Summer Shorts 2018: Series B

See it if you want to enjoy a refreshing, resonant, playful one-act (Sparring Partner) about a burgeoning office romance during a lunch in the park.

Don't see it if you aren't willing to withstand a promising, aimless let-down (The Plot) & half-baked, cliché-ridden play (IBIS) to get to the LaBute payoff

See it if you like well written short plays. Big impact;little wasted time.Acting/directing is uneven.Writing is all quite good.

Don't see it if you want something big & brassy.These make you think and feel.And for god's sweet sake, make the alarm clock face backwards or set it!

See it if You want to see a pretty diverse set of two-handers (well, mostly two-handers) that are solidly written, directed, and acted.

Don't see it if You dislike two-handers. Are looking for something edgy. While the plays aren't too light, they're far from anything edgy.

Also The Plot

The Plot, for me, was definitely the highlight of the festival. The play revolves around two contentious siblings facing down their possible future resting places, Beset by an overbearing and guilt-tripping mother.

Molly Groome and Jake Robinson are well matched and have excellent chemistry. The concept itself, the script, and direction, make this a winning short!

Ibis

The least naturalistic of the three plays. Deeply entrenched in a film noir aesthetic, it struggles to seem fully human until the last few minutes. But Lindsey Broad is endlessly charismatic as the enigmatic Sam Spade... if that is her real name.

Sparring Partner

My second favorite of the evening. A great short about two could-be lovers/co-workers. Wonderfully staged and full of wonderfully tense chemistry.

All in all a wonderful collection of shorts that contrast quite nicely. Can't wait to see series A!... Read more Read less

See it if Ok, so series B, was overall better than A. "The Plot" had decent acting, but, needed a little more development. A little morbid of a plot

Don't see it if (Pun intended); it was the weakest of the 3. "Ibis" has strong acting from the 2 younger actors, but, the older male and his story killed it

Also He could've been left out, or be a character not on stage. Very witty dialogue between the younger 2. "Sparring Partner" was by far the best of the 3, and one of the best "summer shorts" period. So cute, relevant, and the banter really fit the title. This is my second "summer shorts" seeing Keith Durrel Jones (who ironically was last in a play about competition); he is EXTREMELY easy on the eyes, but, a great actor as well!... Read more Read less

See it if Three short plays and I did not like any of them...Hope part B is better,,

Don't see it if Don't bother with this one...

See it if you want a grab bag evening - with three different shows in one night, you never know what you're going to get!

Don't see it if you dislike that this is truly three separate works. If there is any underlying theme or content connecting them, it does so loosely.

Also This particular series is difficult to review in a broad "overview" kind of way because the quality of the writing and the performances varied significantly between the pieces. Neil LaBute's contribution, in my opinion, was by far the strongest of the three. He has a knack for dialogue, and his characters felt the most grounded and relatable. But even that started to feel like it was running a bit long and needed to wrap up. The cast of LaBute's piece were also the strongest performers, though the other plays had some very strong moments in the mix.... Read more Read less

See it if If you like short plays and/or new dramas, especially a good new LaBute play (that doesn't have his usual surprise twist BTW ...)

Don't see it if you hate short plays, only like familiar classics, or need to see big stars.

See it if you can't decide whether to see Series A or Series B.

Don't see it if you're not up for a 'pot luck' type of entertainment.

Also As with Series A, my overall score is an average of the three individual pieces: 'The Plot' gets a 75, but would have benefitted by the offstage character making an onstage appearance; 'Ibis' seems to be lost in a fog in search of its own identity and earns a 50; 'Sparring Partner' gets a solid 100 for its highly-engaging characters, naturalistic dialogue, unpredictability and fabulous performances. Looking forward to Summer Shorts 2019!... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of Neil LaBute or like to support independent theater. You do get 3 plays for the price.

Don't see it if you want an exciting or meaningful experience. All three shows were banal and dragged on.

See it if you’d like to experience 3 different, well constructed, contemporary plays in a single sitting.

Don't see it if you don’t like low-budget productions, or intimate houses, or you’re in the mood for a full-length play.

Also This summer I found the 2nd batch of 59E59's annual "Summer Shorts" series more satisfying than the 1st. All 3 plays on view are sharply observed & well constructed. The characters in each play, for all their flaws & fragilities, evoke our interest & sympathies, even the couple in aging bad boy Neil LaBute's "Sparring Partners." I found the 3 very particular, clearly delineated characters in the middle play, Eric Lane's "Ibis", especially affecting—kudos to Deandre Savon as the troubled, earnest young man Tyrone in search of the father who walked out on him at a young age.... Read more Read less

See it if You're up for new one-act plays (stronger than Series A). Interesting voices in The Plot & Ibis; the best LaBute one-acter in several years.

Don't see it if You'd prefer some light fare - while not depressing or distressing, these stories are serious and spare.

See it if You enjoy one act plays . I was most impressed by IBIS. The performances in all of the plays were very good

Don't see it if I was disappointed in the plays as compared to the other series this year and in prior years.

See it if you enjoy the idea of seeing 3 short plays in one evening; you don't need to have all three be very good

Don't see it if you've been wowed by previous Summer Shorts presentations; you want all three plays to be enjoyable

See it if It's hard to judge this show - some of the performances are excellent and some are abysmal. The quality of the plays ranges drastically.

Don't see it if You're looking for a consistent show. Some of the performances, especially LaBute's show, are phenomenal however.

See it if you enjoy new work, penned here by Labute, Berliner, and Rees.

Don't see it if you do not enjoy new work, and perhaps work that does not best represent the talent of these playwrights.