Stand Down the March

What I liked

I really liked the scene in which Karl gives Liv advice on how to protest him – that scene unto itself is fodder for a full-length play. The lead actor really carried the show, not just with her bulk of the text, but with a really engaging stage presence. The play itself does not hesitate to make the audience shift allegiances from one character to another, and listen to the side of an argument we do not want to hear – vile as it is. The play questions ulterior motives for activism. Despite the dark content, I felt like I was on an investigative team with a group of friends.

What I didn't like

The text of individual scenes could be sharpened to play out more dramatically. Dialogue did not always feel organic. The forward drive shaft of Liv was not always clear, and her mission to stand down the march could have included bolder tactics. The number of scenes indicated that the story in its current form is better suited for film.

My overall impression

A well-done production of a still-developing play that does not hesitate to ask tough questions within the framework of an entertaining story.