Press & Reviews
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NIGHTS OF NOIR
“In a theater scene dominated by Iraq and dysfunctional families, this refreshingly light-hearted little satire skips along, dropping puns and breaking into song and dance like movies in its decade of choice, the 1940s…The playlets follow long, lean and handsome private eye Bolt (Scott Gerard), as he tries to find, in Play One, a missing painting and, in Play Two, a missing girl. Wilson has a flair for the fun in this kind of material, as when Bolt plots to drag the truth out of Vivian the vamp (Elizabeth V. Newman) ‘kiss by kiss.’…Newman’s mellow voice gives her character a Lauren Bacall edge.”
- Laura Hitchcock, www.curtainup.com |
“Lending a perfect air of deadpan drollery and lady-killing seductiveness as Bolt, Scott Gerard is a master farceur…with his sleepy-eyed glare, laid-back speech cadences, and the ability to maintain a straight face, Gerard serves as a welcome anchor.
Among other standouts in the adept ensemble are Eric Charles Jorgenson as a wooden-legged German eccentric named Albee Monkeysuncle, Drew Droege as a klutzy thug called Thin Guy, Elizabeth V. Newman as a sultry femme fatale and Rachel Kanouse as the quintessential embodiment of a B-movie wronged dame…Among the evenings highlights are a shoehorned-in musical-comedy sequence and a priceless gag when a character ‘slips a mickey’ into a drink.” – Les Spindle, Backstage “In this pair of one-acts, writer-director Kasey Wilson parodies 1940s film noir by introducing private eye Bolt (Scott Gerard). It adds up to an evening of fun and laughs! And for an added bit of spice, Wilson (aka Honey Ima Home), does a smoking hot burlesque routine between acts.” – LA Weekly |
"The plays combine a post modern, highly comedic take on the classic noir style of speech, relationships, dress and décor. Throughout both performances (Marked For Love and Of Dicks And Dames), tongues are planted firmly in cheek, much to the delight of the sell-out audiences!”
– John Stephens, The Pasadena Independent
“Who doesn’t like a good spoof on the Golden Age of Noir, er, make that the Black and White With Lots of Shadows Age of Noir? Set in Los Angeles in 1942 (Friday, February 5, to be exact) and filled with goofs of the film noir genre, Night Of Noir is filthy with film and literary references of the era, yet also throws a healthy dollop of contemporary culture in each scene to spice things up a bit…spot-on performances are Megan Evanich, Eric Charles Jorgenson, Rachel Kanouse, Lauren Leonelli, Elizabeth V. Newman, Mike Park, Jan Pessin and John Szura…Playwright Kasey Wilson should expect crowded houses for this delightful comedy!”
– Roy Rodgers Oldencamp
“The play is a punster delight with some of the most outrageous puns and sight gags since Airplane! The fine cast is anchored by the performance of Scott Gerard as Bolt. There were no weak performances and Mike Park as Hank Sergeant, Elizabeth V. Newman as Vivian, Rachel Kanouse as Margritte, Megan Evanich ast Dottie, Drew Droege as Thin Guy and John Szura as Johnny Mute all deserve praise for their fine work.”
– Andrès Chavez, The San Fernando Valley Sun
ORANGE LEMON EGG CANARY
"An inspired script and a magnificent central performance add to the magic of a magical evening. Considerably more than the sum of its parts."
- The Hollywood Reporter
"Elizabeth V. Newman plays a new assistant with determination in her heart and stars in her eyes, as the twists and turns of the plot require."
- The Hollywood Reporter
“Ann Moller is a perfectly sexy, wisecracking and vulnerable ghost (and narrator) whose fate is inextricably if predictably bound with the present. Wearing a faded costume that looks like it had come from Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit," Moller handles everything with a sense of fun and the appeal of lost memories.”
- The Hollywood Reporter
"Playwright Rinne Groff's poignant and often beguiling drama depicts the complex parallels between love and magic, equating the irrationality of romantic love with the trickery and misdirection of a magician.”
- LA Weekly
“Schneider is a charismatic and appealing performer, impressive as both an actor and a magician; he perfectly captures the surface warmth of a man whose inner self is vacant and needy. Newman's scruffy, but innocent, Trilby is touchingly contrasted with Lotun's glamorous, but soulless, Egypt.”
- LA Weekly
"Groff sees the manipulations of magic and love as 'a world of astonishment' and Klein's production fulfills that intent with humor and delight."
- A Curtain Up Review
"Sleight-of-hand and heart all in one...make for a fun evening of theatre. Try to catch it!"
