Big Love presented by The Hub Theatre at John Swayze Theatre

Big Love

John Swayze Theatre
9431 Silver King Court Fairfax

The Hub Theatre's mainstage season goes out with a bang, as it takes on the exuberant comedy Big Love, mixing mayhem, pop music, poetry, dance, acrobatics, cake fights and even murder to tell the story of 50 brides who high-tail it to Italy to avoid having to marry 50 of their cousins. But after the pack of grooms helicopter in to claim them as wives, the war between the sexes really begins. Directed by Kirsten Kelly, this uproarious re-imagining of Aeschylus' ancient Greek play The Danaids is written by famed reconstructionist and experimental playwright Charles Mee, and won an Obie Award in 2002.

Presented by The Hub Theatre

Thru - Aug 12, 2012

Fridays: 8:00pm

Saturdays: 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sundays: 2:00pm

Show Type: Comedy

Running Time: 1 hr; 40 mins with no intermission

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Big Love Reviews

Average Rating based on 5 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Washington Post - Recommended

"... Inspired by Aeschylus’ “The Suppliant Women,” Mee’s quirky “Big Love” follows 50 sisters who shun arranged marriages with a comparable number of brothers. When the would-be husbands follow the fleeing women to a Mediterranean retreat, the upshot is negotiations, philosophizing, violence and the horrific waste of 49 boutonnieres."

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- Celia Wren

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

"...In Big Love, the latest production from Hub Theater in Fairfax, VA, playwright Charles Mee re-imagines the Danaids story into a modern day play about love that highlights politics and culture of today. This is an ambitious uninterrupted 90-minute epic battle of the sexes. While the feminist themes of equal standing, right of choice, and the right to love are at the forefront of Big Love, this play is not presented as a one-sided argument. Both the men and women passionately plea their points of view and personal desires. Each had moments where I sided with the other. It is in those fiery and provocative reveals where my compassion was most felt, and my inner girl-power cheerleader was unleashed."

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- Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

Washingtonian - Somewhat Recommended

"...The most compelling aspect of the production, staged with much theatrical hyperbole by Kirsten Kelly, is the gratifying chemistry between Lydia (Sarah Douglas), the most grounded of the three sisters in the play (their other siblings remain onboard the ship in which they fled), and her particular intended, Nikos (David Zimmerman). Lydia’s hostility winningly melts away as she connects with Nikos, and it’s rather thrilling to watch them fall in love. Less easily entertaining are the naive and irritatingly perky Olympia (Kristen Garaffo) and her older, perpetually pissed off “radical feminist” sister Thyona (Jessica Aimone) as they interact with their intendeds, the inarticulate Oed (Josh Sticklin) and the über-cool Constantine (Michael Kevin Darnall). Director Kelly has encouraged everyone to play their roles so much to the hilt that it’s rather daunting to watch them after a while because the skill level among the actors varies."

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- Jane Horwitz

ShowBizRadio - Recommended

"...Mee neatly creates three contrasting women’s roles to represent the hoard of sisters. Three well-designed men’s roles stand in for the 50 brothers. Director Kirsten Kelly has recruited some very skillful performers to exemplify various versions of girls vs. boys. Sarah Douglas, Jessica Aimone and Kristen Garaffo play the sisters — ambivalent, rageaholic and bimbo, respectively. David Zimmerman, Josh Sticklin and Michael Kevin Darnall are the brothers — ambivalent critical thinker, dissolute lout and aggressive macho man, respectively."

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- Joe Adcock

DCTheatreScene - Highly Recommended

You are here: Home / All Reviews / Our Reviews / Big Love Big Love July 18, 2012 By Debbie Jackson Leave a Comment (Edit) Fifty brides to be married off against their will to fifty cousins as part of a family contract—what could go wrong with that, right? That the story is based on an ancient Greek tale, the Danaids by Aeschylus should be a hint that tragedy lurks under the wedding dresses but the adaption by Charles L. Mee, directed by Kirsten Kelly, assures jolting belly laughs along with piercing reflections. It’s an incredible ride.

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- Debbie Jackson

Big Love presented by The Hub Theatre at John Swayze Theatre

Big Love

Big Love Reviews

Washington Post - Recommended

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

Washingtonian - Somewhat Recommended

ShowBizRadio - Recommended

DCTheatreScene - Highly Recommended

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