Bitter Greens
About the show
When Reyna discovers she's rejected from a dream job, her resentment drives her to make some bad—and dangerous—choices, fueled by jealousy and disappointment.
Reyna thought she had life all figured out. As a straight-A student, health and fitness guru, and a prestigious intern at Green Communications (a monstrous think tank with eco-friendly goals), she was on top of the world. But life after graduation is a lot messier than expected.
“'I LOOOOOOVED 'Bitter Greens.' I ate that show up...Written and starring Clea Decrane, I felt like I was watching the beginning of a star in acting and playwriting. Decrane is smart, nuanced, and aware of the spiritual murkiness that comes with being spoiled...Duplicitous motives, and deliciously devious plot twists turn this play about a group of people trying to live healthier into a soap opera on twenty-somethings that need to be better.” Full Review
"The piece could use some editing, but there’s a great deal of good writing. Author Clea DeCrane clearly has the pulse of her time and peers...Director Kevin Kittle suffers something of a handicap with a set in which we never know quite where we are. As noted, physicality is extreme. Facial expressions are also over taxed, indicating emotion that could be shown in a less obvious/overt way. Characters remain very much themselves. Pacing is good." Full Review
"DeCrane’s script is well-constructed and engaging, and her dialogue is snappy, if not particularly witty...Director Kevin Kittle makes inspired use of the small space,..’Bitter Greens’ bills itself as a satire of privilege, but it pulls its punches...DeCrane touches on rich topics... but shies away from delving into them...Ultimately, ‘Bitter Greens’ ends up serving a smoothie most of us have drunk our fill of already — and not nearly bitter enough.” Full Review
"'Bitter Greens' was never going to speak to large segments of the audience. But DeCrane's contrived plotting and risible dialogue are likely to reduce the target audience even further. If Kevin Kittle's direction can't find the right tone for these dramatics, it may be because there isn't one...'Bitter Greens' certainly shows initiative on the part of DeCrane. Now that she has gotten this exercise in post-college traumatic stress disorder past her, her next piece will surely be more interest... Full Review
"Though it was common practice centuries ago, perhaps the final take-away from 'Bitter Greens'--a new play by Clea DeCrane--is that an actor should not perform in her own work. In the play, DeCrane portrays Reyna, a character that is both confused and confusing. She's also more than a little aloof. When Reyna announces that she's going 'to go on a cleanse,' another character, Caitlin (Jessica Darrow), asks her, 'A cleanse from what, vegan bites and vitamin water?'" Full Review
See it if The stresses of transition from college to working life interest you, particularly how social relationships morph as situations change.
Don't see it if This effort’s millennial focus is applicable to other life changes but may seem too self-conscious. Good script, a bit overacted.
See it if you enjoy viewing the life of millennials and how they deal with becoming adults; well developed characters, good writing and acting.
Don't see it if you could care less about how these post college friends deal with after-college reality, finding jobs and themselves in the process.
Cast & Creatives (6)
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