And the Mad House makes it happen!

By Patrick Doyle

The curtains were to rise at 7:30PM, it was then 6:50PM and I kept driving around the same two streets my GPS had given me, looking for the Mad Horse Theatre. I’d been there before to be awe-struck by their rendition of Orphans, but somewhere between winter and the arising fall I misplaced where exactly Mad Horse was located. Two walkers (separate) directed me mistakenly to the Lyric Theatre. By doing a once-over of every side road in the area, I found the Mad Horse and waltzed across the lot. I made note that they spell it “theatre” on the way in.

I gave my name and profession (Beaconizer) to the desk. After being presented as the writer of the Orphans review from last winter, I felt my general social anxiety lift a bit, walking to the concessions. A Captain Eli’s Blueberry Pop was produced and it tasted very good from the bottle. I saw a few people I recognized as students from SMCC, we chatted a bit before the doors opened. Before the show I was informed that due to the arrangement of the seats, the left side as you go in produces the best view.

The seats next to me sputtered off something about the theatre being very small. With conviction, I attempted to break their idea with that a small, more personalized theatre has benefits that the larger ones do not; even the nosebleed seats are still perfect (only three rows back) and the action/drama feels closer . . . more there, like you’re a part of it. This sort of Proletariat Production feels lost in bigger theatres. I’m relieved that Mad Horse keeps it close.

Before I could launch into a full diatribe, the lights dimmed, the play, A View from the Bridge, started. While I’m familiar with the works of Arthur Miller, I found myself wondering what this one could be like, I’d never heard of it. Any fears I had of feeling stagnant went out the window quickly. A monologue started the play, introducing certain characters in a wayward fashion, being presented by a lawyer! Set in NYC, there was a genuine feel that these actors could’ve been planted in the midst of the Big Apple; I felt their woes of big city bad luck. The story, without giving too much away, deals with a more traditional-type fellow named Eddie Carbone who is worried that his niece will be marrying a scum, a scum with bleach-blonde hair who sings and dances!

Throughout I felt a genuine attitude based around the play, the actors and the moods that they set. It just seemed real, like “this really happened.” Nothing appeared false or with me second-guessing any of it, it just occurred and flowed very naturally, with the help of all the aforementioned attitudes.

In what appears to be true Mad Horse fashion, the play concluded with a standing ovation. To my dismay, the actors shuffled quickly away. It would’ve been nice to speak to them for a second even just to say good job. They certainly earned it. If you feel this this review is not enough, then please, go see plays at the Mad Horse Theatre! If you loved my review? GO SEE PLAYS AT THE MAD HORSE! It’s right near SMCC! You could walk there! NO EXCUSES.