Mrs Harrison at PCS

 "Mrs. Harrison", which opened last night at PCS, is a crackling two-hander. It was a late replacement in PCS' Season, but a good one.It takes place at a college-reunion, and explores a lot of things I personally fear about such events. Namely, living up to the high-expectations of classmates. There'a also a lot of debate about heady matters like which stories are allowed to be told, and by whom? I can't give it all away, but the play taps into anxieties we all share, and though it examines them thoroughly, it leaves them firmly in place. I highly recommend that you see it. Unless, of course, one of  those nerve-wracking events is around the corner for you. But, maybe, you should see the play instead of attending, and remind yourself why you made the right choice.

"The Maltese Falcon" @ Lakewood

Do you love mysteries? Do you want to see a U.S. Premiere? Lakewood has you covered, with "The Maltese Falcon." This just might be the best production I have seen at Lakewood. Yes, I'm a superfan of the novel and film, so I'll freely admit to a bias. But, I'm sure I'm not alone in that. I mean, director David Sikking named his son Dashiell, so I'm willing to bet he's in that group, too. In fact, the smallest facet of the production has "passion-project" written all over it, down to the pre-show score, which sets the mood instantly. The whole show has fabulous small touches like that, such as the rolling San Francisco fog. 

It's all just simply brilliant. Even the fact of Lakewood being the site of the U.S. Premiere, has me swelling with local pride. Director David Sikking was my Sophomore English teacher, and I credit him for introducing me to noir pulp fiction, though in my case, it was Hammett's contemporary, Raymond Chandler. As you might imagine, this made seeing "The Maltese Falcon quite special, and "appointment-viewing." I suggest that it should be "appointment-viewing" for you, as well.