Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Sherlock Holmes & the Precarious Position mystery play at Taproot Theatre. Strong cast doubling and comical portrayals from Nathan Brockett & Sophia Franzella. Audible gasps from the audience during the unexpected twists at the end! #sherlockholmes
Recommendation See it, especially if you enjoy British comedy or mystery plays.
Synopsis from the Theatre: Corsets, crowns, and a missing royal jewel set the stage for a battle of wits in this tale of deception, suspense, and deduction. When the bookish Perkins sisters approach Sherlock Holmes with a case, they unveil a theatrical scheme of encyclopedic proportions. Four actors play multiple characters and the mystery turns deadly.
Nathan Brockett and Sophia Franzella in Sherlock Holmes and the Precarious Position at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade.Calder Jameson Shilling and Nathaniel Tenenbaum in Sherlock Holmes and the Precarious Position at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade.Calder Jameson Shilling and Nathaniel Tenenbaum in Sherlock Holmes and the Precarious Position at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade.Calder Jameson Shilling with Nathaniel Tenenbaum and Sophia Franzella in Sherlock Holmes and the Precarious Position at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade.Nathaniel Tenenbaum and Calder Jameson Shilling in Sherlock Holmes and the Precarious Position at Taproot Theatre. Photo by Robert Wade.
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Rosie Narasaki’s Unrivaled play by Seattle Public Theater and SIS Productions. Rival frenemy writers in classical Japan! Endearing empress portrayal from Adele Lim. Ending next weekend 6/2. #poetry #haiku #asian #japan #japanese
Recommendation See it if you’re familiar with Japanese history, you’re a Japanophile, or you want to support Asian American live theatre.
Synopsis from the Theatre: 11th century ladies-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shonagon are, to this day, two of Japan’s most beloved writers. They also kind of hated each other. Unrivaled is about friendship, heartbreak, and what it means to be a female artist. And no matter how much things change, the more they stay the same… even after a thousand years.
Attended Performance Date: 5/10/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since the show closes 6/2.
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several
Static (Stationary) Set? Yes
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably appreciate this show more if you’re familiar with Japanese history.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 4
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed
Was there an intermission? No
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above
Empress Teishi: Adele Lim portrayed an endearing nice-girl Empress Teishi, with energy similar to her previous role as an endorphin-overloaded sentient cloud in Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea. I also loved the Sailor Moon-like hairpiece in her Unrivaled costume.
Rant(s)
Floor Sitting: I know it’s customary to portray traditional Japanese characters sitting on the floor, but it’s difficult for the audience to see lower actors. I suggest that they elevate the stage one foot higher.
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Hand Fans: The frequent handheld fan usage gratuitously milked the non-Asian perception of cliche Japanese culture. However, I’m not Japanese (but I am Asian), so if this hand fan overuse is an accurate depiction of Japanese culture, leave a comment on my social media!
Crab Mentality: The story reminded me of crab mentality, which is basically a zero-sum competitive mindset that resents others’ successes rather than supporting and celebrating them. This mindset is prevalent in some Asian cultures. I blame our tiger (grand)parents!
Betrayal: I wish the script explored the betrayal theme more. That’s when the storyline was getting delicious!
Theatre Company: Seattle Public Theater and SIS Productions
Venue: Greenlake Bathhouse Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 7312 West Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, WA 98103
Pearl Lam & Adele Lim. Photo by Kathy Hsieh.Alanah Pascual & Pearl Lam. Photo by Kathy Hsieh.Alanah Pascual & Pearl Lam. Photo by Rick Wong.Alanah Pascual, Pearl Lam, & Adele Lim. Photo by Rick Wong.
Recommendation See it if you like introspective thinking, soliloquies, religious discourse, sermons, audio books, or podcasts.
Synopsis from the Theatre: Intimate mysteries are revealed as a quartet of souls yearning for connection are brought together through extraordinary correspondence. Across time and oceans, these strangers share letters of faith, letters of family, and letters of love … haunted by a city once destroyed by war. Don’t miss this companion play to ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER!
Attended Performance Date: 5/11/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since the show closes this weekend.
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Few
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Few
Static (Stationary) Set? Yes
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably appreciate this show more if you’re familiar the previous play Animals Out of Paper.
Defined Plot/Storyline: No, it was mostly reciting messages to each other.
