Plays – Page 33 – Shows I've Seen

A Woman of No Importance – Play – Taproot Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): A Woman of No Importance Oscar Wilde play at Taproot Theatre followed by a charming English tea reception from Lá Liath Bakery. Felt like Downton Abbey and Jane Austen. Bretteney Beverly delightfully reminded me of Dowager Countess Crawley. Pinkies up! #theatre #British

Synopsis from the Theatre: Gerald’s prospects are bright as he celebrates his new position with the notorious Lord Illingworth. But amidst the glittering banter at Lady Hunstanton’s party, a long buried scandal is revealed. Will the unveiling of Gerald’s lineage change the trajectory of his future? And what of the lovely American who’s captured his heart? This comedic classic from Oscar Wilde will charm you with its cleverness and wit.

Reviewed Performance: 1/27/23 Opening Performance – Sorry for the late review. I’ve been busy with my dad in town.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Awards: Zero? For such a classic play, I’m surprised. Let me know in my social media posts if this play garnered any awards.

Film: Several film adaptations of the play, which is a good sign in my book

Defined Plot/Storyline: There was not an extensive storyline but there was a climax. The entire play was only 4 scenes.

Recommendation: See it if you like Downton Abbey or Jane Austen. Bonus points if you can easily understand what they’re saying in Shakespeare plays.

Was This the First Time I Saw a Production of this Show: Yes

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4.5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: Two but most of them were very good

Number of Actors: 11

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

Digs on Americans: The English characters frequently poked fun at American culture. It reminded me of how New York City plays and musicals frequently tells jokes about New Jersey.
Acting: The actors’ expressions, reactions, and responses were well-timed. It’s probably due to both good writing and good acting.
Act Endings: Act one closed with a great dramatic climactic sequence/reveal that compelled the audience to stay for the second act. Act two (the last act) ended with a nice closing line that wrapped up the play in a tidy bow.
Set Change: Usually productions try to hide busy set changes in the dark. This production showcased the stage magic in the middle of act two when they transformed the walls. The audience even clapped for that!
Favorite Line: “Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious; both are disappointed.” I feel like there were more witty adages but this is the only one I could remember.
English Tea Reception: Lá Liath Bakery provided classic British finger foods for opening night reception including cucumber cream cheese sandwiches, shortbread, scones, dodgers, and “biscuits.”

Rant(s)

Too Many Characters: Oscar Wilde introduced too many characters at the beginning of the play. If was difficult keeping track of everyone on-stage and who they were gossiping about. At the end of the day, half of the characters weren’t essential to the story.

Other Musing(s)

Mental Energy: Maybe I didn’t eat my Wheaties that day but this play was difficult to follow, especially in the beginning. To be fair, I already struggle following British English, whether it be modern, old (like Jane Austen), or really old (like Shakespere). I could clearly understand the American character though! It doesn’t help that English humor can be very sly. But the audience didn’t seem to experience my problem. They seemed to gather much more than I did since they laughed at many jokes I missed. Maybe this play is for smarter, more highbrow patrons! After I sorted out all the characters by the middle of act one, I began to enjoy the play more especially since that’s when the conflict started, and the storyline became simpler for commonfolk like myself! 😛

Theatre Company: Taproot Theatre

Venue: Taproot Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 204 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103

Price: Medium

Ticket Affordability Options: Pay what you can days and GoldStar

Dates: January 25 – February 25, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid lot or usually-free street parking. I almost always find free street parking on Greenwood Ave just South of the theatre.

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Other Video +/- Pictures: See below pictures under video and in video by Robert Wade

Cast and Production Team: See below video

@showsiveseen "A Woman of No Importance" #OscarWilde #play at @taproottheatre w/ a charming #English tea reception from La Liath Bakery. Very #DowntonAbbey & #JaneAusten. @brettbeverly delightfully reminded me of Dowager Countess Crawley. Pinkies up! Review: showsiveseen.com/3640 #theatre #British ♬ Vivaldi "Four Seasons" "Spring" – harryfaoki

Rebecca M. Davis, Melanie Hampton, and Bretteney Beverly in *A Woman of No Importance* at Taproot Theatre Company. Photo by Robert Wade.

