Wednesday, November 4, 2015

A "Shocking Revenge Thriller"

The Thrush & the Woodpecker, playing at Actor's Express through Sunday, November 15, 2015, is exactly as billed...totally shocking, a story about revenge, and absolutely thrilling! All to the audience's delight, and mine.


Matthew Busch, Stacy Melich | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus | Actor's Express
Matthew Busch, Stacy Melich | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus | Actor's Express

The 75-minute performance flies by! No, that's not a pun relative to the play's title—that's a whole story in itself, and one that reveals itself throughout the performance, which is fast-paced, witty, clever, intelligent and touching. And there are a few laughs.

Noah Hendricks (Matthew Busch), Brenda's son, is home from school, but not for a pleasant visit. The ensuing drama—following a few rounds of extremely clever banter—in all its brilliance, is merely preamble to a shocking reveal.


Stacy Melich, Kathleen Wattis Kettrey | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus | Actor's Express
Stacy Melich, Kathleen Wattis Kettrey | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

Brenda Hendricks (Stacy Melich), Noah's mother, is loving yet stern, is disappointed yet hopeful. But when Roisin Danner (Kathleen Wattis Kettrey) shows up unannounced—while Brenda is running an errand in town—the suspense begins to escalate after meeting Noah, and continues so until the climax of the show.


Stacy Melich | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus
Stacy Melich | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

When Brenda returns from her errand and Roisin starts to reminisce, the revenge layer of the story line begins to reveal itself and the excitement increases exponentially. 

From the edge of my seat, I was beyond mesmerized and enthralled by what was happening on stage and found myself feeling like I'd been transported from a seat in a theater to a seat at the big screen cinema watching a super-accelerated, high-thrill blockbuster! 


Kathleen Wattis Kettrey, Matthew Busch, Stacy Melich | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus.
Kathleen Wattis Kettrey, Matthew Busch, Stacy Melich | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus.

This is one of the more brilliantly written plays I've had the pleasure of seeing. You don't have to speak encyclopedia to follow along, but if you're a fan of words, you're in for quite the cerebral titillation, and a lexicon you just don't hear in everyday conversation—unless, like me, you have friends who do in fact speak encyclopedia. I found it quite a refreshing experience in that regard!


Kathleen Wattis Kettrey | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus
Kathleen Wattis Kettrey | Actor's Express | Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus

I'd love to tell you more about the play, but this is one that you must see yourself! The story is brilliant and the acting superb. Don't miss it.

Running concurrently with The Thrush & the Woodpecker is another play by Steve Yockey, Blackberry Winter, a co-production with Out of Hand Theatre, and both are world premieres. Blackberry Winter's opening night at Actor's Express is this Friday, November 6, 2015. 

The Thrush & the Woodpecker, through Sunday, November 15, 2015
Blackberry Winter, November 6-22, 2015

Check out the full Actor's Express 2015-2016 season here!

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