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 4
Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium speed
Was there an intermission? No
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Actor Interactions: There was uniquely very little interaction between actors in this play, like a show full of soliloquies. I think there was only one brief scene where the script prompted the characters to actually talk directly to each other through a phone call.
Theatre Company: ReACT Theatre & Pratidhwani
Venue: 12th Avenue Arts
Venue Physical Address: 1620 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. Street parking is extremely limited since it’s Capitol Hill. Even if you can find street parking, it often costs more than some parking lots. I highly recommend the paid lot at 1300 E Olive St with the entrance on 14th Ave.
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Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by Quinlan Corbett.
Marianna de Fazio as Amelia in LETTERS OF SURESH. Photo by Quinlan Corbett.Mona Leach as Melody in LETTERS OF SURESH. Photo by Quinlan Corbett.Stephen Sumida as Father Hashimoto in LETTERS OF SURESH. Photo by Quinlan Corbett.Nirvan Patnaik as Suresh in LETTERS OF SURESH. Photo by Quinlan Corbett.
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Stefano Massini’s “The Lehman Trilogy” epic 3-act play at ACT Theatre. Lehman Brothers’ fascinating rise from humble slavery-tainted beginnings to late-stage capitalism. Convincing accents & cast doubling. #LehmanBrothers #jewish #BaruchHashem #capitalism #bank #banking #finance
Recommendation See it, especially if you’re okay with epic 3-act shows.
Synopsis from the Theatre: The Tony Award®-winning Best Play comes to Seattle after a triumphant run on London’s West End and Broadway. The Lehmans began as many American immigrants did in the 19th century: on a cold dock in New York City in 1844 as a young Jewish man enters his new country for the first time. Joined by his two brothers, they live the American Dream: from humble beginnings to outrageous success. 163 years later, that legacy—The Lehman Brothers—comes crashing down, triggering the largest financial crisis in history. How? Why? This extraordinary feat of storytelling invites us to question what success is worth, how legacy is defined, and what we value in the wake of devastating collapse.
Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 5/2/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get you tickets now since the show closes this weekend.
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several
Static (Stationary) Set? Mostly, yes
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably appreciate this more if you’re familiar with the Lehman Brothers collapse during the Great Recession.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Equity Actors: 2
Total Number of Actors: 3
Perceived Pace of the Show: The play started slow while introducing a single character for several minutes with the typical energy of a one-person show. A good play hooks the audience at the beginning, but this one did not. When the two remaining actors entered the stage, the show picked up the pace. But after the second act, the sheer epic length slowed it down again!
Length (Including Any Intermission): A whopping 3.5 hours!
Was there an intermission? Two
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not, but it was good.
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above
Philip Lehman: Philip Lehman (played by Robert Pescovitz) was delightfully pragmatic and cold like a robot. Some may view his personality as calculating or controlling, but I saw him as an inspiration. He wouldn’t let emotions get in the way of progress.
New York City: Maybe it’s my jealousy of not living in “The Big Apple,” but this is the first time I was a little annoyed by the way plays and musicals idolize New York City. We get it … everywhere else is trash!
Great Recession: I was surprised that the play didn’t focus more on the 2008 financial crisis.
Jewish References: The script was quite heavy on Jewish references compared to what’s usually in live theatre. That would be fine if the main intent of the play was to showcase Jewish American culture. If that was not the main intention, then the references should be more subtle to not distract from the main messages. Without this subtlety, the play just becomes a Jewish show like Fiddler on the Roof. I don’t remember much about Fiddler on the Roof except that there were a bunch of Jewish themes. Interestingly enough, The Lehman Trilogy playwright was Italian!
Theatre Company: ACT Theatre
Venue: The Falls Theatre at ACT Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 700 Union St, Seattle, WA 98101
Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. If I don’t walk to this theatre, I park in the old convention center garage with the entrance between Seneca and Pike. There is indoor access from the garage to the theatre if you walk through the old convention center.
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Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by Rosemary Dai Ross.
Brandon J Simmons. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Brandon J Simmons, Bradford Farwell, & Robert Pescovitz. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Robert Pescovitz, Bradford Farwell, & Brandon J Simmons. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Brandon J Simmons, Robert Pescovitz, & Bradford Farwell. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.Bradford Farwell, Brandon J Simmons, & Robert Pescovitz. Photo by Rosemary Dai Ross.
