A Loss of Roses

A Loss of Roses at Ensemble Theatre
Through Nov. 25, 2007
Cleveland Play House
8500 Euclid Ave.
216.321.2930

Helen Baird is a faded, disillusioned shadow of woman, whose husband left her years before. Since then, she's devoted all her energies to the upbringing of her son, Kenny. But Kenny is nearly a man and he's beginning to chafe under his mother's suffocating love and overprotectiveness.  Adding to the strain is the unexpected arrival of Lila Green, a member of a third-rate acting troupe passing through town in search of their next paying gig. Years before, Lila and Helen had been friends, with Lila even filling in from time to time as Kenny's babysitter. No great talent as an actress, Lila's looks have gotten her by thus far, but she's growing older and is no longer the stunning beauty she was in her heyday.  Disillusioned and unhappy, Lila decides to stay with her old friend and reexamine her life while the rest of the group goes on to the next big town to try their luck.  Lila quickly discovers that she's still attractive enough to catch Kenny's eye, and the two are soon having a torrid love affair. Realizing that Helen would not look kindly on their involvement, particularly in light of her strong religious convictions, the two decide to keep their relationship a secret -- a sure recipe for disaster.

Cleveland Free Times Review  "Amply embodying the author's vision of wounded female sexuality is Amy Pawlukiewicz's bruised baby-doll of a stand-in mother..."

AtTENtion Span

AtTENtion Span: A Festival of 10-Minute Plays
Cleveland Public Theatre
October 11-27, 2007

A series of 10-minute plays curated by Greg Vovos take over the Gordon Square Theatre. Featuring works by local and national writers, AtTENtion Span is sure to take hold of you! These works take theatrical risks to explore politics, relationships, personal awakenings and zombies! And the next piece is only moments away!

Other People's Money

Other People's Money
Lakeland Civic Theatre
February 2-28, 2007

Christine Howey, Cleveland Scene Review
It seems almost quaint, thinking back on the 1980s and the financial scandals involving shady brokers and arbitrageurs. They look like pikers compared to today's corporate and war-profiteering felons, who make off with billions of taxpayer dollars with a wink and nod from the government. But this play by Jerry Sterner, now at Lakeland Community College Theatre, captures that past era well. Just like in the movie, Larry "The Liquidator" Garfinkle is out to feed on the carcass of a failing wire and cable (back then, cable referred only to thick wire, not TV technology) company. But Larry is fought by the company's president, his longtime assistant Bea, and her daughter Kate. It's worth a trip out windswept Route 90 just to see Andrew Narten chew many donuts and a bit of the scenery as Larry. Sporting an eccentric Bronx accent and Santa padding to make him portly, Narten crafts a deliciously greedy, sexist, obnoxious pig. And Amy Pawlukiewicz is believable as Kate, his beauteous foe until the all too realistic conclusion. Director Martin Friedman keeps the pace lively and manages to keep a couple weaker performers from interrupting the flow.