Shell
At SoHo Playhouse
On the surface Shell is a free wheeling, rollicking, sex comedy, but underneath the laughter it raises serious questions about gender, sexuality, love and desire. Our guide for much of the show is hockey dude Andy, the founder of B.R.O. (Breaking Reproductive Oppression). Andy leads the audience in various quizzes and questions involving their knowledge of the reproductive system and their own acts of reproductive oppression. In addition to Andy, we meet Peanut who may be small, but has mighty wants.
Ana Evans who is both co-creator and star embodies these characters with pulsating energy. Evans works the crowd fearlessly, commanding their attention and their participation. She is fully committed with a mobile, expressive face that goes from the gym rat gruffness of Andy to the newborn vulnerability of Peanut in the blink of an eye.
Ana and co-creator and director Linnea Scott have created a fast paced show that never allows our attention to lag even as we are considering our own relationships with our bodies and desire. The show ends in a rock n roll crescendo that combines radical self acceptance with a touch of hair metal. Even as the laughter fades and the audience leaves the theatre we are left with much to think about.
Performances are Friday, May 29 at 7pm, Saturday, May 30 at 8pm, Sunday, May 31 at 5pm, Friday, June 5 at 7pm, Saturday, June 6 at 6pm and Sunday, June 7 at 5pm. Run time is 60 minutes. Tickets available from $24.50 - $34.50 (includes fees). To purchase tickets and for more info go to https://www.anachristineevans.com.
Review by Wendy-Lane Bailey
Shell scripting can feel like a solo grind, so a quick break helps. I like to guess song tracks between terminal sessions, which sharpens pattern recognition. The one-second challenge is surprisingly good for keeping focus. Anyone else use small games to reset while debugging?
The review of Shell offers an engaging look at gender, sexuality, love, and self-acceptance while keeping the performance lively and humorous. I also like how visual style can strengthen a character’s presence. A bold Halloween-inspired look, such as a Sexy Skeleton outfit, could similarly add personality and make a memorable impression.
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This is an interesting read, especially in the way it explores the details and ideas behind the subject. Articles like this show how creative storytelling can make even simple themes more meaningful and memorable. The visual side of storytelling also stands out to me, particularly when recognizable pieces such as a coraline rain jacket become part of a character’s overall look.
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