BWW Reviews: CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION at Rep Stage - A Treat For Theater Lovers

When I saw Annie Baker's CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION at the Rep Stage in Columbia, I immediately thought of that wonderful song from A CHORUS LINE called "Nothing". It was sung by Diana about her experience in an acting class at the High School of Performing Arts where her teacher Mr. Karp says to the students, "Okay...we're going to do improvisations. Now, you're on a bobsled. It's snowing out. And it's cold...Okay...GO!" Can you hear the jingle bells from Marvin Hamlisch's terrific score?

And what did Diana feel? NOTHING.

Well, CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION is basically an inside look at an acting class at a Community College in rural Vermont. If you love theater, you will love this show. I expected to get a certificate of completion for Acting 101 at the end of the play because the audience becomes enthralled with what happens on the stage.

First, I want to applaud the Co-Producing Artistic Directors at Rep Stage, Suzanne Beal (who directed this) and Joseph W. Ritsch) for bringing such eclectic and interesting theater to the Baltimore/Washington area. Here, Beal does a masterful job in directing the five actors. She sat behind me and I enjoyed her constant laughter at what was occurring on stage. May I also suggest you take a look at the wonderful Study Guide available at www.repstage.org which is filled with information about the playwright and the production.

Yes, it is funny and yet heart-warming. It even won the 2009 Obie Award for Best Play and was named one of the Top Ten Plays of 2009-2010 by the New York Times, The New Yorker, and Time Out New York. Playwright Baker was also recently honored with the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play "The Flick".

The group lays on the floor at the beginning of the play and they each count to 10, hoping not to step on anyone's line. There are emotional scenes when they can only use the words goulash and ak-mak. They tell each other's life stories. There's a great scene where they right down on scraps of paper dark secrets and these are read aloud. It's quite a moment.

Director Beal has assembled a superb cast. Starting with Meg Kelly as the teacher, Marty. She is just plain terrific. She imbues warmth, understanding, and patience. Playing Marty's husband James is Tom Byrn who is taking the class it seems to make his wife happy. It's always great to watch the great Beth Hyton on stage. She's a member of the Everyman Theatre Acting Company and plays Theresa, who has a perpetual smile on her face.

Yury Lamokin plays Schultz, a recent divorcee going through a hard time.

You will always remember Natalie Collins, playing a very young Lauren who is hoping to audition for WEST SIDE STORY. She starts off the play wearing a hoody and tries to hide within her sweat shirt. She is frustrated at the exercises she goes through and blurts out to her teacher Marty, "Like, are we ever going to do any real acting?" She will emerge a much different person at the end of the six week class.

The set design is simple. It's really a dance studio with mirrors on sides , exercise mats, a yoga ball, and a hula hoop. Set Consultant is by A. David Blachowicz, Lighting is by Marianne Meadows, and there is some lovely guitar music by Sound Designer William K. D'Eugenio (I wish there was more).

CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION continues until March 22 at Rep Stage, located in the Horowitz Center, 10901 Little Patuxext Parkway, Columbia (on the grounds of Howard Community College). While this play is a little different and may not be for everybody, give it a try. For tickets call 443-518-1500.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com