Juliette Jones and Bretteney Beverly in *A Woman of No Importance* at Taproot Theatre Company. Photo by Robert Wade.

Aaron Lamb and Candace Vance in *A Woman of No Importance* at Taproot Theatre Company. Photo by Robert Wade.

Tyler Campbell in *A Woman of No Importance* at Taproot Theatre Company. Photo by Robert Wade.

Candace Vance in *A Woman of No Importance* at Taproot Theatre Company. Photo by Robert Wade.

Rebecca M. Davis and Candace Vance in *A Woman of No Importance* at Taproot Theatre Company. Photo by Robert Wade.

Candace Vance and Will Eames in *A Woman of No Importance* at Taproot Theatre Company. Photo by Robert Wade.

Role	Name
Lady Caroline Pontefract	Bretteney Beverly *
Hester Worsley	Juliette Jones
Sir John Pontefract	Tyler Campbell
Lady Hunstanton	Rebecca M. Devis
Gerald Arbuthnot	Will Eames
Mrs. Allonby	Nikki Visel
Lady Stutfield/Alice	Melanie Hampton
Mr.Kelvil	Bill Johns
Lord Illingworth	Aaron Lamb *
Mrs. Rachel Arbuthnot	Candace Vance
Archdeacon Daubney	Nolan Palmer
—	—
Lady Caroline/Lady Hunstanton (Understudy)	Cailtin Frances
Hester Worsley/Lady Stutfield/Alice (Understudy)	Audrey Herold
Sir Pontefract/Mr. Kelvil/Archdeacon Daubney (Understudy)	Jeff Church
Gerald Arbuthnot (Understudy)	Koo Park
Mrs. Arbuthnot/Mrs. Allonby (Understudy)	Charissa J. Adams
Lord Illingworth (Understudy)	Brian Pucheu
—	—
Playwright	Oscar Wilde
Director	Karen Lund **
Assistant Director	Brad Lo Walker
Scenic & Sound Design	Mark Lund
Costume Design	Jocelyne Fowler
Lighting Design	Michael Wellborn
Fight Choreographer	Christopher Kidder-Mostrom **
Stage Manager	Claire Stark *
Dramaturg	Sonja Lowe
Dialect Coach	Alyssa Keene
—	—
Property Master	Andrea Spraycar
Assistant Stage Manager	Grace Heller *
Casting Consultant	Jessica Spencer
Casting Associate	Pilar O’Connell
Dresser	Luna McMeen
Draper	Martha Mitchell
Stitchers	Veronica Dimoff, Scìan Hayes
Wig Designer	Joyce Degenfelder
Wig Specialist	Juliette Lewis
Master Electrician	Aiyana Stephens
Scenic Carpenter	Tim Samland *
Light Board Operator	Clint Bull
Sound Board Operator	Marty Sisk
Electricians	Kathryn Louise, Jacob Viramontes
Scenic Strike/Load-In	Jasmine Cote ** Chandler Eichele Tamir Lehrer **

* Actors Equity Association
** Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
*** United Scenic Artists Local 829
**** IATSE Local No 15

Gloria: A Life – Play – Strawberry Theatre Workshop

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Gloria: A Life #play w/ Strawberry Theatre Workshop reminded me of the Mrs. America TV miniseries & In the Time of the Butterflies Book-It Repertory Theatre play. Loved Ayo Tushinde’s portrayal of Flo Kennedy w/ her distinct accent & iconic hat. I wish I owned bras to burn in solidarity. Shake the patriarchy! A woman w/o a man is like a fish w/o a bicycle! #feminist #feminism #feminists #GloriaSteinem @GloriaSteinem

