What I liked
…
What I didn't like
…
My overall impression
Mandy Rubeli examines the fragility of life in her newest play, All Cats Go To Hell. The show is packed with punchy dialogue, uninhibited performances, and very, very dark themes. Right in my wheelhouse. Rubeli is an especially talented writer and now having seen her previous work, I recognize the gift she has for developing a plot. I love the rapid-pace, the quick line pick-ups, and interjections that were directed with intent to maximize the natural quality of the dialogue and boost the comedy – for the first 10-15 minutes of the play you really feel like a fly on the wall as these latchkey kids shoot the shit at 4am. But as the inciting incident occurs, the story takes a more introspective, existential path that keeps the production grounded and ultimately meaningful. The denouement turns the whole piece into a slight cautionary tale that reminded me of similar themes that I took away from the wonderful Sean Baker film, The Florida Project with a hint of Kids (1995) thrown into the mix. Overall, a clever piece that leaves you with a lot to analyze and breakdown after the snow has fallen.
