Might As Well Live: Stories by Dorothy Parker

These 4 playlets, adapted and directed by Adam Scott Weissman from stories by the often cynical Dorothy Parker, show a deeply gentle side of her in the first play ‘The Lovely Leave.’ In fact, this beautifully realized tale of a young wife and her Air Force husband spending only minutes together before he is shipped overseas and into the black hole of World War II is a masterpiece of stagecraft. They look at each other with deep tenderness, even kiss once or twice, but mostly they squabble. Here are two real people (rarely personified in the shows I review) unable to say or do the right things because the underlying misfortune of their lives colors every word they speak. The two actors, Bailey Wilson and Paul Stanko, are perfectly cast and wo... full review

#SkipItLA - I was not a fan of the stories that were chosen, and on the whole I found the female characters to be whiny, vapid and largely lacking in substance. I enjoyed the male characters in the first two stories, but I found little redeeming in the last two pieces. The third piece felt more like an interrupted vignette then a full scene.... full review

I was so excited to learn about Dorothy Parker's work through this adaptation. Right from the start the first vignette grabs you and the play doesn't let go. The actors were paired together in a way that not only did their dialogue set the scene but their physicality with each other complimented the show. The format of the play left you wanting more right as the piece transitioned to a new set of characters. This kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. This was an ambitious undertaking and I am glad I went. Can't wait to see what Adam has up his sleeve next! ... full review