Pride and Prejudice

Quintessence Language and Imagination Theatre **Photo credit: Roger Nelson**
July 31 - August 16, 2009

Review by peanutduck

Purpose of page-to-stage translation if nothing new is explored, illuminated? Director/playwright’s intentions paradoxical. Characters underdeveloped (Mrs. Bennet - demonic marionette); cross-casting sisters Mary and Kitty, nonsensical; elevator distracting. Lovers’ chemistry absent; and, until third act, most actors uncomfortable with text. Exquisite moment: Second dance where movement, dialogue play against musical narration.

Pride and Prejudice

Quintessence
August 1, 2008

Summary:

In Pride and Prejudice, artistic Director Connor Kerns has truly honored Jane Austen’s genius by transforming her novel into a full, vibrant stage work. This staged reading is the culmination of a three-week workshop with more than a dozen actors. The last of Quintessence’s summer reading series. Free. See it.

Leer's Daughter

Quintessence
July 19, 2008

Summary:

Connor Kerns’ new comedy is inspired by King Lear. Sexy, dark and absurd, a theatre company in present-day Spain struggles with a change in leadership. This summer, Quintessence will be developing future projects with one classic staged reading as well as “rough” readings of two original plays. Free! **adult content**

Grandma's Revenants

Quintessence
July 12, 2008

Summary:

What's in the trunk? Bouncing between the past and present, this original play by Alexander Lumiere (Quintessence's long-time dramaturg) bends gender and time to examine the persistence of family memory. Quintessence will be developing future projects with one classic staged reading as well as “rough” readings of two original plays.

Hamlet

Quintessence
Guest Review

Simply excellent text work. Why muddy it up with complicated, confusing and ultimately pointless flashback concept? “To Be Or Not To Be” as dialogue - simply a bad choice. Intriguing, unexpected Hamlet by Stephan Henry. Debbie Hunter as Ophelia is trying too hard and seems to be merely playing at madness.

Face Reader

Quintessence Language and Imagination Theatre
July 31, 2004

A dull knife would have been sharper than this glacially paced, self-absorbed, preachy, pedantic and pretentious vanity play from Connor Kerns about a woman who can see truth behind otherwise imperceptible facial expressions. My companion saw truth behind its imperceptible octopus plot when he said, “I hate this. It hurts.”

Macbeth

Quintessence Language and Imagination Theatre
July 9, 2004

Hold on as director JoAnn Johnson speeds through weak exposition to fast-forward to good stuff. Minimal production successfully focuses on Shakespeare’s fundamental of language. Of note, though disparate: declamatory Macbeths, authentic Macduff and lissom Wayward Sisters--but, above all, Hal Logan’s outstanding surround-sound design that simply and effectively underscores tragedy.