Synopsis from the Theatre: Five decades after Gloria Steinem began raising her voice for equality and championing the voices of others, she remains a leader of the American women’s movement. Emily Mann’s play traces the progress of Steinem’s extraordinary life, from her undercover Playboy Bunny exposé in the 1960s, through her founding of Ms. Magazine in the 1970s, to her speech at the 2017 Women’s March. Staged for Strawberry Theatre Workshop by Makaela Milburn in a living room set, Gloria: A Life puts the words of the famed journalist into action through an ensemble of six actors, played by Alanah Pascual, Kathy Hsieh, Marion Jacobs, Ayo Tushinde, Sarah Harlett, and Sharon Barto Gouran. Steinem’s journey to activism is traded between voices and distinct cultural origins, giving the movement less historical and more contemporary energy, and the early feminists’ accomplishments drawn as less individual and more collaborative. For Strawshop, Gloria is one of the most pertinent expressions of its mission to activate community conversation. Gloria expands the conversation in the second half of the evening to a discussion of local activism, bounded by four guidelines directly inspired by organizing principles of Black Lives Matter: “Lead with Love, Low Ego, High Impact, and Move at the Speed of Trust.”

Reviewed Performance: 1/26/23 Opening Performance – Original previous opening weekend delayed because of COVID-19. 🙁

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: Like other biographical plays, there isn’t a strong plot. It’s a series of chronological scenes … like real life!

Recommendation: See it especially if you’re into women’s rights!

Was This the First Time I Saw a Production of this Show: Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Yes, if it was an Equity production

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: One but all were very good

Number of Actors: 6

Length (Including Any Intermission): 90 min performance + 20 min talkback

Intermission: No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

Favorite Line: Other than the classic “a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle,” I’ve never heard of “if women could sleep their way to the top, there’d be a lot more women at the top.” Apparently, this was a real quote from Gloria Steinem.

Rant(s)

Projections: Projections were a a little hard to see. However, I acknowledge it’s a fine line to balance shining enough light on actors vs reducing the light so projections are brighter.

Other Musing(s)

Mild Audience Participation: Actors paused occasionally so the audience could shout out answers to wall-projected questions or enter the answers on a website via smartphone. There was also a segment where audience volunteers were asked on-stage. Additionally, there was a talkback immediately after the show when actors actively requested the audience to stay for 20 mins.
Other Iconic Feminists: This play wasn’t just about Gloria Steinam. It also covered other major historical feminists during her time like Dorothy Pittman Hughes, Flo Kennedy, Wilma Mankiller (what an ironic name!), and Bella Abzug. However, I was surprised Betty Friedan wasn’t featured.
Historical Tidbits: A couple interesting historical facts were mentioned throughout the show:
- Gloria Steinem’s (arguable) claim to fame was when she wrote an exposé as an undercover Playboy Bunny. Sex truly does sell!
- Gloria ironically originally wanted to be a Rockette
- The continental congress drew inspiration from the Iroquois Native Americans when designing the USA federal government

Theatre Company: Strawberry Theatre Workshop

Venue: 12th Avenue Arts

Venue Physical Address: 1620 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Price: Cheap to Medium

Dates: January 19 – February 18, 2023

Seating: General Admission

Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. Street parking is extremely limited since it’s Capitol Hill. Your best luck would be East of Cal Anderson Park on 11th or 12th Ave. Cheapest paid lots are on 11th Ave across from the park. Sigh, “cheapest” was $16 dollars for me. :-/ I highly suggest parking far away or taking the bus.

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https://www.strawshop.org/gloria.html

Other Video +/- Pictures: See below

Cast and Production Team: See below video

@showsiveseen “#Gloria: A Life” #play w/ Strawberry #Theatre Workshop reminded me of the “Mrs. America” TV miniseries & “In the Time of the Butterflies” Book-It Theatre play. Loved @ayotushinde ‘s portrayal of Flo Kennedy w/ her distinct accent & iconic hat. I wish I owned bras to burn in solidarity. Down w/ the patriarchy! A woman w/o a man is like a fish w/o a bicycle! Review: showsiveseen.com/3605 #feminist #feminism #feminists #gloriasteinem ♬ Gloria (Glee Cast Version) – Glee Cast

