Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Packed closing weekend show to “Dancing at Lughnasa” play at SecondStory Repertory. One more show left tomorrow! Thanks Mary Guthrie for the suggestion/ticket! Stay tuned for my full review/video. #showsiveseen #theatre #ireland
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Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): She Kills Monsters play by Qui Nguyen at SecondStory Repertory directed by Kate Swenson. Starring Rebecca Cauthorn and Erin Elkins. Nerd out with Dungeons and Dragons in live theatre! Lots of fight choreography and cosplay-worthy costumes/props. #theatre
Synopsis from the Theatre: She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons and Dragons notebook, however, she finds herself catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was her sister’s refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.
Reviewed Performance: 6/9/23 on opening night – Sorry for the late review!
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’d probably enjoy this more if you played Dungeons and Dragons or if you grew up in the 80-90s. I’ve actually never played Dungeons and Dragons, but I was born in the 80s. I only know how the game roughly works because I saw Steve and his friends play it on American Dad.
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Probably not
Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value: 4 stars (Out of 5 Stars)
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 10
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium to fast
Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.75 hours
Intermission: No
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Double Entendre: There was a funny scene where one person was talking about Dungeons and Dragons while the other person thought they were talking about sex.
Character/Actor Highlights:
Stav Hinenzon (Orcas) projected his voice well
Jack Anderson was funny as a dorky high school teenager Chuck
Why do I love seeing mean cheerleaders on-stage and on-screen? It must be fun for Jillian Faulk (as Evil Gabbi) and Grace Madland (as Evil Tina) to play succubus cheerleaders. Very Glee and Mean Girls.
Moral of the Story: I like the message throughout the play (especially at the end) on why Dungeons and Dragons was important to Tilly in her friends.
Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Michael Brunk.
Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below
@showsiveseen "She Kills Monsters" #play by Qui Nguyen at SecondStory Rep directed by Kate Swenson. Starring Rebecca Cauthorn & Erin Elkins. Nerd out w/ "Dungeons & Dragons" in live #theatre♬ House of Memories
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Sunday in the Park with George musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine at a packed SecondStory Repertory. Directed by Harry Turpin & music directed by John Allman starring Brian Pucheu & Jacqueline Tardanico. Story centered around Georges Seurat’s famous painting.
Synopsis from the Theatre: Inspired by the painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s stunning masterpiece, merges past and present into beautiful, poignant truths about life, love and the creation of art. One of the most acclaimed musicals of our time, this moving study of the enigmatic painter, Georges Seurat, won a Pulitzer Prize and was nominated for an astounding ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Recommendation: See it if you like Stephen Sondheim’s signature style and if you’re okay with no extensive plot.
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes
Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value: 4 stars (Out of 5 Stars)
Equity Actors: 0
Total Number of Actors: 15
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours
Intermission: Yes
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
Leading Actors: Brian Pucheu (George) and Jacqueline Tardanico (Dot/Marie) were well-cast leads in this performance. Brian delivered his lines with a genteel speaking voice. Jacqueline singing voice was strongly projected yet controlled with a beautiful slight vibrato.
Semi-transparent Canvas: Brian “painted” while facing the audience without the canvas obscuring his face or body. This was possible because the canvas was a semi-transparent curtain. See one of the pictures at the end of this review.
Favorite Characters: The two Celeste characters (Savannah Lynn and Daire Byrne) were delightful especially in their interactions with the soldier (Graham Arthur Blair). Also, as an arguably unsophisticated American (my favorite food is McDonald’s french fries), I identified with the unsophsticated American tourists exploring France (played by Kristie “Kiki” Werner and James Webster).
Rant(s)
Stephen Sondheim: As I mentioned in my Into the Woods review, I’m not a huge a fan of Sondheim’s works, which is probably blasphemous to mention on a theatre website! What can I say? The emperor has no clothes!
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
Sondheim Elements: Naturally, this show reminded me of elements from Sondheim’s other musicals. When Brian Pucheu (George) scatted “bum bum bum” in a staccato manner while painting, it reminded me of the judge doing the same thing as Sweeney Todd shaved him. Also, act one’s ending was so conclusive
that the audience might think the show has ended similarly to how the audience might feel that at the end of Into the Woods act one. Side note, it would have been better if Sunday in the Park with George act one ended at a cliffhanger during Dot’s reveal to George.
Theatre Company: SecondStory Repertory
Venue: SecondStory Repertory
Venue Physical Address: 7325 166th Ave NE Ste F250, Redmond, WA 98052
Price: Cheap
Dates: May 5 to 28, 2023
Seating: General Admission
Parking: Free lot or free garage parking provided by the Redmond Town Square outdoor mall where the theatre company rents.
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Starmites Pro musical at SecondStory Repertory. A sci-fi inter-dimensional fantasy comic book story comes to life! Unique subject matter for theatre. Deliciously 1980s corny humor. Villain had a great rich voice. Favorite line was “May we fluff them?” #comics #comic #nerdy
Synopsis from the Theatre: Shy teenager Eleanor has built a fantasy world around the sci-fi comic books she collects. To the distress of her mother, she has learned to avoid the pains of growing up by escaping into fantasy, imagining herself to be an unrecognized superhero. When she is mysteriously thrust into the Website World of her favorite comic book, Eleanor is drawn into the conflict between Shak Graa, Arch-Creep of Chaos, and the Starmites, guardian angels of Innerspace. She turns out to be the legendary Milady, teen superhero who must lead the Mites on their Quest to save the Galaxy.
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Live Band: Yes
Recommendation: See it if you like nerding out, community theatre, and/or 80s comedy!
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now?: Yes!
Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.25 stars
Rant(s)
Individually, they were great singers. But collectively, there was less synergy than expected. I could actually hear someone going out of tune in some parts. I anticipate this will improve as they perform together more during this production’s run.
Other Rave(s)
I loved when they made the “arms above head pointing in the same direction diagonally while head was down” pose when they uttered “Aragala” or other revered names of lore. If anybody knows what that salute is called, tell me in my social media comments below! It’s been bothering me and Google hasn’t been helpful. I loved when they dabbed (or “made a dab pose?”) when they uttered “Aragala” or other revered names of lore. Thanks Buddy Todd and Jessica Robins for letting me know what this was called!
Theatre Company : SecondStory Repertory
Venue: SecondStory Repertory
Venue Physical Address: 7325 166th Ave NE f250, Redmond, WA 98052
Price: Cheap
Dates: October 28 – November 13, 2022
Seating: General Admission
Parking and Cost: Free lot or free garage parking provided by the Redmond Town Square outdoor mall where the theatre company rents.