Review: THE CITY THAT CRIED WOLF at 59E59 is Clever Mystery

The City that Cried Wolf is now onstage at 59E59 Theaters through December 11th. You'll laugh out loud at this fun and fascinating show that puts an adult spin on fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Written by Brooks Reeves and directed by Leta Tremblay, this is the one to see. The well-known characters are cleverly embedded in a noir detective story. This unique show has a talented, versatile cast.

The City that Cried Wolf is set in Rhyme Town where Jack B. Nimble, a private eye, is hired by a jealous husband, Councilman Humpty Dumpty to tail his wife, Little Bo Peep. Peep is a real beauty and a lounge performer at the Hey Diddle Diddle Club. And when Humpty Dumpty takes a fall from his apartment in Rapunzel Towers and spills his yolk on the pavement, Nimble is assigned by Police Chief, Mother Goose to investigate Dumpty's murder. There's a lot of shady goings on in town, many of which are being blamed on the unsavory wolves. Mystery and mayhem take center stage in this very creative production.

The company masters their characters and the inventive dialogue that has quips and quotes straight out of well-known storybooks. Leading the cast is Adam La Faci as Jack B. Nimble; Rebecca Spiro as Little Bo Peep and Michelle Concha as Mother Goose. The Ensemble seamlessly assumes multiple roles to keep this fast-paced story happening. They include Holly Chou, Dalton Davis, Gwenevere Sisco and Dalles Wilie.

The Creative Team has done a great job of bringing the show to life with set design by Greg Stevens; costume design by Angela Borst; lighting design by Jake Fine; original music and sound design by Jeanne Travis and video design by Terry Kitagawa. The Dance Choreographer is Lina Sarrello; Fight Choreographer is Rob Kinter; Props Master is A.J. Diggins and the Assistant Director is Hannah Simms.

Take some time this holiday season to enjoy The City that Cried Wolf. It is an entertaining, captivating show that is sure to please a broad audience.

The City that Cried Wolf is produced by State of Play Productions for their 10th Anniversary season. The show is on a limited engagement through Sunday, December 11. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM & 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Photo Credit: Hunter Canning