Role	Name
Gloria (Reverse Alphabetical Order)	Sharon Barto Gouran Sarah Harlett (AEA Member) Marion Jacobs Kathy Hsieh Ayo Tushinde Alanah Pascual
—	—
Projections	Adam Zopfi Hulse
Artistic Director	Greg Carter
Scenery	Bella Rivera
Sound	Kyle Thompson
Lighting	Maryalice Weed
Costumes	Lizz C Williams
Graphic Designer	Melanie Wang
Playwright	Emily Mann
Director	Makaela Milburn assisted by Jasmine Lomax
Stage Manager	Jasmine Lomax assisted by Brandon Eller

Deathtrap – Play – Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Deathtrap play at Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts. Well-written & well-executed (no pun intended). Thrilling fight choreography. Definitely a promising candidate for my top shows of 2023. Thanks, Layton Gaskins, for making my day with the shoutout in your cast bio! #theatre

Synopsis from the Theatre: Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college—a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash. Sidney’s plan, devised with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student for co-credit. Or is it? Deathtrap provides twists and turns of devilish cleverness, and offers hilariously sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be spellbound until the very last moment.

Reviewed Performance: 1/22/23 (Opening Weekend) – Sorry for the late review. I was busy with my dad was in town.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Awards: Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Play in 1980

Film: Produced into a 1982 movie after the stage premier

Defined Plot/Storyline: While the number of scenes (not to mention the single setting) were probably too few to qualify for a full-fledged epic story, each act had a thrilling climax.

Recommendation: See it! This production is worth the long drive up to Marysville. My dad usually naps a couple minutes during each show I take him to, but he didn’t sleep a wink during this play.

Was This the First Time I Saw a Production of this Show: Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Yes, if it was an Equity production

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: None but they were very good

Number of Actors: 5

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

Actors: Layton Gaskins seemlessly shifted his character from wide-eyed, nervous, awestruck innocence to cunning confidence. I was also already looking forward to seeing the talented Mary Leedy and Jag on-stage again. I previously saw Jag in 12 Angry Jurors at SecondStory Rep and Dashing Through the Snow at Phoenix Theatre. Mary was the female lead in Ghost-writer at Woodinville Repertory Theatre. Her shaken emotional freakouts contrasted well with Jag’s nonchalant sociopathy.
Shoutout: I typically don’t read playbill actor bios since there’s usually not enough time before the show. I’m so glad we that arrived early and that I didn’t miss the shoutout from Layton Gaskins. It made my day, and I sent a picture all my friends … and enemies 😛 . Now, I’m wondering if I missed any other mentions in other Puget Sound playbills from this past year!
Thrilling Twists: While the play started out a little slow/dry/stilted, it quickly progressed to shockingly thrilling with its crosses, double crosses, action, and climaxes. The play kept me wondering “Will they do it? Will they not do it?” several times throughout the show. At the end of the first act, the audience was left with a cliffhanger and I thought “Holy cow, did that just really happen?”
Fight Scenes: Fight choreography was well-executed and well-designed. The blood took me by surprise and could have landed on us in the audience front row! Side note, I saw some blood unintentionally on one of the actors’ pants in a subsequent scene that took place days later. Get another pair from the Goodwill behind the theatre!
Wall Art: The walls were decorated with a thoughtful collection of showbiz posters mentioned throughout the play. There was also a wide plethora of weaponry mentioned throughout the show. I wonder where they all came from.

Rant(s)

Typing: The typewriter typebars kept getting stuck together so it didn’t look like the typist was actually writing a play.

Other Thought(s)

Foreshadowing: Carol Richmond provided the comedic relief as an old mysterious Ukranian woman with ESP. If I learned anything in theatre, never doubt prophetic foreshadowing!
LGBT: There were gay themes in the play, but they were too subtle. I actually didn’t even initially recognize them. But I’ll give the play a pass since it was written in the 1970s, which was a different time. I mean, one of the male actors wore groovy bell bottoms.

Theatre Company: Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts

Venue: Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts

Venue Physical Address: 9315 State Ave #J, Marysville, WA 98270

Price: Cheap

Dates: January 20 – February 5, 2023

Seating: General Admission

Parking: Free lot parking in the strip mall where this theatre is located.

