Swimming While Drowning and the Life of LGBT Youth

Milagro presents the world premiere of a promising new play. Somewhere in Los Angeles, two male teenagers nearing eighteen years old are taking refuge in a shelter for LGBT youth. Angelo is a privileged Puerto Rican and aspiring poet; Mila is a calloused Mexican-African street punk. This is the premise of Swimming While Drowning, a …

In a Nutshell: 16 Fertile Ground Festival Acts in Audio

Pieter Breugel’s Hunters in the Snow (1565), on which the performance, Sisters in the Snow, is based. All text written by Kathleen Dolan. Listen to the artists talk about their work at Fertile Ground 2017. The Fertile Ground Festival is back for its 7th year, presenting new works that run the theatre gamut: circus arts, staged …

The Future is Putting Everything Off Until Then

Deborah Pearson’s The Future Show is a love/hate affair. After writing this theatre review, I will send it to the Editor, Kathleen, who will analyze it and make corrections. She will send it back to me to be finalized. As my cursor makes virtual contact with the “Publish” button, I will begin to worry what …

Colonialism, Spinsters, and Hillsboro

Bag&Baggage stakes its place in Hillsboro history Last Friday night, I finally accepted the curtain call from theatre company Bag&Baggage to review one of their productions. The Drowning Girls just happened to be next on the roster in the midst of their 2016-2017 season. I am glad it was. I know that we city folks …

We’ve Been Trumped

Mike Daisey deals the Trump card to lift the curse of the white liberal. This review of The Trump Card, performed last Sunday at Newmark Theatre, attempts to build a narrative concerning the artist in connection to his subject while conveying an editorial that threads it all together. It will contain story spoilers. Do not …

Worst Monday Ever

Portland Experimental Theater Ensemble pushes the manila envelope in Procedures for Saying No. While the Portland Experimental Theater Ensemble (PETE) brings a good amount of anarchy to any topic, it’s clearly carried out with an extra degree of relish here, as they set their sights on workplace manners. Smart-casual clothing is abandoned along with all …

Faced With Need

West Coast Debut of the “Grand Concourse” brings Northwesterner Heidi Schrek’s  Story of Identity Crisis Home. A nun in a Bronx soup kitchen struggles with her faith, as a spunky teenager turns the operation upside down. Don’t be fooled. It might sound cute, even quaint or tired, but those expecting a feel-good piece involving restored faith, …

In Isolation, We Change Together

The Few opens up a compelling love story in a forgotten setting. It was such a passing fancy around the year 2000 that we have already forgotten about it. I’m talking about the “Y2K Bug,” the time setting for The Few, by Samuel D. Hunter. The place setting is obscured — I wouldn’t know it was …

Characters in the Flesh

Jewish Theatre Collaborative lifts “Davita’s Harp” from the page to the stage at Milagro Theatre. “This is a strange story. It doesn’t have an ending. Are you listening?” Walking into the intimate setting of the Milagro Theatre, I felt significantly unprepared. I was about to watch a production set around some of the most important events to …