SHERRI ALLEN
REVIEWS
BIO | NEWS | RESUME | REVIEWS | REGIONAL THEATRE | LOCAL THEATRE | TYA | COLLEGE THEATRE | MISCELLANEOUS | TEACHING | TELEVISION | DEMO VIDEOS | HEADSHOTS | CONTACT
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SHERRI ALLEN
REVIEWS
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BIO | NEWS | RESUME | REVIEWS | REGIONAL THEATRE | LOCAL THEATRE | TYA | COLLEGE THEATRE | MISCELLANEOUS | TEACHING | TELEVISION | DEMO VIDEOS | HEADSHOTS | CONTACT
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People say the nicest things!
Reviews Include (among others):
WELCOME
TO RAMALLAH - Resilience of the Spirit Festival 2009, Compass Theatre This is the third annual Resilience Festival, which shines a light on human struggle and strength, and how adversity is battled and courageously endured, if not always overcome. Gut-wrenching and unforgettable…“Welcome to Ramallah” (is) the American premiere of a highly charged 2008 work by a pair of English writers, Sonja Linden and Adah Kay. This piece is semi-autobiographical, based on Kay’s experiences living in the West Bank city of Ramallah, working for human rights organizations. Like the central characters, two English sisters (though they’re played rather American here despite the references to Marmite and tea), she came from a staunchly Zionist family. Her stand-in, Mara (Allison McDonald, excellent) befriends her Palestinian neighbors, and refuses to go with her Cleveland-based sister, Natasha (effectively manic Sherri Allen) to the kibbutz where they spent summers in their childhood, to scatter their father’s ashes, as he’d wished. The ideas posed here, and the provocative way in which they’re presented, will not be soon forgotten. This is by far the most consistently high caliber Resilience Festival yet. It’s definitely worth a visit - or two. - Pat Launer, San Diego News Network
Finally there is a theatre experience that effectively and passionately expresses both sides of the story of Israel.
Welcome to Ramallah is an education as well as an experience. Direction showed a compassion for the subject and the cast was
passionately convincing. Allison McDonald balanced the feelings Mara had for
Daoud while remaining well grounded as a liberal Jew. Sherri Allen, as her conservative
older sister, created a nice dynamic between the two. A similar dynamic also existed in the generational gap of Daoud and
Salim. This is an impressive piece… all of the characters are three dimensional
and quite believable. Welcome to Ramallah is definitely four stars. - Robert Hitchcock, San Diego Theatre Scene THE DINING ROOM – Scripps Ranch Theatre Well-cast,-directed 'Dining Room' looks at traditions lost: The Dining
Room" asks a lot of its director and cast. Seven actors must play 57 characters of all ages (from toddlers to seniors) in
19 sometimes overlapping scenes that jump around in time. Fortunately, this production has a good director and cast to tell
its stories. The cast is also far better than you'd expect.... It's easy to buy each actor in virtually every situation. …Sherri Allen shows
her range, stretching from Aggie, a WWI-era Irish maid, to Winkie, a toddler celebrating her birthday, to an old woman with
Alzheimer's. - Pam Kragen - Staff Writer, North
County Times This is an actor’s play. The seven actors play 57 different roles. Often they have mere seconds to
change personas and costumes. Not difficult enough? Add that they also go from young child to the very aged. This director
cast well. So, to each of you, take your bows when I write your name: Sherri
Allen, Wyatt Ellison, Dagmar Fields, Greg Hall, Allison MacDonald, Max Macke, Kate Nelson. Thank you one and
all for your excellent performances. The stage of Scripps Ranch Theatre is filled with seven actors of excellence, able to
move smoothly from character to character. - Robert Hitchcock, San Diego Theatre Scene
A.R. Gurney Jr.'s nostalgia-laced drama unfolds like a kaleidoscope…Gurney will build a scene then cut it off
and jump to another while drama from the previous scene starts taking hold (what becomes of the hippie daughter, for example,
rejected by her husband and father?). The play weaves a complex tapestry about a dying institution. Scripps Ranch Theatre's
production constitutes a step up in class for the company. The play's demands could create gridlock, but director Eric Bishop
gives it an admirable fluidity as scenes and eras flow gracefully. His seven-person cast (sometimes changing multi-period
costumes backstage in seconds) handle myriad assignments with few glitches. And Sherri
Allen registers as the hippie daughter cast adrift. Worth a try. - Jeff Smith, SAN DIEGO WEEKLY READER
NO PROBLEM - New Perspective Festival "Comedy,
drama and invective: A Festival with a New Perspective." No Problem, written
(by Kevin Six) like the Abbott and Costello classic “Who’s on first?” and directed (by DJ Sullivan) like
a piece from David Ives’ All in the Timing. Wonderfully executed, with crackerjack timing, by Sherri Allen
and Marc Biagi. -Pat
Launer, San Diego Theatre Scene, San Diego Theatre Scene Kevin Six’s No Problem, directed by D J Sullivan is a joy as Sherri Allen and Marc Biagi toy with the English language. The playwright must have read the collected works of Rich Lederer to have had so much fun. -Robert Hitchcock; San Diego Theatre Scene
PLAYS BY YOUNG WRITERS - presented by Playwrights Project So
far, I’ve seen two plays and a reading. And they were all something to see. The readings are short pieces by the younger
writers -- in the case of “King of the Couch”, 14 year-old Rory Gallagher, a student at Carlsbad High. Delightfully
performed by Sherri Allen, Paul Bourque, Pat Moran and Pauline Rulla, the play had a ‘grass is greener’
theme, that also concerned autonomy versus security. A scruffy, scrambling outdoor cat dreams of a cushy life indoors –
until he actually gets what he asks for, and longs for the freedom and unpredictability of independence. Moran and Bourque
are highly amusing as the feline rivals, and Allen is funny as the schizo German cat-lady. “Mister Wade is Dead”
...ventures
into tough territory – farce – and succeeds quite well. The high school audience was in stitches. In addition
to the funny situations (feigning death, mistaken identity, multiple eccentric characters), the production benefits from a
talented cast, expertly directed by Liz Shipman. The production perfectly captures the high-speed zaniness the genre demands.