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https://redcurtainfoundation.org/now-playing

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures under video and in video by Kenny Randall.

Cast and Production Team: See below pictures

@showsiveseen #Deathtrap #play at @redcurtainarts. Well-written & well-executed (no pun intended). Thrilling fight choreography. Definitely a promising candidate for my top shows of 2023. Thanks, Layton Gaskins, for making my day with the shoutout in your cast bio! Review + Photo Credit: showsiveseen.com/3539 #theatre ♬ Dangerous – The Red Collective

Sidney Bruhl (Jag) encourages his wife Myra (Mary Leedy) to read a student’s play manuscript in Ira Levin’s *Deathtrap*, running Jan. 20 through Feb. 5 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave. #J in Marysville.

Clifford (Layton Gaskins – standing) is anxious to hear the opinion of successful playwright Sidney Bruhl (Jag) in Ira Levin’s *Deathtrap*, running Jan. 20 through Feb. 5 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave. #J in Marysville.

Clifford (Layton Gaskins) and Sidney (Jag) struggle to gain control of a deadly ax in Ira Levin’s *Deathtrap*, running Jan. 20 through Feb. 5 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave. #J in Marysville.

Name	Role
Jag	Sidney Bruhl
Mary Leedy	Myra Bruhl
Layton Gaskins	Clifford Anderson
Carol Richmond	Helga ten Dorp
Dawn Cornell	Porter Milgrim
—	—
Ira Levin	Playwright
Scott Dittman	Director
Daniel Hanlon	Assistant Director
Haylie Conchelos	Stage Manager
Lee Ann Hittenberger	Fight Choreography
Courtney Calkins	Prop and Set Dressing
Celeste Jackson-Moody	Costumes
Scott B Randall	Set Design
Werner “Randy” Randall	Set Construction Lead
Scott Randall Mike Pieckiel Aiden Pieckiel Spencer Greer	Set Construction
Scott Randall	Lighting Design
Layton Gaskins	Lighting Technician
Andi Leach	Light Board Operator
Daniel Hanlon	Sound Design
Mike Pieckiel	Sound Board Operator
Aiden Pieckiel Paula Van Dalen	Stage Crew
Kenny Randall	Publicity Photos
Beckye Randall	Marketing and Publicity
Michele Beito	Bar Manager
Kim Shumway	Concessions Manager

Po Boy Tango – Play – Tacoma Little Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Po Boy Tango play at Tacoma Little Theatre. Poetic food descriptions made me so hungry that I bought concessions at intermission … & I never do that! #theatre

Synopsis from the Theatre: Po Boy Tango tells the story of Richie Po, a Taiwanese immigrant who turns to his estranged friend Gloria, an African-American Soul Food Chef, to help him recreate his mother’s ‘Great Banquet’. Despite the challenges of shark fin soup, duck po boy sandwiches, and underlying cultural tensions, they find common ground through their shared humor and the blending of traditional Chinese cuisine and African-American soul food. Helped by lessons from Po Mama’s television cooking show, the two discover a deeper understanding of food, culture, and the nature of friendship.

Reviewed Performance: 1/20/23 – Opening Night

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Awards: TCG Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award (2008)

Defined Plot/Storyline: There was no well-defined plot. It was more dialogue.

Live Band/Orchestra: N/A

Recommendation: See it if you like shows that are more dialogue than story

Was This the First Time I Saw a Production of this Show: Yes

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4.25 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: None

Length: 2.5 hours, which felt a little longer than what I’m used to

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

Stage Backgrounds: Some of the projected backgrounds realistically complemented well with the stage furniture. For example, when the lights turned on in the first scene, I was wondering how they changed stage furniture so quickly but then realized I was seeing a kitchen cabinetry projection on the background projection with a kitchen island furniture piece on the foreground.

Rant(s)

Stagehand: There were two instances where I could see the stagehand in the back and I was wondering if they were part of the scene. They were not.

Other Thought(s)

Conflicts: Maybe I’m an unfeeling dense robot but I didn’t grasp the 10-year conflict. I mean, people sometimes drift apart and that’s life, right? I also didn’t understand what caused the anger at the end of act one.

