Sunday, May 15, 2016

VOD Performance Review-will mathews

VOD Review
By Will Mathews

 “VOD” is a gripping performance by the Muhlenberg College Theatre and Dance Association. I had the pleasure of viewing the piece on April 21st at 8 P.M, at the Muhlenberg Theatre in Allentown, PA. Written and directed by Henry Evans and Noah Dach, starring Nicollette Amico, Shantell Cruz, Henry Evans, Divine Garland, Courtney Imken, Michael Masse, Mary Rollins Mathews, Tommy McCarthy, Nick Stone and Lea Torelli. The performance was set in a post WW2 society in which a lot of hope had left the main character “the soldier” played by Tommy McCarthy. We see this by his opening of a box, Pandora’s Box, and all the evils of the world escaping, causing nothing but despair. During this part of the performance the music is dark and the lighting is very dim. Which gave off a very grim vibe and the actors who came out of the box were dressed in dark rags to represent their evil. The production revolves around the Soldiers interactions with other people he meets in the post war society.  He often struggles as the beings from the box try and ruin him. Ultimately he is saved by Hope, who is played by Mary Rollins Mathews; she was dressed in an elegant blue dress and always had a bright light on her to represent her goodness. Being a college production run entirely by students, there were a few points that were not done as crisply as they should’ve been, but overall I thought the performance was very good and moving.  I would give it four out of five stars.

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