{"id":18345,"date":"2015-05-18T16:50:55","date_gmt":"2015-05-18T23:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=18345"},"modified":"2015-05-18T16:50:55","modified_gmt":"2015-05-18T23:50:55","slug":"trouble-cometh-resembles-an-updated-twilight-zone-tv-episode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/trouble-cometh-resembles-an-updated-twilight-zone-tv-episode\/","title":{"rendered":"Trouble Cometh resembles an updated Twilight Zone TV episode."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Joe (Kyle Cameron) and his boss, Dennis (Patrick Russell), struggle to come up with a bold new reality TV show against a deadline.<\/p><\/div>\n

Trouble Cometh<\/em>: Comedy\/Drama by Richard Dresser. Directed by May Adrales. San Francisco Playhouse, 490 Post Street (2nd Floor of Kensington Park Hotel, San Francisco. \u00a0(415) 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org<\/a>. May 12 \u2013 June 27, 2015 \u00a0World Premiere.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trouble Cometh<\/em> resembles an updated Twilight Zone TV <\/em>episode. [rating:4]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Writing a review of a play that has a completely unexpected surprise ending is a real challenge. It is unfair to discuss the story and give away that ending but it is the plot, though unoriginal, that makes the play, a continuation of San Francisco Playhouse\u2019s 12th<\/sup> season, a qualified winner. \u00a0It is a world premiere of Richard Dresser\u2019s Trouble Cometh <\/em>that has had a four year journey to full production and still needs a bit more work.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cast is superb, May Adrales\u2019 direction is admirable and Nina Ball\u2019s set is simplistically stunning. Consider two highly motivated TV writers who must meet an almost impossible deadline to produce a new reality TV show working in a sterile all white windowless environment. For scenes outside the office Nina Ball’s set only requires a color change of the back wall and clever shift of the conference table.\u00a0 Joe (Kyle Cameron) is a relatively new hire is brainstorming with his boss Dennis (Patrick Russell) to meet that deadline. Their girl Friday, named Kelly (Liz Sklar), is an integral part of the development process.\u00a0 From the standpoint of credibility their suggestions are highly improbable and at the same time macabrely humorous.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kyle Cameron gives depth to Joe\u2019s insecurity that gradually over the dozen or more scenes morphs into semblance self-reliance. Patrick Russell exudes dominating authority and is perfect foil for intricacies of the professional and interpersonal relationships of the trio. Liz Sklar is a joy to watch as she manipulates Joe and matches Dennis for prerogative asserting herself as a true member of the team. Her forays into sexually explicit activity are fully believable.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then there is Susan (Marissa Keltie) who is sort of engaged to Joe although there are questions about the authenticity of the marriage proposal.\u00a0 Their plans for the wedding are improbably incomplete and add a touch of humor to the evening. \u00a0Keltie\u2019s description of Susan\u2019s out-of-body experience after being hit by a taxi cab adds a further touch of existentialism that is a strong thread in the play. Truth, lies and fantasy are rampant.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The play seems to be written for TV with a 75 minute running time leaving 15 minutes for commercials in a one hour show. Be advised that the next line is a spoiler;<\/strong><\/p>\n

Think The Twilight Zone <\/em>meets the Jim Carey movie The Truman Show.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0CAST: Kyle Cameron, Joe ; Marissa Keltie,\u00a0 Susan; Patrick Russell,\u00a0 Dennis; Nandita Shenoy,\u00a0 Vashti; Liz Sklar,\u00a0 Kelly<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

CREATIVE-TEAM: Director, May Adrales;\u00a0 Set Design, Nina Ball;\u00a0 Casting\/Artistic Associate, Lauren English;\u00a0 Costume Designer, Tatjana Genser;\u00a0 Sound Design, Theodore J.H. Hulsker;\u00a0 Production Manager, Maggie Koch; Stage Manager, Courteney Lynn Legget;\u00a0 Lighting Designer, Seth Reiser; Props Artisan, Jacquelyn Scott; Technical Theatre Manager, Zach Sigman<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kedar K. Adour, MD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Joe (Kyle Cameron) and his boss, Dennis (Patrick Russell), struggle to come up with a bold new reality TV show against a deadline.<\/p>\n

The team pitches their idea to management. (L-R: Joe [Kyle Cameron] , Susan [Marissa Keltie], Vashti [Nandita Shenoy], Dennis [Patrick Russell], Kelly [Liz Sklar])<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Trouble Cometh: Comedy\/Drama by Richard Dresser. Directed by May Adrales. San Francisco Playhouse, 490 Post Street (2nd Floor of Kensington Park Hotel, San Francisco. \u00a0(415) 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org. May 12 \u2013…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18345","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-kedar-k-adour"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"