"Last
Planet Theatre's bold and sure Bay Area premiere is
a smart, well-acted, and original take on this 1997
work by one of the best representatives of England's
gleefully confrontational "in-yer-face theatre"
crowd. Director John Wilkins's inspired staging casts
our gaze through a variety of lenses (augmented by
James Flair and Paul Rasmussen's telescoped scenic
design, as well as the divinely sly and explicit porn-laden
video assemblages created by elastic future), enfolding
a coarse realism with stylized scenes that crack the
sublime from the hard nut of the mundane."
- Read
the full
San Francisco Bay Guardian review
- scroll down as needed.
"The
sex scenes between Glathier and Stillions are hot...a
provocative venture on the near and far sides of intimacy."
- Read
the full
San Francisco Chronicle review
and see why the Little Man is Clapping
"The
Censor is the ultimate sexual fantasy...'Four Glasses
of Champagne' (Highest Rating)."
-
Read
the full BeyondChron review
"Wilkins'
hyperstylized staging serves to emphasize The Censor's
message about looking beyond the 'scandalous' in a
work of art to see the real meaning — in this
case, the love story — below. With George Bush
waging a purity war against the media (only a few
weeks ago, he signed new laws aimed at curbing the
amount of "unsuitable material" aired on
TV), this production amounts to a topical sendup of
the surface-centric prejudices that go hand in hand
with most forms of censorship."...Brought to
you by "one of the most audacious theater companies
in the city...the place to go to have your world turned
upsaide down." - Read
the full SF Weekly review
"The
play is fascinating and repelling; it also lingers
in the mind long after the applause ends....Prigs,
sexphobes, those who believe it is important to mask
private truths with public lies - don't go!"
- Read
the full San Francisco Bay Times review
"Art,
porn, love, and sex combine for a memorable night
at the theater" - Read
the full Flavorpill review
"The
Censor: una obra muy fuerte y magníficamente
bien realizada por el grupo Last Planet Theatre"
Read
the full SF Tribune review
READ MORE ABOUT LAST PLANET AND PAST
PRODUCTIONS:
"Last
Planet is a company I admire for its boldness and
intelligence. From their inaugural season in 1999
- an entire festival devoted to p laywright Wallace
Shawn - to their recent productions of Brenton and
Fassbinder, director John Wilkins and his cohorts
have matched programming daring with theatrical ardor."
- SF Weekly
"An
oasis of culture...an outpost of the intellectual
avant-garde that is unique in the region." -
Marin IJ
"Against
all economic odds, Last Planet Theatre consistently
brings San Francisco audiences unique and thought-provoking
plays." - SFist
SF WEEKLY VOTES LAST
PLANET "BEST THOUGHTFUL THEATER" FOR 2005
"The
play still resonates thousands of miles away from
the suburban London in which it is set and after more
than a quarter of a century in time -- testimony both
to the power of the writing and to Last Planet's compact
yet emphatic staging." SF
Weekly on Sore Throats
"John
Wilkins' seductively creative Last Planet staging
provides intriguing tastes of Fassbinder's appeal
as the drab curtain opens on an unexpectedly lush,
faux-decadent set." Read
the full
San Francisco Chronicle review
on The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant
"As
Last Planet Theatre's cool and sultry production suggests,
The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant remains a vital
work for the stage." Read
the full
San Francisco Bay Guardian review
"Director
John Wilkins stages with bold strokes. His visuals
are theatrically commanding. And he suffuses every
moment with erotic (and occasionally neurotic) energy,
maintaining a relentless intensity."
San Francisco Bay Times
"The
company remains as brazen as ever, infusing Shawn's
ferocious satire with a giddy exuberance all its own."
San
Francisco Bay Guardian on The Designated
Mourner
"Matt
Leshinskie plays Jack manically well." SF
Weekly on
The Designated Mourner
