What I liked
The narrator guiding the audience through the transitions. The military like movements, while changing the set, and setting of props, left no room for boredom or to check out. Simple, yet specific wardrobe solidified story. The sounds/music was exact to the stories being told. I especially liked how it seemed as if the actors were being released from a force field in between transitions. The use of space work was very specific and didn’t feel mimed, i.e. the fellows in the car, the driver, and the passenger. Oh, and the lights, the lights were seamless while working in tandem with the movement and storytelling.
What I didn't like
Technical, unrelated to the show itself, the air conditioning was set to the most frigid temperature. I was wearing a wool blazer and still found my body contorted into a tight fist like shape trying to consume my body heat.
The theatre needs to find a more balanced temperature level. Graciously, the air turned off mid-way through. I almost left during the first act.
My overall impression
Magnificent! Feels like an Off Broadway play. Urban Unrest is a triple threat home run. The Writing, Directing and Acting knocks these real life stories out of the park. A small cast and not one weak link amongst them, equally solid and powerful
Each one act, there were four, left me wanting to see more.
The one-acts were intelligently paced, with each storyline heightened until the final piece “Replica” crescendoed into an explosion of dark content, high stakes, and shocking realism.
If this show gets an extension, I’ll see it again and bring friends. As a matter of fact, I’m a new fan and will look for more from this company.
