Man's Dominion

Man's Dominion is a daring journey back in time to rural Tennessee. It's daring in the sense that it addresses a number of currently controversial areas which, at the time, were not very controversial. While the material is not shocking, it is certainly alarming. It's daring in the sense that when you already know how the story ends based on the promotional materials, then you have to provide compelling enough content to hold the attention of the audience which may or may not already be uncomfortable with some of he references. And it's daring in the sense that ONE ACTOR has the job of playing every character, often revolving the fully fleshed out characters around each other creating a storytelling web from which I did not want to i... full review

Anyone can tell a story. Storytellers are those that tell good stories. And every so often you encounter one who can tell you the story within the story. One that reveals the unseen and unspoken currents that give life to a story, when you encounter such a master, you lean in, listen and pay close attention. Man’s Dominion is one of these rare encounters. Lean in, listen and prepare yourself to see the current. ... full review

An exceptional piece of theater. Storytelling at the highest level. ... full review

One of the best one person shows I have seen in the three years I have been attending the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The characterizations, dialogue and overall performance was stellar. Such a great story and for sure to be a Fringe hit. GO SEE THIS SHOW!... full review

Tim Powell is a big hearted and skilled performer who does a beautiful job of breathing life into ten distinct and fully realized characters. In the course of an hour he presents us with a Ringmaster, a vengeful priest, a simple ghost, a sweet Irish worker, a southern townsman, and several others. However, it was his brave turn as a black worker, about 3/4 into the story that really elevated his performance to an art. Surprisingly rich and perfectly realized, it was in this moment of the play that I felt David Castro's strong and clear voice fully delivered to his audience. Janie Michele Simm's Theresa Romano was a sweet and unexpected surprise. This is a well written account with heart and depth to boot. ... full review

Man’s Dominion is a tour-de-force created out of nothing more than a fake clown nose, a true story and a lot of real talent. Playwright David Castro crafted this spellbinding journey from a series of monologues based on the real event of an elephant lynching in Tennessee in 1916. Tim Powell brings his characters to life with a deft juggling of accents and physicality that allows him the luxury of understated performance. His easy command of the stage lulls us into giving ourselves over to the journey. The unexpected contribution from Michele Simms/ Madison Flannery provides pitch-perfect counterpoint. And if Powell’s performance is a one-man three-ring circus, director Dennis Neal is the ringmaster, working invisibly but precisely to craft t... full review

This is what Theatre is about. A thought provoking, mature piece that thoroughly engages an audience from beginning to end. David Castro has picked a subject that is at once fascinating and horrifying. He cleverly weaves a story through the use of various narrators (or witnesses) all played by Tim Powell. This tour de force performance by Tim Powell does not dazzle us with its theatricality but rather its humanity. Dennis Neal elegantly directs with specific use of minimum props, staging and stage craft. This is a piece of bare bones brilliance.... full review

Nothing Short Of Brilliance! I was blown away by the sheer power of the execution , magnificent direction, from the poignant, heartfelt and thought provoking writing whileTim Powell's acting is seamless and mesmorizing as he transitions from character to character and points of view. This Writing was often cleverly funny as truthful chords struck me inside as i was left questioning my own humanity. It's a piece that should not be missed. We were sooo taken with this show! I was sooo moved that the cast of "Rock and Roll's Greatest Lovers" musical has JUST fostered LAYONI the 5 year old elephant from http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org ... full review

Tim Powell gives an outstanding performance, amazing how a really great actor can take you in just a black box and with his movement, thoughts, emotions, and actions take you to another time and place. I applaud you and the team you put together of writer and director. Right after Man's Dominion, I went to see the movie, Maleficent, another well done movie with Angelina Jolie and about another 30 actors, too bad there are only 30 actors in the movie, (with equal abilities to Tim) who got the job and the rest were 3000 computer graphic technicians doing the movie. It aches my heart to see Tim so talented on a black stage and not being on a movie like a Blockbuster hit. Congratulations Tim... full review

I sat down in a folding chair nearest the stage just as the show began and was still until I stood up to applaud. I had a true visceral experience in Man's Dominion. The performances were seamless. The staging and lights created a place for the audience to live and learn. Tim crafted his characters so perfectly that I could recall family members I had known as a child or a person I passed on the street. They were all vivid and alive. The writing moved me to tears. And the words called upon so many of my memories of sadness and joy. Such incredible direction. Everything touched my heart and made me ask "why?" Beautiful beautiful beautiful.... full review