WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM
by Christopher DurangTheatre Too
Directed by Bruce R. Coleman
Set and Costume Design - Bruce R. Coleman
Lighting Design - David Gibson
Sound Design - Andi Allen
CAST
Luella - Brandi Andrade
Reverend Mike - Chris Dover
Felicity - Lee Jamison
Zamir - Nas Mehdi
Hildegard - Amy Mills
The Voice - Dan Pucul
Leonard - Terry Vandivort
Reviewed Performance: 3/11/2011
Reviewed by Kelley Vest, Associate Critic for John Garcia's THE COLUMN
Does torture work and is it okay if it means saving lives? Theatre Too begins its second to last production for the 2010-2011 season with Christopher Durang's satirical play Why Torture Is Wrong And The People Who Love Them.
The play begins as Felicity awakens in a hotel room with a strange man in her bed. She is horrified to learn the man in her bed, Zamir, is now her husband. In the hopes of getting the marriage annulled, she takes him to meet her family. However, finding a way to get the marriage annulled becomes the least of everyone's worries when Zamir's unknown past and her father's paranoid delusions about terrorists sets off a series of events.
Mr. Durang's edgy and funny play places a mirror to the faces of xenophobes who came out after 9-11 and believe the end will justify the means if the results are keeping America safe.
The jokes are subversive and you will find yourself laughing at things you know you should not be laughing at, especially in public. However, the play also has quite a bit of inside theatre jokes that are lost on theatre dilettantes.
Director, Set & Costume Designer Bruce R. Coleman gets the audience buzzing before any of the action begins with a set background of the American flag and a portrait of George W. Bush smiling at you as you take your seat.
The actors for this play are wonderfully cast.
Felicity's parents, played by Brandi Andrade & Terry Vandivort, bring the perfect mix of crazy and delusional. Nas Medhi's portrayal of Zamir makes this ruffie dropping, misogynistic, hot tempered man likeable.
The solo voice of sanity and reason, Felicity, played by Lee Jamison, makes you understand why someone like Zamir would want to marry her.
However, it is Amy Mills' portrayal as the loyal, underwear wearing challenged Heldegarde that steals the show. From the moment she arrives she brings the energy on the stage to a whole new level and her comedic timing is perfect.
This play is enjoyable from start to finish and will run until April 10th. A word of advice, the theatre is very cold so bring a jacket.
The play begins as Felicity awakens in a hotel room with a strange man in her bed. She is horrified to learn the man in her bed, Zamir, is now her husband. In the hopes of getting the marriage annulled, she takes him to meet her family. However, finding a way to get the marriage annulled becomes the least of everyone's worries when Zamir's unknown past and her father's paranoid delusions about terrorists sets off a series of events.
Mr. Durang's edgy and funny play places a mirror to the faces of xenophobes who came out after 9-11 and believe the end will justify the means if the results are keeping America safe.
The jokes are subversive and you will find yourself laughing at things you know you should not be laughing at, especially in public. However, the play also has quite a bit of inside theatre jokes that are lost on theatre dilettantes.
Director, Set & Costume Designer Bruce R. Coleman gets the audience buzzing before any of the action begins with a set background of the American flag and a portrait of George W. Bush smiling at you as you take your seat.
The actors for this play are wonderfully cast.
Felicity's parents, played by Brandi Andrade & Terry Vandivort, bring the perfect mix of crazy and delusional. Nas Medhi's portrayal of Zamir makes this ruffie dropping, misogynistic, hot tempered man likeable.
The solo voice of sanity and reason, Felicity, played by Lee Jamison, makes you understand why someone like Zamir would want to marry her.
However, it is Amy Mills' portrayal as the loyal, underwear wearing challenged Heldegarde that steals the show. From the moment she arrives she brings the energy on the stage to a whole new level and her comedic timing is perfect.
This play is enjoyable from start to finish and will run until April 10th. A word of advice, the theatre is very cold so bring a jacket.
Why Torture Is Wrong and The People Who Love Them
Theatre Too at Theatre 3, 2800 Routh Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Plays through April 10th
Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:oo pm and Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets are reserved and $25-$30. For tickets and information, call 214-871-3300 or go to www.theatre3dallas.com
Theatre Too at Theatre 3, 2800 Routh Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Plays through April 10th
Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:oo pm and Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets are reserved and $25-$30. For tickets and information, call 214-871-3300 or go to www.theatre3dallas.com
