Stick Fly

Tickets and Information

Theatre Review - The Matrix Theatre Company Presents The West Coast Premiere of "Stick Fly"
Review by: Frank Turner III, April 10, 2009 Stick Fly-A fascinating play by Lydia R. Diamond, opened to a packed audience as Joseph Stern?s award- winning Matrix Theatre Company returns with the West Coast Premiere of Stick Fly. The play was one of the most intense and amusing plays that I have seen in a long time. The African American family portrayed as upper middle class, educated ,successful ,and wealthy, with a Summer home in Martha?s Vineyard, dealing with issues that we can all relate to as the McVays maneuver through family dynamics and hidden family secrets, class struggle and acceptance, interracial romance and infidelity. Shirley Jo Finney directs Chris Butler, Avery Clyde, Tinashe Kajese, Terrell Tilford, John Wesley and Michole Briana White at the Matrix Theater, April 4 through May 31. Stick Fly?s opening scene begins with the arrival of Chris Butler Kent LeVay and his fianc?, Michole Briana White Taylor Bradley at the McVay Summer home in Martha?s Vineyard for a few days of relaxation as well as introducing Taylor to family members Kent is a struggling writer attempting to live up to the career expectations of his father, John Wesley Dr. Joseph LeVay a successful neural surgeon. Taylor an entomologist of less fortunate means struggles with class and acceptance, complicated with the introduction of the maid?s daughter Tinashe Kajese Cheryl Washington. Cheryl, sent to the LeVay home to take care of the family during her mother?s illness, although happy to see Kent, is less enthused to meet Cheryl who she sees as a gold digger out to gain acceptance of the family. Although the daughter of the maid we are surprised with the revelation later in the play of Cheryl?s closer relationship with the family than believed. Terrell Tilford Dr. Flip LeVay arrives and is greeted by Kent, Taylor and Cheryl with an announcement of the later arrival of his ?Italian? girlfriend and the issue of racial acceptance placed on the table for consideration of all, pending her arrival. This will prove to be the least of Flips challenges as a former romance between Taylor Kent?s fianc? and Flip unfolds and is mistakenly revealed to Kent. John Wesley Dr Joseph LeVay arrives to the excitement of all, his wife staying home also due to illness, thrilled to see his successful son Flip but not as thrilled to see Kent, the son who won?t ?man up? and get a real job. Taylor is cordial and becomes more relaxed as Dr LeVay reveals his reading an award winning book written by Taylor?s late father. The surprise of the evening is the arrival or Avery Clyde Kimber Davies, Flip?s ?Italian? girlfriend and educator, whose family resides close to Martha?s Vineyard. Kimber?s issue though not one of class as much as acceptance , especially from Taylor, adds a bit of color so to say and interest as she struggles to solidify her position and deal with the revelation of Flip?s brief, not so long ago encounter with Taylor. Stick Fly ends as creatively as it begins. Throughout the play, the lighting designed by Christian Epps fades from a moonlit set of the entry, living room and kitchen designed by John Lacovelli to a golden early morning glow, solidifying the feeling of actually sitting in a 3 dimensional Martha?s Vineyard home, listening to the sounds designed by Mitch Greenhil, music, birds chirping with the rise of the sun awaiting the next scene. Hopefully, Lydia Diamond will surprise us with a sequel, when the LeVays plan on meeting again for a Christmas get together! WHAT: Stick Fly - In this new play from Lydia R. Diamond, one of America?s freshest and most dynamic voices, an upper class African American family vacationing on Martha?s Vineyard wrestles with parental expectations, sibling rivalry, and issues of class and race. Sensitive Kent LeVay and his slick brother Flip see their weekend at the family home as the perfect opportunity to introduce their girlfriends to their parents. Instead, they stumble onto a domestic powder keg of prejudice, hypocrisy and family secrets. WHO: Written by: Lydia R. Diamond Directed by: Shirley Jo Finney Starring Chris Butler, Avery Clyde, Tinashe Kajase, Terrell Tilford, John Wesley, Michole Briana White Presented by The Matrix Theatre Company, producer Joseph Stern WHEN: Performances: April 4-May 31 Thursdays at 8 pm; March 26; April 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28 Fridays at 8 pm: March 27; April 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Saturdays at 8 pm: April 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Sundays at 3 pm: April 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 WHERE: The Matrix Theater 7657 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 TICKETS: $25.00, $20.00 students/seniors Call 323.960.7740 or visit www.matrixtheatre.com