The pace and physical comedy are spot-on, and the production is thoroughly enjoyable, though it does have more than a slight
whiff of sitcom. But for a first playwriting effort: amazing! “Best Bet” - Pat Launer, San Diego Theatre Scene
THE RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM – Chronos Theatre Group Chronos Theatre Group presented a reading of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, a
small part of the extensive collection of Persian poems (about 1000 of them) attributed to mathematician and astronomer Omar
Khayyám (1048–1123). For a reading, the production…was very elaborate. And for a reading, less would have been
more. The look was lovely, with three playing areas (in the Lyceum Space) and bright, colorful costumes. The post-performance
discussion, with active participation and explanation from members of the - Pat Launer, San Diego Theatre Scene KING LEAR - It’s
hard to do an intimate reading of an enormous piece of work. The San Diego Shakespeare Society tackled the prodigious tragedy
with an impressive cast, but only 2 - 3 rehearsals. The results were mixed, but promising…there were flashes of brilliance,
and the tease of a satisfying potential production. As the belligerent and sadly misguided king, Jonathan McMurtry...[was]
rather contemplative in his madness. Richard Baird, outstanding as ever...made a terrific Edmund. Tom Haine gave a fine
performance as Gloucester…Mitchell Wyatt did a capable job as Gloucester's 'good son' Edgar...Sandra Ellis-Troy made
a formidable and forbidding Goneril…In other roles, Mark Petrich [Fool], Sean Cox [Burgundy], Sherri Allen
[Regan] and TJ Johnson [Albany] had commendable moments. The production is worth a more intensive and extensive
revisit. Pat
Launer, Curtain Calls; San Diego Theatre Scene CINDERELLA - NCRT The
production of “Cinderella” featured North Coast Repertory actor/mentor Sherri Allen. She
played the evil stepmother and was very convincing and fun to watch in her role. She also works at J*Company as an acting
teacher, so was a good choice to help the young actors and actresses in the “Cinderella” production. ...The comic
trio of the play was the Stepmother and the two Stepsisters, Madrigal and Eslanda. Playing off each other, they were
a riot. -Alice
Cash, San Diego Theatre Scene; Carmel Valley News/Del Mar Village Voice TIRESIAS THE HARLOT - 6th at Penn (Sherri)
Allen does an impressive job with wild-haired madness as she hunches about the skene intoning, "Fear him!" (Apollo)
and then with red-scarved equanimity as she returns to her role as oracle, predicting Tiresias' fate. -
Abbie Padgett, sandiego.com …(A)n
interesting evening's entertainment of gods interfering and attempting to alter the lives of mere mortals...a play that has
the feel and temperament of classical Greek theatre.…Alas, we didn't see enough of Sherri Allen (as)
Pythia, a woman fearful of everybody and everything. –
Robert Hitchcock, totaltheater.com THE MERCHANT OF Other
stand-out performances are Sherri Allen as Portia’s gentlewoman, Nerissa.... - Charlene Baldridge, A
dozen actors…rage and flirt and sing and wheedle their way through the play with such confidence and respect that they're
irresistible...Next time there's talk of the theatre dying, send the woe-sayers to track down these Poor Players. The troupe
is a homegrown treasure and Shakespeare is safe with them. -
Welton Jones, sandiego.com A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - Poor Players Sherri
Allen plays (Titania) with a deeply feminine and a lilting, otherworldly voice that practically sings when she
speaks. -
Rob Hopper, sandiegoplaybill.com On
Titania's side of the aisle, the world of the female fairies is captured with delight-filled camraderie, led by a very strong
Sherri Allen, who plays Titania and doubles as Hippolyta. -
SpearBearer DownLeft The
diminutive Sherri Allen, playing Titania/Hippolyta, balances her male counterpart well and the striking distance
in stature between the two played the better for it. - Cuauhtémoc Kish, San Diego Theatre Scene SHAKESPEARE'S 441st BIRTHDAY BASH - hosted by the Highlights
of the evening included comparative scenes from "The Scottish Play and "MacBeth" by La Jolla Playhouse teaching artists David
Fenner and Sherri Allen. - Pat Launer, San Diego Theatre Scene BECAUSE SEX AND CIDER SELLS produced by Never Force the Tool Productions (Sherri)
