Post Type – Page 16 – Shows I've Seen

The Book of Will – Play – Review – Taproot Theatre

@showsiveseen Lauren Gunderson's "The Book of Will" #play at @TaprootTheatre. Enthusiastic delivery. Nice #Tudor costumes. Love letter to #Shakespeare, #acting, posterity, & legacy. #theatre #showsiveseen ♬ Takes forever – Subyub Lee

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Book of Will play at Taproot Theatre. Enthusiastic delivery. Nice Tudor costumes. Love letter to Shakespeare, acting, posterity, and legacy.

Recommendation
See it if you enjoyed Bruce or if you’re a Shakespeare fan.

Synopsis from the Theatre: An unforgettable true story! In an act of undying devotion, Shakespeare’s best friends race to do the impossible: Publish every play he wrote. This irreverent, witty, and surprisingly modern tale celebrates friendship, found family, and an unselfish act that changed the world forever. From the author of Silent Sky and the Christmas at Pemberley series.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 1/26/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since the show ends this weekend!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: Obviously, you should be familiar with Shakespeare references and his major plays.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 10

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Was there an intermission? Yes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Purpose of Theatre/Acting: My favorite scene was at the beginning of the second act when John Heminges (played by Eric Jensen) and Henry Condell (played by Reginald André Jackson) solemnly waxed poetically about the reason for live theatre – it’s so the people in the room can feel. “The faeries aren’t real, but the feeling is.”

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Storyline: It’s not an absolute requirement, but it didn’t feel like the storyline followed the classic narrative structure of the typical plot pyramid/diagram. Additionally, similar to Bruce, there didn’t seem like enough substantial significant conflict or cliffhanger. The deaths seemed random/unnecessary, and characters appeared out of nowhere.

Theatre Company: Taproot Theatre

Venue: Jewell Mainstage at Taproot Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 204 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103

Price: Medium

Tickets: https://taproottheatre.org/shows/2024/the-book-of-will/

Ticket Affordability Options: TodayTix/Goldstar

Dates: January 24 to February 24, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid lot or usually-free street parking. I always find free street parking on Greenwood Ave just South of the theatre.

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Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by John Ulman.

Reginald André Jackson, Nolan Palmer, and Eric Jensen in *The Book of Will* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Nolan Palmer and Melanie Godsey in *The Book of Will* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Andrew Litzky and Nik Doner in *The Book of Will* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Reginald André Jackson and Eric Jensen in *The Book of Will* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Llysa Holland, Nikki Visel, Eric Jensen, and Reginald André Jackson in *The Book of Will* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Reginald André Jackson, Melanie Godsey, Nik Doner, and Eric Jensen in *The Book of Will* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Eric Jensen and Llysa Holland in *The Book of Will* at Taproot Theatre. Photo by John Ulman.

Becoming Dr. Ruth – Play – Review – Village Theatre

@showsiveseen "Becoming Dr. Ruth" one-person #play starring at Village Theatre. Surprisingly, the show was less about sex advice from granny & more about storytelling #Jewish heritage. Inspired me to keep a diary. Dates are an anchor! Review: showsiveseen.com/7832 B-roll: @Nyhuis Creative #Jew #holocaust #showsiveseen #theatre #storytelling ♬ Dream Girl – Izellah

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Mark St. Germain’s “Becoming Dr. Ruth” one-person play starring Naomi Jacobson. Surprisingly, the show was less about sex advice from granny and more about storytelling Jewish heritage. Inspired me to keep a diary. Dates are an anchor!

Recommendation
See it if you’re okay with 4th wall acknowledgements or action-less one-person plays. Audience members who appreciate Jewish heritage or good storytelling would also enjoy this show.

Synopsis from the Theatre: She’s America’s favorite sex therapist! Before she became Dr. Ruth, Karola Ruth Siegel had to flee Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport, become a sharpshooter in Jerusalem, and survive as a single mother in America. Filled with irrepressible wit, joy, and honesty, Becoming Dr. Ruth tells the triumphant and life-affirming story of a woman who—through her perseverance, indefatigable spirit, and bravery— carved her own unique place in the world. Acclaimed actress Naomi Jacobson reprises the role that has garnered her ovations across the country in this tour-de-force one woman play. Becoming Dr. Ruth promises an unforgettable, hilarious, and uplifting evening of theater that will touch your soul and heart. Dr. Ruth is a sex therapist and educator and speaks about sex in a matter-of-fact way appropriate for the radio. Contains short descriptions of war and Nazi Germany with one moment recalling a graphic war injury.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 1/19/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen.

Type: One-person Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: It was more storytelling

Several or Few Settings/Locations: It was more storytelling

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably enjoy this more if you’re familiar with Holocaust history.

Defined Plot/Storyline: The storytelling was chronological, but it didn’t feel like a defined plot.

Equity Actors: 1

Total Number of Actors: 1

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Was there an intermission? No

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Favorite Line: “I get very aroused, with a strong erection, whenever I see a cow.”

