HOUSTON CHRONICLE REVIEWS THE HOTEL PLAY

Of course, this is the show in which I currently play a small role. From the Chronicle's theater guy, Everett Evans:

As written by Shawn and gamely staged by IBP artistic director Anthony Barilla, the vignettes are variable, ranging from sluggish and dreary (particularly some of the clerk's frozen-in-time private interludes) to preposterously funny.

The proceedings drift lackadaisically through bizarre speeches and unwieldy group scenes in the hotel bar, occasionally sparking to life in abrupt outbursts of exaggerated violence and volatility. This registers as Shawn's most potent comic device, for all the funniest moments involve a character (usually male) exploding in rage out of all proportion to the incident that provoked the response.

And

These occasional moments of amusement must fight their way out of the general aimlessness of the proceedings.

Perhaps this enterprise comments on the meaningless of existence -- perhaps, upon the meaninglessness of such theatrical exercises as Hotel Play. At any rate, it fades in the sigh of a somber, inconclusive finish. What The Hotel Play is, more than anything, is just plain strange. That's probably just the way Shawn and IBP want it.

Hmmmm. It sounds like he didn't like the script, but was amused by the producion. I hate second guessing these damned reviewers; at least he didn't skewer us, but he didn't exactly call it great, either.

For what it's worth, I think it's pretty great....

...aaahhh, just click here.

And then click here for streaming audio of a brief interview with the show's director and assistant director on KUHF, Houston's local NPR affiliate. It's more fun than the review.

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