Allen is funny, and she, in fact, proves to be the most versatile actor of the evening -- both in appearance and
performance style. -
Pat Launer, KPBS radio The
plays are smartly directed…and beautifully acted by Sherri Allen (et al.). It’s difficult to pick a favorite from among the three. They
are delightfully juxtaposed and each packs its own wallop. Allen
and Steed play a couple discussing The Problem…. There ensues a hilarious, intricately wrought dialogue concerning the
wife’s infidelity and the couple’s appropriate course of action. (In
F.M.) Allen creates a pushy, judgmental bitch you’d just love to throttle…it’s a funny
and lovely little play. Never Force the Tool provides an evening worthy of an encore viewing, for there is much to chew on
as well as to enjoy. - All
of the cast has moments to shine, with Sherri Allen as the overprotected little sister the most able to completely
define her role. -
Dan Bennett, Premier Magazine Sherri
Allen is quite funny as Laurie, the girl who milks her supposed heart flutter to get out of every last bit of work.
- The
scene between the two younger sisters, early in the first act, when they are trying to remember the father who died six years
ago is, on the other hand, wonderfully poignant. Nikki Larson as Nora displays such sesitivity and Sherri
Allen's Laurie is so vulnerable that we feel the loss, too. - January Riddle, EL GRANDE DE COCA-COLA - NCRT Throughout
'El Grande de Coca-Cola,' there is overt feuding by family members vying for competition onstage. The two females, (Kathy)
Fuchs and (Sherri) Allen, are especially adept at trying to upstage one another. Allen's
Consuela betrays smug satisfaction whenever she can steal the spotlight from her stepsister. -
Heidi Clevenger, Kaleidoscope Magazine Sherri
Allen as his stepdaughter has some strong moments. She seems most comfortable working with the audience through
delivery and eye contact. -
Dan Bennett, Premier Magazine ONCE UPON A MATTRESS – SRT Once
Upon a Mattress” made Carol Burnett a star in 1959. Her mark is indelible,
yet it’s possible to make the loveable goofy Princess Winnifred your own, which (Sherri) Allen
does with panache. After swimming the moat – too impatient for the drawbridge to lower – the Princess belts out
her trademark tune “Shy” which Allen sings in a wonderfully off-pitch test of your eardrums. Allen and Weir make for a delightfully naïve pair, flirting like
fifth-graders on the playground. -
Tim Fish, The Press Democrat THE CRUCIBLE – SRT SRT’s
“The Crucible” quite simply is exceptional. Not since its last attempt
at Miller has SRT made great drama seem so effortless. -
Tim Fish, The Press Democrat VIAL - Fritz Blitz Thanks
for a MASTERFUL production last night. After "Vial" began, I was hooked in 15 seconds. Fast, clever, ensemble-driven,
and compositionally compelling. People move, talk, move while talking, and then freeze into pictures that are just a delight
to behold. The blue-out/time-warping for the dinner scene worked perfectly and literally gave me a chill. I just knew something
evil was about to drop in the drawing room. It was the perfect combination
of malevolence and humor. The twist at the end caught me by surprise and was well set-up. I should've seen it coming - but
didn't! - and I'm usually pretty good about those things. And the costumes
were PERFECT. -
Glen Vecchione, audience member THE GRAPES OF WRATH - Ion …big,
fat, austere…the characters and their depictions speak for themselves. “Critic’s Pick” -SD
City Beat …masterful…visionary…a
triumph…everyone is first-rate! “Best
Bet” -San
Diego Theatre Scene & KPBS …incredible…ingenious…exceptional
actors in pivotal roles …a tribute to the indestructible human spirit… -Gay
and Lesbian Times Steinbeck
writes about travail, endurance, and the indomitable human spirit. Last Saturday night you could see it in the characters,
and in the actors playing them. The most amazing thing: they didn't just pull it off; they excelled. ...Every actor has
a scene or a moment, where they must take stage and deliver. And at Ion, everyone does. ...Ion's Grapes of Wrath
ranks among the year's best. -Jeff Smith, San Diego Reader Claudio Raygoza has done a masterful job bringing this epic to life. The production is unequivocally worth
seeing. Raygoza, who designed the set, has created the dusty look and feel of -Pat Launer, San Diego Theatre Scene |
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