See it if You’re up for theatre in its purest form, a compelling reminder of the power of speech, of a well-told story by a powerful, present actor.
Don't see it if You're not open to one-person shows or ones with deceptively minimal effects, or simply listening and letting imagination roam. Read more
See it if you a HUGE fan of actor/playwright David Cale's work. It's a story that will keep you intrigued until the very end.
Don't see it if one person plays are not your thing. Read more
See it if A very likable woman shares her seemingly ordinary life. A fantastical adventure changes her completely. Fabulous acting! I loved it.
Don't see it if A one woman show and minimal staging are not for you.
See it if you like first rate theatrical storytelling and would like to be taken on one woman's thrilling journey of self discovery and re-invention.
Don't see it if you hate one-person shows, looking for a large production, or have a hard time seeing the beauty and poetry hidden in plain sight.
See it if You enjoy a personal intense and suspenseful tale of mystery masterfully told by a single character.
Don't see it if you like a flashy ensemble production.
See it if You enjoy great storytelling. It kept my interest the entire time. David Cale is a masterful writer. Absolutely worth seeing.
Don't see it if One person shows aren’t your thing.
See it if You are impressed by excellent one-person shows, and enjoy a unique, thriller-style story being told onstage.
Don't see it if You prioritize constant visual spectacle or get bored by shows with only one set/one actor.
See it if A women's search for a missing friend becomes an engaging journey of self-discovery. Riveting performance and suspenseful plot
Don't see it if you are absolutely against seeing a one person play or demand a play full of action. Perhaps a musical would be a better fit for you. Read more
"David Cale’s new play, 'Sandra,' is packed with classic thriller tropes, as if he had challenged himself to cram as many of the genre’s staples as possible into a 90-minute show."
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"For a thriller, however, 'Sandra' doesn't quite succeed as a thrill ride...Audiences at 'Sandra' can imagine the story's twists and tensions well enough, but with the tools of a visual medium like theatre at its disposal, they shouldn't just have to imagine."
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"In keeping with the starkness of the production—the set is just a chair and suggestions of walls, essentially lock our focus firmly on the main character."
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"Without some interesting character flaw for her to wrestle with, her nonstop recitation of facts and events often makes her story read like a newspaper article."
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For much of its brief running time, Sandra recalls the novels of Mary Stewart, the mid-twentieth-century specialist in romantic suspense whose heroines invariably get caught up in intrigue while visiting glamorous vacation destinations. Cale solidly establishes a growing atmosphere of mystery and peril, but he leaves plenty of nagging plot holes, beginning with Sandra's introduction to Luca, which hinges on a barely credible mix-up. As their affair heats up, Cale tries hard to explain Sandra's impulsive behavior but, to any fan of genre fiction, her inability to hear the obvious alarm bells becomes irritating.
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"Whereas thrillers typically climax with gasps and edge-of-the-seat tension, 'Sandra' ends with incredulousness and some disappointment."
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"It’s such a ridiculous plot development that it’s almost impossible to take the rest of the tale seriously."
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Cale’s story uses many film noir devices from the 1940’s: exotic locale, strange encounters, searching down unknown streets, disappearing characters, a sexy stranger, danger signals avoided, clues that don’t add up, information that turns out to be fallacious, a damsel in distress, stolen objects, moments of high passion, etc. Yet all seem to be used as if for the first time. The elements are time tested, but the story is new. Cale is an excellent storyteller pulling us in with enough hints and clues to keep us interested until the very end. There are moments that sag but he always pulls us out into something new and unexpected.
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