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New York Daily News
Sept 25 2012
Theater reviews: 'Red Dog Howls,' 'Children of Killers'
One play tackles the topic of genocide in Armenia, the other one in Rwanda
"RED DOG HOWLS" (2 STARS)
Mysteries dangle like baited fishhooks right from the get-go in the
spotty "Red Dog Howls."
As the drama begins Michael, a writer, gazes into the audience
and gravely declares: "There are sins, from which we can never be
absolved. I know this ... because I have committed one."
Is he confessing? Repeating another's words? And what's this terrible
sin? All eventually becomes clear in Alexander Dinelaris' 90-minute
play set in 1986 New York about a family haunted by the Armenian
genocide.
That traumatized past bleeds into the present and the future
when Michael (Alfredo Narciso) discovers that his reportedly dead
grandmother, Rose (Kathleen Chalfant), is actually alive. At the
urging of his wife, Gabriela (Florencia Lozano, in a thankless role),
Michael goes to Rose for the real story.
To keep the story in motion that truth emerges bit-by-bit. "You must
go slow," prickly Rose tells her grandson. "Give both of our eyes
time to adjust."
As that happens, the script falls into three nagging modes: banalities
between Michael and Gabby; ornate addresses by him to the audience,
and elliptical volleying between Michael and Rose.
Ken Rus Schmoll's staging moves smoothly from the couple's home to
Rose's apartment to a hospital as hints are dropped that the old
woman experienced unspeakable horrors.
The reliable Chalfant summons the rancid memory in a long, late,
inevitable monologue. When all is said and done, however, it's like
Dinelaris dared himself to conjure the worst possible nightmare.
Harrowing? Sure. But ultimately hollow.
Through Oct. 14 at New York Theatre Workshop, 74 E. Fourth St.
Tickets, $65; (212) 460-5475.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/theater-reviews-red-dog-howls-children-killers-article-1.1167299?localLinksEnabled=false
From: A. Papazian
Sept 25 2012
Theater reviews: 'Red Dog Howls,' 'Children of Killers'
One play tackles the topic of genocide in Armenia, the other one in Rwanda
"RED DOG HOWLS" (2 STARS)
Mysteries dangle like baited fishhooks right from the get-go in the
spotty "Red Dog Howls."
As the drama begins Michael, a writer, gazes into the audience
and gravely declares: "There are sins, from which we can never be
absolved. I know this ... because I have committed one."
Is he confessing? Repeating another's words? And what's this terrible
sin? All eventually becomes clear in Alexander Dinelaris' 90-minute
play set in 1986 New York about a family haunted by the Armenian
genocide.
That traumatized past bleeds into the present and the future
when Michael (Alfredo Narciso) discovers that his reportedly dead
grandmother, Rose (Kathleen Chalfant), is actually alive. At the
urging of his wife, Gabriela (Florencia Lozano, in a thankless role),
Michael goes to Rose for the real story.
To keep the story in motion that truth emerges bit-by-bit. "You must
go slow," prickly Rose tells her grandson. "Give both of our eyes
time to adjust."
As that happens, the script falls into three nagging modes: banalities
between Michael and Gabby; ornate addresses by him to the audience,
and elliptical volleying between Michael and Rose.
Ken Rus Schmoll's staging moves smoothly from the couple's home to
Rose's apartment to a hospital as hints are dropped that the old
woman experienced unspeakable horrors.
The reliable Chalfant summons the rancid memory in a long, late,
inevitable monologue. When all is said and done, however, it's like
Dinelaris dared himself to conjure the worst possible nightmare.
Harrowing? Sure. But ultimately hollow.
Through Oct. 14 at New York Theatre Workshop, 74 E. Fourth St.
Tickets, $65; (212) 460-5475.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/theater-reviews-red-dog-howls-children-killers-article-1.1167299?localLinksEnabled=false
From: A. Papazian