Rant(s)

Jokes on Size: The script was too gratuitous with jokes about Dr. Ruth’s tiny size. (Sigh), we get it, she was short!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: Dr. Ruth mentioned Zionism, but she didn’t make a stance either way on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It would have been a timely comment given today’s current events. Either way, it would have also been a controversial stance I would have loved to hear since Seattle tends to favor one side while the playwrights tend to favor the opposite side.
Jewish Heritage vs Sex: Surprisingly, Dr Ruth didn’t talk about sex much in this play. Most of it was during the last 15-30 minutes of the show. The script was more about the Holocaust and its aftermath. Interestingly enough, she mentioned that sex isn’t shameful in the Jewish tradition like it is with Christians. “I couldn’t help but wonder,” is that why there so many Jewish references in the Sex and the City TV show?
Jewish Prejudice: It was interesting to hear that Swiss, Polish, (and Israeli?) Jews looked down on German Jews who survived the Holocaust. We, as humans, are horrible to each other.

Theatre Company: Village Theatre

Venue: Village Theatre

Venue Physical Address:

Issaquah: 303 Front Street North, Issaquah, WA 98027
Everett: 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA 98201

Price: Medium to Expensive

Tickets: https://villagetheatre.org/shows/dr-ruth/

Ticket Affordability Options: See the theatre’s official pages about discounts and pay-what-you-can performances.

Dates:

Issaquah: January 16 to February 18, 2024
Everett: February 24 to March 17, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking:

Issaquah: Free street parking and certain free parking lots. Lot parking availability is very difficult to find though. I’ve basically given up on that. I usually end up parking on Rainier Boulevard North. As a last resort, you can always find parking at the library but it’s a little far. Remember, there’s a bottom floor parking lot under the library’s main parking lot that mostly only locals know about.
Everett: Free street parking and some paid parking lots/garages.

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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures below by Auston James.

Naomi Jacobson as Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer in *Becoming Dr. Ruth* at Village Theatre (2024). Photo by Auston James.

Preview Post – Once More, Just for You – Play – Seattle Public Theater & Macha Theatre Works

Once More, Just for You play by Seattle Public Theatre and Macha Theatre. Performing until 2/25/24. Stay tuned for my full review! #asian

Tickets: https://www.seattlepublictheater.org/oncemore

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Preview Post – Blood Countess – Play – MAP Theatre at 18th & Union

Blood Countess play by MAP Theatre at 18th & Union. Performing until 2/24/24. Stay tuned for my full review!

Tickets: https://www.map-theatre.com/

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A Case for the Existence of God – Play – Review – ACT Theatre

@showsiveseen Samuel D Hunter's "A Case for the Existence of God" beautiful #play at @ACT Theatre Seattle starring Nate Tenenbaum & Conner Neddersen. Surprising how little the show mentioned religion or God. In the spirit of the script's male vulnerability theme, I actually shed a tear during the last scene. Review: showsiveseen.com/7936 Director: John Langs Stage Manager: JR Welden or Bret Torbeck #friendship #friends #fatherhood #parenthood #parents #showsiveseen #theatre #adoption ♬ My Father – Melaner

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Samuel D Hunter’s A Case for the Existence of God beautiful play at ACT Theatre starring Nate Tenenbaum & Conner Neddersen. Surprising how little the show mentioned religion or God. In the spirit of the script’s male vulnerability theme, I actually shed a tear during the last scene.

Recommendation
See it if you’re okay with plays that are more dialoge and less action.

Synopsis from the Theatre: Inside a small loan brokerage in Idaho, two men — a study in opposites — struggle to make a place for their families in the American dream as they balance parenthood, financial security, desire, and empathy. This award-winning play, with a revelatory ending, leads audiences on a journey of intrigue and reckoning as the two fathers’ lives intertwine in a powerful narrative about what it means to be human.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Weekend 2/9/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since the show ends this weekend!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: A couple

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably appreciate this play more if you’re a parent …. bonus points if you know the pain of being a single parent or the painful process of adoption. That being said, I don’t have kids and I’m not even sure I want kids, but I still enjoyed the play.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Mostly yes, but the script was mostly dialogue and less action. While I typically don’t prefer dialogue plays, this one was actually not bad.

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 2

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Was there an intermission? No

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No, but it was good.

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Favorite Line: Something like “I’m not a weepy gay man who needs to be held by a straight man.”
Nate Tenenbaum: Kudos to Nate Tenenbaum (who played Keith) for tearing up on-demand. His climactic chaotic tantrum scene was good too.
Awkward Moments: There were several deliciously uncomfortable awkward moments. In hindsight, they remind me of The Office TV show.
Male Vulnerability: This play uniquely portrayed vulnerable everyday men without appearing limp wristed (Relax, I’m gay!). It normalized the fact that men can also experience anxiety attacks and depression. It also showed that deep plutonic friendships between straight and gay men are possible.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Religion: The title led me to assume this play was about Christianity. Unless I missed the symbolism (which is very possible), there was nothing in it about religion. However, the actors described the mortgage processes in a way that could have touched on religion though. If you’ve seen this show, comment in my social media links below why you think “God” is in the title.

Theatre Company: ACT Theatre

Venue: The Falls Theatre at ACT Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 700 Union Street, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: Medium to Expensive

Tickets: https://acttheatre.org/2023-24-season/a-case-for/

Ticket Affordability Options: Check out the the theatre’s official discounts page or TodayTix/Goldstar.

Dates: February 2 to February 18, 2024 – Previews started the 2nd and opening press night was the 8th.

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid lot or paid street parking. If I don’t walk to this theatre, I park in the Convention Center garage with the entrance between Seneca and Pike. There is indoor access from the garage to the theatre if you walk through the old convention center.

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Pictures: See pictures below by Dai Ross Art and Photography.