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Caro Asercion

Recommended by Caro Asercion

  • Antigone, presented by the girls of St. Catherine's by Madhuri Shekar
    18 Nov. 2017
    “ In a cultural moment when more and more women are speaking out against sexual assault, Madhuri Shekar’s “Antigone, presented by the girls of St. Catherine's” strikes uncomfortably close to home. Though the content is heavy at times, playwright Shekar takes care to center the play around the girls as protagonists, always keeping the relationships between these young women at the forefront. More than a mere adaptation of a Greek classic, “Antigone, presented…” is a call to arms—a mirror held up to an active, immediate present. ”
  • jellyfish pine by Michael Yichao
    13 Nov. 2017
    “ Boundless and poetic, “jellyfish pine” toys with the traditional notions of the nonlinear love story. Protagonists Jack and Emily’s not-quite-romance pushes them ever closer to each other, and their chemistry is apparent with each other as well as their respective spouses. Their relationship truly shines, though, when taken in the context of playwright Yichao’s mythic dream ballet sequences, interspersed between the more realistic scenes. The fantastical and the grounded blend seamlessly, giving heightened value to both. ”
  • peerless (aka untitled high school macbeth, hsmb) by Jiehae Park
    13 Nov. 2017
    “ Jiehae Park’s “peerless” is a high-tension spring waiting to snap, a thrill ride from cover to cover. The plot pulls just enough from the Scottish Play to lay a simple foundation before bolting on its own vibrant, fresh path. The story travels at a breakneck pace, but it never becomes volatile or unbalanced—every moment is steered with a thoughtful, honed precision toward escalating the stakes, right down to the final confrontation. Fast, funny, and dangerously sharp. ”
  • Colonialism is Terrible, But Phở is Delicious by Dustin H. Chinn
    11 Nov. 2017
    “ “Colonialism…” is a tripartite retrospective on the development of pho that combines Vietnamese history with incisive social commentary and a solid sprinkling of humor. Each section stands with a distinct voice, but the script shines strongest when moments from one beat amplify or reflect a prior scene—(which happens often!) The sections are a clear conversation; the triple-casting of the same four actors across all three scenes serves to exemplify the power of the piece as a whole. ”
  • Let There Be Love by Mrinalini Kamath
    7 Nov. 2017
    “ “Let There Be Love” toys with the traditional staples of romcom tropes before sharply upending them and becoming its own story. The characters' nuanced dynamics could become unwieldy or confusing in another's hands, but playwright Kamath makes deft work in keeping the relationships free from clutter. Heartwarming, enlightening, and thought-provoking, “Let There Be Love” is an incisive parable on modern dating with a bit of something for everyone. ”

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