From: RADFORD [#1]
3 Nov 2007
To: ALL
Just thought I would share this with you.
http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18981664&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=541499&rfi=6
It's a review from the Midland Community Theater Production of Law and disOrder.
Love ya'll!
Will
"LAW AND DISORDER"
The poster of a massive shark eating a much smaller fish dominates the wall in the junior partner's office. One word appears at the top: "Ambition."
Will Radford's "Law and Disorder," on stage at Midland Community Theatre through Nov. 18, captures the sometimes hilarious machinations that occur in a law office between two junior lawyers seeking the coveted position of partner.
The head lawyer, one Mrs. Duckworth, a toned down version of the "Devil" (Miranda Priestly) from "The Devil Wears Prada," pops in and out of the office at various inopportune moments. Finally, her nephew Scott arrives. He is the distillation of the Arkansas hick.
Playing Kate, Bailey Beard is nuanced in her role as the highly ambitious young lawyer who is hampered by a generous heart. As Tonya, Brittany Duncan is deliciously malevolent as the scheming junior lawyer. Buddy Fazzio is often hilarious as the eternal student Mark, especially in his attempts at sneaking bagels passed Mrs. Duckworth and in the restaurant scene. Mrs. Duckworth is played by Jane Moore, who expertly swings between nightmare boss and doting aunt.
The standout performance comes from Erik Kator. He portrays Scott Duckworth as a wonderfully clichéd Arkansas hillbilly -- filthy overalls, spitting tobacco, greasy armpits, appalling manners, Neanderthal attitude towards women, violently changing emotions -- and Kator does it all with an animal intensity in which he leaps around the stage at one moment and then gives priceless facial expressions the next. Buster Keaton springs to mind.
The overall symbol of "Law and Disorder" is a game of chess. Each act ends with the word "checkmate" as a character thinks (wrongly) that she has finally won the game. Eric Beeck's black-and-white set design reflects the chess motif. The costume design often revolves around these same two colors. The chess image that permeates the whole production -- from script to walls to costume to Pam Keel's often casually elegant blocking -- is part of a logical, organic whole. The set design becomes a carefully considered piece of art.
"Law and Disorder" is a great evening of entertainment: the perfect length, actors obviously enjoying themselves greatly and the audience enjoying themselves more. On opening night, the playwright was present. After the show he was signing prompters. While success in theater is notoriously difficult to predict, I suspect he will be signing many more in the years to come.
From: admin [#2]
3 Nov 2007
To: RADFORD [#1] 11 Nov 2007
Excellent review, sir! There's a distinct advantage to having reviews, given that theatrical presentations 'round here don't last long enough for reviews to benefit them. At least the Midland folks now have a great idea of the production; too bad they had to wreck Scott's reveal, however, to illustrate the broadth of his character.
edited to ask: is "broadth" a word?
edited to add: you should send that out as a bulletin with myspace. no idea why. ;-)