Cleveland Public Theatre keeps the home fires burning with ZOOM

One of the most brutal conditions of the on going pandemic is the effect that it has had on the arts. Literally overnight stages were darkened and with the current number of cases rising it looks like this season will be a complete wash. So what can local theaters do in order to stay afloat as well as entertain a home bound audience? It’s ZOOM to the rescue. Taking the lead in computer generated shows is Cleveland Public Theatre who thus far have had a variety of offerings for their fans.

The first was “Frankenstein’s Wake” that appeared via ZOOM in Late October through early November. To be honest it would have worked better as a radio play with no video. While quite gripping in “its exploration of longing, search for one’s origin, conflict with the maker and what it means to be human.” it lacked visual punch. The combination of a brightly lit set, garish make-up and thrown together props detracted from the overall effect. However, if like me you turned away from the screen it was a very enjoyable piece as an audio offering.

Next up was “...OR DOES IT EXPLODE? That was billed as a premiere ZOOM adaptation that was broadcast in early November. Written and Directed by John Dayo-Aliya (a graduate of Kent State University) and performed by Austin Sasser, Benjamin Black, De Andre Hairston-Karim, & Dar’Jon Bentley. The show zeros in (both figuratively and literally) on the faces and lives of four Black men who through the use of rap poetry, contemporary poetry, story telling and reflection tells their personal experiences of growing up young, male and Black.

What made this performance so compelling was the combining of ultra close-up on the faces as well as the power of the message shared by the messengers. This is “in your face MF theater with a steady stream of ethnic slurs and profanities. At first this technique is alarming but once you get over the shock you realize that this is the only way that this pent up energy can be let out. What the show lacks in professionalism (it is ZOOM after all) it makes up in verve and down right power speak.

It clearly shows that in spite of all the so called “social advances” that have been made there is still a huge racial divide that needs to be dealt with courageously by all parties involved. This would be well worth a repeat performance.

So now we come to the current offering from Cleveland Public Theatre THE LOUSH SISTERS PAY PER VIEW (BUFFER THIS!)That will be available for viewing via ZOOM on December 2, 3, 10, 11, 17, 19 | 8:00pm (ET). The show is created by Liz Conway, Michael Seevers Jr., & Beth Wood and is Directed by Beth Wood.

Yes...their back (and you may find yourself asking why?). In a live theater setting this shows heavily relies on audience reaction and with the segregation of each member of the audience delegated to small electronic prison blocks that appear above the main picture frame it seems to lose its zing. That and the fact that most of the material seems to be recycled from previous LOUSH shows as well as CPT holiday fare.

Holly and Jolly Loush can be described as the poor man’s Cathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Cotb of Today Show fame. They drink, they talk, they sing, they cavort, they annoy.

The premise is that the boozing duo has been in isolation since early spring and have discovered ZOOM as the perfect vehicle to spread their double, (triple and quadruple) entendres through song, merriment and drink (mostly drink).

For those who have somehow escaped being Hollied and Jollied in the past you will probably really enjoy their off the wall antics. This is not to say that there aren’t some really funny spots (the gift from their dad Santa via Ambiance The Store For Lovers is probably the high water mark of the show).

For us veterans who have sat through previous offerings this may be a time to hope that this is the sister’s swan song. The reveal that this show was in trouble was when the number showing how many viewers were watching began to shrink as the show went on.

If you feel that in your heart you wish to support local theater by purchasing a ticket of two that would be very noble.

Tickets may be purchased by going to www.cptonline.org or by calling the CPT Box Office at 216.631.2727 ext. 501.