Thursday, March 15, 2007

'Black Comedy' sheds light on human foibles | www.tucsoncitizen.com ®

'Black Comedy' sheds light on human foibles www.tucsoncitizen.com ®

'Black Comedy' sheds light on human foibles
By CHUCK GRAHAM
Published: 03.15.2007
Tucson Citizen

"The singular scene design for Beowulf Alley Theatre Company's new show, 'Black Comedy' by Peter Shaffer, is the downtown company's most elaborate ever."

"Guest director Nancy Arnfield does her own ante-upping by having the actors add lots of inappropriate touching, which gets still more laughs. Performed in 90 minutes without an intermission, 'Black Comedy' becomes a physical workout for the actors, choreographed and timed to enhance the meaning of that phrase 'body language.'"

"'Black Comedy' does have its underlying social commentary about people with secrets, staying true to their values and all the rest. But in this production, the laughs come from watching people fall. Just as in telling jokes, the timing is everything."

'Black Comedy' sheds light on fun | www.azstarnet.com ®

'Black Comedy' sheds light on fun www.azstarnet.com ®:

By Kathleen Allen
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona Published: 03.15.2007

"Key to a successful farce is timing, and these Beowulf actors had that down. Brian Taraz, especially, who played the huffy Harold thick with a righteous sense of indignation, showed a keen sense of comedic timing."

"Director Nancy Arnfield has fashioned a play that has a quick pace and a natural façade, which makes the farce even more farcical."

"...this Beowulf production sheds lots of light on the humor, and it smacks of a good time."


In the cast, from left, Stephen Cruz, Barbara Flanary
Armstrong, Abe Taltre, Brian Taraz and Nicole Stein.
- david sanders / arizona daily star

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Beowulf Alley brings a rich farce to town | www.azstarnet.com ®




Beowulf Alley brings a rich farce to town www.azstarnet.com ®

By Dennis O'Flaherty
SPECIAL TO THE ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Tucson, Arizona Published: 03.09.2007

It's a mix volatile enough to blow the roof off the theater.

It's rare that the words "farce" and "Peter Shaffer" are said with the same breath.
After all, Shaffer has written such tense and tragic dramas as "Amadeus" and "Equus."
But then there's his "Black Comedy," which Beowulf Alley Theatre opens Saturday.
That's where "farce" comes in.

And it's just the kind of play director Nancy Arnfield loves to shape.

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/172464