, adult situations and language
Accessible Seating:
Available
Hearing Devices:
Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing:
Not Available
Production Sound
Level: Comfortable volume level
Noises or Visuals to
Prepare for: N/A
Running Time: 2
hours including 15 minute intermission
Experience Live Theater!
Glynda Welch
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