Press
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| Michael Kaye as Tom, Briel Banks as Laura and Paula Langton as Amanda, Olney Theatre Center |
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"Briel Banks brings a heartbreaking reality to her portrayal of Laura Wingfield who spends her life deep in the fantasy world of glass."
"Olney Theatre takes a beautifully complex classic and breathes fresh life into it..bravo."
Nancy Dunham, The Washington Examiner,
The Glass Menagerie Comes to Life
"the performances in the this production are masterful"
"these were some of the finest renditions of these roles I have ever seen"
Ted Ying, DC Theatre Scene, The Glass Menagerie
"Olney Theatre Center's shrewd, splendidly balanced production takes its emotional cues from the narrator, Tom (typically seen as a stand in for Williams himself in this early autobiographical drama)."
"Briel Banks' performance is fetchingly sweet and still.."
"Banks compellingly rises and crumples in the presence of the gentleman caller, Jim O'Connor, played with bracing directness by Jeffries Thaiss. The long scene between Laura and Jim is largely illuminated by candlelight, and the coziness inspires several fine, unforced moments between the actors."
Nelson Pressley, The Washington Post, Olney Shows off a 'Radiant' Glass Act
"Director Joe Banno moves Shakespeare's story into the 1930s of Hollywood fantasy with the help of a talented cast that shares his love of screwball comedy."
The Glass Menagerie Comes to Life
"Most actresses portray Laura's shyness in a way that stifles her inner beauty, but Banks creates a butterfly trapped in the cocoon of her disability."
"when she retreats to her personal wonderland we get to see and feel her devotion to her keepsakes.. she handles them with almost religious reverence."
"the chemistry between the three family members is enchanting"
"the performances in the this production are masterful"
"these were some of the finest renditions of these roles I have ever seen"
Ted Ying, DC Theatre Scene, The Glass Menagerie
"Olney Theatre Center's shrewd, splendidly balanced production takes its emotional cues from the narrator, Tom (typically seen as a stand in for Williams himself in this early autobiographical drama)."
"The design and acting are both pretty much what Williams ordered, with bruising reality colliding hard with Amanda's alluring, relentless poetic sentiment."
"the actors enter and exit this memory play like spooks.." "Langton and Kaye are terrific in their battles together.."
"the heart breaks for Laura.."
"Briel Banks' performance is fetchingly sweet and still.."
"Banks compellingly rises and crumples in the presence of the gentleman caller, Jim O'Connor, played with bracing directness by Jeffries Thaiss. The long scene between Laura and Jim is largely illuminated by candlelight, and the coziness inspires several fine, unforced moments between the actors."
Nelson Pressley, The Washington Post, Olney Shows off a 'Radiant' Glass Act
Folger Theatre:
A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare, Directed by Joe Banno, Assistant Director Holly Twyford
by William Shakespeare, Directed by Joe Banno, Assistant Director Holly Twyford
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| Briel Banks as Hermia, Stephanie Burden as Helena, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Folger Theatre |
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"the encounters between the mismatched young couples are hilariously physical"
Susan Berlin, Talkinbroadway.com, Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C., A Midsummer Night's Dream.
"the fair Hermia, (an ethereal Briel Banks).."
Trey Graham, Washington City Paper, Thou Art Translated
"Briel Banks is distinctly impassioned as Hermia."
Brad Hathaway, Potomac Stages
"brilliant.." "sparkling cast.." "four stars.."
Marilou Donahue, Artistically Speaking
"Banks makes a strong Folger debut.."
Tim Plant, MetroWeekly
Photo credit: The Glass Menagerie, Olney Theatre Center, photographs by Stan Barouh.
Photo credit: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Folger Theatre, photographs by Carol Pratt.