- The Tolucan Times
"Haunting intrigue, illusion and disillusion make an entertaining evening at the Complex in Hollywood. And yes, there is magic...Get there a bit early, the performance I saw was sold out and the magic starts while the audience is being seated."
- Eyespyla.com
"Talya Klein and company deliver this very particular world on a lot of levels..it takes itself seriously and at the same time hangs on to its precious frothiness...Klein keeps the illusions moving beautifully."
- Backstage
“Elizabeth V. Newman gives a high-spirited performance as Trilby, his "magic obsessed" new girlfriend, with deceptions of her own.”
- The Tolucan Times
“Brett Schneider is the perfect choice for the central role of Great. Not only is he a professional magician who can make sleight of hand and the magician's smarmy manner authentic parts of the role, but he also has a casually charismatic stage presence that blends the inner power of a Robert Mitchum with the sex appeal of a James Dean. By playing within himself -- and delivering his lines with unusual authority and eloquence -- he is able to impart an ambiguous aura of mystery and romance that goes a long way toward enabling the 100-minute drama to cast its spell. Beginning with his riveting opening monologue, Schneider's ability to communicate and make intimate contact with the audience is its own kind of magic.”
- The Hollywood Reporter
“Elizabeth V. Newman as Trilby takes a role that has the potential to be annoying and cloying, yet sidesteps these issues and gives us ultimately a sympathetic and engaging character study.”
- Wehonews.com (West Hollywood News)
“Klein has assembled one of the best-looking casts in recent memory… Newman, who has the largest female part, grows into its nuances as the play progresses.”
- A Curtain Up Review
For full reviews, please visit the play’s website
CLOCKS & WHISTLES
''THE HISTORY BOYS' ISNT THE ONLY GREAT BRITISH IMPORT THIS SEASON!'
- New York Magazine
'THE CAST'S ENERGY AND BRISK DIRECTION OF TALYA KLEIN PROPEL THE 20 QUICK TAKE SCENES! Meghan Andrews (who was excellent as the shy young bride in the recent 'Trip to Bountiful') didn't flinch from portraying the needy, cruel Anne. Catherine Eaton was wholly believable as Caroline, a tough-talking sculptor and neighbor of Trevor. Samuel Adamson's tonal pitch for these stuck, disappointed people is near perfect!'
- New York Times
'BEST BET! If you like your plays sharp, swift and bitingly funny, get tickets to Clocks and Whistles!'
- New York Magazine
'RIVALS ANYTHING YOU'LL SEE ON BROADWAY OR OFF THIS SEASON! This import strikes chords of dissonance both haunting and raw! Acted fearlessly, Clocks and Whistles is darkly absorbing!'
- Edge New York
'PICK OF THE WEEK! The performers make Adamson's casual dialogue crackle, turning this into a satisfying trip into 21st-century sexual coupling!'
- Back Stage
'INSIGHTFUL, AMUSING AND SOMEWHAT DISTURBING! Samuel Adamson's Clocks and Whistles affords us an insighful, amusing and somewhat disturbing look into the private lives of a group of young Londerners of a decade ago! All in all, a credit to George C. Heslin and Origin Theatre Company's 2006 season!'
- Irish Echo
'FUNNY AND HEARTBREAKING! A funny, heartbreaking tale of three young Londoners sorting it out artistically/sexually, informed with a lovely sense of discovery and youthful brio!'
- Gay City News
– John Stephens, The Pasadena Independent
“Who doesn’t like a good spoof on the Golden Age of Noir, er, make that the Black and White With Lots of Shadows Age of Noir? Set in Los Angeles in 1942 (Friday, February 5, to be exact) and filled with goofs of the film noir genre, Night Of Noir is filthy with film and literary references of the era, yet also throws a healthy dollop of contemporary culture in each scene to spice things up a bit…spot-on performances are Megan Evanich, Eric Charles Jorgenson, Rachel Kanouse, Lauren Leonelli, Elizabeth V. Newman, Mike Park, Jan Pessin and John Szura…Playwright Kasey Wilson should expect crowded houses for this delightful comedy!”
– Roy Rodgers Oldencamp
“The play is a punster delight with some of the most outrageous puns and sight gags since Airplane! The fine cast is anchored by the performance of Scott Gerard as Bolt. There were no weak performances and Mike Park as Hank Sergeant, Elizabeth V. Newman as Vivian, Rachel Kanouse as Margritte, Megan Evanich ast Dottie, Drew Droege as Thin Guy and John Szura as Johnny Mute all deserve praise for their fine work.”
– Andrès Chavez, The San Fernando Valley Sun
ORANGE LEMON EGG CANARY
"An inspired script and a magnificent central performance add to the magic of a magical evening. Considerably more than the sum of its parts."
