Iowa at Playwrights Horizons

[CurtainsUpat8]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 11:12pm

I saw the first preview of Iowa at Playwrights Horizons. I thought it was really original and a lot of fun. All of the performers were wonderful. It's Zany, and a little crazy, but brave and fresh. Ultimately I am not even sure what it meant but it sure was fun to watch. Just curious if anyone else is going.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 10:47am

Thanks to that $5 lottery, I was at the first performance. Jenny Schwartz's play is absurdist, surreal and very funny much of the time, largely thanks to the rapid-fire, manic line delivery and physical dexterity of the Mom character (I think the actress' name is Karyn Quackenbush) and the hilarious cheerleader persona of Annie McNamara. The spelling of the title, iOW@, is very appropriate. Interestingly, this is the second play I've seen this week whose theme was how the cyber world of the Internet is taking over people's lives, the other being the much darker THE NETHER. The songs are not so much melodious as poetic dialogue recited with music in the background. The direction by Ken Rus Schmoll is what really fires the engine.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/18/15 at 5:08pm

I saw the show this week and have rather mixed feelings about it. I'd be hard pressed to call this a musical. To me it seemed like a play in the beginning and then a musical at the end. There wasn't so much integration. 

For the most part I liked both portions but thought the music to be superior. The writing is quick and absurd but there were times where I thought it droned on a bit too much. There were several moments where I did laugh out loud because I was thrown off by how witty some of the lines were. I went into this not totally unaware of Todd Almond having previous seen KANSAS CITY CHOIR BOY so I knew there would be some good pop melodies. I thought the second song in the show was by far the strongest. The last section of the show had some good tunes.

All of the actors were game for the proceedings and I thought everyone fared pretty well. I didn't care that much for the little girl because she seemed like she was trying way too hard to be cute. I very much appreciated that there was a multicultural cast and the play addressed the need/use of the actors.

The set is basically nonexistent but the small band sits onstage. 

I would recommend this to those who like the absurd and some pretty decent music you're not likely to hear elsewhere.

[CurtainsUpat8]

Posted: 4/18/15 at 6:09pm

While it isn't a perfect piece of theatre, there is a lot to admire. I think it's important we find a place for this type of theatre.  It's quirky. It's different. I dislike very much when the reviewers dismiss pieces like IOWA. The Times review found almost nothing to like. We should be embracing shows like this. If you love theatre, go see this show. There is a lot of smart, off beat art going on.