Reviews
Macbeth "This was probably one of the best shows I've seen this year and it is highly recommended. From the pure talent, the uniqueness, artistry, and physicality of the show to its music, costumes, and lighting it is a full packaged wallop." "Synetic Theater is experiencing its finest hour (and a half) with a fiercely athletic "Macbeth," a fiery adaptation that puts the company's dynamic style on exhilarating display." "Chills and thrills in Synetic's mute, macabre 'Macbeth'" "a wordless, movement-driven production of visionary intensity and startling originality....a highly stylized, viscerally thrilling brand of physical theater that brings together elements of dance, mime, physical comedy, acrobatics, and fight choreography...sustains the terrifying action at a breathtaking pace... Yet it is with his eyes – like a silent film star – that Kavsadze captures most vividly Macbeth's dramatic arc: fear, trepidation, grim determination, remorse, ruthlessness, isolation, and the nihilism inherent in his refusal to grieve the death of his wife...The radiant Irina Tsikurishvili gives us a passionate, fiercely determined Lady Macbeth..." "With his accustomed quirky brilliance, director Paata Tsikurishvili has produced an energized and rich re-creation of Shakespeare's story." "This is a Macbeth that stunned audiences when it first burst upon the scene. It remains a powerful tale of runaway ambition and the corruption of power. Take heed, Washington." "The ensemble has reached a point where they telegraph the metaphor and meaning inherent in Irina Tsikurishvili's choreography with extreme effectiveness, and it still generates a riveting response...It's a killer goth club atmosphere against which these devious Macbeths can tango, in a true danse macabre." "high-octane action-packed live thriller" Don Quixote "And, thus, for newcomers and addicts alike, this remains, without any doubt, theater that engages the soul with a magical daring you won't find elsewhere." "Synetic combined dance, light effects and music in a creative way to tell the classic story Don Quixote...Istrate applied his character with dedication and sincerity. His passion was real and in the end heartbreaking." "After 140 years of watching Russian balletcompanies wildly distort his story, the ghost of Cervantes must be thrilled with the dance-theater treatment Synetic Theater’s band of Soviet émigrés has given Don Quixote...That Quixote is delusional is never a question, but what you second guess, by show’s end, is whether a sincere search for goodness can ever coincide with sanity." "Under Tsikurishvili's inspired direction, Quixote develops in short, episodic scenes...Istrate exudes empathy and fellow-feeling...Sellers is equally charming as the faithful Panza...Mills is darkly brilliant as the taunting, cruel personification of evil and also makes a unique appearance as an imposing Damsel." "I absolutely enjoyed it and highly recommend this excellent adaptation of the classic story of Don Quixote. Four stars." "There’s much more in this poignant tale about the man in his makeshift garb who often meets ridicule. A terrific performance and cast." "Usually the Synetic Theater downplays stars in it shows but they have to admit that Dan Istrate (Don Quixote) and Ryan Sellers (Pancho Panza) zoom to stardom with their excellent portrayals... It is a highly recommended performance... What is wrong with area theater lovers...how can they miss one of the most heralded companies in the DC area? This is a blockbuster show...do catch it before it ends its season." "muscular, visceral, and utterly involving" King Lear "The spectral beauty of Tsikurishvili’s Lear is unlike any of his previous attempts... Visually and choreographically, the piece... coheres even more seamlessly than in past efforts, and the... play flows with an assurance of tone and style that satisfyingly builds on and refines the troupe’s one-of-a-kind aesthetic." Backstage: Interview with Director Paata Tsikurishvili and star Irakli Kavsadze "No praise is great enough for the Synetic Theater especially for its most compelling retell of the story of King Lear" ?"With his uncanny ability to maximize the subtext as he minimizes the text, director Tsikurishvili succeeds at giving this epic story a periodic lightness of tone without diminishing the horrendous core story of Lear..." "Synetic Theater’s silent King Lear is one of the most hauntingly beautiful things I’ve ever seen...The result is visual poetry, a melancholy sonnet to madness and abuses of power." "Synetic's King Lear offers a feverishly fascinating re-invention of Shakespeare's tale... performed with Synetic's theatrical prowess and vision, it is enchanting, original and gratifyingly macabre." "Director Paata Tsikurishvili gives the action a rich visual patina reminiscent of Marcel Marceau mime, Italian commedia dell’ arte stylization and Central European expressionistic grotesquerie. The beautifully executed choreography (devised by Irina Tsikurishvili) ranges from tango to disco. The hyper-athletic fight choreography (by Ben Cunis) is always virtuosic and sometimes scary. Both as dancers and fighters, the powerful Synetic performers literally throw themselves into their work." "there’s a ravishingly sick beauty to this production, with its Fellini meets Tim Burton inspiration, and the usual haunting images and moments of physical power we’ve come to expect and indeed demand from Synetic... The highlight of the production really is the thrilling evocation of Lear’s “Blow, winds” monologue, with the sands of time whipped up to drive him mad... it stirred the audience to applause..." "as much skilled physicality, drama, low comedy, dancing and fighting is packed into this production's 95 minutes as can normally only be found in a whole season's worth of shows... we can get right back to the serious business of being deeply entertained." The Magic Paintbrush"Sincere commitment is contagious and judging from the wide-eyed reactions of youngsters and parents alike, something miraculous is happening here...The aerial choreography for the Orphan’s dreams by Meg Maxwell (who also enacts a mind-boggling string of roles) is dazzling enough to elicit audible gasps... The kids are captivated. Highly Recommended." "For children ages 4 through 10, The Magic Paintbrush is a magical portal, one that allows them to witness the power of imagination as transformation...For children and parents alike, The Magic Paintbrush provides complete captivation, all through the magical power of a simple paintbrush." ?"...a play like The Magic Paintbrush, which requires children to use their imaginations to fill in the blanks in the scenery and dialogue, is a fantastic exercise in imagination." "Synetic Theater’s silent King Lear is one of the most hauntingly beautiful things I’ve ever seen...The result is visual poetry, a melancholy sonnet to madness and abuses of power." The Nutcracker (Family)The Master and MargaritaKing ArthurOthelloKafka's MetamorphosisAntony and CleopatraDraculaA Midsummer Night's DreamA Swedish TigerLysistrataDanteHost and Guest (2008)CarmenRomeo and JulietFall of the House of UsherMacbethFrankensteinFaustThe DybbukDraculaBohemiansHost and Guest (2004)
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