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    LouLife

    Review: Louisville Rep's November rocks the (White) house
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    One would never dream that the Oval Office was like this.

    But with President Charles Smith desperately seeking reelection and the phone ringing off the hook—committee members telling him to give up, his wife asking if they can take the White House couch home after they lose, the leader of Iran wanting to know why there are rumors they’ve attacked the U.S. (the excuse the President gave his gossipy wife to get off the phone)—things are a little less than copacetic.

    Enter the turkeys.

    In last-ditch effort to earn advertising money, the President weaves an elaborate plot to save his job and all the turkeys in the country—insulting every possible constituency with unfiltered and off-the-cuff one-liners as he goes.

    The show is a riot.

    The cast is superb.

    They work and converse onstage with the ease of people who spend every waking moment together—though with the performance of such a difficult script executed almost flawlessly, that time spent together might not be much of a stretch.

    Kudos to Sean Childress, (Charles Smith) who carries this production on his back as if it were weightless. Childress rants on and on in hilarious monologues without missing a beat. He is fascinating to watch.

    Michael Roberts, as the President’s aide Archer Brown, provides the perfect comic foil. Roberts has a knack for subtle humor and is a strong support for the action of the play. 

    Tiffany Taylor (Presidential speech writer Bernstein), Brandon Saylor (Turkey Guy) and Rich Williams (Dwight Grackle) round out the talented cast.

    J.C. Nixon (set design) and the props team have created an inviting Oval Office, with the minor exception of the slightly odd placement of a phone on the couch. Stage manager Stacey Catron and her crew have an excellent grasp on a very challenging show.

    Much is said about ‘comic timing’ in productions, and it is often overstated in importance. Not here. Without it, playwright David Mamet’s staccato dialogue would crash and burn. 

    In LRC’s production of November, it does the exact opposite. Director J.R. Stuart has guided this cast to an accolade-worthy production.

    This is your chance to escape the current real-life political barrage and enjoy a much more entertaining one at the MeX at the Kentucky Center.

    And while you’re at it, get tickets for Monday’s performance too. You’re going to want to see this twice.

    Louisville Repertory Company's comedy November runs tonight, Saturday, October 27 at 8pm through November 4 in the MeX at the Kentucky Center. Tickets are $16 ($11 for Monday the 29th performance) and can be purchased online, at the door, or by calling the Kentucky Center box office (service fees apply) at 502-584-7777.

    Image: Courtesy Louisville Repertory Company

    Michelle Rynbrandt's picture

    About Michelle Rynbrandt

    Before landing in the Possibility City, Michelle toured the country performing in various regional theatres. Having been there and done that, she can honestly say that Louisville's cultural opportunities are second to none.

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