Sanctuary City Reminds Me Why I Love Theatre
This preview performance was perfect. So is the production.
I typically don't review preview performances; it's not fair to judge a show until it's finally open. That said, I will tell you that SANCTUARY CITY by Martyna Majok is one of the finest pieces of theatre I've seen this season. Every element - the script, the acting, the technical design - all flawlessly work together to tell this complicated and emotional story. This show is not to be missed.
Amira Danan, back from last season's "Origin Story" in a very different role, plays "G." Jordan Anthony Arredondo, new to the Playhouse, is "B." Together, they create stage magic as they banter, flirt, support, argue, and verbally accost one another throughout this powerful and inventive brand new play. Both actors are superb; these are honest performances, full of humor and pathos, and I couldn't get enough. (A third character, "Henry," played expertly by Debo Balogun, is a surprise. I don't want to say too much other than he holds his own with the two powerhouses that precede him on stage.)
The set, for most of the show anyway, is deceptively minimal. But once you see how the lights and sounds and movement of the turntable all come together like a symphony of excellence, you'll be mesmerized. This is a challenging show to watch - it requires focus, especially at the outset, as timelines jump rapidly. But once the audience locks in, we are taken on a roller coaster of theatre like nothing I've seen in a long time.
Kareem Fahmy remarkably keeps the story at the forefront despite the inventive and potentially confusing script. Heather Gilbert (lights) and Megumi Katayma (Sound Designer/Composer) are award-worthy for their contributions to the show, as their work is vital to this play. I found Alexander Woodward's set design inspired, while Gordon DeVinney's costumes are perfect (including the digital watch worn by "B," which reminds us of the time period in the subtlest of ways. Playwright Martyna Majok understands dialogue, writing realistic speech, and allowing the story to reveal itself beautifully through the script.
If you can't tell from this "non-review," Sanctuary City is a fantastic piece of theatrical brilliance. Please do everything you can to see it; you will be challenged, moved, and left with the questions only good playwriting can ask.
SANCTUARY CITY runs through October 22nd in the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Tickets and more information can be found here.