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| Devon Mahon and Shonda Royall Photo by John Groseclose |
highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)
Click here for more information on this production that runs through March 26
"Kevin Artigue's drama Sheepdog is a thought-provoking two-character play that focuses on the impact that the shooting of a young Black man by a white policeman has on a pair of police officers who are in a relationship. She's Black and he's white, and the play brings up the various ethical, racial, and moral issues of the incident and how it impacts their relationship. The incident at the center of the play is one that lately seems like almost a weekly occurrence, so the play is definitely timely. However, perhaps because it's something that, unfortunately, happens so often, the play isn't quite as riveting as I have to imagine it was when it had its world premiere at South Coast Repertory in 2019, before the killing of George Floyd caused protests and so many to take action against inappropriate, unnecessary, and biased police violence against African Americans. Stray Cat Theatre presents the Arizona premiere in a well-acted and smartly directed production...." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)
"Stray Cat Theatre delivers a stellar and exemplary Arizona premiere production of Kevin Artigue’s, “Sheepdog,” that hits hard and revealingly at many of today’s prime relationship issues....Under Louis Farber’s taunt and revealing staging, the play is exquisitely performed by Shonda Royall as Amina and Devon Mahon as Ryan. Royall’s part is larger and more decisive as she expresses doubt and struggles to reconcile Ryan’s dramatic action....The play presents its thought-provoking conclusions in a tight 90-minute journey that exposes these unions with depth and perspective. “Sheepdog” leaves audiences with a better understanding of the struggles of racially diverse relationships. " -Chris Curcio, Curtain Up Phoenix (click here to read the complete review)
"In Stray Cat Theatre's Arizona premiere of the absorbing 2019 play SHEEPDOG by Kevin Artigue, ...a young police officer in an interracial partnership - he's white, she's black - answers an emergency call while on duty. He rushes to the scene. The events that follow may initially be murky in the officer's telling, but the result is undeniably conclusive: a black man is dead, shot by a white officer. ...Under Louis Farber's direction - almost all action is blocked downstage before us creating a continual sense of intimacy, even on a wide forum - both (Shonda) Royall and (Devon) Mahon are exemplary as the young couple whose racial divide is in danger of going nowhere. Both performers flesh their characters to the point where everything said, every action taken, feels natural; nothing jars.
- David Appleford, Broadway World (click here to read the complete review)
Click here for more information on this production that runs through March 26
"Kevin Artigue's drama Sheepdog is a thought-provoking two-character play that focuses on the impact that the shooting of a young Black man by a white policeman has on a pair of police officers who are in a relationship. She's Black and he's white, and the play brings up the various ethical, racial, and moral issues of the incident and how it impacts their relationship. The incident at the center of the play is one that lately seems like almost a weekly occurrence, so the play is definitely timely. However, perhaps because it's something that, unfortunately, happens so often, the play isn't quite as riveting as I have to imagine it was when it had its world premiere at South Coast Repertory in 2019, before the killing of George Floyd caused protests and so many to take action against inappropriate, unnecessary, and biased police violence against African Americans. Stray Cat Theatre presents the Arizona premiere in a well-acted and smartly directed production...." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)
"Stray Cat Theatre delivers a stellar and exemplary Arizona premiere production of Kevin Artigue’s, “Sheepdog,” that hits hard and revealingly at many of today’s prime relationship issues....Under Louis Farber’s taunt and revealing staging, the play is exquisitely performed by Shonda Royall as Amina and Devon Mahon as Ryan. Royall’s part is larger and more decisive as she expresses doubt and struggles to reconcile Ryan’s dramatic action....The play presents its thought-provoking conclusions in a tight 90-minute journey that exposes these unions with depth and perspective. “Sheepdog” leaves audiences with a better understanding of the struggles of racially diverse relationships. " -Chris Curcio, Curtain Up Phoenix (click here to read the complete review)
"In Stray Cat Theatre's Arizona premiere of the absorbing 2019 play SHEEPDOG by Kevin Artigue, ...a young police officer in an interracial partnership - he's white, she's black - answers an emergency call while on duty. He rushes to the scene. The events that follow may initially be murky in the officer's telling, but the result is undeniably conclusive: a black man is dead, shot by a white officer. ...Under Louis Farber's direction - almost all action is blocked downstage before us creating a continual sense of intimacy, even on a wide forum - both (Shonda) Royall and (Devon) Mahon are exemplary as the young couple whose racial divide is in danger of going nowhere. Both performers flesh their characters to the point where everything said, every action taken, feels natural; nothing jars.
- David Appleford, Broadway World (click here to read the complete review)
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