The reviews are coming in for the Wayside Theatre production of Dead Man's Cell Phone and so far we're up 2 to 1. The Culpeper Star Exponent liked the show and you can tell the reviewer gets Sarah Ruhl and our sense of humor. The Winchester Star (which I won't link to because it remains stubbornly behind a paywall) also picked up on Ms. Ruhl's intent, and our intent in producing the play. Unfortunately, the Northern VA Daily, seemed to miss the fact that the audience was in stitches laughing at the opening night performance he attended (reviewers never comment on that when they want to trash something). You can tell from the offhand style of the writing in that review that the reviewer either had a bad night, the play hit too close to home, or he just doesn't like what the play has to offer. No harm there, but I'm surprised at the lack of a sense of humor and the focus on the vulgarity, given other offerings we've produced that this particular reviewer as loved because of those same things. I happen to know him well, and he's been known to be fond of some vulgar humor, although I don't think the play, or our production stoops to that at all, as he contends. Perhaps he should have seen the production of the play at another theatre where the big fight scene was conducted with oversized penises. But then, there's that subtle thing going on.
In any regard, we knew from the get-go that this play wasn't for everybody, but then no play is. As they say, you pay your money and you take your chances.
So, we'll take the good with the bad, and be very happy for the good, recognizing just how crazy this game of producing professional theatre really is.
