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    Theater Review: Madlab Wraps 2021 With the Welcome Return of ‘Theatre Roulette’

    After 18 months of delays – the plays were selected and cast for the then-canceled 2020 edition – MadLab’s signature short play festival, Theater Roulette, finally opened its 21st iteration last weekend. 

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    The night of the first weekend that lined up with my schedule brought me to Black Night – as befits the roulette theme, the other nights are Green and Red – and it was the tightest, sharpest Roulette set I’d seen in years.  

    Jessica Gibson as Angela, l-r, with Keith Jackson as Ron in “Precipice’ by Alex Dremann, part of the MadLab Theatre production of “Theatre Roulette 2021” – Photo Credit: Steve Malone Photography

    The seven plays in Black Night center on pivotal moments, uncomfortable choices, times when everything changes, and do a very good job zooming in on the right moment while also implying a larger world for these characters. One of the great joys of Theatre Roulette comes with its sense of honoring and valuing community, one of the traits MadLab has become known for over the years. Watching the same directors and combinations of the same actors shine light on different facets, shifting between genres and tones, is electrifying throughout.  

    Susie McGarry directs the extremely funny horror movie trope dissection “Undead” by Dana Schwartz with fantastic chemistry between Keith Jackson and Emery Saunders bouncing off a sparkling performance by Alanna G. Rex; the layered cat-and-mouse game of Jared Michael Delaney’s “Super Blood Wolf Moon,” with wire-taut performances by John Grote and Colleen Kochensparger; and the sweet, touching “Philadelphia, Direct” with subtle, quiet performances from David Gigliotti and Shaun Brown. 

    Kyle Jepson directs two duets with a sure hand, never giving away too much but leaving the actors enough space to flourish. The hilarious drawing-room parody “The Unforgivable Sin of Forgiveness” by Rich Orloff makes the most of vibrant, lusty turns by David Gigliotti and Susie McGarry, while Alex Dremann’s precipice uses confinement and tension to highlight remarkable character work from Rebecca Gibson and Keith Jackson. 

    Artistic director Will Macke and longtime MadLab member Becky Horseman direct one each and they’re both standouts. In a sea of laughs, Macke and actors Rebecca Gibson and John Grote give us the quietly devastating “The Thought Doesn’t Count” by Emily Hageman. Horseman’s night-closing “Robocall” by Scott Mullen, brings together several of the themes of the night: the human need for connection and the crazed lengths we go to when we don’t get it; the sometimes-banal frustrations of the contemporary age; and a deep uncertainty about the future, wrapped in a delightful screwball comedy with Alanna G. Rex, Colleen Kochensparger, Emery Saunders, and Nick Arganbright. 

    Even in years where the work didn’t speak to me or the plays didn’t land, I’ve always walked out with a warm feeling from Theatre Roulette. Every year, another actor or two hit my radar who I hadn’t noticed before. That went double this year, and I’m glad they’re back on the spring schedule so we’ll be seeing the 22nd Theatre Roulette in May. 

    Theatre Roulette runs through December 18 with shows at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with a special day of all three sets of shorts on Saturday, December 18, starting with Red Night at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit madlab.net/theatre-roulette-2021.

    Colleen Kochensparger as Grace, l-r, with Emery Saunders as Dave and Alanna G. Rex as Fern in “Robocall’ by Scott Mullen, part of the MadLab Theatre production of “Theatre Roulette 2021” – Photo Credit: Steve Malone Photography
    David Gigliotti as Eli, l-r, with Shaun Brown as Frank in “Philadelphia, Direct” by Liam Flanigan, part of the MadLab Theatre production of “Theatre Roulette 2021” – Photo Credit: Steve Malone Photography
    John Grote as Burgundy, l-r, with Colleen Kochensparger as Fawcett in “Super Blood Wolf Moon” by Jared MIchael Delaney, part of the MadLab Theatre production of “Theatre Roulette 2021” – Photo Credit: Steve Malone Photography
    Emery Saunders as Gary, l-r, with Keith Jackson as Jeremy and Alanna G. Rex as Felicia in “Undead” by Dana Schwartz, part of the MadLab Theatre production of “Theatre Roulette 2021” – Photo Credit: Steve Malone Photography
    John Grote as Tim, l-r, with Jessica Gibson as Rebecca in “The Thought Doesn’t Count” by Emily Hageman, part of the MadLab Theatre production of “Theatre Roulette 2021” – Photo Credit: Steve Malone Photography
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    Richard Sanford
    Richard Sanfordhttp://sanfordspeaks.blogspot.com/
    Richard Sanford is a freelance contributor to Columbus Underground covering the city's vibrant theatre scene. You can find him seeking inspiration at a variety of bars, concert halls, performance spaces, museums and galleries.
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