I caught the debut production of Thespis Theatre Company Sunday afternoon in Brattleboro, and boy is it a good one. This new ensemble theater company does a fine job with Adam Bock's masterful 2007 play "The Receptionist."
Presented in Latchis 4 in the Latchis complex in downtown Brattleboro, an intimate place to see a play, "The Receptionist" is a marvelously well-wrought play, beginning on one level - often very funny - and ending on a stark, disturbing note. Thespis does a fine job with a challenging play.
The acting is superb. Don't let the fact that these are local folks on stage convince you that you have to lower your standards. The acting is a joy to behold - this is complicated material, and the cast of Jim Robinson, Nancy Stephens, Mo Hart and Eric Morgan Cutler handles it superbly. It's fine ensemble work, with a special nod to Stephens, who might just be my favorite local actor. In the title role of "The Receptionist" Stephens alone is worth the price of admission.
"The Receptionist" continues June 26 and 27 at 8 p.m., and June 28 at 2:30 p.m. You would be doing yourself a great disservice if you didn't catch it. For information on seeing the play or helping Thespis in other ways, call Larry Bramble at 802-387-4314.