NEW REVIEW: Joe Orton's final plays (before he was bludgeoned to death at 34 by his professionally jealous lover) were farces that crowned him master of the form. So much so that his first full-length play, Entertaining Mr. Sloane (the story of a gorgeous young layabout who sets out to hustle a frumpy woman and her dapper brother) is often presented in arch farcical tones, though its dark and violent overtones mirror the playwright's life and early death. In this very satisfying production, director …

WOW! ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE When Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr. Sloane opened on London’s West End back in 1964, a certain Mrs. Edna Welthorpe was inspired to write the Editor of Plays And Players as follows: “I myself was nauseated by this endless parade of mental and physical perversion. And to be told that such a disgusting piece of filth now passes for humour. Today's young playwrights take it upon themselves to flaunt their contempt for ordinary decent people. I hope that ordinary …

BWW Reviews: ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE A Definitive Joe Orton Production @ the Actors Company Entertaining Mr. Sloane by Joe Orton Directed by Stan Zimmerman The Actors Company through July 24 Long before the term dysfunctional family took flight, there was Joe Orton. Long before crude and obscene behavior became the norm ... there was perpetrator Joe Orton. In 1964 Entertaining Mr. Sloane played in a small underground theatre in London, as its portrayal of sexually explicit and violent behavior was too …

THE SEXUALLY CHARGED MR. SLOANE ENTERTAINS When first performed on the London stage in 1964, Joe Orton’s “Entertaining Mr. Sloane” caused much controversy. A twisted story of deception and lust, the play deals with a quartet of complex, unscrupulous characters who selfishly embark on a self serving journey of seduction that, without giving too much away, does not end well. The story deals with the handsome, young, Mr. Sloane (Emrhys Cooper) who seeks lodging at the home of Kath, ( …

Joe Orton and Stan Zimmerman’s Entertaining Mr. Sloane Andrea Kittelson, LA Comedy Examiner Every play begins of course with a play – with words that are hoped to be in just the right order. Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Joe Orton’s first full-length play written in 1964, begins with a script that is fraught with commentary yet is fiercely taut. Joe Orton might be the best at exploring complexity with vast efficiency. And he is (or was) adept at exploring the evils of Man with a certain …

Entertaining Mr. Sloane’ Opens In Los Angeles WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBS) — Joe Orton’s classic dark comedy will be at the Actors Company Theater through July 24. “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” which originally debuted in London in 1964, tells a sexy, suspenseful, and often humorous story that continues to captivate and surprise audiences today. Director Stan Zimmerman leads an ensemble cast which includes: Ian Buchanan (The Bold and the Beautiful), Olivia d’Abo (THE WONDER …

I saw two great shows on the weekend! By Pat Taylor June 29th, 2011 The first… Best for the “cutting edge,” voyeuristic playgoer, and the second… a thrill for just about everyone! Entertaining Mr. Sloane A multi-layered, darkly demented British comedy, with more twists n’ turns than a roller coaster… this is a most surprising and entertaining production! A manipulative and predatory quartet of characters… each with their own agendas, take us on a titillating …

Cyrano de Bergerac By Amy Lyons Thursday, Dec 16 2010 Director Rae Allen revels in the equal measure of might assigned to pen and sword in Edmond Rostand's word-centric, swashbuckling classic. Allen's sure hand in guiding the text along a well-paced tragicomic trajectory begins with her decision to slash the first scene significantly, depositing the legendary lead character and his protruding nose onstage within a few minutes of the outset. John Colella tackles the titular role with an overabundance of …