Rhinoceros
About the show
The Seeing Place Theater presents a revival of Eugene Ionesco's absurdist classic about a small town whose citizens begin turning into rhinos. More…
A commentary on the absurdity of the human condition made tolerable only by self-delusion, 'Rhinoceros' shows us the struggle of the individual to maintain integrity and identity in a world where most others have succumbed to the 'beauty' of brute force, natural energy, and mindlessness. Ionesco startles audiences with a world that erupts in explosive laughter and nightmare anxiety. Playing in repertory with a revival of Marsha Norman's 'Getting Out.'
“While this production cannot avoid all of the digressive traps, the good news is that it’s directed with a great antic hand by the company’s founding artistic director Brandon Walker, who nimbly keeps things bouncily aloft through most of the evening and even manages to get us past the talky bits to regroup for a reanimated airborne ending...Everything is conducted at a brisk pace, with solid comic timing displayed by the entire cast.” Full Review
"One could hardly find a more enthusiastic group of actors, but a good deal of their dialog is unhearable...An hour could have been cut without impacting the story…Considering the rise of racial strife as well the extreme culturally exclusionary proposals being touted in this year’s presidential race, it seems like downplaying that vital part of 'Rhinoceros' is a missed opportunity. One must, nonetheless, appreciate this rare opportunity to see this important and especially relevant play." Full Review
"When the text is permitted to do its job in this production, the complexity and modern application of Ionesco's work is apparent. Sadly, I found this mission is largely marred by some distracting directorial choices and an unfortunate lack of absurdist acting technique...This particular production, with all its good intentions, would have been better served putting the language first and avant-garde innovation second." Full Review
See it if You want to learn about theatre of the absurd and if you want to experience a small theatre company that does great work consistently.
Don't see it if You don't want to commit time to a production that is intellectually demanding. This production speaks to many issues of our day.
See it if You like plays that are less straightforward .
Don't see it if If you don't like plays that get off to a slow start. The first scene can drag on a little, but after that the play picks up.
See it if You like theatre of the absurd. Want to understand Ionesco. Hear stories that challenge your thinking, watch things develop.
Don't see it if You're looking for classic boy meets girl feel good entertainment in a classic setting. If don't want to use your imagination.
See it if You like a fine cast & company diving well if unevenly into a timely, difficult bit of theatre pertinent to our political & cultural present
Don't see it if You don't like existential theatre or political theatre or ideas; or words; or disquisitions on choice, conformity & the herding instinct.
See it if you have never seen this theater of the absurd classic that is just as relevant today as it was when it was first produced.
Don't see it if you don't like longish plays that require some thought on your part.
See it if You like challenging, absurdist theater and are comfortable with a low budget production.
Don't see it if You prefer conventional, linear storytelling or if you don't like allegories. This is Ionesco- absurdist theater- and not to all tastes.
See it if You like Eugene Ionesco absurdist allegory. I saw the 1961 production with Zero Mostel & Eli Wallach & could not get it out of my mind.
Don't see it if if you do not care for the theater of the absurd
See it if You really enjoy absurdist theater. If you can take you mind of reality and play the game.
Don't see it if You only like realism in theater.
See it if you enjoy absurdist humor, smaller productions where the action is happening in front of you, and women playing some roles written for men.
Don't see it if you have a problem with using your imagination or a with playwright using a ridiculous concept to explore deeper ideas.
See it if You read this in school and now want to see it actually produced. Good staging. Moments/music were updated well. Comedic parts resonated.
Don't see it if If you're picky about pace. Parts dragged a bit despite the desperation of the stakes. Read a blurb about the context of themes first.
See it if You would like to see a classic of the canon in a traditional way
Don't see it if If you like realistic dramas, or polished productions
See it if You understand the message of the play/ enjoy symbolism and figuring ideas out
Don't see it if You want a fast paced show (has a slow and overwhelming opening scene) /don't want to be confused by the symbolism and silliness of the show
See it if you enjoy a bit of structured improv, have an inclination for the absurd, want to support small theater companies.
Don't see it if you are looking for a cohesive storyline, hate the abstract, and are uncomfortable with awkwardness.
See it if you like absurdist works and can handle shows with a lot going on both on and off stage.
Don't see it if you're brain can't watch a play and read things around you and deal with actors walking all over and making noise while a scene is happening
See it if you love Ionesco, want an interesting 2nd Act enabling you to "feel' the rhinos taking over, want something that relates to modern issues
Don't see it if you cant sit through a very slow drawn out first act, want action throughout, dislike the premise of the play
See it if you want to see one of the seminal works of absurdist theatre, smartly staged and still resonant in our current times.
Don't see it if the uneven performances, disjointed translation & slow Act II will distract you from an ambitious mounting of a rarely-performed piece.
See it if you're a fan of Ionesco & absurdist theatre in general. It was certainly absurd. Also if you know someone in the cast & want to support them
Don't see it if you're not willing to work for it a little. The story is tough, & the uneven acting (and apparent lack of direction) don't make it easier.
See it if You understand that you'll be seeing an absurdist play. You want to see an historic, rarely performed classic play.
Don't see it if You expect a uniformly talented cast-some performers are great, some are awful! You're unfamiliar w/absurdism.
See it if you enjoy absurdism and thought-provoking theater
Don't see it if you like shows that grab you right from the first five minutes (the opening scene drags on...the last one kind of does too)
See it if Drags, doesn't capture tragic & comic aspects of play, performances uneven, semi-modern details add little to original
Don't see it if /unless you've read or seen a good production that you can reminisce about during the 3-hour performance
See it if If you enjoy a humorous allegory.
Don't see it if You expect a conventional story-line.
See it if Want to see good change of scenery in a show.
Don't see it if If you want to see something that is not dizzying.
See it if OK, so my daughter loved it. She found it hilarious. The acting was great. The story - totally bizarre. Something definitely different.
Don't see it if You are not up for a very different kind of theater. Or if you're expecting something traditional in any way.
See it if you enjoy a light hearted production of a heavy topic play. Brandon Walker was much better as an actor than a director.
Don't see it if you need your Ionesco to be actually interesting.
See it if you enjoy intense conversation, politics, liberal thinking
Don't see it if you enjoy large productions, musicals, or fast-paced plots
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