The Best of 2012 in Local Theater
Website Review
Mark Bretz – Ladue News, December 21, 2012
Out of 135 productions reviewed in 2012 that reviewer ranked Max & Louie’s Production #3 out of the Best 10!
“The Violet Hour (Max & Louie Productions). On April Fools’ Day 1919, aspiring publisher John Pace Seavering faces a serious dilemma. With money enough to publish just one work, he must choose between “a grouping of pages” compiled by his college pal Denis McCleary or the memoirs of his clandestine mistress, famous black songstress Jessie Brewster. Complicating matters further, his assistant Gidger informs him that a mysterious machine delivered to their office is spewing out papers from books published in the future.
Playwright Richard Greenberg’s two-act gem is a masterpiece of cunning and deception. Intriguing and intoxicating, director Sydnie Grosberg Ronga’s interpretation for Max & Louie Productions ensured that Greenberg’s intricately layered musings were available to the audience through the pinpoint performances of her stellar cast and whimsical technical effects. Antonio Rodriguez, Drew Pannebecker, Monica Parks, Betsy Bowman and Jake Ferree were a fascinating delight to observe. You left the show scratching your head and contemplating a return to learn what you might have missed originally.”