Goldstar

• Rated 3.0
• Written on Jun 04 2009

...the actors were meticulous in their roles...the story brilliant, thought-provoking and disturbing however,I and my companion found that the dialog was a bit distracting; people simply don't converse with one another the way the dialog was written; it almost played out more like an 'essay' than actual conversation although there were certainly intense moments where the characters 'linked' emotionally and the stage 'combat' we found to be riveting. Another reviewer described this play as 'more interesting than enjoyable'; we concur. Having said that however,anything that provokes artistic dialog after the fact (over dinner or a glass of wine) is a good time and this production certainly provoked thought and dialog...

We don't regret having seen it...

Peace,
Lea Routledge
Garrett Morris

• Rated 4.0
• Written on Jun 26 2009

Powerfully, efficiently presented. I just wanted to see Pullman on the stage and he gave an impressive performance as the self-doubting, skeptical professor. Julia Stiles was more than convincingly hateful and controlling as the insecure student who turns viciously on her mentor Pullman. The power shift between the two characters was so deftly handled and the intensity builds so subtly that by the end of the play (a short 1.25 hours), you'll find your jaw clenched and your hands balled in response to the extreme injustice and judgment called down unbelievably on the professor's head. The play presents a compelling argument for reasonable, civil, clear communication, compassion and understanding in human relations--how quickly our society would unravel into insanity without such intelligent discourse. In an odd twist, the author seems to be poking a sharp stick both at the gaseous bubble of academic arrogance and the naive but brutal lip service paid by an ignorant, self-righteous student so caught up in the fiery rhetoric of the feminist movement that she has quite simply completely missed the point of the movement's core philosphy. I've never been a big Mamet fan, but this piece has quite a punch.

• Rated 3.0
• Written on Aug 23 2009

The show was wonderful and the Taper is one of the best LA theatre venues I've visited. The Goldstar seats were perfect and better than some of the celebrities who were also at the show : )