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The
Victorian Hotel
pushes the envelope on the theater stage. SANTA MONICA,
CA - If searching for a play on ghosts mixed in an extremely
clever use of puppets, then search no more. Premiering at the
Powerhouse Theater is Angus Oblong's new play The Victorian
Hotel. Fans familiar
with Angus Oblong are already aware of his twisted sense of
humor. For those not familiar, it is strongly suggested that you
buy a ticket and to expect the unexpected. Directed by
Mark Valdez, The Victorian Hotel tells the ghostly tale
of a young couple as they check into a weekend getaway hotel.
However, the hotel is filled with ghosts from top to bottom
–These delightful and frightful ghosts have agendas all their
own, which places the lives of the new guests in jeopardy. The
show brings spirits to life with the most excellent use of
puppetry. Puppets that are very faithful to the vision of Angus
Oblong’s art. It’s this showcase that seemingly deserves an
award of some kind. In
terms of story, The Victorian Hotel has the best
act one in town: hands down. As soon as the show begins, the
audience is zapped into this creepy story. The ghosts are
captivating to watch and literally steal the thunder from the
mortals. At intermission, it is strongly suggested that children
under the age of 16 go home or visit the local ice cream store
just around the corner with a supervised adult. Angus Oblong’s
story of endangered and manipulated mortals travels down a dark
sexual path. True to form, Angus Oblong has obviously tried his
best to stray from the norm. There are some acts displayed on
stage that are a tad too twisted to discuss. Those who are not
used to such situations will no doubt sit in silence and wonder
what happened to the show that was being presented before
intermission. Kelly
Pendygraft and John Crawford are strong performers as the
seemingly happily married couple Claudia and Winston. They play
extremely well off each other and display wonderful comedic
timing. The Dead Girl, played by Michelle Zambora, has proved to
be an early audience favorite. Another hilarious standout is the
Bellboy Ghost played by Radick Cembrzynski. The
Victorian Hotel is to be seen for its inventive storytelling
and the display of art from Angus Oblong. Buy a ticket, and
allow yourself to enter the haunting and hilarious world of
Angus Oblong. The
Victorian Hotel is
ghostly fun. - Adrian
Rennie
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Maestro Arts and ReviewsCopyright © 2005 The Maestro GroupAll rights reserved.Online Reviews: www.maestro.ws/arts |
