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| PRESS 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HISTORY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BackStage Theatre Company | MEMORY "In Memory, the flawed but indisputably haunting new show by the BackStage Theatre Company, the ever finer Chicago actress Brenda Barrie plays Eva, a Holocaust survivor who suffered unspeakable losses at the hands of the Nazis . . . How can a modern actress - even one as capable as Barrie - possibly create a facsimile of such pain? . . . The scene kept me awake last night, and stays with me as I write." "Barrie creates a quietly strong persona that seems as though it could snap in an instant, knowing that she's been carrying around secrets and guilt for years. When it does snap the emotion that let loose is so raw and unfiltered that it fills up the entire space.." "The actress Brenda questions the dialogue she must recite at the shows climax but the director has his way and Barrie deftly, with haunting emotions tells Peter what happened to the two boys in her care. Barrie delivers that scene most unforgettably. Memory is one of those theatrical gems that sneaks up on you as it reaches us on several levels delivering a riveting glimpse into the power of memory to hide and express secrets. The acting is first-class here from Barrie, De Nicola and Murphy. " ". . . a passionate and sorrowful portrait of worlds and minds divided. Brenda Barrie is enthralling as Eva, an East German Holocaust survivor, and Bilal Dardai and Samuel Buti find communion as a Palestinian on the verge of being displaced and an Israeli soldier reluctantly carrying out the eviction order." "Reeder's smartly paced production mostly sidesteps our misgivings, thanks to finely attuned performances that ink in Lichtenstein's pencil sketches. The always exquisite Barrie, toggling between love-struck youngster and wary survivor, leads the pack." "Brenda Barrie's performance as the elderly Eva is nothing short of spellbinding. This attractive young actress cunningly transforms herself into a staunch and spunky senior with little more than vocal inflections, accent and a walking stick. She proceeds to take Eva back to her youth as Adolf Hitler's Third Reich begins its insidious take-over of the country she loves, leaving death and devastation in its path . . . The work of Barrie, Tony Bozzuto and Patrick De Nicola is powerful and shattering. Barrie's final scenes, which I will not spoil for those encountering the play first hand, are the stuff of award winning acting." New Essential Chicagoan: Brenda Barrie "Barrie has been on our radar for a while (we first noticed her in a supporting role in BackStage's 2007 Waiting for Lefty). But in the past year, the 29-year-old actor has really grabbed the spotlight with a succession of headlining performances that showcased the radiant charm she employs to endear . . ." Acting filled with 'Ecstasy' for Hammond's Barrie " . . . I think that that's why her acting is so luminous -- there's no pretense, there's no fronts; she shares that onstage," McKie said. "She just has this sweet disposition that you think would get beaten up in the theatrical world, but she has this great blend of vulnerability and tenacity, which makes her a great actor and a great person . . ." Making the Region Proud " . . . Barrie feels she has been blessed with great roles this far in her career. 'In my six years in Chicago, each show has been another great step forward. I've learned things about myself with each character. I've worked hard to discover the undercurrent to these characters -- the things people can relate to . . . " Lifeline Theatre | MRS. CALIBAN "Barrie, who has created a series of indelible portrayals in recent seasons (in Mariette in Ecstasy, Graceland and The Ruby Sunrise), is a true treasure. With her alabaster skin, sonorous voice, balletic grace and palpable inner life she is worth seeing in Mrs Caliban for its opening sequences alone, as she repeatedly bids mechanical goodbyes to her detached husband, washes dishes and dances into deep fantasy to the sound of classical music on the radio.” "Barrie is as nimble as ever; whether dancing to alleviate the boredom of chores or wailing on the seashore to call her lover home, she lends the integrity of heartbreak to a story that could easily slide into the ridiculous." "[Barrie's] work in the lead role is gutsy and sexy . . . Mrs. Caliban is a fascinating piece - it's creative, ambitious, sensual, unusual and, frankly, haunting." "Beautifully performed . . . a marvelous character depiction by Brenda Barrie." "Brenda Barrie is quite effective as the understated yet thrill-seeking woman. Is she acting out delusional thoughts from the stress of losing her child? Is this story a dream or real?" "Brenda Barrie, playing the role of Dorothy, is an ethereal delight to watch - exuding a sprite-like joy and wonder in the character . . . Mrs. Caliban is an ensemble piece at its best. It is a great theatre experience that leaves the viewer with many things to ponder." |
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