THE HIGH CAPTAIN

self-produced · Ages 14+ · United States of America

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Review by THEO MOTZENBACKER

June 14, 2018 certified reviewer
tagged as: satire · Absurdist

What I liked

The entire cast was extremely endearing and attacked the play with ferocious energy. They were also very much on the same page in terms of tone, which isn’t easy to achieve in a play that’s more panto than narrative, and which is also a credit to the director. While the script wasn’t for me, they brought home some good laughs.

I also enjoyed the Fringe-y (in a good way) costumes and set dressing. I felt very clear immediately about what kind of play I was watching, even with minimal design features.

What I didn't like

I’d be interested to see the script after another pass. While some jokes were quite funny, the entire play wasn’t grounded enough in any reality for me to feel like there were real stakes. I would have liked to see more of the main characters’ individual personalities and relationships, which often disappeared into the conceit of them being high all the time. Additionally, the handling of race and racism felt dated.

My overall impression

This show is somewhere between a political comedy and a slapstick. It’s a good bet for someone who enjoys both absurdity and broad satire.

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