Magic Kingdom, 8/8/2014, The Connolly Theatre
Rafael Benoit (Professor/Luis/Rafael)Cameron Michael Burns (Dylan/Tyler)
Cory Conley (Cory)
Daniel K. Isaac (Mickey)
Gina Le Moine (Claire)
Josh Mercantel (Jack/Mike/Nathaniel)
Mary Monahan (Janet/Lady)
Marisa Lark Wallin (Emma)
Craig Baldwin (Director/Designer)
Mark Brystowski (Stage Manager)
Drew Ledbetter (Technical Coordinator)
Miriam Nilofa Crowe (Lighting Design)
Andrea Alton (Publicist)
Cynical, whimsical, satirical, and curiously earnest, Magic Kingdom is the quintessential play of the 21st century. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes heartwarming, but almost always hysterically funny, this pseudo-realistic and semi-cautionary tale features a brother and sister who come to terms with their separate relationship issues in very different ways in the “Most Magical Place On Earth”, which turns out not to be so magical after all. (A little like life, after all.)
This is a very carefully considered performance on all fronts and it shows in the delightfully awkward and truthful weirdness on stage. There is not an element of design or performance out of place, although special mention goes out to Daniel K. Isaac’s Mickey, the humorless and robotic CEO whose attempt at understanding his own humanity, or perhaps just the humanity of the attendees at the Magic Kingdom, is pitch perfect.
Most impressive is their use of projection as a backdrop, to compliment and comment on each scene. Splashing relevant images against a screen set near the back of the stage like awkward family vacation pictures shared with uncles and nieces and second cousins years after the actual vacation, Magic Kingdom has possibly done other shows rarely accomplish: put projections front and center in a way that enhances the performances of the actors without overshadowing them. The presence and acknowledgment of Drew the Technical Coordinator who controls the projections from on stage hint early on at the more fourth wall breaking aspects of the play.
Please, if you see no other theatrical piece at the Fringe Festival this summer, see Magic Kingdom. You will not regret it.
Source: quicktheatre
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My brother’s famous, ya’ll!!
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Yoooooo, second great review in a row!
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