{"id":24287,"date":"2021-10-01T12:49:48","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T19:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=24287"},"modified":"2021-10-01T12:49:48","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T19:49:48","slug":"night-of-january-16th-by-ayn-rand-avon-players-rochester-hills-mi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/night-of-january-16th-by-ayn-rand-avon-players-rochester-hills-mi\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cNight of January 16th\u201c by Ayn Rand, Avon Players, Rochester Hills MI"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (member, American Theatre Critics Association; Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle), and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Scott Welborn, Rachelle Rodriguez, David Reynolds, Joe Munem, Ann Sweet<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Photos courtesy of Bryan Clifford<\/em><\/p>\n

Murder Mystery Welcomes You Back To Avon Playhouse<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

After more than a year-and-a-half, Avon Players welcomes theatregoers back home with a unique play by a controversial author and plenty of food for thought. Players president JD Deierlein<\/strong> and company have presented many remarkable shows over the years that showcase our amazing local talent. Now, to kick off their 75th<\/sup> season, they offer \u201cNight of January 16th<\/sup> by Ayn Rand, the Russian-American writer and philosopher, best known for her groundbreaking novel \u201cThe Fountainhead\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cNight of January 16th<\/sup>\u201d, a courtroom drama about a sensational murder trial, introduced the novel concept of asking members of the audience to serve as the jury. There are two possible endings, depending on what the jury decides. The story is crafted as a classic whodunit, with red herrings and plot twists galore, especially near the end.<\/p>\n

Rand\u2019s original play was called \u201cPenthouse Legend\u201d and revolves around the alleged murder of Swedish businessman Bjorn Faulkner, a giant of ruthless capitalism who faced bankruptcy. His secretary and paramour, Karen Andre, stands accused. Rand has said she designed the play to illustrate the conflict between individualism and collectivism (much like \u201cThe Fountainhead\u201d). This is not clear in its modern-day presentation, which could be due to numerous rewrites over the years. It premiered at Hollywood Playhouse in 1934 as \u201cWoman on Trial\u201d and ran for a month with generally positive reviews. After a major rewrite that Rand objected to, it went on to Broadway the following year and was a moderate hit (especially when celebrities in the audience served as jurors). Since then it has had more rewrites, regional productions and revivals, a film in 1941 and a final, \u201cdefinitive\u201d rewrite by Rand in 1968.<\/p>\n

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Tara Makar<\/p><\/div>\n

The action takes place entirely in a New York City courtroom. There is only the testimony of witnesses to tell the story and from which the audience\/jury must decide the verdict. A question arises: did Faulkner fake his death?<\/p>\n

The opening scene gets off to a good start and is pretty engrossing, but soon the starchy dialogue and inert staging take their toll well into the first act. Without emotional outbursts, a courtroom doesn\u2019t offer much chance for excitement.<\/p>\n

A strong performance by Scott Welborn<\/strong> as District Attorney Flint moves the story forward as he compels testimony and grills the witnesses. Hosanna Phillips<\/strong>, as Faulkner\u2019s accused murderer and mistress Karen Andre, spends most of the first act in a silent and sphinxlike pose, showing no emotion, except perhaps distain. When she finally does speak, it\u2019s with one-dimensional anger. Later, on the witness stand, she gets the chance to demonstrate some passion, although she seems to underplay the role more often than not.<\/p>\n

Faulkner\u2019s widow, the platinum-blonde Nancy Lee (played for comic relief by Tara Makar<\/strong>), arrives to liven things up. Makar has a good stage presence, with the perfect little-girl voice and tough-girl attitude to take potshots at Karen, her haughty rival.<\/p>\n

And at the end of act one, when Avon Players veteran Richard Marcil<\/strong> shows up as wiseguy gangster \u201cGuts\u201d Regan, it really gets interesting. He has some of the best lines, and mugs shamelessly whenever he gets the chance. The act ends with an amazing cliffhanger, and suddenly you can\u2019t wait to find out what happens next. The second act builds on the momentum that carries the show to a lively conclusion. How does it end? The audience decides, and it\u2019s different every night.<\/p>\n

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Hosanna Phillips, Aaron Barnes, Scott Welborn<\/p><\/div>\n

This play marks Lia DiFonzo\u2019s<\/strong> directorial debut, and it shows. Dry performances from many of the cast and an initial lack of energy don\u2019t help. In the hands of a more experienced cast and director, with more imaginative stage business, better blocking choices and stronger reactions from the characters, it may be more engaging.<\/p>\n

Even with the slow first act, the audience really seems to enjoy being in the theatre again after so long, even while wearing a mask, and most of the seats were occupied. Great period music before the show and during intermission helps set the mood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now through October 9, 2021 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets $21<\/strong><\/p>\n

Avon Playhouse<\/strong><\/p>\n

1185 Washington Rd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rochester, MI 48306<\/strong><\/p>\n

(248) 608-9077 <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0www.avonplayers.org<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (member, American Theatre Critics Association; Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle), and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle)…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":3,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-24287","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-greg-suzanne-angeo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"