Reviewed by frankie3 on Sunday, Apr 12th, 2009

The Matrix Theatre Company Presents The West Coast Premiere of "Stick Fly"
Review by: Frank Turner III, Los Angeles Stick Fly-A fascinating play by Lydia R. Diamond, opened to a packed audience as Joseph Stern?s award- winning Matrix Theatre Company returns with the West Coast Premiere of Stick Fly. The play was one of the most intense and amusing plays that I have seen in a long time. The African American family portrayed as upper middle class, educated ,successful ,and wealthy, with a Summer home in Martha?s Vineyard, dealing with issues that we can all relate to as the McVays maneuver through family dynamics and hidden family secrets, class struggle and acceptance, interracial romance and infidelity. Shirley Jo Finney directs Chris Butler, Avery Clyde, Tinashe Kajese, Terrell Tilford, John Wesley and Michole Briana White at the Matrix Theater, April 4 through May 31. Stick Fly?s opening scene begins with the arrival of Chris Butler Kent LeVay and his fianc?, Michole Briana White Taylor Bradley at the McVay Summer home in Martha?s Vineyard for a few days of relaxation as well as introducing Taylor to family members Kent is a struggling writer attempting to live up to the career expectations of his father, John Wesley Dr. Joseph LeVay a successful neural surgeon. Taylor an entomologist of less fortunate means struggles with class and acceptance, complicated with the introduction of the maid?s daughter Tinashe Kajese Cheryl Washington. Cheryl, sent to the LeVay home to take care of the family during her mother?s illness, although happy to see Kent, is less enthused to meet Cheryl who she sees as a gold digger out to gain acceptance of the family. Although the daughter of the maid we are surprised with the revelation later in the play of Cheryl?s closer relationship with the family than believed. Terrell Tilford Dr. Flip LeVay arrives and is greeted by Kent, Taylor and Cheryl with an announcement of the later arrival of his ?Italian? girlfriend and the issue of racial acceptance placed on the table for consideration of all, pending her arrival. This will prove to be the least of Flips challenges as a former romance between Taylor Kent?s fianc? and Flip unfolds and is mistakenly revealed to Kent. John Wesley Dr Joseph LeVay arrives to the excitement of all, his wife staying home also due to illness, thrilled to see his successful son Flip but not as thrilled to see Kent, the son who won?t ?man up? and get a real job. Taylor is cordial and becomes more relaxed as Dr LeVay reveals his reading an award winning book written by Taylor?s late father. The surprise of the evening is the arrival or Avery Clyde Kimber Davies, Flip?s ?Italian? girlfriend and educator, whose family resides close to Martha?s Vineyard. Kimber?s issue though not one of class as much as acceptance , especially from Taylor, adds a bit of color so to say and interest as she struggles to solidify her position and deal with the revelation of Flip?s brief, not so long ago encounter with Taylor. Stick Fly ends as creatively as it begins. Throughout the play, the lighting designed by Christian Epps fades from a moonlit set of the entry, living room and kitchen designed by John Lacovelli to a golden early morning glow, solidifying the feeling of actually sitting in a 3 dimensional Martha?s Vineyard home, listening to the sounds designed by Mitch Greenhil, music, birds chirping with the rise of the sun awaiting the next scene. Hopefully, Lydia Diamond will surprise us with a sequel, when the LeVays plan on meeting again for a Christmas get together! WHAT: Stick Fly - In this new play from Lydia R. Diamond, one of America?s freshest and most dynamic voices, an upper class African American family vacationing on Martha?s Vineyard wrestles with parental expectations, sibling rivalry, and issues of class and race. Sensitive Kent LeVay and his slick brother Flip see their weekend at the family home as the perfect opportunity to introduce their girlfriends to their parents. Instead, they stumble onto a domestic powder keg of prejudice, hypocrisy and family secrets. WHO: Written by: Lydia R. Diamond Directed by: Shirley Jo Finney Starring Chris Butler, Avery Clyde, Tinashe Kajase, Terrell Tilford, John Wesley, Michole Briana White Presented by The Matrix Theatre Company, producer Joseph Stern WHEN: Performances: April 4-May 31 Thursdays at 8 pm; March 26; April 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28 Fridays at 8 pm: March 27; April 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Saturdays at 8 pm: April 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Sundays at 3 pm: April 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 WHERE: The Matrix Theater 7657 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 TICKETS: $25.00, $20.00 students/seniors Call 323.960.7740 or visit www.matrixtheatre.com

Reviewed by frankie3 on Saturday, Apr 11th, 2009