Benjamin Benne’s Poetic Tale Thrills with Action, Falcon, Violin by Kheven Lee LaGrone Benjamin Benne’s “Manning” speculates on the old question: What happens to us at death? When we die, do we meet God at the Pearly Gates? Does She look at the Big Book of our lives to assign us to Heaven or…
Lee Blessing Conjures Two Powerful Women Tangled in Cultural Conflict by Kheven Lee LaGrone According to Director Cat Brooks, the Lower Bottom Playaz does not simply entertain, they try to give a voice to their community. They also offer young people an opportunity to participate in live theater. Founded 27 years ago, Lower Bottom…
Mark-Eugene Garcia Invokes Gay Latine Mystery by Kheven Lee LaGrone Mark-Eugene Garcia’s “Goat Blood” sneaks up on us like a slowly boiling pot of water. His play starts with a simmer, like many a race play. Then “Goat Blood” heats up and takes some surprising twists until it comes to a boil with the…
Ngozi Anyanwu’s Big Brother/Little Sister Tale Moves Us by Kheven Lee LaGrone Berkeley Rep’s production of Ngozi Anyanwu’s “The Monsters” seduced me from its beginning. Anyanwu has created an intense, beautifully written sibling love story. While she sets the play in the world of competitive mixed martial arts (MMA), it is not just…