Theatre Company: Tacoma Little Theatre

Venue: Tacoma Little Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 210 N I St, Tacoma, WA 98403

Price: Cheap

Ticket Affordability Options: Try the PWYC (Pay What You Can) performance on February 2nd or GoldStar

Dates: January 20 – February 5, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Mostly street parking. I usually like to park one block away on North Yakima Ave. Season ticket holders and donors can access a free parking lot.

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https://www.tacomalittletheatre.com/blog/20222023/poboy

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Dennis K Photography

Cast and Production Team: See below pictures

@showsiveseen “Po Boy Tango” #play at @tacomalittletheatre. #Poetic #food descriptions made me so hungry that I bought concessions at intermission … & I never do that! Review + Photo Credit: showsiveseen.com/3445 #Taiwanese #black #POC #BiPOC #soulFood #Chinese #theatre ♬ Tango – ABIR

Gloria B (Michelle Blackmon) & Richie Po (Sam Lai)

Richie Po (Sam Lai) & Gloria B (Michelle Blackmon)

Name	Role
Michelle Blackmon	Gloria
Aya Hashiguchi	Po Mama
Sam Lai	Richie Po
—	—
Kenneth Lin	Playwright
David Hsieh	Director
Thomas Robinson	Stage Manager
Allen Melo	Assistant Stage Manager
Blake R. York	Technical Director/Graphic Design
Burton K. Yuen	Scenic Designer & Visuals
Michele Graves	Costime Designer
Dylan Twiner	Production Manager/Sound Designer
Niclas Olson	Lighting Designer
Frank Roberts	Lead Carpenter/Properties Designer
Jax Averna	Assitant Properties Designer
Nate Lovitt	Shop Assistant
Jennifer York	Scenic Artist
Chandler Garry	Sound Board Operator
Mauro Bozzo	Hair and Wig Consultant
Dennis K Photography	Photography

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter – Play – Seattle Repertory Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter play based on the book at Seattle Rep. Diverse audience/cast takes me back to San Antonio. Sly, wry, and unexpected-but-well-timed comedic quips to the 4th wall. Deliciously dramatic Quinceanera climax right before intermission.

Synopsis from the Theatre: As she grieves the death of her older sister, Júlia Reyes faces pressure to put her own dreams of becoming a writer on hold. She finds herself caught between her family’s expectations and the less than perfect life she grapples with every day as a 15-year-old growing up in Chicago. A rich and poignant exploration of how to transcend your circumstances while remaining true to who you are.

Reviewed Performance: 1/18/23 on opening night

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Awards: None for the stage adaptation but several for the book

Defined Plot/Storyline: Plot was semi-defined. It felt more like several chronologically consecutive stories and not one big story. But I guess that’s real life!

Recommendation: See it especially if you have any connection to Mexican American culture

Was This the First Time I Saw a Production of this Show: Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Maybe

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4.5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: All actors are Equity but all understudies are not

Length: It felt a little long at 2.5 hours

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

Romantic Scenes: Unlike the first act, the second act included more romantic comedy scenes, which I’m usually a sucker for. The main character Julia (pronounced in Spanish who-lee-yah) told the 4th wall that she felt like Julia Roberts. The non-explicit sex scene was funny and well-executed.
Mystery: I didn’t guess the mystery correctly about Olga’s secret life. That probably bodes well for the play.
Depression: I appreciated how they touched on mental illness especially when there’s a genetic predisposition. It’s a taboo subject in immigrant family culture … let alone American culture! I only wish they showed the audience ways to manage the depression.

Rant(s)

Microphones: Did Seattle Rep stop using microphones or has it always been like this? I noticed ths same thing in their last production. Update 1/21 PM: One of the actors messaged me (thank you!) that Seattle Rep doesn’t typically use microphones on their actors in plays … which baffles me! They likely use them for musicals though.
Hospital Scene: There was a major scene in a hospital that felt forgotten once the scene was complete. It was a major event in one of the characters’ life and the next scene felt like nothing critical happened at all.

