Recent arts coverage:
- Evolutionary biology. Aesthetic determinism. Live action role playing. The Rude Mechs are making a new play again
- Suburban battlefield: Women fight invisible foe in Amie Siegel’s ‘Black Moon’
- In eerie paintings by Ana Fernandez, a house isn’t just a house
More arts coverage | Follow this blog on Twitter @artsinaustin | Read recent arts reviews
Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2008 > September > 29
Monday, September 29, 2008
Review: ‘Cloud 9’
There’s always something to bring you down from Cloud 9: Sometimes it’s Victorian patriarchs flogging slaves and sometimes it’s the recognition that the liberation of the 1970s and ’80s just wrapped us up in our heads even more. In Caryl Churchill’s “Cloud 9,” now at St. Edward’s, the first seems almost preferable.
Churchill follows one family across the century, though they only age 25 years. In the first half, a colonial family painted in broad caricature romps its way through a few days of native uprisings and sexual trysts. As Clive, the patriarch of the family, Matt Radford beams dry patriotism—his moustache positively bristles with pride and scotch—while his wife, played, as many of the parts are written, cross-cast by Christopher Smith, simpers to be everything he wants.
In the second half, Babs George takes the role of the aged wife, now divorced, who, through a series of tenderly wry monologues takes charge of herself while Smith transforms in the role of a streetwise hustler, now the lover of her bisexual son, played with affecting, mild sincerity by Jon Wayne Martin.
The first half, with a constant hustle through the stage and bustle on it, is a solid hour of laughs. The second, while often bitterly comic, emphasizes a more human element. The contrast, handily performed on both sides by all involved, makes each more effective.
There’s not enough space to go through the laundry list of performances that deserve to be recognized from each actor. Suffice it to say, you’d be well served to catch one of the few remaining performances and, if you can’t, hope for an extended run.
“Cloud 9” continues at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. through October 5 at the Mary Moody Northern Theatre. 3001 S. Congress Ave. $12-$18. 448-8484.
Joey Seiler is an American-Stateman freelance arts critic.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Reviews
So you think you want to see modern dance?
So you think you want to see modern dance?
That’s good because you have plenty to see over the next couple of weeks. Why it is that dance events in this town all pop up at the same time, we don’t know. But here’s what you have to choose from this weekend:
Tere O’Connor Dance Dancing about architecture. New York-based Tere O’Connor Dance performs “Rammed Earth,” a piece initially inspired by the ancient building practice of creating walls from earth available at the site of construction.
“Rammed Earth” opens Wednesday at 8 p.m. and continues Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m.0 at the Richland Dance Hall, 18312 Cameron Road. Advance tickets are $12-$15. Tickets at the door are $15-$18. (512) 450-0456, www.danceumbrella.com
“Rammed Earth”
Chaddick Dance Theatre
New to Austin, dancer and choreographer Cheryl Chaddick presents her first evening-length dancer concert here. Chaddick finds inspiration in women’s varying body types. Chaddick’s “The Gambit” features a trio of female dancers and expresses the drive and desire to make societal connections with the pressure of false introductions, fake personas and the battle to stay committed to the real self.
8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, AustinVentures Studio Theatre. 501 W. Third St. $20 at door, $15 advance, $10 students/seniors. 512-474-8497, www.texasperforms.com.
Chaddick Dance Theatre
‘A Thumping Raging Explosion of Light and Marvelous Texture.’
Austin choreographer Amanda Butterfield of Yellow Tape Construction Company creates an explosive 60-minute new ensemble dance work set to the live music of Austin indie rock band Masonic.
8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through Oct. 11. Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Road. $15. 466-5225, www.yellowtape.org.
Yellow Tape Construction Company
