“Madness in Valencia”: 75% Sweet

Chris Millar

SWEET
For all the technical details and the abundant merits of Karpinski’s production, one does have the feeling that the play has been more staged than interpreted. The canvas on which the work unfolds contains few striking visual motifs that offer an urgent idea of why this play is being performed — beyond the obvious explanation that a few people sort of liked it. As such, it’s a delightful museum piece that could be much more, with a greater breadth of vision. Terrific performances also by Laura Napoli, Juliette Angeli, Brandon Clark and Paul Byrne, among others.
Steven Leigh Morris – LA Weekly

SWEET
Director Suzanne Karpinski provides a lively and colorful production. Holmes deftly lends a goofball streak to his handsome leading man. The women all offer strong performances: Kerr’s Erifila is a closet spitfire in maidenly clothing. Laura Napoli shines as a woman determined to possess Floriano, and Juliet Angeli is her high-spirited servant and amorous rival. Brandon Clark spouts pompous pedantry as Dr. Verino, Craig Calman is appropriately peppery as the governor of the asylum, and Joseph Beck paints a satiric portrait of a lunatic who thinks he’s Lope De Vega. Paul Byrne lends savoir-faire as a sort of aristocrat ex machina. They receive lively support from a clutch of Zanies.
Neal Weaver – Backstage

BITTER
I am amazed that the interesting synopses just quoted could have been written about the inane dribble of plot, character, and language that was presented to me on this stage. Touted as a new translation, one wonders that anyone could stick long enough with such trivia and superficiality to even read it, let alone translate it.
Eve Meadows – Stagehappenings

SWEET
Though the plot is ingenious, the dialogue is pedestrian and long-winded; not a line of which is worthy of even the deliberately awful Peter Quince/Nick Bottom playlet in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Little matter, though, because Sacred Fool’s new production of “Los Locos de Valencia” is the scaffolding from which the ensemble drapes a madcap frolic worthy of Benny Hill.
Trevor Thomas – EdgeLA