Other Thought(s)

Missing Envelope: I think a second large envelope was supposed to fall from the ceiling in the second act. If there was a technical malfunction, kudos to Karen Rodriguez for the good improvised save.
Mom: I wonder how the play’s portrayal of Julia’s mom compares to the book. The mom in this play needed to chill out! She seemed more like an evil stepmother than a biological mother. I still don’t understand why she treated Julia worse than Olga especially with the twist at the end that revealed the mom’s background. I also felt like their reconciliation was too easy and sudden given her terrible treatment throughout the play.
Ceiling Furniture: There was an odd transition that felt out of place when a chairs and a dining table were lowered from the ceiling. The juice wasn’t really worth the squeeze for this advanced transition especially with the distracting visible cables. I think they would have been better off manually wheeling in the furniture from backstage.

Theatre Company: Seattle Repertory Theatre

Venue: Seattle Repertory Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 155 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109

Price: Medium

Ticket Affordability Options:

Official theatre’s pages about discounts and pay-what-you-can performances
GoldStar
TodayTix
Ask the theatre if there are discounts associated with your employer, school, or alma mater.

Dates: January 13 to February 5, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and paid street parking. I usually park on Mercer to the West of 1st Ave. There’s usually also a lot of street parking around Safeway. If there’s an event in Seattle Center or Climate Pledge Arena, street parking is usually limited and much more expensive. In those cases, I’ll park further north up on Queen Anne Hill.

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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Nate Watters.

Cast and Production Team : See below pictures

@showsiveseen “I Am Not Your Perfect #Mexican Daughter” #play based on the book at Seattle Rep. Diverse audience/cast takes me back to San Antonio. Sly, wry, & unexpected-but-well-timed comedic quips to the 4th wall. Deliciously dramatic Quinceanera climax right before intermission. Review + Photo Credit: showsiveseen.com/3348 #theatre ♬ Bidi Bidi Bom Bom – Selena

Karen Rodriguez in *I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter* at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

Jazmín Corona, Karen Rodriguez, Leslie Sophia Pérez, and Eddie Martinez in *I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter* at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

Karen Rodriguez and Jazmin Corona in *I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter* at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

Karen Rodriguez and Michael Monicatti in *I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter* at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

Karen Rodriguez and Leslie Sophia Pérez in *I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter* at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

Members of the cast of *I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter* at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

Marco Antonio Tzunux, Karen Rodriguez, and Leslie Sophia Pérez in *I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter* at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

Karen Rodriguez and Sofía Raquel Sánchez in *I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter* at Seattle Rep. Photo by Nate Watters.

Role	Name
Olga	Sofia Raquel Sanchez*
Júlia	Karen Rodriguez*
Amá/Mama Jacinta	Jazmín Corona*
Apá/Tio Chucho	Eddie Martinez*
Juanga/Esteban	Marco Antonio Tzunux*
Mr. Ingman	Aaron Blakely*
Connor	Michael Monicatti *
Lorena/Belen	Leslie Sophia Perez*
Understudy Apa	Jesse Calixto
Understudy Olga/Ama	Sophie Franco
Understudy Mr. Ingman	Drew Highlands
Understudy Julia/Lorena	Pilar O’Connell
Understudy Juanga/Connor	Jason Trevino
—	—
Scenic Designer	Efren Delgadillo Jr.
Costume Designer	Danielle Nieves
Lighting Designer	Robert J. Aguilar
Sound Designer and Composer	John Nobori
Intimacy Director	Jess K Smith
Vocal Coach	Kate Myre
Dialect Coach	Mischelle Lopez-Rios
Quincy Choreography	Isaac Gomez
Stage Manager	Stina Lotti
Assistant Stage Manager	Stefania Giron Zuluaga
Seattle Casting	Kaytlin Mcintyre & Shawna Grajek
Addtional Casting	X Casting (Victor Vazquez, CSA)
Playwright	Isaac Gomez
Novelist	Erika Sanchez
Director	Juliette Carrillo

*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States