Comments on: A Feminine Ending http://www.pcs.org This is Your Blog On Theater Fri, 16 May 2008 17:17:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: n rakha http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-5016 n rakha Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:36:18 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-5016 I give the actors and director high marks for an excellent performance. The play itself, however, I would not rate very well. Although many of the lines were amusing, the story itself was very predictable and, in the end, marginalized by the use of several writing devices that neither added tension or character interest. I felt that this was a play in it's toddler stages. The playwright obviously wants to say something important about women and career, and mothers and daughters, but the characters themselves did not seem flushed out enough in the author's mind to give the audience a palpable sense of their inner struggle. Even the main character, though a good actress, did little to convince me that her chosen career - being a composer -- was all that very important to her, or even that she had a great deal of talent. I was told of her struggle to achieve and her fear (unfortunately through the recounting of a dream sequence) but I was not shown that emotional struggle. I was told she loved her boyfriend, but I felt no emotional loss or grief associated with the character's choices. I was told a great many things (another devise, using the audience as a foil) but I was rarely showed the emotional world that lay beneath those statements. I found elements of the play, the mother's panties for example, lacking character motivation or incongruent with the character as presented. In other words, an interesting prop with no true purpose. I also found the playwright's determination to and method of resolving the majority of conflicts trite and unsatisfying. In all I would give the play a 3 out of 10. I give the actors and director high marks for an excellent performance. The play itself, however, I would not rate very well. Although many of the lines were amusing, the story itself was very predictable and, in the end, marginalized by the use of several writing devices that neither added tension or character interest. I felt that this was a play in it’s toddler stages. The playwright obviously wants to say something important about women and career, and mothers and daughters, but the characters themselves did not seem flushed out enough in the author’s mind to give the audience a palpable sense of their inner struggle. Even the main character, though a good actress, did little to convince me that her chosen career - being a composer — was all that very important to her, or even that she had a great deal of talent. I was told of her struggle to achieve and her fear (unfortunately through the recounting of a dream sequence) but I was not shown that emotional struggle. I was told she loved her boyfriend, but I felt no emotional loss or grief associated with the character’s choices. I was told a great many things (another devise, using the audience as a foil) but I was rarely showed the emotional world that lay beneath those statements. I found elements of the play, the mother’s panties for example, lacking character motivation or incongruent with the character as presented. In other words, an interesting prop with no true purpose. I also found the playwright’s determination to and method of resolving the majority of conflicts trite and unsatisfying. In all I would give the play a 3 out of 10.

]]> By: Heather http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4807 Heather Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:27:58 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4807 I loved this play! It was so lovely and inspiring! I loved this play! It was so lovely and inspiring!

]]> By: thomt http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4426 thomt Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:49:40 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4426 Hi Suzanne, So sorry for the delay. Girls Night Out on the 18th is indeed full at this point. You might try calling the Box Office about it closer to the event just in case someone cancels, though that is pretty unlikely. Are you able to come on the 11th? Hi Suzanne,

So sorry for the delay. Girls Night Out on the 18th is indeed full at this point. You might try calling the Box Office about it closer to the event just in case someone cancels, though that is pretty unlikely. Are you able to come on the 11th?

]]> By: Janice http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4421 Janice Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:42:49 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4421 This was a great play - very well performed; great direction and perfect set design. I wanted to say Kudos to Portland Center Stage for bringing us such a great season. I have had opportunity to see four shows this year and while all were well done, A Feminine Ending is going to stick with me for a while. This has cemented my decision to renew my subscription for next year... This was a great play - very well performed; great direction and perfect set design. I wanted to say Kudos to Portland Center Stage for bringing us such a great season. I have had opportunity to see four shows this year and while all were well done, A Feminine Ending is going to stick with me for a while. This has cemented my decision to renew my subscription for next year…

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4396 Suzanne Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:40:21 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4396 Hello, Are there still tickets available for the Girls Night Out event on March 18? thanks! Hello,

Are there still tickets available for the Girls Night Out event on March 18?

thanks!

]]> By: chris http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4358 chris Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:27:34 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4358 I saw this play on Sunday and was delighted. The performance got better as the play progressed and I was increasingly drawn in. Both parents proved to be great characters and Amanda's boyfriends shined in their "stereotyped" roles. Though the story is a familiar one, the conflict is genuine and felt by us all. Best of all, it inspires. Good show. I saw this play on Sunday and was delighted. The performance got better as the play progressed and I was increasingly drawn in. Both parents proved to be great characters and Amanda’s boyfriends shined in their “stereotyped” roles. Though the story is a familiar one, the conflict is genuine and felt by us all. Best of all, it inspires. Good show.

]]> By: teresas http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4129 teresas Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:40:36 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-4129 I was wowed by this play--I must admit I have not experienced too many--but I smiled through the whole thing! I am so pleased my friend invited me to join her! I loved the humor. The script was wonderful. The dialogue between each of the cast members and Ms. Bloom was witty, entertaining and made me think. I would love to see it again! I was wowed by this play–I must admit I have not experienced too many–but I smiled through the whole thing! I am so pleased my friend invited me to join her! I loved the humor. The script was wonderful. The dialogue between each of the cast members and Ms. Bloom was witty, entertaining and made me think. I would love to see it again!

]]> By: peter wright http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-3867 peter wright Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:18:07 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-3867 I attend plays for the occasional gem, and this is one. Brooke who practically has a one-woman show is astounding - sensitive, hilarious, in character, pretty, and a bright and captivating actress. The whole cast is good and supports her and the script to magical effect. And, thank god, every one of them articulates! Nothing is missed in the small, intimate Studio, and hats of the the courage of the whole cast who are barely protected by abreviated proscenium. The script is tight, provocative, relevant, and delightfully but not excessively irreverent. Compared to I Am My Own Wife at a 10, this would rate 9.5 or better, and one might skip away into the night without the historical baggage. I attend plays for the occasional gem, and this is one. Brooke who practically has a one-woman show is astounding - sensitive, hilarious, in character, pretty, and a bright and captivating actress. The whole cast is good and supports her and the script to magical effect. And, thank god, every one of them articulates! Nothing is missed in the small, intimate Studio, and hats of the the courage of the whole cast who are barely protected by abreviated proscenium. The script is tight, provocative, relevant, and delightfully but not excessively irreverent. Compared to I Am My Own Wife at a 10, this would rate 9.5 or better, and one might skip away into the night without the historical baggage.

]]> By: thomt http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-3866 thomt Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:15:45 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-3866 You can buy production posters in the PCS Box Office. We cannot sell them over the phone or drop ship them, but if you come by between 10am and 5pm weekdays or noon and 5pm weekends, you can buy one for $5. I really love this one too. It may be my favorite of the season. Props go out to Studio J and Plazm for Art Direction and the Illustration is the work of Haijime Yoshiro. You can buy production posters in the PCS Box Office. We cannot sell them over the phone or drop ship them, but if you come by between 10am and 5pm weekdays or noon and 5pm weekends, you can buy one for $5. I really love this one too. It may be my favorite of the season. Props go out to Studio J and Plazm for Art Direction and the Illustration is the work of Haijime Yoshiro.

]]> By: Kathi http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-3836 Kathi Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:07:28 +0000 http://www.pcs.org/feminine_ending/#comment-3836 I love the poster for this show. Where can I get a copy? I love the poster for this show. Where can I get a copy?

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