Asolo Repertory Theatre — Attraction in Sarasota

My husband and I have bought season's tickets at the Asolo after adoring the first play we went to: The Three Muskateers. The subsequent plays were delightful until this afternoon when we subjected to the crude vulgarities of the play titled Born with Teeth. There was no reference in the pamphlet of the productions that the play would be about one male character trying to sedodemize the other male character. Besides a crude dark perspective of one man bullying another man into sex there was no content to the play. My husband and I walked out of the theater half way through and noticed another couple had also walked out. If this is the direction the Asolo theater will be going we will not be interested in purchasing season's tickets for next year. We look forward to the beautifully created plays and it is our highlight to spending a cultural day together but if a play is so appauling and sordid and vulgar that we can't sit and watch it and could not even imagine bringing a child to it then you need to reexamine your future path in the theater. If you intend to subject your audiences to vulgarities at what we interpreted was the director's own agenda to "educate" a sitting and willing audience then I suggest you clearly let your audience know that is the angle you are wanting to take so that they can decide for themselves if they want to support this direction of the "arts". I have been brought up in a very culturally artistic leaning environment where the art inspires and is not about debauchery and vulgarity. I expect more. I am honestly appauled and shocked this garbage was showcased at the Asolo and I implore it's board members to take a stand against this type of sexual exploratory vulgarity. I would have the same stance if this were a dialogue on set between a woman and a man although this was between two men. If art needs to debase itself to give sordid uncomfortable references in this manner it is not something I nor my husband wish to pay to support. This was insulting to our intelligence, upbringing, values and appreciation of the arts and the Asolo theater as we have come to have known and cherished it as a very special treat that we have invested in for our enjoyment. Debasement of human values is not something that we would tolerate now or in the future. If we would be subjected to another such performance as insulting as this one was to us we would certainly not buy another set of season's tickets for the following year. We are not supporters of the debasement of society and it's culture, We expected each play to elevate us towards beauty and inspiration as the others have so wonderfully done. Not leave us digusted as Born with Teeth did. We felt used and we will not continue to tolerate this in the future. I sincerely hope more people speak out as we did because we were not the only ones to walk out of the...

Lovely smaller repertory theater close to the entrance to Sarasota (as it were.) We've been here three times so far with mixed results. The theater itself was clearly built as much for the audience to be seen as the actors and stage. Boxes are set very far forward, which would work if the rail areas were a little lower and a lot thinner. As it is, difficult to see over them, even leaning. Also, the day we went to sit in a box, the ushers were completely confused as to where our box was - and when we finally got to the correct floor and side, that usher had no idea how to access the box! Fortunately, my wife had spied a doorway and we went through it, arriving at the box seats. Pros: The production of "Cabaret" was SO much better than expected, it set a really high standard for Asolo. We'd seen the original production on Broadway, and the movie, and were surprised at how well this was done. Directing, acting, staging all wonderful. The front office/box office staff are great; cannot commend them highly enough. Helpful, knowledgeable, and I'd even use the word "charming". Lovely that you can buy coffee (including decaf) at halftime, along with light sweets and other drinks. Cons: The next two productions we saw were not great. "Three Musketeers" is an awful adaptation to begin with, and though the sets were terrific (whoever does their set design should be winning awards!), the acting was labored, particularly D'Artagnan. The swordplay showed quite clearly why American actors should all take ballet and sword fighting classes from the earliest age possible. "Silent Sky" is a charming little play, and I don't necessarily use those words positively. Great subject matter, great idea, but it feels like about a third of the play was left on the table when Gunderson was writing it. I'm not familiar enough with her other work to know whether this is common to it. The familial role of the protagonist's sister was, I suppose, intended to show us a few of the hardships the protagonist faced, even within her own family, but it felt disjointed. That wasn't helped by what seemed to be a director's instruction that most of the actors always face the audience, and when turned from the audience, only turn partway. The play is realistic, but the acting was not. So, we are 1 for 3. I suspect, based on a comment I overheard from a woman seated near me at "Musketeers", that many of the theatergoers found "Hair" and the more realistic theater from last season offensive. ("There was cursing!") Apparently a number of them wrote to the theater to complain. I hope that doesn't mean the Asolo is going to show only "safe" plays; it would be a pity, with such a great seasonal cast to draw from and such a wealth of material...

Jesus Christ Superstar has been extended to June 28,2025. A great production that is different from the musical I saw 50 years ago. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice it is simply amazing. Great acting, dancing, singing, costumes, set design, lighting—everything is Broadway worthy with most of the actors having Broadway experience. The band is incredible and should get more recognition for their contribution to this wonderful play. Don’t miss it!

Good Night Oscar is a very funny play about the neurotic Oscar Levant’s appearance on the Tonight Show in 1958 with Jack Parr. Direct from Broadway appearing at the Asolo until April 26. Brilliant production and great acting about a very talented man who appeared in movies such as An American in Paris and The Band Wagon.

Pulitzer Prize winning “Anna in the Tropics” is about cigar rollers and the lectors in Ybor City. The lector is reading “ Anna Karina”by Tolstoy leading to rather passionate response. Great acting. Performing through March 13.

The world premiere of “Lady Molly Scotland Yard” runs until February 8,2025. It was written by Ken Ludwig, one of the best and most prolific playwrights of our time. His plays are seen worldwide including London’s West End and Broadway.

The story takes place in 1940 and Molly and her partner Peg are investigating a murder at the Savoy Hotel in London. Their investigation leads them to Bletchley Park.

Bletchley Park is the British top secret code breaking complex outside of London. Lead cryptologist Alan Turing and his group are trying to break the codes on a German Enigma machine rescued from a sinking U-Boat. This is historically accurate.

Molly and Peg end up going undercover at Bletchley to solve this murder and uncover a plot to destroy Great Britain. It is a race against time.

The acting is superb as is the stage set. Kate Loprest is excellent as Lady Molly. This is great storytelling combining comedy and suspense.

Highly recommend this 2 hour play.

Always good productions. Chicken and Biscuits was very funny and highly recommended. Other productions such as Cabaret and Silent Skies were well done. The smaller Cooper theater does good shows by the conservatory students. The last one, An Inspector Calls, was outstanding. Tickets for the Cooper are very reasonable.

Just saw (December 24) Crazy for You, a musical by Ken Ludwig with music by the Gershwins. The acting, set design, and dancing, especially tap, was incredible! A very enjoyable play that runs 2.5 hours with one intermission.

In my opinion, this is the best play I have seen at the Mertz in years. An incredible production that should not be missed!!

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