Category: ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery

Preview Post – Covenant – Play – ArtsWest

Congrats to ArtsWest on the opening weekend of their Covenant play production. Performing on-stage until 3/2/25. Check back soon for my full review!

Tickets: https://www.artswest.org/events/covenant/

Final Full Review: https://www.showsiveseen.com/covenant-play-review-artswest/

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Guards at the Taj – Play – Review – ArtsWest & Pratidhwani

@showsiveseen Rajiv Joseph's "Guards at the Taj" #play at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Starring @Kainkain & Sumant Gupta. Live music from Sampada Bhalerao (#sitar) & Jayant Bhopatkar (#tabla). Good horrifying brutal dilemmas. Review: showsiveseen.com/9807 Director: Samip Raval #showsiveseen #theatre #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia ♬ Taaza Hawa Lete Hain – Altaf Raja

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Rajiv Joseph’s Guards at the Taj play at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Starring Varun Kainth & Sumant Gupta. Live music from Sampada Bhalerao (sitar) & Jayant Bhopatkar (tabla). Good horrifying brutal dilemmas. #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia

Recommendation:
See it if you’re okay with 2-person shows with mostly dialogue.


My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Two guards at the Taj Mahal grapple with enforcing the barbaric oppressive edicts of their authoritarian autocratic regime. In the end, they face the ultimate dilemma.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: In 1648 India, two Imperial Guards watch from their post as the sun rises for the first time on the newly-completed Taj Mahal—an event that shakes their respective worlds. When they are ordered to perform an unthinkable task, the aftermath forces them to question the concepts of friendship, beauty, and duty, and changes them forever. GUARDS AT THE TAJ is one of Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph’s seminal works.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Weekend 9/14/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. This show closes on 10/6/24!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Few

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Few

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you might appreciate this more if you’re familiar with Indian history. I was not and I kept wondering “Holy crap, did these historical events really happen?!”

Defined Plot/Storyline: It was more dialogue than story.

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: 2

Perceived Pace of the Show: Slow to medium

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): Less than 90 minutes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Mainstream Appeal: Low to medium

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

  • Traditional Live Music: Sampada Bhalerao played the sitar while Jayant Bhopatkar played the tabla before the show and during the show. They also added some mild sound effects as well during the play.

Theatre Company: ArtsWest and Pratidhwani

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price Range: $46

Dates: September 12 to October 6, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.

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Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.

Preview Post – Guards at the Taj – Play – ArtsWest & Pratidhwani

Happy opening weekend to Rajiv Joseph’s Guards at the Taj play (including live sitar/tabla music) at ArtsWest w/ Pratidhwani. Catch the show until 10/6. Stay tuned for my full review! #india #indian #TajMahal #southAsian #southAsia

Tickets: https://www.artswest.org/events/guards-at-the-taj/

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Clyde’s – Play – Review – ArtsWest & The Hansberry Project

@showsiveseen So #hungry from Lynn Nottage's "Clyde's" #play by ArtsWest & The Hansberry Project that I bought a #sandwich after the show. Wonderful realistic scenic design of a gritty #restaurant #kitchen from Jennifer Zeyl. Good commentary on #exfelons' reintegration into society. Performing until 6/30. #excriminals #exconvicts #theatre #showsiveseen #food ♬ Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You (2006 Remaster) [Single Version] – Wilson Pickett

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): So hungry from Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s play by ArtsWest & The Hansberry Project that I bought a sandwich after the show. Wonderful realistic scenic design of a gritty restaurant kitchen from Jennifer Zeyl. Good commentary on ex-felons’ reintegration into society. #excriminals #exconvicts

Recommendation
See it, especially if you enjoy plays that are more dialogue than action.


Synopsis from the Theatre or Licensor: In CLYDE’S, a truck stop sandwich shop offers its formerly incarcerated kitchen staff a shot at redemption. Even as the shop’s callous owner tries to keep them down, the staff members learn to reclaim their lives, find purpose, and become inspired to dream by their shared quest to create the perfect sandwich.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Weekend 6/8/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Buy your tickets now since the run ends 6/30.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: A couple

Several or Few Settings/Locations: One, a kitchen

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: The script was less action and more dialogue. I usually don’t prefer dialogue plays, but this script was easier to enjoy than other plays with less story.

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 5

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 90 minutes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No, but it was good

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

  • Food-themed Plays: Incorporating food in live theatre is such an effective (and easy?) way to win over the audience. It awakens the primal hunger response in all of us. Even now, I’m still making sandwiches at home because of the play … and I usually don’t make sandwiches. I even started making my own mayonnaise!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Clyde: It took me a while to realize that Tracy Michelle Hughes was Clyde. I was expecting a guy.
  • Symbolism: The script makes you think. And I have so many unanswered questions on its symbolism. Like, what did the relish represent? What did Clyde represent? Did a sandwich represent hope? What did Clyde eating represent? What did the fire represent?
  • Ending (No Spoiler): Similarly, I didn’t understand play’s last couple seconds. Also, what was the script’s ultimate message?

Theatre Company: ArtsWest and The Hansberry Project

Venue: ArtsWest

Venue Physical Address: 4711 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Price: $40-45

Tickets: https://www.artswest.org/events/clydes/

Dates: June 6 to June 30, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: There are paid lots and free street parking. I usually park on 44th or 45th Ave behind the theatre.

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Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by John Mclellan.

In Partnership with The Hansberry Project ArtsWest presents Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton. Photo by John Mclellan.
In Partnership with The Hansberry Project ArtsWest presents Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton. Photo by John Mclellan.
In Partnership with The Hansberry Project ArtsWest presents Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton. Photo by John Mclellan.
In Partnership with The Hansberry Project ArtsWest presents Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton. Photo by John Mclellan.
In Partnership with The Hansberry Project ArtsWest presents Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton. Photo by John Mclellan.

Preview Post – Clyde’s – Play – ArtsWest & The Hansberry Project

Happy opening weekend to Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s play at ArtsWest with The Hansberry Project. Performing until 6/30. Stay tuned for my full review! #sandwich #hungry #food #felons #criminals #excons #restaurant #kitchen

Final Full Review (Posted 6/21/24): https://www.showsiveseen.com/clydes-play-review-artswest-the-hansberry-project/

Tickets: https://www.artswest.org/events/clydes/

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