
By Robert O’Hara
Celebration Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
October 23-December 20, 2015
“CRITIC’S CHOICE”
-LA TIMES
“GO!”
-LA WEEKLY
“STAGE RAW TOP TEN, RECOMMENDED”
“Michael Matthews sure-handedly directs his extremely talented cast of five as they portray multiple characters in what appears to be separately titled skits, but cleverly morphs into a full-on play with beginning, middle and end. And what an end!”
-BROADWAY WORLD
“Directed with impeccable splash and nuance by LA’s go-to visionary Michael Matthews, this flight of fancy is a crazed mix of mother-son sex education, outrageous pulpit-preaching, chicken-cackling town gossip, de-gaying interventions, love-and-dating misadventures, eyebrow-raising exploitation, “truth or dare” drinking games, comical break-ups, unnerving violence and BBQ spare ribs. Certainly not for the prudish or faint-of-heart, this warped comedy will have you howling with laughter as it rides the edges of humor and convention.”
-GIA ON THE MOVE
“The cast is uniformly first-rate throughout, and a good part of the credit must go to director Michael Matthews, who consistently draws exceptional performances from the actors in his shows. As usual, he has paced the evening beautifully, allowing each moment the time and energy it needs, no more and no less. Unlike many directors, Mr. Matthews also recognizes that, especially in an intimate theatre, scene changes can be as important as the scenes themselves: he has choreographed the many shifts here with wit and military precision, giving the audience not only something to look at, but also helping tie the scenes together.”
-LOS ANGELES POST
“Celebration’s co-artistic directors, Michael Matthews (who has staged “Bootycandy”) and actor Michael A. Shepperd (who plays crucial supporting roles in oversized drag) infuse the production with maximum flamboyance. At times the staging comes off as a reboot of the old sketch comedy television show “In Living Color,” but the work ultimately addresses serious concerns about intersectional identities and representation.”
-LA TIMES
“The play is directed with characteristic skill and panache by Michael Matthews, and the supporting ensemble does solid work in multiple roles,…”
-LA WEEKLY
“Director Michael Matthews provides a slick, sharp stylized production.”
-STAGE RAW
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2015 LADCC Nomination: Production/Play
2015 LADCC Nomination: Playwright
2015 LADCC Nomination: Ensemble
2015 LADCC Nomination: Featured Actor
2015 LADCC Nomination: Featured Actress
2016 Stage Raw Award: Ensemble
2016 Stage Raw Award: Featured Actor
2016 Stage Raw Award: Featured Actress
2016 Ovation Nomination: Costume Design
2016 Ovation Nomination: Lighting Design