It’s A Family Thing At “The House Of Yes”

by Karen Tortora-Lee on April 20, 2010

Full disclosure – I went to Heathcliff Entertainment’s production of The House of Yes (written by Wendy MacLeod and directed by Brandt Reiter) full of anticipation.  The movie of the same name (based on MacLeod’s play) had long been my litmus test; if someone loved the film as much as I did, then I knew we’d be friends.  If someone didn’t get it . . . well, let’s just say we didn’t exchange holiday cards after that.

So seeing one of my favorite movies in its original form on stage was, I knew, going to be great fun for me.  And this production, starring Jonathan Blakeley as Marty, Tommy Heleringer as Anthony, Marcia Everitt as Mrs. Pascal, Zoë Swenson as Jackie-O, and Hilary Bettis as Lesly lived up to my expectations and more.  Still, this is a story with a lot of bite so before you go I suggest you arrive prepared.  (Don’t worry, no spoilers ahead).

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Pretty Theft Gives Stealing A Good Name

by Karen Tortora-Lee on April 30, 2009

Five Finger Discount

I’ve never been involved in a bank heist but if I were, I could never be tasked with the role of Getaway Driver.  I can’t navigate with any certainty when the car is required to do above 30 mph on a city street.  Ask me to drive at break-neck speed through urban obstacles and then set you down at the end safely and I assure you: I can’t do it.  But Adam Szymkowicz can … and in his new play Pretty Theft directed by Angela Astle he shows us how he navigates those narrow streets and dark alleys like a pro.  In the hands of a lesser writer (or the wrong director) I could see this play crashing into a wall and laying in a twisted heap of shards and confusion.  But it doesn’t, it gets it right every time, and that’s what makes Pretty Theft so appealing.

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