- The Hollywood Reporter
"Elizabeth V. Newman plays a new assistant with determination in her heart and stars in her eyes, as the twists and turns of the plot require."
- The Hollywood Reporter
“Ann Moller is a perfectly sexy, wisecracking and vulnerable ghost (and narrator) whose fate is inextricably if predictably bound with the present. Wearing a faded costume that looks like it had come from Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit," Moller handles everything with a sense of fun and the appeal of lost memories.”
- The Hollywood Reporter
"Playwright Rinne Groff's poignant and often beguiling drama depicts the complex parallels between love and magic, equating the irrationality of romantic love with the trickery and misdirection of a magician.”
- LA Weekly
“Schneider is a charismatic and appealing performer, impressive as both an actor and a magician; he perfectly captures the surface warmth of a man whose inner self is vacant and needy. Newman's scruffy, but innocent, Trilby is touchingly contrasted with Lotun's glamorous, but soulless, Egypt.”
- LA Weekly
"Groff sees the manipulations of magic and love as 'a world of astonishment' and Klein's production fulfills that intent with humor and delight."
- A Curtain Up Review
"Sleight-of-hand and heart all in one...make for a fun evening of theatre. Try to catch it!"
- The Tolucan Times
"Haunting intrigue, illusion and disillusion make an entertaining evening at the Complex in Hollywood. And yes, there is magic...Get there a bit early, the performance I saw was sold out and the magic starts while the audience is being seated."
- Eyespyla.com
"Talya Klein and company deliver this very particular world on a lot of levels..it takes itself seriously and at the same time hangs on to its precious frothiness...Klein keeps the illusions moving beautifully."
- Backstage
“Elizabeth V. Newman gives a high-spirited performance as Trilby, his "magic obsessed" new girlfriend, with deceptions of her own.”
- The Tolucan Times
“Brett Schneider is the perfect choice for the central role of Great. Not only is he a professional magician who can make sleight of hand and the magician's smarmy manner authentic parts of the role, but he also has a casually charismatic stage presence that blends the inner power of a Robert Mitchum with the sex appeal of a James Dean. By playing within himself -- and delivering his lines with unusual authority and eloquence -- he is able to impart an ambiguous aura of mystery and romance that goes a long way toward enabling the 100-minute drama to cast its spell. Beginning with his riveting opening monologue, Schneider's ability to communicate and make intimate contact with the audience is its own kind of magic.”
- The Hollywood Reporter
“Elizabeth V. Newman as Trilby takes a role that has the potential to be annoying and cloying, yet sidesteps these issues and gives us ultimately a sympathetic and engaging character study.”
- Wehonews.com (West Hollywood News)
“Klein has assembled one of the best-looking casts in recent memory… Newman, who has the largest female part, grows into its nuances as the play progresses.”
- A Curtain Up Review
For full reviews, please visit the play’s website
CLOCKS & WHISTLES
''THE HISTORY BOYS' ISNT THE ONLY GREAT BRITISH IMPORT THIS SEASON!'
- New York Magazine
'THE CAST'S ENERGY AND BRISK DIRECTION OF TALYA KLEIN PROPEL THE 20 QUICK TAKE SCENES! Meghan Andrews (who was excellent as the shy young bride in the recent 'Trip to Bountiful') didn't flinch from portraying the needy, cruel Anne. Catherine Eaton was wholly believable as Caroline, a tough-talking sculptor and neighbor of Trevor. Samuel Adamson's tonal pitch for these stuck, disappointed people is near perfect!'
- New York Times
'BEST BET! If you like your plays sharp, swift and bitingly funny, get tickets to Clocks and Whistles!'
- New York Magazine
'RIVALS ANYTHING YOU'LL SEE ON BROADWAY OR OFF THIS SEASON! This import strikes chords of dissonance both haunting and raw! Acted fearlessly, Clocks and Whistles is darkly absorbing!'
- Edge New York
'PICK OF THE WEEK! The performers make Adamson's casual dialogue crackle, turning this into a satisfying trip into 21st-century sexual coupling!'
- Back Stage
'INSIGHTFUL, AMUSING AND SOMEWHAT DISTURBING! Samuel Adamson's Clocks and Whistles affords us an insighful, amusing and somewhat disturbing look into the private lives of a group of young Londerners of a decade ago! All in all, a credit to George C. Heslin and Origin Theatre Company's 2006 season!'
- Irish Echo
'FUNNY AND HEARTBREAKING! A funny, heartbreaking tale of three young Londoners sorting it out artistically/sexually, informed with a lovely sense of discovery and youthful brio!'
- Gay City News