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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2008 > September > 29 > Entry
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.
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By Eric
October 2, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
I saw Cloud 9 in previews and it was wonderful! Incredible performances & a truly smart and provocative script by Caryl Churchill. Don’t miss this one!